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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 36,973,555 people in Saudi Arabia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 37,955,120 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 7.32 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 43rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.52% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.46% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +2.5% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 38M (76.9% 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 3,803,678 76,380,382
2099 3,841,913 75,896,692
2098 3,880,484 75,410,485
2097 3,919,475 74,922,342
2096 3,958,826 74,431,436
2095 3,998,552 73,939,761
2094 4,038,516 73,447,628
2093 4,078,807 72,954,272
2092 4,119,351 72,460,372
2091 4,160,111 71,966,760
2090 4,200,989 71,474,363
2089 4,241,888 70,984,330
2088 4,282,758 70,494,851
2087 4,323,650 70,006,368
2086 4,364,399 69,519,641
2085 4,404,935 69,035,093
2084 4,445,179 68,551,533
2083 4,485,048 68,068,933
2082 4,524,570 67,587,034
2081 4,563,658 67,105,252
2080 4,602,126 66,624,751
2079 4,640,060 66,144,495
2078 4,677,313 65,664,508
2077 4,713,901 65,183,768
2076 4,749,678 64,701,603
2075 4,784,723 64,217,651
2074 4,819,050 63,731,809
2073 4,852,492 63,243,084
2072 4,885,078 62,750,764
2071 4,916,792 62,255,408
2070 4,947,655 61,756,796
2069 4,977,764 61,253,878
2068 5,006,939 60,746,216
2067 5,035,207 60,235,232
2066 5,062,849 59,720,954
2065 5,089,797 59,203,814
2064 5,115,866 58,684,254
2063 5,141,239 58,161,702
2062 5,165,574 57,637,152
2061 5,189,146 57,109,207
2060 5,211,857 56,579,736
2059 5,233,370 56,047,666
2058 5,253,830 55,513,281
2057 5,273,143 54,978,393
2056 5,291,310 54,441,706
2055 5,308,124 53,904,081
2054 5,323,598 53,364,635
2053 5,337,707 52,823,422
2052 5,350,263 52,280,914
2051 5,361,152 51,737,228
2050 5,370,484 51,192,924
2049 5,378,189 50,647,663
2048 5,384,366 50,100,576
2047 5,388,962 49,552,613
2046 5,391,996 49,002,774
2045 5,393,493 48,451,215
2044 5,393,407 47,898,754
2043 5,391,873 47,346,122
2042 5,388,912 46,792,504
2041 5,384,386 46,237,820
2040 5,378,629 45,682,139
2039 5,371,473 45,126,407
2038 5,362,904 44,569,427
2037 5,353,217 44,012,415
2036 5,342,317 43,454,985
2035 5,330,286 42,897,909
2034 5,317,189 42,342,044
2033 5,302,930 41,787,423
2032 5,287,714 41,233,964
2031 5,271,514 40,680,599
2030 5,254,366 40,128,273
2029 5,236,206 39,530,306
2028 5,217,031 38,906,191
2027 5,196,723 38,267,271
2026 5,175,408 37,625,434
2025 5,152,950 36,973,555
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 7,000,922 people (a 22.6% 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 43rd 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 34.9% to 51,192,924 people and rank change from 43rd to 42nd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 76.4M 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 0.45% 4.74%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Saudi Arabia
Current population
5186356
37955120
Population rank 126/197 43/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.46%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
10.3 minutes
54.2 seconds
One death every
18.4 minutes
6.37 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +4,584
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +1,673,275
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 2/197
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 22,699 967 499,782 122,170
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,835,913 people) and 0.73% is from migration (a loss of 35,765 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 (1960–2025, 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/saudi-arabia | 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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