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Population in Costa Rica compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 12.7 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.86% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Costa Rica vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica South Africa
2100 3,804,183 94,767,727
2099 3,842,423 94,556,931
2098 3,880,999 94,349,546
2097 3,919,996 94,158,472
2096 3,959,352 93,960,605
2095 3,999,084 93,752,736
2094 4,039,053 93,527,902
2093 4,079,349 93,300,398
2092 4,119,898 93,074,837
2091 4,160,663 92,826,204
2090 4,201,548 92,594,033
2089 4,242,452 92,355,184
2088 4,283,327 92,112,914
2087 4,324,225 91,866,024
2086 4,364,979 91,614,165
2085 4,405,520 91,385,350
2084 4,445,770 91,139,318
2083 4,485,644 90,877,425
2082 4,525,171 90,615,359
2081 4,564,265 90,345,492
2080 4,602,737 90,071,835
2079 4,640,677 89,801,998
2078 4,677,935 89,526,224
2077 4,714,527 89,249,206
2076 4,750,309 88,986,114
2075 4,785,359 88,713,215
2074 4,819,691 88,428,616
2073 4,853,137 88,149,885
2072 4,885,727 87,866,246
2071 4,917,445 87,540,177
2070 4,948,313 87,209,425
2069 4,978,425 86,901,512
2068 5,007,604 86,588,742
2067 5,035,877 86,268,392
2066 5,063,521 85,935,310
2065 5,090,474 85,604,376
2064 5,116,546 85,244,950
2063 5,141,922 84,875,503
2062 5,166,260 84,503,237
2061 5,189,836 84,132,885
2060 5,212,549 83,748,999
2059 5,234,066 83,354,923
2058 5,254,528 82,947,675
2057 5,273,844 82,538,045
2056 5,292,013 82,127,477
2055 5,308,829 81,698,196
2054 5,324,305 81,255,867
2053 5,338,417 80,818,632
2052 5,350,974 80,367,409
2051 5,361,865 79,886,672
2050 5,371,197 79,411,977
2049 5,378,904 78,925,493
2048 5,385,081 78,437,677
2047 5,389,678 77,922,211
2046 5,392,713 77,397,298
2045 5,394,209 76,879,838
2044 5,394,124 76,357,155
2043 5,392,590 75,827,709
2042 5,389,628 75,291,615
2041 5,385,101 74,748,408
2040 5,379,344 74,205,530
2039 5,372,186 73,663,047
2038 5,363,617 73,105,930
2037 5,353,928 72,532,742
2036 5,343,027 71,956,247
2035 5,330,994 71,362,555
2034 5,317,895 70,762,815
2033 5,303,634 70,153,205
2032 5,288,416 69,527,410
2031 5,272,215 68,890,002
2030 5,255,064 68,245,372
2029 5,236,901 67,573,179
2028 5,217,724 66,884,377
2027 5,197,413 66,190,258
2026 5,176,096 65,496,277
2025 5,153,634 64,770,314
2024 5,129,910 64,007,187
2023 5,105,525 63,212,384
2022 5,081,765 62,378,410
2021 5,059,988 61,502,603
2020 5,034,320 60,562,381
2019 4,999,553 59,587,885
2018 4,957,818 58,613,001
2017 4,913,177 57,635,162
2016 4,866,998 57,259,551
2015 4,818,038 56,723,537
2014 4,767,119 55,594,838
2013 4,716,147 54,678,791
2012 4,663,934 53,782,567
2011 4,609,833 52,995,205
2010 4,555,962 52,344,051
2009 4,499,791 51,728,516
2008 4,440,056 51,114,599
2007 4,380,248 50,528,584
2006 4,321,340 49,998,277
2005 4,261,240 49,490,033
2004 4,200,078 48,991,421
2003 4,138,784 48,500,348
2002 4,075,705 48,019,415
2001 4,008,947 47,566,800
2000 3,937,739 47,159,719
1999 3,862,101 46,730,335
1998 3,782,838 46,223,880
1997 3,701,711 45,666,838
1996 3,619,013 45,123,018
1995 3,535,176 44,541,554
1994 3,451,122 44,004,139
1993 3,367,434 43,297,156
1992 3,284,258 42,443,509
1991 3,202,176 41,687,898
1990 3,121,706 40,746,268
1989 3,043,827 39,628,575
1988 2,968,103 38,480,649
1987 2,892,699 37,326,190
1986 2,817,216 36,180,515
1985 2,741,894 35,042,093
1984 2,667,595 33,892,788
1983 2,595,153 32,739,304
1982 2,524,806 31,615,339
1981 2,456,637 30,541,044
1980 2,390,633 29,518,857
1979 2,326,490 28,634,162
1978 2,264,510 27,869,507
1977 2,205,025 27,118,952
1976 2,147,774 26,395,450
1975 2,092,719 25,690,940
1974 2,039,643 24,989,108
1973 1,988,343 24,294,263
1972 1,938,248 23,609,456
1971 1,888,539 22,942,143
1970 1,838,949 22,279,984
1969 1,789,276 21,614,676
1968 1,739,731 20,957,287
1967 1,689,523 20,314,066
1966 1,638,116 19,690,087
1965 1,586,208 19,089,380
1964 1,533,960 18,511,361
1963 1,481,604 17,954,564
1962 1,429,445 17,418,522
1961 1,377,920 16,908,035
1960 1,327,496 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica South Africa
2100 -1% 0.22%
2099 -0.99% 0.22%
2098 -0.99% 0.2%
2097 -0.99% 0.21%
2096 -0.99% 0.22%
2095 -0.99% 0.24%
2094 -0.99% 0.24%
2093 -0.98% 0.24%
2092 -0.98% 0.27%
2091 -0.97% 0.25%
2090 -0.96% 0.26%
2089 -0.95% 0.26%
2088 -0.95% 0.27%
2087 -0.93% 0.27%
2086 -0.92% 0.25%
2085 -0.91% 0.27%
2084 -0.89% 0.29%
2083 -0.87% 0.29%
2082 -0.86% 0.3%
2081 -0.84% 0.3%
2080 -0.82% 0.3%
2079 -0.8% 0.31%
2078 -0.78% 0.31%
2077 -0.75% 0.3%
2076 -0.73% 0.31%
2075 -0.71% 0.32%
2074 -0.69% 0.32%
2073 -0.67% 0.32%
2072 -0.65% 0.37%
2071 -0.62% 0.38%
2070 -0.6% 0.35%
2069 -0.58% 0.36%
2068 -0.56% 0.37%
2067 -0.55% 0.39%
2066 -0.53% 0.39%
2065 -0.51% 0.42%
2064 -0.49% 0.44%
2063 -0.47% 0.44%
2062 -0.45% 0.44%
2061 -0.44% 0.46%
2060 -0.41% 0.47%
2059 -0.39% 0.49%
2058 -0.37% 0.5%
2057 -0.34% 0.5%
2056 -0.32% 0.53%
2055 -0.29% 0.54%
2054 -0.26% 0.54%
2053 -0.23% 0.56%
2052 -0.2% 0.6%
2051 -0.17% 0.6%
2050 -0.14% 0.62%
2049 -0.11% 0.62%
2048 -0.09% 0.66%
2047 -0.06% 0.68%
2046 -0.03% 0.67%
2045 0.002% 0.68%
2044 0.03% 0.7%
2043 0.05% 0.71%
2042 0.08% 0.73%
2041 0.11% 0.73%
2040 0.13% 0.74%
2039 0.16% 0.76%
2038 0.18% 0.79%
2037 0.2% 0.8%
2036 0.23% 0.83%
2035 0.25% 0.85%
2034 0.27% 0.87%
2033 0.29% 0.9%
2032 0.31% 0.93%
2031 0.33% 0.94%
2030 0.35% 0.99%
2029 0.37% 1.03%
2028 0.39% 1.05%
2027 0.41% 1.06%
2026 0.44% 1.12%
2025 0.46% 1.19%
2024 0.48% 1.26%
2023 0.47% 1.34%
2022 0.43% 1.42%
2021 0.51% 1.55%
2020 0.7% 1.64%
2019 0.84% 1.66%
2018 0.91% 1.7%
2017 0.95% 0.66%
2016 1.02% 0.94%
2015 1.07% 2.03%
2014 1.08% 1.68%
2013 1.12% 1.67%
2012 1.17% 1.49%
2011 1.18% 1.24%
2010 1.25% 1.19%
2009 1.35% 1.2%
2008 1.37% 1.16%
2007 1.36% 1.06%
2006 1.41% 1.03%
2005 1.46% 1.02%
2004 1.48% 1.01%
2003 1.55% 1%
2002 1.67% 0.95%
2001 1.81% 0.86%
2000 1.96% 0.92%
1999 2.1% 1.1%
1998 2.19% 1.22%
1997 2.29% 1.21%
1996 2.37% 1.31%
1995 2.44% 1.22%
1994 2.49% 1.63%
1993 2.53% 2.01%
1992 2.56% 1.81%
1991 2.58% 2.31%
1990 2.56% 2.82%
1989 2.55% 2.98%
1988 2.61% 3.09%
1987 2.68% 3.17%
1986 2.75% 3.25%
1985 2.79% 3.39%
1984 2.79% 3.52%
1983 2.79% 3.56%
1982 2.77% 3.52%
1981 2.76% 3.46%
1980 2.76% 3.09%
1979 2.74% 2.74%
1978 2.7% 2.77%
1977 2.67% 2.74%
1976 2.63% 2.74%
1975 2.6% 2.81%
1974 2.58% 2.86%
1973 2.58% 2.9%
1972 2.63% 2.91%
1971 2.7% 2.97%
1970 2.78% 3.08%
1969 2.85% 3.14%
1968 2.97% 3.17%
1967 3.14% 3.17%
1966 3.27% 3.15%
1965 3.41% 3.12%
1964 3.53% 3.1%
1963 3.65% 3.08%
1962 3.74% 3.02%
1961 3.8% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica South Africa
Current population
5181862
65683993
Population rank 126/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.79%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +67 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 85/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +146,370
Net migration rank 63/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 146,370
2024 - 967 - 166,972
2023 24,109 995 602,793 228,222
2022 21,409 1,006 603,636 233,284
2021 20,119 1,018 456,411 458,246
2020 29,164 1,029 595,873 369,901
2019 37,682 1,653 652,130 331,124
2018 42,469 1,673 648,319 318,260
2017 43,471 1,671 645,975 343,146
2016 45,565 1,649 641,365 -879,235
2015 49,077 1,617 668,771 641,150
2014 49,559 1,589 674,754 272,697
2013 49,227 1,579 652,427 232,230
2012 52,036 1,587 643,723 264,091
2011 52,884 1,695 601,708 65,166
2010 50,803 2,357 566,834 68,563
2009 55,757 3,432 554,115 41,528
2008 56,491 3,794 595,332 36,869
2007 55,244 4,080 503,567 36,339
2006 54,177 4,321 487,584 33,159
2005 57,139 4,567 464,464 31,286
2004 55,769 4,856 442,540 58,924
2003 56,743 5,216 415,018 65,604
2002 58,388 5,812 430,926 50,313
2001 62,199 7,119 484,801 -60,793
2000 64,268 8,826 526,963 -136,794
1999 64,922 13,253 594,643 -126,011
1998 64,788 15,556 627,027 -82,722
1997 64,954 16,954 667,969 -98,181
1996 66,094 17,393 710,868 -193,007
1995 67,585 16,609 743,488 -98,403
1994 68,336 15,587 698,609 -268,849
1993 69,016 14,431 789,220 194,977
1992 69,830 13,069 794,415 -71,342
1991 70,506 10,757 827,296 -39,131
1990 71,727 7,949 835,421 259,718
1989 72,327 3,758 884,629 255,605
1988 72,944 2,414 909,221 246,382
1987 73,188 2,267 922,330 231,009
1986 73,211 2,302 903,644 234,378
1985 72,776 2,357 893,889 244,940
1984 71,062 2,402 869,011 290,789
1983 68,972 2,449 837,013 310,172
1982 66,826 2,453 807,550 293,195
1981 64,632 2,431 767,833 279,985
1980 62,561 2,387 738,415 258,127
1979 60,984 2,349 716,541 56,323
1978 58,327 2,296 694,341 62,121
1977 56,122 2,228 680,929 63,739
1976 54,019 2,129 675,011 27,333
1975 51,979 1,992 667,862 38,809
1974 50,349 1,839 658,438 38,518
1973 48,943 1,468 651,596 41,125
1972 48,417 1,366 638,754 38,163
1971 48,341 1,296 624,761 32,961
1970 48,398 1,137 605,102 61,514
1969 48,790 1,017 590,794 73,225
1968 48,361 939 571,841 78,932
1967 50,193 926 553,741 81,932
1966 50,755 930 534,862 77,417
1965 51,196 932 506,632 82,514
1964 51,435 934 490,606 76,298
1963 51,403 938 473,821 72,844
1962 51,046 934 455,634 69,771
1961 50,149 924 437,851 57,728
1960 48,857 910 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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