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Population in Costa Rica compared to Samoa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 219,306 people in Samoa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 221,158 in Samoa.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 23.5 times bigger than Samoa's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Samoa is the 177th.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.003% for Samoa.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +0.84% in Samoa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Samoa has grown from 188K to 221K (17.8% growth).

Costa Rica vs Samoa: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Samoa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Samoa
2100 3,803,678 384,035
2099 3,841,913 382,728
2098 3,880,484 381,414
2097 3,919,475 380,066
2096 3,958,826 378,599
2095 3,998,552 377,074
2094 4,038,516 375,519
2093 4,078,807 373,888
2092 4,119,351 372,169
2091 4,160,111 370,373
2090 4,200,989 368,608
2089 4,241,888 366,755
2088 4,282,758 364,803
2087 4,323,650 362,850
2086 4,364,399 360,862
2085 4,404,935 358,840
2084 4,445,179 356,781
2083 4,485,048 354,649
2082 4,524,570 352,438
2081 4,563,658 350,145
2080 4,602,126 347,866
2079 4,640,060 345,496
2078 4,677,313 343,017
2077 4,713,901 340,475
2076 4,749,678 337,881
2075 4,784,723 335,254
2074 4,819,050 332,652
2073 4,852,492 329,962
2072 4,885,078 327,203
2071 4,916,792 324,322
2070 4,947,655 321,610
2069 4,977,764 318,855
2068 5,006,939 316,041
2067 5,035,207 313,344
2066 5,062,849 310,581
2065 5,089,797 307,946
2064 5,115,866 305,328
2063 5,141,239 302,731
2062 5,165,574 300,188
2061 5,189,146 297,795
2060 5,211,857 295,379
2059 5,233,370 292,975
2058 5,253,830 290,541
2057 5,273,143 288,249
2056 5,291,310 286,049
2055 5,308,124 283,835
2054 5,323,598 281,645
2053 5,337,707 279,406
2052 5,350,263 277,095
2051 5,361,152 274,684
2050 5,370,484 272,285
2049 5,378,189 269,817
2048 5,384,366 267,350
2047 5,388,962 264,875
2046 5,391,996 262,303
2045 5,393,493 259,670
2044 5,393,407 256,996
2043 5,391,873 254,462
2042 5,388,912 251,813
2041 5,384,386 249,169
2040 5,378,629 246,598
2039 5,371,473 244,088
2038 5,362,904 241,568
2037 5,353,217 239,227
2036 5,342,317 236,940
2035 5,330,286 234,725
2034 5,317,189 232,695
2033 5,302,930 230,809
2032 5,287,714 229,073
2031 5,271,514 227,359
2030 5,254,366 225,842
2029 5,236,206 224,425
2028 5,217,031 223,027
2027 5,196,723 221,755
2026 5,175,408 220,528
2025 5,152,950 219,306
2024 5,129,910 218,019
2023 5,105,525 216,663
2022 5,081,765 215,261
2021 5,059,988 213,779
2020 5,034,320 211,944
2019 4,999,553 209,780
2018 4,957,818 207,582
2017 4,913,177 205,415
2016 4,866,998 203,499
2015 4,818,038 201,782
2014 4,767,119 200,037
2013 4,716,147 198,268
2012 4,663,934 196,498
2011 4,609,833 194,713
2010 4,555,962 193,023
2009 4,499,791 191,513
2008 4,440,056 190,107
2007 4,380,248 188,753
2006 4,321,340 187,709
2005 4,261,240 186,978
2004 4,200,078 186,249
2003 4,138,784 185,430
2002 4,075,705 184,471
2001 4,008,947 183,166
2000 3,937,739 181,685
1999 3,862,101 180,275
1998 3,782,838 178,905
1997 3,701,711 177,547
1996 3,619,013 176,071
1995 3,535,176 174,571
1994 3,451,122 173,159
1993 3,367,434 171,774
1992 3,284,258 170,331
1991 3,202,176 169,368
1990 3,121,706 169,042
1989 3,043,827 168,768
1988 2,968,103 168,346
1987 2,892,699 167,661
1986 2,817,216 167,061
1985 2,741,894 166,849
1984 2,667,595 166,796
1983 2,595,153 166,714
1982 2,524,806 166,484
1981 2,456,637 165,678
1980 2,390,633 164,322
1979 2,326,490 162,882
1978 2,264,510 161,375
1977 2,205,025 159,753
1976 2,147,774 157,113
1975 2,092,719 153,344
1974 2,039,643 149,431
1973 1,988,343 146,516
1972 1,938,248 144,538
1971 1,888,539 142,503
1970 1,838,949 140,400
1969 1,789,276 138,233
1968 1,739,731 136,020
1967 1,689,523 133,764
1966 1,638,116 131,073
1965 1,586,208 127,978
1964 1,533,960 124,894
1963 1,481,604 121,764
1962 1,429,445 118,597
1961 1,377,920 115,496
1960 1,327,496 112,490

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/samoa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Samoa gained 15,790 people (a 8.41% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Samoa's population increased by 17,659 people (a 8.68% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Samoa was ranked 176th in 2006 and ranked 177th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Costa Rica's population will grow by 3.55% to 5,370,484 people with a rank change from 126th to 127th. The population of Samoa will increase by 23.1% to 272,285 people and rank change from 177th to 176th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 384K people in 2100 for Samoa.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Samoa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Samoa
2100 -1% 0.34%
2099 -0.99% 0.34%
2098 -0.99% 0.35%
2097 -0.99% 0.39%
2096 -0.99% 0.4%
2095 -0.99% 0.41%
2094 -0.99% 0.44%
2093 -0.98% 0.46%
2092 -0.98% 0.48%
2091 -0.97% 0.48%
2090 -0.96% 0.51%
2089 -0.95% 0.54%
2088 -0.95% 0.54%
2087 -0.93% 0.55%
2086 -0.92% 0.56%
2085 -0.91% 0.58%
2084 -0.89% 0.6%
2083 -0.87% 0.63%
2082 -0.86% 0.65%
2081 -0.84% 0.66%
2080 -0.82% 0.69%
2079 -0.8% 0.72%
2078 -0.78% 0.75%
2077 -0.75% 0.77%
2076 -0.73% 0.78%
2075 -0.71% 0.78%
2074 -0.69% 0.82%
2073 -0.67% 0.84%
2072 -0.65% 0.89%
2071 -0.62% 0.84%
2070 -0.6% 0.86%
2069 -0.58% 0.89%
2068 -0.56% 0.86%
2067 -0.55% 0.89%
2066 -0.53% 0.86%
2065 -0.51% 0.86%
2064 -0.49% 0.86%
2063 -0.47% 0.85%
2062 -0.45% 0.8%
2061 -0.44% 0.82%
2060 -0.41% 0.82%
2059 -0.39% 0.84%
2058 -0.37% 0.8%
2057 -0.34% 0.77%
2056 -0.32% 0.78%
2055 -0.29% 0.78%
2054 -0.26% 0.8%
2053 -0.23% 0.83%
2052 -0.2% 0.88%
2051 -0.17% 0.88%
2050 -0.14% 0.91%
2049 -0.11% 0.92%
2048 -0.09% 0.93%
2047 -0.06% 0.98%
2046 -0.03% 1.01%
2045 0.002% 1.04%
2044 0.03% 1%
2043 0.05% 1.05%
2042 0.08% 1.06%
2041 0.11% 1.04%
2040 0.13% 1.03%
2039 0.16% 1.04%
2038 0.18% 0.98%
2037 0.2% 0.96%
2036 0.23% 0.94%
2035 0.25% 0.87%
2034 0.27% 0.82%
2033 0.29% 0.76%
2032 0.31% 0.75%
2031 0.33% 0.67%
2030 0.35% 0.63%
2029 0.37% 0.63%
2028 0.39% 0.57%
2027 0.41% 0.56%
2026 0.44% 0.56%
2025 0.45% 0.59%
2024 0.48% 0.63%
2023 0.47% 0.65%
2022 0.43% 0.69%
2021 0.51% 0.87%
2020 0.7% 1.03%
2019 0.84% 1.06%
2018 0.91% 1.05%
2017 0.95% 0.94%
2016 1.02% 0.85%
2015 1.07% 0.87%
2014 1.08% 0.89%
2013 1.12% 0.9%
2012 1.17% 0.92%
2011 1.18% 0.88%
2010 1.25% 0.79%
2009 1.35% 0.74%
2008 1.37% 0.72%
2007 1.36% 0.56%
2006 1.41% 0.39%
2005 1.46% 0.39%
2004 1.48% 0.44%
2003 1.55% 0.52%
2002 1.67% 0.71%
2001 1.81% 0.82%
2000 1.96% 0.78%
1999 2.1% 0.77%
1998 2.19% 0.76%
1997 2.29% 0.84%
1996 2.37% 0.86%
1995 2.44% 0.82%
1994 2.49% 0.81%
1993 2.53% 0.85%
1992 2.56% 0.57%
1991 2.58% 0.19%
1990 2.56% 0.16%
1989 2.55% 0.25%
1988 2.61% 0.41%
1987 2.68% 0.36%
1986 2.75% 0.13%
1985 2.79% 0.03%
1984 2.79% 0.05%
1983 2.79% 0.14%
1982 2.77% 0.49%
1981 2.76% 0.83%
1980 2.76% 0.88%
1979 2.74% 0.93%
1978 2.7% 1.02%
1977 2.67% 1.68%
1976 2.63% 2.46%
1975 2.6% 2.62%
1974 2.58% 1.99%
1973 2.58% 1.37%
1972 2.63% 1.43%
1971 2.7% 1.5%
1970 2.78% 1.57%
1969 2.85% 1.63%
1968 2.97% 1.69%
1967 3.14% 2.05%
1966 3.27% 2.42%
1965 3.41% 2.47%
1964 3.53% 2.57%
1963 3.65% 2.67%
1962 3.74% 2.68%
1961 3.8% 2.67%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/samoa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Samoa's population grew by 0.59%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Samoa
Current population
5186356
221158
Population rank 126/197 177/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.003%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
6.83 hours
One birth every
10.3 minutes
1.61 hours
One death every
18.4 minutes
6.53 hours
Daily growth/decline +63 +4
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +1,287
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +0.59%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 123/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
3.12 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -2,815
Net migration rank 63/196 105/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 3,843
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 186/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 1.8%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 137/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Samoa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Samoa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -2,815
2024 22,699 967 4,101 -2,754
2023 24,109 995 4,170 -2,810
2022 21,409 1,006 4,288 -2,837
2021 20,119 1,018 4,379 -2,860
2020 29,164 1,029 4,442 -2,299
2019 37,682 1,653 4,495 -2,313
2018 42,469 1,673 4,637 -2,425
2017 43,471 1,671 4,661 -2,539
2016 45,565 1,649 4,720 -3,008
2015 49,077 1,617 4,795 -3,074
2014 49,559 1,589 4,849 -3,081
2013 49,227 1,579 4,875 -3,107
2012 52,036 1,587 4,863 -3,089
2011 52,884 1,695 4,860 -3,056
2010 50,803 2,357 4,779 -3,197
2009 55,757 3,432 4,525 -3,093
2008 56,491 3,794 4,581 -3,194
2007 55,244 4,080 4,480 -3,152
2006 54,177 4,321 4,473 -3,714
2005 57,139 4,567 4,503 -3,805
2004 55,769 4,856 4,554 -3,796
2003 56,743 5,216 4,622 -3,748
2002 58,388 5,812 4,672 -3,624
2001 62,199 7,119 4,759 -3,198
2000 64,268 8,826 4,855 -3,453
1999 64,922 13,253 4,937 -3,517
1998 64,788 15,556 5,022 -3,702
1997 64,954 16,954 5,053 -3,658
1996 66,094 17,393 5,038 -3,476
1995 67,585 16,609 4,976 -3,532
1994 68,336 15,587 4,880 -3,505
1993 69,016 14,431 4,769 -3,373
1992 69,830 13,069 4,652 -3,161
1991 70,506 10,757 4,655 -4,227
1990 71,727 7,949 4,759 -4,533
1989 72,327 3,758 4,845 -4,527
1988 72,944 2,414 4,889 -4,366
1987 73,188 2,267 4,909 -4,056
1986 73,211 2,302 4,983 -4,637
1985 72,776 2,357 4,998 -4,920
1984 71,062 2,402 4,979 -4,944
1983 68,972 2,449 4,914 -4,789
1982 66,826 2,453 4,808 -4,479
1981 64,632 2,431 4,720 -3,440
1980 62,561 2,387 4,672 -3,240
1979 60,984 2,349 4,624 -3,177
1978 58,327 2,296 4,587 -3,022
1977 56,122 2,228 4,555 -2,866
1976 54,019 2,129 4,519 -929
1975 51,979 1,992 4,465 -522
1974 50,349 1,839 4,411 -526
1973 48,943 1,468 4,446 -2,501
1972 48,417 1,366 4,487 -2,483
1971 48,341 1,296 4,534 -2,463
1970 48,398 1,137 4,567 -2,429
1969 48,790 1,017 4,592 -2,399
1968 48,361 939 4,605 -2,370
1967 50,193 926 4,621 -2,333
1966 50,755 930 4,593 -1,503
1965 51,196 932 4,605 -1,512
1964 51,435 934 4,326 -1,252
1963 51,403 938 4,544 -1,365
1962 51,046 934 4,498 -1,341
1961 50,149 924 4,399 -1,349
1960 48,857 910 4,298 -1,333

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/samoa | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 96.2% of the population change in Costa Rica is from natural causes (a gain of 335,764 people) and 3.8% is from migration (a gain of 13,278 people). In Samoa 62.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 44,688 people) and 37.6% is from migration (a loss of 26,919 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 3,843 people or 1.8% in Samoa.

Biggest cities by population

Costa Rica
City Population
San Jose 335K
Limon 71.5K
Liberia 65.9K
Alajuela 44.4K
Puntarenas 41.5K
Cartago 22.8K
Heredia 16.7K
Tamarindo 7.13K
Santa Teresa 3K
Samoa
City Population
Apia 37.7K
Manase 161

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/samoa | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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