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
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 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
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 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
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 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
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|||
| 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
|
|
|
|---|---|
| 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 |
|
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Sao Tome | 65.5K |
| Trindade | 6.64K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Costa Rica and Sao Tome and Principe
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 81.4 years | 70.3 years |
| Average age | 37 years | 25.1 years |
| Median age | 35.6 years | 20.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.4:50.6 | 49.7:50.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.33 births per woman | 3.64 births per woman |
| Population density | 262.6 ppl/mi² | 661 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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