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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 6,586,476 people in Serbia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 6,494,521 in Serbia.

Population statistics:

  • Serbia's population is 1.25 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Serbia is the 110th.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.08% for Serbia.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs -0.76% in Serbia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Serbia has declined from 7.41M to 6.49M (12.4% decline).

Costa Rica vs Serbia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Serbia
2100 3,804,183 3,621,418
2099 3,842,423 3,649,584
2098 3,880,999 3,677,789
2097 3,919,996 3,706,279
2096 3,959,352 3,734,933
2095 3,999,084 3,763,769
2094 4,039,053 3,792,851
2093 4,079,349 3,822,147
2092 4,119,898 3,851,865
2091 4,160,663 3,881,833
2090 4,201,548 3,911,964
2089 4,242,452 3,942,571
2088 4,283,327 3,973,274
2087 4,324,225 4,004,485
2086 4,364,979 4,036,066
2085 4,405,520 4,068,021
2084 4,445,770 4,100,403
2083 4,485,644 4,133,391
2082 4,525,171 4,166,924
2081 4,564,265 4,200,811
2080 4,602,737 4,235,306
2079 4,640,677 4,270,442
2078 4,677,935 4,306,246
2077 4,714,527 4,342,382
2076 4,750,309 4,378,754
2075 4,785,359 4,415,505
2074 4,819,691 4,452,888
2073 4,853,137 4,490,589
2072 4,885,727 4,528,672
2071 4,917,445 4,567,167
2070 4,948,313 4,606,212
2069 4,978,425 4,645,524
2068 5,007,604 4,685,090
2067 5,035,877 4,724,796
2066 5,063,521 4,764,445
2065 5,090,474 4,804,405
2064 5,116,546 4,844,434
2063 5,141,922 4,884,574
2062 5,166,260 4,924,899
2061 5,189,836 4,964,985
2060 5,212,549 5,005,138
2059 5,234,066 5,045,125
2058 5,254,528 5,085,292
2057 5,273,844 5,125,901
2056 5,292,013 5,166,530
2055 5,308,829 5,207,137
2054 5,324,305 5,247,793
2053 5,338,417 5,288,369
2052 5,350,974 5,329,487
2051 5,361,865 5,371,281
2050 5,371,197 5,413,067
2049 5,378,904 5,455,402
2048 5,385,081 5,498,031
2047 5,389,678 5,541,158
2046 5,392,713 5,584,824
2045 5,394,209 5,629,108
2044 5,394,124 5,673,908
2043 5,392,590 5,719,287
2042 5,389,628 5,765,400
2041 5,385,101 5,811,936
2040 5,379,344 5,858,464
2039 5,372,186 5,905,404
2038 5,363,617 5,952,107
2037 5,353,928 5,998,763
2036 5,343,027 6,045,097
2035 5,330,994 6,091,385
2034 5,317,895 6,137,447
2033 5,303,634 6,183,536
2032 5,288,416 6,229,136
2031 5,272,215 6,274,395
2030 5,255,064 6,319,422
2029 5,236,901 6,363,799
2028 5,217,724 6,407,914
2027 5,197,413 6,451,609
2026 5,176,096 6,494,521
2025 5,153,634 6,543,364
2024 5,129,910 6,586,476
2023 5,105,525 6,623,183
2022 5,081,765 6,664,449
2021 5,059,988 6,834,326
2020 5,034,320 6,899,126
2019 4,999,553 6,945,235
2018 4,957,818 6,982,604
2017 4,913,177 7,020,858
2016 4,866,998 7,058,322
2015 4,818,038 7,095,383
2014 4,767,119 7,131,787
2013 4,716,147 7,166,553
2012 4,663,934 7,201,497
2011 4,609,833 7,236,519
2010 4,555,962 7,291,436
2009 4,499,791 7,320,807
2008 4,440,056 7,350,222
2007 4,380,248 7,381,579
2006 4,321,340 7,411,569
2005 4,261,240 7,440,769
2004 4,200,078 7,463,157
2003 4,138,784 7,480,591
2002 4,075,705 7,500,031
2001 4,008,947 7,503,433
2000 3,937,739 7,516,346
1999 3,862,101 7,540,401
1998 3,782,838 7,567,745
1997 3,701,711 7,598,538
1996 3,619,013 7,622,185
1995 3,535,176 7,628,264
1994 3,451,122 7,622,711
1993 3,367,434 7,614,328
1992 3,284,258 7,604,063
1991 3,202,176 7,595,636
1990 3,121,706 7,897,937
1989 3,043,827 7,893,787
1988 2,968,103 7,884,218
1987 2,892,699 7,868,027
1986 2,817,216 7,853,824
1985 2,741,894 7,835,902
1984 2,667,595 7,813,549
1983 2,595,153 7,788,100
1982 2,524,806 7,763,335
1981 2,456,637 7,736,787
1980 2,390,633 7,709,544
1979 2,326,490 7,541,997
1978 2,264,510 7,504,017
1977 2,205,025 7,462,783
1976 2,147,774 7,418,973
1975 2,092,719 7,368,717
1974 2,039,643 7,326,043
1973 1,988,343 7,283,902
1972 1,938,248 7,252,012
1971 1,888,539 7,211,716
1970 1,838,949 7,164,993
1969 1,789,276 7,123,249
1968 1,739,731 7,007,586
1967 1,689,523 6,966,522
1966 1,638,116 6,927,969
1965 1,586,208 6,876,624
1964 1,533,960 6,832,855
1963 1,481,604 6,787,950
1962 1,429,445 6,740,264
1961 1,377,920 6,689,077
1960 1,327,496 6,638,992

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/serbia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Serbia lost 353,247 people (a 4.77% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Serbia's population decreased by 563,801 people (a 7.99% decline).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Serbia was ranked 97th in 2006 and ranked 110th 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 Serbia will decrease by 16.7% to 5,413,067 people and rank change from 110th to 125th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Serbia's population already peaked in 1990 at 7.9M people and is projected to decrease to 3.62M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Serbia
2100 -1% -0.77%
2099 -0.99% -0.77%
2098 -0.99% -0.77%
2097 -0.99% -0.77%
2096 -0.99% -0.77%
2095 -0.99% -0.77%
2094 -0.99% -0.77%
2093 -0.98% -0.77%
2092 -0.98% -0.77%
2091 -0.97% -0.77%
2090 -0.96% -0.78%
2089 -0.95% -0.77%
2088 -0.95% -0.78%
2087 -0.93% -0.78%
2086 -0.92% -0.79%
2085 -0.91% -0.79%
2084 -0.89% -0.8%
2083 -0.87% -0.8%
2082 -0.86% -0.81%
2081 -0.84% -0.81%
2080 -0.82% -0.82%
2079 -0.8% -0.83%
2078 -0.78% -0.83%
2077 -0.75% -0.83%
2076 -0.73% -0.83%
2075 -0.71% -0.84%
2074 -0.69% -0.84%
2073 -0.67% -0.84%
2072 -0.65% -0.84%
2071 -0.62% -0.85%
2070 -0.6% -0.85%
2069 -0.58% -0.84%
2068 -0.56% -0.84%
2067 -0.55% -0.83%
2066 -0.53% -0.83%
2065 -0.51% -0.83%
2064 -0.49% -0.82%
2063 -0.47% -0.82%
2062 -0.45% -0.81%
2061 -0.44% -0.8%
2060 -0.41% -0.79%
2059 -0.39% -0.79%
2058 -0.37% -0.79%
2057 -0.34% -0.79%
2056 -0.32% -0.78%
2055 -0.29% -0.77%
2054 -0.26% -0.77%
2053 -0.23% -0.77%
2052 -0.2% -0.78%
2051 -0.17% -0.77%
2050 -0.14% -0.78%
2049 -0.11% -0.78%
2048 -0.09% -0.78%
2047 -0.06% -0.78%
2046 -0.03% -0.79%
2045 0.002% -0.79%
2044 0.03% -0.79%
2043 0.05% -0.8%
2042 0.08% -0.8%
2041 0.11% -0.79%
2040 0.13% -0.79%
2039 0.16% -0.78%
2038 0.18% -0.78%
2037 0.2% -0.77%
2036 0.23% -0.76%
2035 0.25% -0.75%
2034 0.27% -0.75%
2033 0.29% -0.73%
2032 0.31% -0.72%
2031 0.33% -0.71%
2030 0.35% -0.7%
2029 0.37% -0.69%
2028 0.39% -0.68%
2027 0.41% -0.66%
2026 0.44% -0.75%
2025 0.46% -0.65%
2024 0.48% -0.55%
2023 0.47% -0.62%
2022 0.43% -2.49%
2021 0.51% -0.94%
2020 0.7% -0.66%
2019 0.84% -0.54%
2018 0.91% -0.54%
2017 0.95% -0.53%
2016 1.02% -0.52%
2015 1.07% -0.51%
2014 1.08% -0.49%
2013 1.12% -0.49%
2012 1.17% -0.48%
2011 1.18% -0.75%
2010 1.25% -0.4%
2009 1.35% -0.4%
2008 1.37% -0.42%
2007 1.36% -0.4%
2006 1.41% -0.39%
2005 1.46% -0.3%
2004 1.48% -0.23%
2003 1.55% -0.26%
2002 1.67% -0.05%
2001 1.81% -0.17%
2000 1.96% -0.32%
1999 2.1% -0.36%
1998 2.19% -0.41%
1997 2.29% -0.31%
1996 2.37% -0.08%
1995 2.44% 0.07%
1994 2.49% 0.11%
1993 2.53% 0.13%
1992 2.56% 0.11%
1991 2.58% -3.83%
1990 2.56% 0.05%
1989 2.55% 0.12%
1988 2.61% 0.21%
1987 2.68% 0.18%
1986 2.75% 0.23%
1985 2.79% 0.29%
1984 2.79% 0.33%
1983 2.79% 0.32%
1982 2.77% 0.34%
1981 2.76% 0.35%
1980 2.76% 2.22%
1979 2.74% 0.51%
1978 2.7% 0.55%
1977 2.67% 0.59%
1976 2.63% 0.68%
1975 2.6% 0.58%
1974 2.58% 0.58%
1973 2.58% 0.44%
1972 2.63% 0.56%
1971 2.7% 0.65%
1970 2.78% 0.59%
1969 2.85% 1.65%
1968 2.97% 0.59%
1967 3.14% 0.56%
1966 3.27% 0.75%
1965 3.41% 0.64%
1964 3.53% 0.66%
1963 3.65% 0.71%
1962 3.74% 0.77%
1961 3.8% 0.75%

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/serbia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Serbia's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Serbia
Current population
5181862
6494521
Population rank 126/197 110/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.08%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
14.3 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
8.63 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
5.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 -101
Annual growth/decline +24,385 -36,707
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 189/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
40.3 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -13,086
Net migration rank 63/196 140/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 712,550
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 70/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 10.6%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 64/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Serbia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Serbia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -13,086
2024 - 967 - -8,132
2023 24,109 995 -36,427 4,348
2022 21,409 1,006 -46,651 40,118
2021 20,119 1,018 -74,494 -8,974
2020 29,164 1,029 -55,193 -10,220
2019 37,682 1,653 -36,810 -18,891
2018 42,469 1,673 -37,707 -18,883
2017 43,471 1,671 -39,317 -18,651
2016 45,565 1,649 -35,998 -18,322
2015 49,077 1,617 -37,605 -18,789
2014 49,559 1,589 -34,946 -18,846
2013 49,227 1,579 -34,399 -17,866
2012 52,036 1,587 -35,288 -18,513
2011 52,884 1,695 -36,906 611
2010 50,803 2,357 -34,999 3,632
2009 55,757 3,432 -33,676 6,043
2008 56,491 3,794 -33,590 7,070
2007 55,244 4,080 -34,693 7,045
2006 54,177 4,321 -31,870 8,018
2005 57,139 4,567 -34,227 7,945
2004 55,769 4,856 -26,121 7,300
2003 56,743 5,216 -24,686 6,854
2002 58,388 5,812 -24,750 1,562
2001 62,199 7,119 -20,259 -12,007
2000 64,268 8,826 -30,065 -14,368
1999 64,922 13,253 -29,408 -4,073
1998 64,788 15,556 -23,006 -5,665
1997 64,954 16,954 -18,389 -5,817
1996 66,094 17,393 -16,007 -5,598
1995 67,585 16,609 -7,628 -6,019
1994 68,336 15,587 -7,157 -5,934
1993 69,016 14,431 -5,703 -5,972
1992 69,830 13,069 -3,779 -4,415
1991 70,506 10,757 2,210 -8,483
1990 71,727 7,949 7,416 -16,260
1989 72,327 3,758 11,872 -16,360
1988 72,944 2,414 13,852 -15,715
1987 73,188 2,267 16,711 -16,686
1986 73,211 2,302 19,407 -17,990
1985 72,776 2,357 22,090 -17,646
1984 71,062 2,402 23,815 -15,567
1983 68,972 2,449 27,515 -15,301
1982 66,826 2,453 30,603 -13,550
1981 64,632 2,431 34,304 -8,531
1980 62,561 2,387 36,273 287
1979 60,984 2,349 39,022 -960
1978 58,327 2,296 43,636 -1,481
1977 56,122 2,228 48,105 -1,953
1976 54,019 2,129 51,399 -2,744
1975 51,979 1,992 52,502 -3,490
1974 50,349 1,839 51,583 -3,525
1973 48,943 1,468 49,596 -2,396
1972 48,417 1,366 48,248 -348
1971 48,341 1,296 47,424 1,655
1970 48,398 1,137 48,343 1,861
1969 48,790 1,017 50,304 4,112
1968 48,361 939 51,653 5,430
1967 50,193 926 53,120 6,114
1966 50,755 930 53,338 7,037
1965 51,196 932 53,383 7,957
1964 51,435 934 54,185 8,045
1963 51,403 938 55,580 8,276
1962 51,046 934 59,307 6,064
1961 50,149 924 61,065 6,422
1960 48,857 910 63,642 4,377

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/serbia | 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 Serbia 83.3% is from natural causes (a loss of 435,148 people) and 16.7% is from migration (a loss of 87,110 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 712,550 people or 10.6% in Serbia.

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
Serbia
City Population
Belgrade 1.2M
Novi Sad 260K
Pristina 227K
Nis 183K
Kragujevac 151K
Subotica 106K
Valjevo 90.3K
Cacak 71.9K
Mitrovica 71.6K
Novi Pazar 66.5K

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/serbia | 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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