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Population in Costa Rica compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 1.75 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.17% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Costa Rica vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Sierra Leone
2100 3,804,183 16,111,324
2099 3,842,423 16,126,181
2098 3,880,999 16,139,280
2097 3,919,996 16,154,153
2096 3,959,352 16,164,923
2095 3,999,084 16,173,557
2094 4,039,053 16,173,155
2093 4,079,349 16,177,864
2092 4,119,898 16,175,032
2091 4,160,663 16,168,153
2090 4,201,548 16,158,415
2089 4,242,452 16,146,773
2088 4,283,327 16,133,018
2087 4,324,225 16,116,823
2086 4,364,979 16,089,780
2085 4,405,520 16,068,438
2084 4,445,770 16,044,782
2083 4,485,644 16,011,134
2082 4,525,171 15,975,073
2081 4,564,265 15,935,071
2080 4,602,737 15,896,846
2079 4,640,677 15,854,898
2078 4,677,935 15,805,607
2077 4,714,527 15,754,551
2076 4,750,309 15,699,439
2075 4,785,359 15,639,458
2074 4,819,691 15,584,377
2073 4,853,137 15,516,736
2072 4,885,727 15,446,543
2071 4,917,445 15,374,790
2070 4,948,313 15,297,449
2069 4,978,425 15,216,666
2068 5,007,604 15,128,048
2067 5,035,877 15,032,144
2066 5,063,521 14,935,222
2065 5,090,474 14,837,697
2064 5,116,546 14,740,749
2063 5,141,922 14,642,031
2062 5,166,260 14,529,557
2061 5,189,836 14,423,861
2060 5,212,549 14,311,215
2059 5,234,066 14,198,706
2058 5,254,528 14,080,827
2057 5,273,844 13,960,869
2056 5,292,013 13,836,132
2055 5,308,829 13,706,113
2054 5,324,305 13,579,802
2053 5,338,417 13,444,465
2052 5,350,974 13,303,409
2051 5,361,865 13,156,370
2050 5,371,197 13,010,109
2049 5,378,904 12,867,021
2048 5,385,081 12,716,015
2047 5,389,678 12,570,250
2046 5,392,713 12,414,307
2045 5,394,209 12,257,874
2044 5,394,124 12,092,075
2043 5,392,590 11,931,531
2042 5,389,628 11,770,467
2041 5,385,101 11,602,993
2040 5,379,344 11,431,337
2039 5,372,186 11,262,807
2038 5,363,617 11,100,099
2037 5,353,928 10,931,629
2036 5,343,027 10,760,758
2035 5,330,994 10,585,702
2034 5,317,895 10,413,826
2033 5,303,634 10,241,196
2032 5,288,416 10,062,575
2031 5,272,215 9,883,708
2030 5,255,064 9,708,038
2029 5,236,901 9,532,000
2028 5,217,724 9,360,873
2027 5,197,413 9,179,702
2026 5,176,096 9,001,269
2025 5,153,634 8,822,114
2024 5,129,910 8,642,022
2023 5,105,525 8,460,512
2022 5,081,765 8,276,807
2021 5,059,988 8,094,602
2020 5,034,320 7,912,558
2019 4,999,553 7,731,991
2018 4,957,818 7,554,563
2017 4,913,177 7,379,299
2016 4,866,998 7,205,328
2015 4,818,038 7,037,655
2014 4,767,119 6,876,385
2013 4,716,147 6,714,051
2012 4,663,934 6,551,080
2011 4,609,833 6,387,251
2010 4,555,962 6,222,714
2009 4,499,791 6,055,646
2008 4,440,056 5,894,722
2007 4,380,248 5,749,352
2006 4,321,340 5,624,466
2005 4,261,240 5,501,712
2004 4,200,078 5,355,717
2003 4,138,784 5,177,687
2002 4,075,705 4,971,435
2001 4,008,947 4,692,716
2000 3,937,739 4,423,611
1999 3,862,101 4,318,043
1998 3,782,838 4,295,785
1997 3,701,711 4,253,716
1996 3,619,013 4,199,210
1995 3,535,176 4,179,179
1994 3,451,122 4,173,105
1993 3,367,434 4,157,130
1992 3,284,258 4,166,366
1991 3,202,176 4,246,267
1990 3,121,706 4,196,828
1989 3,043,827 4,034,037
1988 2,968,103 3,934,517
1987 2,892,699 3,829,718
1986 2,817,216 3,728,380
1985 2,741,894 3,638,438
1984 2,667,595 3,558,758
1983 2,595,153 3,481,646
1982 2,524,806 3,408,183
1981 2,456,637 3,338,940
1980 2,390,633 3,272,089
1979 2,326,490 3,207,499
1978 2,264,510 3,145,517
1977 2,205,025 3,085,354
1976 2,147,774 3,028,820
1975 2,092,719 2,974,657
1974 2,039,643 2,920,459
1973 1,988,343 2,866,955
1972 1,938,248 2,814,388
1971 1,888,539 2,763,222
1970 1,838,949 2,712,286
1969 1,789,276 2,661,365
1968 1,739,731 2,611,532
1967 1,689,523 2,562,384
1966 1,638,116 2,514,638
1965 1,586,208 2,468,666
1964 1,533,960 2,424,390
1963 1,481,604 2,382,258
1962 1,429,445 2,342,242
1961 1,377,920 2,304,227
1960 1,327,496 2,268,356

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Sierra Leone
2100 -1% -0.09%
2099 -0.99% -0.08%
2098 -0.99% -0.09%
2097 -0.99% -0.07%
2096 -0.99% -0.05%
2095 -0.99% 0.002%
2094 -0.99% -0.03%
2093 -0.98% 0.02%
2092 -0.98% 0.04%
2091 -0.97% 0.06%
2090 -0.96% 0.07%
2089 -0.95% 0.09%
2088 -0.95% 0.1%
2087 -0.93% 0.17%
2086 -0.92% 0.13%
2085 -0.91% 0.15%
2084 -0.89% 0.21%
2083 -0.87% 0.23%
2082 -0.86% 0.25%
2081 -0.84% 0.24%
2080 -0.82% 0.26%
2079 -0.8% 0.31%
2078 -0.78% 0.32%
2077 -0.75% 0.35%
2076 -0.73% 0.38%
2075 -0.71% 0.35%
2074 -0.69% 0.44%
2073 -0.67% 0.45%
2072 -0.65% 0.47%
2071 -0.62% 0.51%
2070 -0.6% 0.53%
2069 -0.58% 0.59%
2068 -0.56% 0.64%
2067 -0.55% 0.65%
2066 -0.53% 0.66%
2065 -0.51% 0.66%
2064 -0.49% 0.67%
2063 -0.47% 0.77%
2062 -0.45% 0.73%
2061 -0.44% 0.79%
2060 -0.41% 0.79%
2059 -0.39% 0.84%
2058 -0.37% 0.86%
2057 -0.34% 0.9%
2056 -0.32% 0.95%
2055 -0.29% 0.93%
2054 -0.26% 1.01%
2053 -0.23% 1.06%
2052 -0.2% 1.12%
2051 -0.17% 1.12%
2050 -0.14% 1.11%
2049 -0.11% 1.19%
2048 -0.09% 1.16%
2047 -0.06% 1.26%
2046 -0.03% 1.28%
2045 0.002% 1.37%
2044 0.03% 1.35%
2043 0.05% 1.37%
2042 0.08% 1.44%
2041 0.11% 1.5%
2040 0.13% 1.5%
2039 0.16% 1.47%
2038 0.18% 1.54%
2037 0.2% 1.59%
2036 0.23% 1.65%
2035 0.25% 1.65%
2034 0.27% 1.69%
2033 0.29% 1.78%
2032 0.31% 1.81%
2031 0.33% 1.81%
2030 0.35% 1.85%
2029 0.37% 1.83%
2028 0.39% 1.97%
2027 0.41% 1.98%
2026 0.44% 2.03%
2025 0.46% 2.08%
2024 0.48% 2.15%
2023 0.47% 2.22%
2022 0.43% 2.25%
2021 0.51% 2.3%
2020 0.7% 2.34%
2019 0.84% 2.35%
2018 0.91% 2.38%
2017 0.95% 2.41%
2016 1.02% 2.38%
2015 1.07% 2.35%
2014 1.08% 2.42%
2013 1.12% 2.49%
2012 1.17% 2.56%
2011 1.18% 2.64%
2010 1.25% 2.76%
2009 1.35% 2.73%
2008 1.37% 2.53%
2007 1.36% 2.22%
2006 1.41% 2.23%
2005 1.46% 2.73%
2004 1.48% 3.44%
2003 1.55% 4.15%
2002 1.67% 5.94%
2001 1.81% 6.08%
2000 1.96% 2.44%
1999 2.1% 0.52%
1998 2.19% 0.99%
1997 2.29% 1.3%
1996 2.37% 0.48%
1995 2.44% 0.15%
1994 2.49% 0.38%
1993 2.53% -0.22%
1992 2.56% -1.88%
1991 2.58% 1.18%
1990 2.56% 4.04%
1989 2.55% 2.53%
1988 2.61% 2.74%
1987 2.68% 2.72%
1986 2.75% 2.47%
1985 2.79% 2.24%
1984 2.79% 2.21%
1983 2.79% 2.16%
1982 2.77% 2.07%
1981 2.76% 2.04%
1980 2.76% 2.01%
1979 2.74% 1.97%
1978 2.7% 1.95%
1977 2.67% 1.87%
1976 2.63% 1.82%
1975 2.6% 1.86%
1974 2.58% 1.87%
1973 2.58% 1.87%
1972 2.63% 1.85%
1971 2.7% 1.88%
1970 2.78% 1.91%
1969 2.85% 1.91%
1968 2.97% 1.92%
1967 3.14% 1.9%
1966 3.27% 1.86%
1965 3.41% 1.83%
1964 3.53% 1.77%
1963 3.65% 1.71%
1962 3.74% 1.65%
1961 3.8% 1.58%

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Sierra Leone
Current population
5181862
9049533
Population rank 126/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.11%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +497
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 47/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -11,309
Net migration rank 63/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -11,309
2024 - 967 - -11,000
2023 24,109 995 188,788 -4,000
2022 21,409 1,006 186,625 -4,000
2021 20,119 1,018 183,326 -1,544
2020 29,164 1,029 181,015 1,292
2019 37,682 1,653 181,068 -2,238
2018 42,469 1,673 178,772 -2,741
2017 43,471 1,671 173,259 1,234
2016 45,565 1,649 168,784 4,657
2015 49,077 1,617 162,275 -356
2014 49,559 1,589 160,137 485
2013 49,227 1,579 161,265 2,773
2012 52,036 1,587 160,915 988
2011 52,884 1,695 158,858 6,895
2010 50,803 2,357 155,338 7,983
2009 55,757 3,432 152,669 18,145
2008 56,491 3,794 149,855 1,182
2007 55,244 4,080 145,740 -6,042
2006 54,177 4,321 144,127 -34,052
2005 57,139 4,567 137,234 -1,805
2004 55,769 4,856 132,661 23,897
2003 56,743 5,216 130,312 69,185
2002 58,388 5,812 126,429 86,578
2001 62,199 7,119 116,647 227,791
2000 64,268 8,826 110,754 83,013
1999 64,922 13,253 102,295 -84,926
1998 64,788 15,556 103,906 -76,766
1997 64,954 16,954 105,433 -48,437
1996 66,094 17,393 104,140 -52,110
1995 67,585 16,609 100,885 -112,857
1994 68,336 15,587 101,486 -77,371
1993 69,016 14,431 103,317 -95,476
1992 69,830 13,069 103,251 -129,565
1991 70,506 10,757 105,477 -238,965
1990 71,727 7,949 100,778 131,587
1989 72,327 3,758 98,298 -5,079
1988 72,944 2,414 96,344 9,470
1987 73,188 2,267 94,235 9,558
1986 73,211 2,302 90,902 7,992
1985 72,776 2,357 88,869 -7,873
1984 71,062 2,402 87,072 -8,708
1983 68,972 2,449 84,628 -8,783
1982 66,826 2,453 82,457 -11,379
1981 64,632 2,431 80,111 -12,699
1980 62,561 2,387 77,932 -11,641
1979 60,984 2,349 75,992 -13,095
1978 58,327 2,296 74,130 -13,073
1977 56,122 2,228 71,663 -12,399
1976 54,019 2,129 69,506 -15,686
1975 51,979 1,992 67,560 -13,058
1974 50,349 1,839 65,357 -11,473
1973 48,943 1,468 62,443 -9,322
1972 48,417 1,366 60,279 -8,267
1971 48,341 1,296 58,484 -8,162
1970 48,398 1,137 56,513 -4,957
1969 48,790 1,017 54,768 -4,485
1968 48,361 939 53,126 -3,743
1967 50,193 926 51,734 -2,819
1966 50,755 930 49,486 -2,911
1965 51,196 932 47,223 -1,851
1964 51,435 934 45,487 -2,308
1963 51,403 938 43,569 -2,480
1962 51,046 934 41,603 -2,658
1961 50,149 924 40,022 -2,947
1960 48,857 910 38,192 -3,528

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

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
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

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/sierra-leone | 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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