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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 20,503,678 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 3.96 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 0.31% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

Costa Rica vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Somalia
2100 3,804,183 68,384,185
2099 3,842,423 68,040,371
2098 3,880,999 67,702,230
2097 3,919,996 67,362,336
2096 3,959,352 66,972,933
2095 3,999,084 66,585,659
2094 4,039,053 66,179,819
2093 4,079,349 65,760,590
2092 4,119,898 65,324,261
2091 4,160,663 64,852,843
2090 4,201,548 64,362,727
2089 4,242,452 63,922,797
2088 4,283,327 63,464,036
2087 4,324,225 62,987,028
2086 4,364,979 62,447,029
2085 4,405,520 61,873,597
2084 4,445,770 61,318,916
2083 4,485,644 60,761,800
2082 4,525,171 60,187,980
2081 4,564,265 59,676,722
2080 4,602,737 59,100,915
2079 4,640,677 58,477,428
2078 4,677,935 57,852,528
2077 4,714,527 57,211,821
2076 4,750,309 56,602,463
2075 4,785,359 56,005,600
2074 4,819,691 55,330,165
2073 4,853,137 54,651,918
2072 4,885,727 53,978,548
2071 4,917,445 53,284,016
2070 4,948,313 52,573,210
2069 4,978,425 51,878,214
2068 5,007,604 51,197,653
2067 5,035,877 50,493,028
2066 5,063,521 49,779,172
2065 5,090,474 49,024,665
2064 5,116,546 48,265,876
2063 5,141,922 47,522,361
2062 5,166,260 46,785,920
2061 5,189,836 46,037,526
2060 5,212,549 45,220,507
2059 5,234,066 44,397,936
2058 5,254,528 43,659,021
2057 5,273,844 42,897,422
2056 5,292,013 42,121,542
2055 5,308,829 41,318,179
2054 5,324,305 40,513,141
2053 5,338,417 39,744,995
2052 5,350,974 38,992,177
2051 5,361,865 38,228,872
2050 5,371,197 37,471,735
2049 5,378,904 36,739,905
2048 5,385,081 35,984,999
2047 5,389,678 35,218,863
2046 5,392,713 34,462,403
2045 5,394,209 33,717,596
2044 5,394,124 32,977,674
2043 5,392,590 32,247,710
2042 5,389,628 31,537,272
2041 5,385,101 30,794,853
2040 5,379,344 30,032,324
2039 5,372,186 29,312,883
2038 5,363,617 28,583,386
2037 5,353,928 27,838,646
2036 5,343,027 27,114,453
2035 5,330,994 26,385,421
2034 5,317,895 25,687,629
2033 5,303,634 25,018,509
2032 5,288,416 24,338,597
2031 5,272,215 23,657,353
2030 5,255,064 22,965,742
2029 5,236,901 22,299,610
2028 5,217,724 21,651,582
2027 5,197,413 20,991,860
2026 5,176,096 20,322,668
2025 5,153,634 19,666,990
2024 5,129,910 19,009,151
2023 5,105,525 18,358,615
2022 5,081,765 17,801,897
2021 5,059,988 17,271,431
2020 5,034,320 16,651,191
2019 4,999,553 16,030,971
2018 4,957,818 15,452,487
2017 4,913,177 14,916,629
2016 4,866,998 14,348,740
2015 4,818,038 13,806,963
2014 4,767,119 13,339,491
2013 4,716,147 12,869,594
2012 4,663,934 12,461,160
2011 4,609,833 12,348,830
2010 4,555,962 12,261,756
2009 4,499,791 11,961,201
2008 4,440,056 11,663,084
2007 4,380,248 11,322,582
2006 4,321,340 10,975,502
2005 4,261,240 10,644,228
2004 4,200,078 10,280,998
2003 4,138,784 9,909,157
2002 4,075,705 9,550,063
2001 4,008,947 9,198,493
2000 3,937,739 8,838,713
1999 3,862,101 8,492,059
1998 3,782,838 8,155,417
1997 3,701,711 7,824,525
1996 3,619,013 7,554,474
1995 3,535,176 7,285,007
1994 3,451,122 7,026,797
1993 3,367,434 6,681,399
1992 3,284,258 6,495,107
1991 3,202,176 6,813,760
1990 3,121,706 7,082,811
1989 3,043,827 7,114,817
1988 2,968,103 7,235,360
1987 2,892,699 7,228,302
1986 2,817,216 6,974,788
1985 2,741,894 6,693,289
1984 2,667,595 6,428,389
1983 2,595,153 6,198,430
1982 2,524,806 6,003,840
1981 2,456,637 5,982,849
1980 2,390,633 5,936,154
1979 2,326,490 5,449,117
1978 2,264,510 4,814,892
1977 2,205,025 4,484,050
1976 2,147,774 4,365,812
1975 2,092,719 4,257,535
1974 2,039,643 4,151,842
1973 1,988,343 4,045,592
1972 1,938,248 3,939,436
1971 1,888,539 3,837,691
1970 1,838,949 3,738,448
1969 1,789,276 3,641,015
1968 1,739,731 3,546,590
1967 1,689,523 3,454,537
1966 1,638,116 3,365,106
1965 1,586,208 3,277,874
1964 1,533,960 3,192,796
1963 1,481,604 3,110,361
1962 1,429,445 3,030,091
1961 1,377,920 2,952,054
1960 1,327,496 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 68.4M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Somalia
2100 -1% 0.51%
2099 -0.99% 0.5%
2098 -0.99% 0.5%
2097 -0.99% 0.58%
2096 -0.99% 0.58%
2095 -0.99% 0.61%
2094 -0.99% 0.64%
2093 -0.98% 0.67%
2092 -0.98% 0.73%
2091 -0.97% 0.76%
2090 -0.96% 0.69%
2089 -0.95% 0.72%
2088 -0.95% 0.76%
2087 -0.93% 0.86%
2086 -0.92% 0.93%
2085 -0.91% 0.9%
2084 -0.89% 0.92%
2083 -0.87% 0.95%
2082 -0.86% 0.86%
2081 -0.84% 0.97%
2080 -0.82% 1.07%
2079 -0.8% 1.08%
2078 -0.78% 1.12%
2077 -0.75% 1.08%
2076 -0.73% 1.07%
2075 -0.71% 1.22%
2074 -0.69% 1.24%
2073 -0.67% 1.25%
2072 -0.65% 1.3%
2071 -0.62% 1.35%
2070 -0.6% 1.34%
2069 -0.58% 1.33%
2068 -0.56% 1.4%
2067 -0.55% 1.43%
2066 -0.53% 1.54%
2065 -0.51% 1.57%
2064 -0.49% 1.56%
2063 -0.47% 1.57%
2062 -0.45% 1.63%
2061 -0.44% 1.81%
2060 -0.41% 1.85%
2059 -0.39% 1.69%
2058 -0.37% 1.78%
2057 -0.34% 1.84%
2056 -0.32% 1.94%
2055 -0.29% 1.99%
2054 -0.26% 1.93%
2053 -0.23% 1.93%
2052 -0.2% 2%
2051 -0.17% 2.02%
2050 -0.14% 1.99%
2049 -0.11% 2.1%
2048 -0.09% 2.18%
2047 -0.06% 2.2%
2046 -0.03% 2.21%
2045 0.002% 2.24%
2044 0.03% 2.26%
2043 0.05% 2.25%
2042 0.08% 2.41%
2041 0.11% 2.54%
2040 0.13% 2.45%
2039 0.16% 2.55%
2038 0.18% 2.68%
2037 0.2% 2.67%
2036 0.23% 2.76%
2035 0.25% 2.72%
2034 0.27% 2.67%
2033 0.29% 2.79%
2032 0.31% 2.88%
2031 0.33% 3.01%
2030 0.35% 2.99%
2029 0.37% 2.99%
2028 0.39% 3.14%
2027 0.41% 3.29%
2026 0.44% 3.33%
2025 0.46% 3.46%
2024 0.48% 3.54%
2023 0.47% 3.13%
2022 0.43% 3.07%
2021 0.51% 3.72%
2020 0.7% 3.87%
2019 0.84% 3.74%
2018 0.91% 3.59%
2017 0.95% 3.96%
2016 1.02% 3.92%
2015 1.07% 3.5%
2014 1.08% 3.65%
2013 1.12% 3.28%
2012 1.17% 0.91%
2011 1.18% 0.71%
2010 1.25% 2.51%
2009 1.35% 2.56%
2008 1.37% 3.01%
2007 1.36% 3.16%
2006 1.41% 3.11%
2005 1.46% 3.53%
2004 1.48% 3.75%
2003 1.55% 3.76%
2002 1.67% 3.82%
2001 1.81% 4.07%
2000 1.96% 4.08%
1999 2.1% 4.13%
1998 2.19% 4.23%
1997 2.29% 3.57%
1996 2.37% 3.7%
1995 2.44% 3.67%
1994 2.49% 5.17%
1993 2.53% 2.87%
1992 2.56% -4.68%
1991 2.58% -3.8%
1990 2.56% -0.45%
1989 2.55% -1.67%
1988 2.61% 0.1%
1987 2.68% 3.63%
1986 2.75% 4.21%
1985 2.79% 4.12%
1984 2.79% 3.71%
1983 2.79% 3.24%
1982 2.77% 0.35%
1981 2.76% 0.79%
1980 2.76% 8.94%
1979 2.74% 13.2%
1978 2.7% 7.38%
1977 2.67% 2.71%
1976 2.63% 2.54%
1975 2.6% 2.55%
1974 2.58% 2.63%
1973 2.58% 2.69%
1972 2.63% 2.65%
1971 2.7% 2.65%
1970 2.78% 2.68%
1969 2.85% 2.66%
1968 2.97% 2.66%
1967 3.14% 2.66%
1966 3.27% 2.66%
1965 3.41% 2.66%
1964 3.53% 2.65%
1963 3.65% 2.65%
1962 3.74% 2.64%
1961 3.8% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Somalia
Current population
5181862
20503678
Population rank 126/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.25%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
48.5 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
40 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +1,782
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +3.54%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 8/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +12,077
Net migration rank 63/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 12,077
2024 - 967 - 26,859
2023 24,109 995 608,203 46,217
2022 21,409 1,006 551,450 -92,434
2021 20,119 1,018 566,399 35,506
2020 29,164 1,029 561,311 77,259
2019 37,682 1,653 548,756 53,124
2018 42,469 1,673 514,244 40,844
2017 43,471 1,671 478,556 38,067
2016 45,565 1,649 495,132 124,017
2015 49,077 1,617 481,573 -17,178
2014 49,559 1,589 464,481 6,065
2013 49,227 1,579 448,518 20,723
2012 52,036 1,587 399,468 -51,833
2011 52,884 1,695 203,213 -326,192
2010 50,803 2,357 385,571 -88,448
2009 55,757 3,432 405,784 -101,795
2008 56,491 3,794 394,258 -102,035
2007 55,244 4,080 380,303 8,476
2006 54,177 4,321 372,597 -67,200
2005 57,139 4,567 363,117 -5,955
2004 55,769 4,856 351,959 17,353
2003 56,743 5,216 341,192 33,174
2002 58,388 5,812 331,215 12,603
2001 62,199 7,119 319,059 40,274
2000 64,268 8,826 306,651 53,580
1999 64,922 13,253 295,523 37,548
1998 64,788 15,556 284,779 55,426
1997 64,954 16,954 271,894 49,692
1996 66,094 17,393 264,807 -46,291
1995 67,585 16,609 254,509 65,888
1994 68,336 15,587 246,950 -50,921
1993 69,016 14,431 232,960 261,815
1992 69,830 13,069 57,495 -179,675
1991 70,506 10,757 53,052 -568,166
1990 71,727 7,949 225,162 -248,155
1989 72,327 3,758 225,255 -266,281
1988 72,944 2,414 215,599 -415,660
1987 73,188 2,267 231,580 -17,391
1986 73,211 2,302 218,416 74,424
1985 72,776 2,357 207,960 62,183
1984 71,062 2,402 199,017 60,630
1983 68,972 2,449 190,775 9,505
1982 66,826 2,453 182,793 6,115
1981 64,632 2,431 185,211 -332,129
1980 62,561 2,387 174,790 65,519
1979 60,984 2,349 151,016 582,746
1978 58,327 2,296 132,689 402,005
1977 56,122 2,228 124,818 2,170
1976 54,019 2,129 113,319 -3,831
1975 51,979 1,992 108,998 -1,934
1974 50,349 1,839 104,813 -495
1973 48,943 1,468 108,038 143
1972 48,417 1,366 104,493 -351
1971 48,341 1,296 101,196 -1,850
1970 48,398 1,137 98,025 1,104
1969 48,790 1,017 95,045 690
1968 48,361 939 92,208 906
1967 50,193 926 89,497 1,498
1966 50,755 930 86,930 941
1965 51,196 932 84,448 2,142
1964 51,435 934 82,042 1,518
1963 51,403 938 79,859 1,449
1962 51,046 934 77,737 1,496
1961 50,149 924 75,513 1,336
1960 48,857 910 73,850 750

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

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
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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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