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Population in Costa Rica compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 7.09 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.51% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Costa Rica vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Saudi Arabia
2100 3,804,183 74,230,118
2099 3,842,423 73,760,045
2098 3,880,999 73,287,526
2097 3,919,996 72,813,125
2096 3,959,352 72,336,039
2095 3,999,084 71,858,206
2094 4,039,053 71,379,928
2093 4,079,349 70,900,460
2092 4,119,898 70,420,464
2091 4,160,663 69,940,749
2090 4,201,548 69,462,214
2089 4,242,452 68,985,976
2088 4,283,327 68,510,277
2087 4,324,225 68,035,545
2086 4,364,979 67,562,521
2085 4,405,520 67,091,615
2084 4,445,770 66,621,667
2083 4,485,644 66,152,653
2082 4,525,171 65,684,321
2081 4,564,265 65,216,102
2080 4,602,737 64,749,128
2079 4,640,677 64,282,393
2078 4,677,935 63,815,918
2077 4,714,527 63,348,712
2076 4,750,309 62,880,120
2075 4,785,359 62,409,793
2074 4,819,691 61,937,628
2073 4,853,137 61,462,662
2072 4,885,727 60,984,202
2071 4,917,445 60,502,791
2070 4,948,313 60,018,216
2069 4,978,425 59,529,456
2068 5,007,604 59,036,086
2067 5,035,877 58,539,487
2066 5,063,521 58,039,687
2065 5,090,474 57,537,106
2064 5,116,546 57,032,172
2063 5,141,922 56,524,331
2062 5,166,260 56,014,549
2061 5,189,836 55,501,467
2060 5,212,549 54,986,901
2059 5,234,066 54,469,809
2058 5,254,528 53,950,469
2057 5,273,844 53,430,639
2056 5,292,013 52,909,061
2055 5,308,829 52,386,571
2054 5,324,305 51,862,312
2053 5,338,417 51,336,335
2052 5,350,974 50,809,100
2051 5,361,865 50,280,719
2050 5,371,197 49,751,739
2049 5,378,904 49,221,828
2048 5,385,081 48,690,143
2047 5,389,678 48,157,605
2046 5,392,713 47,623,246
2045 5,394,209 47,087,215
2044 5,394,124 46,550,306
2043 5,392,590 46,013,232
2042 5,389,628 45,475,200
2041 5,385,101 44,936,131
2040 5,379,344 44,396,093
2039 5,372,186 43,856,006
2038 5,363,617 43,314,707
2037 5,353,928 42,773,375
2036 5,343,027 42,231,639
2035 5,330,994 41,690,245
2034 5,317,895 41,150,029
2033 5,303,634 40,611,021
2032 5,288,416 40,073,144
2031 5,272,215 39,535,357
2030 5,255,064 38,998,581
2029 5,236,901 38,417,447
2028 5,217,724 37,810,902
2027 5,197,413 37,189,969
2026 5,176,096 36,566,201
2025 5,153,634 35,932,673
2024 5,129,910 35,300,280
2023 5,105,525 33,702,731
2022 5,081,765 32,175,224
2021 5,059,988 30,784,383
2020 5,034,320 31,552,510
2019 4,999,553 30,063,799
2018 4,957,818 30,196,281
2017 4,913,177 30,977,355
2016 4,866,998 30,954,198
2015 4,818,038 29,816,382
2014 4,767,119 28,309,273
2013 4,716,147 27,624,004
2012 4,663,934 26,168,861
2011 4,609,833 25,091,867
2010 4,555,962 23,978,487
2009 4,499,791 24,217,654
2008 4,440,056 23,287,877
2007 4,380,248 22,368,313
2006 4,321,340 21,459,144
2005 4,261,240 20,559,890
2004 4,200,078 19,669,480
2003 4,138,784 18,786,767
2002 4,075,705 17,910,910
2001 4,008,947 17,041,397
2000 3,937,739 16,177,722
1999 3,862,101 15,472,075
1998 3,782,838 14,922,185
1997 3,701,711 14,374,943
1996 3,619,013 13,831,009
1995 3,535,176 13,289,245
1994 3,451,122 12,750,040
1993 3,367,434 12,215,862
1992 3,284,258 11,686,676
1991 3,202,176 11,160,744
1990 3,121,706 10,640,691
1989 3,043,827 10,128,394
1988 2,968,103 9,629,165
1987 2,892,699 9,130,194
1986 2,817,216 8,628,639
1985 2,741,894 8,151,779
1984 2,667,595 7,697,307
1983 2,595,153 7,252,941
1982 2,524,806 6,824,486
1981 2,456,637 6,420,551
1980 2,390,633 6,047,997
1979 2,326,490 5,703,698
1978 2,264,510 5,381,902
1977 2,205,025 5,083,048
1976 2,147,774 4,807,933
1975 2,092,719 4,556,287
1974 2,039,643 4,323,632
1973 1,988,343 4,106,344
1972 1,938,248 3,905,722
1971 1,888,539 3,724,031
1970 1,838,949 3,562,470
1969 1,789,276 3,417,114
1968 1,739,731 3,282,711
1967 1,689,523 3,157,242
1966 1,638,116 3,039,887
1965 1,586,208 2,928,771
1964 1,533,960 2,821,968
1963 1,481,604 2,719,341
1962 1,429,445 2,620,910
1961 1,377,920 2,526,347
1960 1,327,496 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Saudi Arabia
2100 -1% 0.64%
2099 -0.99% 0.64%
2098 -0.99% 0.65%
2097 -0.99% 0.66%
2096 -0.99% 0.66%
2095 -0.99% 0.67%
2094 -0.99% 0.68%
2093 -0.98% 0.68%
2092 -0.98% 0.69%
2091 -0.97% 0.69%
2090 -0.96% 0.69%
2089 -0.95% 0.69%
2088 -0.95% 0.7%
2087 -0.93% 0.7%
2086 -0.92% 0.7%
2085 -0.91% 0.71%
2084 -0.89% 0.71%
2083 -0.87% 0.71%
2082 -0.86% 0.72%
2081 -0.84% 0.72%
2080 -0.82% 0.73%
2079 -0.8% 0.73%
2078 -0.78% 0.74%
2077 -0.75% 0.75%
2076 -0.73% 0.75%
2075 -0.71% 0.76%
2074 -0.69% 0.77%
2073 -0.67% 0.78%
2072 -0.65% 0.8%
2071 -0.62% 0.81%
2070 -0.6% 0.82%
2069 -0.58% 0.84%
2068 -0.56% 0.85%
2067 -0.55% 0.86%
2066 -0.53% 0.87%
2065 -0.51% 0.89%
2064 -0.49% 0.9%
2063 -0.47% 0.91%
2062 -0.45% 0.92%
2061 -0.44% 0.94%
2060 -0.41% 0.95%
2059 -0.39% 0.96%
2058 -0.37% 0.97%
2057 -0.34% 0.99%
2056 -0.32% 1%
2055 -0.29% 1.01%
2054 -0.26% 1.02%
2053 -0.23% 1.04%
2052 -0.2% 1.05%
2051 -0.17% 1.06%
2050 -0.14% 1.08%
2049 -0.11% 1.09%
2048 -0.09% 1.11%
2047 -0.06% 1.12%
2046 -0.03% 1.14%
2045 0.002% 1.15%
2044 0.03% 1.17%
2043 0.05% 1.18%
2042 0.08% 1.2%
2041 0.11% 1.22%
2040 0.13% 1.23%
2039 0.16% 1.25%
2038 0.18% 1.27%
2037 0.2% 1.28%
2036 0.23% 1.3%
2035 0.25% 1.31%
2034 0.27% 1.33%
2033 0.29% 1.34%
2032 0.31% 1.36%
2031 0.33% 1.38%
2030 0.35% 1.51%
2029 0.37% 1.6%
2028 0.39% 1.67%
2027 0.41% 1.71%
2026 0.44% 1.76%
2025 0.46% 1.79%
2024 0.48% 4.74%
2023 0.47% 4.75%
2022 0.43% 4.52%
2021 0.51% -2.43%
2020 0.7% 4.95%
2019 0.84% -0.44%
2018 0.91% -2.52%
2017 0.95% 0.07%
2016 1.02% 3.82%
2015 1.07% 5.32%
2014 1.08% 2.48%
2013 1.12% 5.56%
2012 1.17% 4.29%
2011 1.18% 4.64%
2010 1.25% -0.99%
2009 1.35% 3.99%
2008 1.37% 4.11%
2007 1.36% 4.24%
2006 1.41% 4.37%
2005 1.46% 4.53%
2004 1.48% 4.7%
2003 1.55% 4.89%
2002 1.67% 5.1%
2001 1.81% 5.34%
2000 1.96% 4.56%
1999 2.1% 3.69%
1998 2.19% 3.81%
1997 2.29% 3.93%
1996 2.37% 4.08%
1995 2.44% 4.23%
1994 2.49% 4.37%
1993 2.53% 4.53%
1992 2.56% 4.71%
1991 2.58% 4.89%
1990 2.56% 5.06%
1989 2.55% 5.18%
1988 2.61% 5.47%
1987 2.68% 5.81%
1986 2.75% 5.85%
1985 2.79% 5.9%
1984 2.79% 6.13%
1983 2.79% 6.28%
1982 2.77% 6.29%
1981 2.76% 6.16%
1980 2.76% 6.04%
1979 2.74% 5.98%
1978 2.7% 5.88%
1977 2.67% 5.72%
1976 2.63% 5.52%
1975 2.6% 5.38%
1974 2.58% 5.29%
1973 2.58% 5.14%
1972 2.63% 4.88%
1971 2.7% 4.54%
1970 2.78% 4.25%
1969 2.85% 4.09%
1968 2.97% 3.97%
1967 3.14% 3.86%
1966 3.27% 3.79%
1965 3.41% 3.78%
1964 3.53% 3.77%
1963 3.65% 3.76%
1962 3.74% 3.74%
1961 3.8% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Saudi Arabia
Current population
5181862
36734925
Population rank 126/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.44%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
19.7 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 4/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +119,738
Net migration rank 63/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 119,738
2024 - 967 - 122,170
2023 24,109 995 474,366 325,691
2022 21,409 1,006 406,920 977,072
2021 20,119 1,018 409,032 -106,287
2020 29,164 1,029 447,036 -74,725
2019 37,682 1,653 474,407 191,582
2018 42,469 1,673 528,767 -988,751
2017 43,471 1,671 546,751 -920,812
2016 45,565 1,649 537,829 -26,997
2015 49,077 1,617 511,023 465,292
2014 49,559 1,589 493,431 469,144
2013 49,227 1,579 475,299 485,794
2012 52,036 1,587 465,649 479,206
2011 52,884 1,695 443,675 491,253
2010 50,803 2,357 418,641 504,955
2009 55,757 3,432 438,557 496,229
2008 56,491 3,794 433,457 491,337
2007 55,244 4,080 425,199 489,136
2006 54,177 4,321 399,333 504,661
2005 57,139 4,567 375,938 518,565
2004 55,769 4,856 362,843 523,472
2003 56,743 5,216 364,520 514,606
2002 58,388 5,812 372,099 500,508
2001 62,199 7,119 382,153 484,252
2000 64,268 8,826 392,407 468,515
1999 64,922 13,253 390,112 160,263
1998 64,788 15,556 389,499 159,898
1997 64,954 16,954 385,033 160,066
1996 66,094 17,393 382,248 160,532
1995 67,585 16,609 380,231 160,512
1994 68,336 15,587 377,351 160,306
1993 69,016 14,431 372,621 158,074
1992 69,830 13,069 366,763 160,908
1991 70,506 10,757 361,329 162,857
1990 71,727 7,949 355,495 160,416
1989 72,327 3,758 349,399 159,273
1988 72,944 2,414 342,865 146,918
1987 73,188 2,267 333,088 175,075
1986 73,211 2,302 322,340 172,606
1985 72,776 2,357 310,558 148,208
1984 71,062 2,402 296,615 153,562
1983 68,972 2,449 280,616 157,930
1982 66,826 2,453 264,831 153,528
1981 64,632 2,431 249,156 140,355
1980 62,561 2,387 234,372 121,220
1979 60,984 2,349 220,186 112,826
1978 58,327 2,296 205,331 105,263
1977 56,122 2,228 191,103 96,015
1976 54,019 2,129 178,024 85,083
1975 51,979 1,992 166,223 73,960
1974 50,349 1,839 155,478 69,653
1973 48,943 1,468 145,450 63,995
1972 48,417 1,366 136,360 55,439
1971 48,341 1,296 127,600 43,989
1970 48,398 1,137 120,440 31,097
1969 48,790 1,017 113,859 25,312
1968 48,361 939 108,281 21,366
1967 50,193 926 103,343 17,947
1966 50,755 930 98,361 15,054
1965 51,196 932 93,820 15,000
1964 51,435 934 89,776 15,000
1963 51,403 938 85,480 15,000
1962 51,046 934 81,393 15,000
1961 50,149 924 77,743 15,000
1960 48,857 910 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

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
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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