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Population in Costa Rica compared to Sao Tome and Principe: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 235,536 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 246,362 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 21 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +1.82% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 246K (48.7% growth).

Costa Rica vs Sao Tome and Principe: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Sao Tome
2100 3,804,183 538,729
2099 3,842,423 537,330
2098 3,880,999 535,787
2097 3,919,996 534,124
2096 3,959,352 532,353
2095 3,999,084 530,576
2094 4,039,053 528,656
2093 4,079,349 526,643
2092 4,119,898 524,507
2091 4,160,663 522,325
2090 4,201,548 519,999
2089 4,242,452 517,612
2088 4,283,327 515,098
2087 4,324,225 512,568
2086 4,364,979 510,018
2085 4,405,520 507,340
2084 4,445,770 504,584
2083 4,485,644 501,679
2082 4,525,171 498,722
2081 4,564,265 495,689
2080 4,602,737 492,482
2079 4,640,677 489,244
2078 4,677,935 485,930
2077 4,714,527 482,450
2076 4,750,309 478,942
2075 4,785,359 475,380
2074 4,819,691 471,763
2073 4,853,137 468,114
2072 4,885,727 464,348
2071 4,917,445 460,509
2070 4,948,313 456,552
2069 4,978,425 452,449
2068 5,007,604 448,367
2067 5,035,877 444,152
2066 5,063,521 439,833
2065 5,090,474 435,561
2064 5,116,546 431,126
2063 5,141,922 426,703
2062 5,166,260 422,184
2061 5,189,836 417,686
2060 5,212,549 413,117
2059 5,234,066 408,577
2058 5,254,528 404,024
2057 5,273,844 399,413
2056 5,292,013 394,844
2055 5,308,829 390,153
2054 5,324,305 385,468
2053 5,338,417 380,737
2052 5,350,974 376,015
2051 5,361,865 371,194
2050 5,371,197 366,397
2049 5,378,904 361,591
2048 5,385,081 356,742
2047 5,389,678 351,861
2046 5,392,713 346,888
2045 5,394,209 341,838
2044 5,394,124 336,792
2043 5,392,590 331,713
2042 5,389,628 326,652
2041 5,385,101 321,594
2040 5,379,344 316,457
2039 5,372,186 311,279
2038 5,363,617 306,071
2037 5,353,928 300,875
2036 5,343,027 295,624
2035 5,330,994 290,400
2034 5,317,895 285,183
2033 5,303,634 279,990
2032 5,288,416 274,835
2031 5,272,215 269,740
2030 5,255,064 264,723
2029 5,236,901 259,705
2028 5,217,724 254,751
2027 5,197,413 249,860
2026 5,176,096 245,066
2025 5,153,634 240,286
2024 5,129,910 235,536
2023 5,105,525 230,871
2022 5,081,765 226,305
2021 5,059,988 221,961
2020 5,034,320 217,435
2019 4,999,553 213,392
2018 4,957,818 210,187
2017 4,913,177 206,970
2016 4,866,998 203,689
2015 4,818,038 200,291
2014 4,767,119 196,767
2013 4,716,147 193,148
2012 4,663,934 189,439
2011 4,609,833 185,649
2010 4,555,962 181,802
2009 4,499,791 177,853
2008 4,440,056 173,793
2007 4,380,248 169,700
2006 4,321,340 165,638
2005 4,261,240 161,639
2004 4,200,078 157,705
2003 4,138,784 153,814
2002 4,075,705 149,922
2001 4,008,947 146,375
2000 3,937,739 144,018
1999 3,862,101 142,442
1998 3,782,838 140,751
1997 3,701,711 138,922
1996 3,619,013 136,962
1995 3,535,176 134,895
1994 3,451,122 132,732
1993 3,367,434 130,467
1992 3,284,258 128,110
1991 3,202,176 125,697
1990 3,121,706 122,980
1989 3,043,827 119,979
1988 2,968,103 116,939
1987 2,892,699 113,919
1986 2,817,216 111,150
1985 2,741,894 108,658
1984 2,667,595 106,394
1983 2,595,153 104,380
1982 2,524,806 102,508
1981 2,456,637 100,615
1980 2,390,633 98,544
1979 2,326,490 96,252
1978 2,264,510 93,794
1977 2,205,025 91,301
1976 2,147,774 88,922
1975 2,092,719 86,708
1974 2,039,643 84,672
1973 1,988,343 82,798
1972 1,938,248 81,041
1971 1,888,539 79,330
1970 1,838,949 77,626
1969 1,789,276 76,083
1968 1,739,731 74,765
1967 1,689,523 73,596
1966 1,638,116 72,576
1965 1,586,208 71,680
1964 1,533,960 70,865
1963 1,481,604 70,112
1962 1,429,445 69,403
1961 1,377,920 68,707
1960 1,327,496 68,012

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 42,673 people (a 21% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th in 2006 and ranked 176th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Costa Rica's population will grow by 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48.7% to 366,397 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Sao Tome
2100 -1% 0.26%
2099 -0.99% 0.29%
2098 -0.99% 0.31%
2097 -0.99% 0.33%
2096 -0.99% 0.33%
2095 -0.99% 0.36%
2094 -0.99% 0.38%
2093 -0.98% 0.41%
2092 -0.98% 0.42%
2091 -0.97% 0.45%
2090 -0.96% 0.46%
2089 -0.95% 0.49%
2088 -0.95% 0.49%
2087 -0.93% 0.5%
2086 -0.92% 0.53%
2085 -0.91% 0.55%
2084 -0.89% 0.58%
2083 -0.87% 0.59%
2082 -0.86% 0.61%
2081 -0.84% 0.65%
2080 -0.82% 0.66%
2079 -0.8% 0.68%
2078 -0.78% 0.72%
2077 -0.75% 0.73%
2076 -0.73% 0.75%
2075 -0.71% 0.77%
2074 -0.69% 0.78%
2073 -0.67% 0.81%
2072 -0.65% 0.83%
2071 -0.62% 0.87%
2070 -0.6% 0.91%
2069 -0.58% 0.91%
2068 -0.56% 0.95%
2067 -0.55% 0.98%
2066 -0.53% 0.98%
2065 -0.51% 1.03%
2064 -0.49% 1.04%
2063 -0.47% 1.07%
2062 -0.45% 1.08%
2061 -0.44% 1.11%
2060 -0.41% 1.11%
2059 -0.39% 1.13%
2058 -0.37% 1.15%
2057 -0.34% 1.16%
2056 -0.32% 1.2%
2055 -0.29% 1.22%
2054 -0.26% 1.24%
2053 -0.23% 1.26%
2052 -0.2% 1.3%
2051 -0.17% 1.31%
2050 -0.14% 1.33%
2049 -0.11% 1.36%
2048 -0.09% 1.39%
2047 -0.06% 1.43%
2046 -0.03% 1.48%
2045 0.002% 1.5%
2044 0.03% 1.53%
2043 0.05% 1.55%
2042 0.08% 1.57%
2041 0.11% 1.62%
2040 0.13% 1.66%
2039 0.16% 1.7%
2038 0.18% 1.73%
2037 0.2% 1.78%
2036 0.23% 1.8%
2035 0.25% 1.83%
2034 0.27% 1.85%
2033 0.29% 1.88%
2032 0.31% 1.89%
2031 0.33% 1.9%
2030 0.35% 1.93%
2029 0.37% 1.94%
2028 0.39% 1.96%
2027 0.41% 1.96%
2026 0.44% 1.99%
2025 0.46% 2.02%
2024 0.48% 2.02%
2023 0.47% 2.02%
2022 0.43% 1.96%
2021 0.51% 2.08%
2020 0.7% 1.89%
2019 0.84% 1.52%
2018 0.91% 1.55%
2017 0.95% 1.61%
2016 1.02% 1.7%
2015 1.07% 1.79%
2014 1.08% 1.87%
2013 1.12% 1.96%
2012 1.17% 2.04%
2011 1.18% 2.12%
2010 1.25% 2.22%
2009 1.35% 2.34%
2008 1.37% 2.41%
2007 1.36% 2.45%
2006 1.41% 2.47%
2005 1.46% 2.49%
2004 1.48% 2.53%
2003 1.55% 2.6%
2002 1.67% 2.42%
2001 1.81% 1.64%
2000 1.96% 1.11%
1999 2.1% 1.2%
1998 2.19% 1.32%
1997 2.29% 1.43%
1996 2.37% 1.53%
1995 2.44% 1.63%
1994 2.49% 1.74%
1993 2.53% 1.84%
1992 2.56% 1.92%
1991 2.58% 2.21%
1990 2.56% 2.5%
1989 2.55% 2.6%
1988 2.61% 2.65%
1987 2.68% 2.49%
1986 2.75% 2.29%
1985 2.79% 2.13%
1984 2.79% 1.93%
1983 2.79% 1.83%
1982 2.77% 1.88%
1981 2.76% 2.1%
1980 2.76% 2.38%
1979 2.74% 2.62%
1978 2.7% 2.73%
1977 2.67% 2.68%
1976 2.63% 2.55%
1975 2.6% 2.4%
1974 2.58% 2.26%
1973 2.58% 2.17%
1972 2.63% 2.16%
1971 2.7% 2.2%
1970 2.78% 2.03%
1969 2.85% 1.76%
1968 2.97% 1.59%
1967 3.14% 1.41%
1966 3.27% 1.25%
1965 3.41% 1.15%
1964 3.53% 1.07%
1963 3.65% 1.02%
1962 3.74% 1.01%
1961 3.8% 1.02%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2.02%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Sao Tome
Current population
5181862
246362
Population rank 126/197 176/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.003%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
1.88 hours
One birth every
10.1 minutes
1.35 hours
One death every
18.9 minutes
6.81 hours
Daily growth/decline +67 +13
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +4,665
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +2.02%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 49/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
13.5 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -650
Net migration rank 63/196 90/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 1,955
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 194/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 162/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Sao Tome
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -650
2024 - 967 - -604
2023 24,109 995 5,221 -592
2022 21,409 1,006 5,102 -592
2021 20,119 1,018 4,954 -782
2020 29,164 1,029 4,874 0
2019 37,682 1,653 4,932 -1,716
2018 42,469 1,673 4,957 -1,757
2017 43,471 1,671 5,007 -1,779
2016 45,565 1,649 5,125 -1,793
2015 49,077 1,617 5,269 -1,809
2014 49,559 1,589 5,381 -1,801
2013 49,227 1,579 5,449 -1,787
2012 52,036 1,587 5,501 -1,739
2011 52,884 1,695 5,445 -1,616
2010 50,803 2,357 5,391 -1,529
2009 55,757 3,432 5,349 -1,328
2008 56,491 3,794 5,297 -1,203
2007 55,244 4,080 5,226 -1,127
2006 54,177 4,321 5,057 -1,031
2005 57,139 4,567 4,897 -941
2004 55,769 4,856 4,810 -894
2003 56,743 5,216 4,702 -816
2002 58,388 5,812 4,591 -690
2001 62,199 7,119 4,471 -1,289
2000 64,268 8,826 4,334 -2,798
1999 64,922 13,253 4,221 -2,594
1998 64,788 15,556 4,120 -2,364
1997 64,954 16,954 4,041 -2,153
1996 66,094 17,393 3,993 -1,974
1995 67,585 16,609 3,948 -1,829
1994 68,336 15,587 3,860 -1,644
1993 69,016 14,431 3,841 -1,527
1992 69,830 13,069 3,822 -1,432
1991 70,506 10,757 3,801 -1,362
1990 71,727 7,949 3,719 -727
1989 72,327 3,758 3,576 -571
1988 72,944 2,414 3,544 -465
1987 73,188 2,267 3,440 -470
1986 73,211 2,302 3,180 -614
1985 72,776 2,357 3,242 -828
1984 71,062 2,402 3,163 -1,041
1983 68,972 2,449 3,100 -1,203
1982 66,826 2,453 3,047 -1,203
1981 64,632 2,431 3,015 -1,067
1980 62,561 2,387 2,965 -770
1979 60,984 2,349 2,893 -491
1978 58,327 2,296 2,800 -279
1977 56,122 2,228 2,705 -255
1976 54,019 2,129 2,608 -302
1975 51,979 1,992 2,515 -392
1974 50,349 1,839 2,422 -474
1973 48,943 1,468 2,329 -525
1972 48,417 1,366 2,232 -517
1971 48,341 1,296 2,127 -430
1970 48,398 1,137 1,980 -279
1969 48,790 1,017 1,862 -469
1968 48,361 939 1,767 -520
1967 50,193 926 1,693 -606
1966 50,755 930 1,642 -688
1965 51,196 932 1,611 -765
1964 51,435 934 1,600 -819
1963 51,403 938 1,609 -886
1962 51,046 934 1,625 -927
1961 50,149 924 1,657 -960
1960 48,857 910 1,547 -860

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 96.3% of the population change in Costa Rica is from natural causes (a gain of 362,624 people) and 3.69% is from migration (a gain of 13,900 people). In Sao Tome and Principe 80.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 50,822 people) and 19.9% is from migration (a loss of 12,621 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.

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
Sao Tome
City Population
Sao Tome 65.5K
Trindade 6.64K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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