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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 19,654,739 people in Somalia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 20,653,532 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 3.98 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 +0.71% per year vs +3.59% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.7M (88.2% growth).

Costa Rica vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Somalia
2100 3,803,678 68,341,587
2099 3,841,913 67,997,987
2098 3,880,484 67,660,056
2097 3,919,475 67,320,374
2096 3,958,826 66,931,214
2095 3,998,552 66,544,181
2094 4,038,516 66,138,594
2093 4,078,807 65,719,626
2092 4,119,351 65,283,569
2091 4,160,111 64,812,444
2090 4,200,989 64,322,633
2089 4,241,888 63,882,977
2088 4,282,758 63,424,502
2087 4,323,650 62,947,792
2086 4,364,399 62,408,129
2085 4,404,935 61,835,054
2084 4,445,179 61,280,718
2083 4,485,048 60,723,949
2082 4,524,570 60,150,487
2081 4,563,658 59,639,547
2080 4,602,126 59,064,099
2079 4,640,060 58,441,001
2078 4,677,313 57,816,490
2077 4,713,901 57,176,183
2076 4,749,678 56,567,204
2075 4,784,723 55,970,712
2074 4,819,050 55,295,699
2073 4,852,492 54,617,874
2072 4,885,078 53,944,923
2071 4,916,792 53,250,824
2070 4,947,655 52,540,460
2069 4,977,764 51,845,897
2068 5,006,939 51,165,760
2067 5,035,207 50,461,574
2066 5,062,849 49,748,163
2065 5,089,797 48,994,126
2064 5,115,866 48,235,809
2063 5,141,239 47,492,758
2062 5,165,574 46,756,776
2061 5,189,146 46,008,848
2060 5,211,857 45,192,338
2059 5,233,370 44,370,279
2058 5,253,830 43,631,825
2057 5,273,143 42,870,700
2056 5,291,310 42,095,303
2055 5,308,124 41,292,441
2054 5,323,598 40,487,904
2053 5,337,707 39,720,236
2052 5,350,263 38,967,888
2051 5,361,152 38,205,058
2050 5,370,484 37,448,393
2049 5,378,189 36,717,019
2048 5,384,366 35,962,583
2047 5,388,962 35,196,924
2046 5,391,996 34,440,935
2045 5,393,493 33,696,593
2044 5,393,407 32,957,131
2043 5,391,873 32,227,622
2042 5,388,912 31,517,627
2041 5,384,386 30,775,671
2040 5,378,629 30,013,616
2039 5,371,473 29,294,623
2038 5,362,904 28,565,580
2037 5,353,217 27,821,304
2036 5,342,317 27,097,563
2035 5,330,286 26,368,985
2034 5,317,189 25,671,628
2033 5,302,930 25,002,924
2032 5,287,714 24,323,435
2031 5,271,514 23,642,617
2030 5,254,366 22,951,436
2029 5,236,206 22,285,719
2028 5,217,031 21,638,095
2027 5,196,723 20,978,784
2026 5,175,408 20,310,008
2025 5,152,950 19,654,739
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,304,792 people (a 43.9% 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 3.55% to 5,370,484 people with a rank change from 126th to 127th. The population of Somalia will increase by 81.3% to 37,448,393 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 68.3M 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 0.45% 3.4%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/somalia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.4%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Somalia
Current population
5186356
20653532
Population rank 126/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.25%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
49 seconds
One birth every
10.3 minutes
39.2 seconds
One death every
18.4 minutes
2.84 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +1,769
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +645,588
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +3.4%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 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 22,699 967 619,793 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,425,417 people) and 5.77% is from migration (a gain of 332,281 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 (1960–2025, 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/somalia | 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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