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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 9.95 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.68% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Costa Rica vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica South Korea
2100 3,803,678 22,001,649
2099 3,841,913 22,324,514
2098 3,880,484 22,657,541
2097 3,919,475 22,998,315
2096 3,958,826 23,348,632
2095 3,998,552 23,711,049
2094 4,038,516 24,081,510
2093 4,078,807 24,460,970
2092 4,119,351 24,848,715
2091 4,160,111 25,242,926
2090 4,200,989 25,642,926
2089 4,241,888 26,048,094
2088 4,282,758 26,457,020
2087 4,323,650 26,871,556
2086 4,364,399 27,288,450
2085 4,404,935 27,710,065
2084 4,445,179 28,133,600
2083 4,485,048 28,564,090
2082 4,524,570 28,998,646
2081 4,563,658 29,441,497
2080 4,602,126 29,887,135
2079 4,640,060 30,337,095
2078 4,677,313 30,793,984
2077 4,713,901 31,258,278
2076 4,749,678 31,728,826
2075 4,784,723 32,205,338
2074 4,819,050 32,689,892
2073 4,852,492 33,180,187
2072 4,885,078 33,679,874
2071 4,916,792 34,187,068
2070 4,947,655 34,702,204
2069 4,977,764 35,224,472
2068 5,006,939 35,745,164
2067 5,035,207 36,274,411
2066 5,062,849 36,808,495
2065 5,089,797 37,349,660
2064 5,115,866 37,897,742
2063 5,141,239 38,450,082
2062 5,165,574 39,009,227
2061 5,189,146 39,565,102
2060 5,211,857 40,130,032
2059 5,233,370 40,692,438
2058 5,253,830 41,256,780
2057 5,273,143 41,813,259
2056 5,291,310 42,356,530
2055 5,308,124 42,888,143
2054 5,323,598 43,405,840
2053 5,337,707 43,917,075
2052 5,350,263 44,419,192
2051 5,361,152 44,901,452
2050 5,370,484 45,362,931
2049 5,378,189 45,809,553
2048 5,384,366 46,235,718
2047 5,388,962 46,645,885
2046 5,391,996 47,033,200
2045 5,393,493 47,409,815
2044 5,393,407 47,773,842
2043 5,391,873 48,120,989
2042 5,388,912 48,455,085
2041 5,384,386 48,782,206
2040 5,378,629 49,091,438
2039 5,371,473 49,388,464
2038 5,362,904 49,669,835
2037 5,353,217 49,932,869
2036 5,342,317 50,175,947
2035 5,330,286 50,401,135
2034 5,317,189 50,607,994
2033 5,302,930 50,796,030
2032 5,287,714 50,961,878
2031 5,271,514 51,109,725
2030 5,254,366 51,242,628
2029 5,236,206 51,360,529
2028 5,217,031 51,461,403
2027 5,196,723 51,551,313
2026 5,175,408 51,624,449
2025 5,152,950 51,684,564
2024 5,129,910 51,751,065
2023 5,105,525 51,712,619
2022 5,081,765 51,672,569
2021 5,059,988 51,769,539
2020 5,034,320 51,836,239
2019 4,999,553 51,764,822
2018 4,957,818 51,585,058
2017 4,913,177 51,361,911
2016 4,866,998 51,217,803
2015 4,818,038 51,014,947
2014 4,767,119 50,746,659
2013 4,716,147 50,428,893
2012 4,663,934 50,199,853
2011 4,609,833 49,936,638
2010 4,555,962 49,554,112
2009 4,499,791 49,307,835
2008 4,440,056 49,054,708
2007 4,380,248 48,683,638
2006 4,321,340 48,438,292
2005 4,261,240 48,184,561
2004 4,200,078 48,082,519
2003 4,138,784 47,892,330
2002 4,075,705 47,644,736
2001 4,008,947 47,370,164
2000 3,937,739 47,008,111
1999 3,862,101 46,616,677
1998 3,782,838 46,286,503
1997 3,701,711 45,953,580
1996 3,619,013 45,524,681
1995 3,535,176 45,092,991
1994 3,451,122 44,641,540
1993 3,367,434 44,194,628
1992 3,284,258 43,747,962
1991 3,202,176 43,295,704
1990 3,121,706 42,869,283
1989 3,043,827 42,449,038
1988 2,968,103 42,031,247
1987 2,892,699 41,621,690
1986 2,817,216 41,213,674
1985 2,741,894 40,805,744
1984 2,667,595 40,405,956
1983 2,595,153 39,910,403
1982 2,524,806 39,326,352
1981 2,456,637 38,723,248
1980 2,390,633 38,123,775
1979 2,326,490 37,534,236
1978 2,264,510 36,969,185
1977 2,205,025 36,411,795
1976 2,147,774 35,848,523
1975 2,092,719 35,280,725
1974 2,039,643 34,692,266
1973 1,988,343 34,103,149
1972 1,938,248 33,505,406
1971 1,888,539 32,882,704
1970 1,838,949 32,240,827
1969 1,789,276 31,544,266
1968 1,739,731 30,838,302
1967 1,689,523 30,130,983
1966 1,638,116 29,435,571
1965 1,586,208 28,704,674
1964 1,533,960 27,984,155
1963 1,481,604 27,261,747
1962 1,429,445 26,513,030
1961 1,377,920 25,765,673
1960 1,327,496 25,012,374

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/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica South Korea
2100 -1% -1.45%
2099 -0.99% -1.47%
2098 -0.99% -1.48%
2097 -0.99% -1.5%
2096 -0.99% -1.53%
2095 -0.99% -1.54%
2094 -0.99% -1.55%
2093 -0.98% -1.56%
2092 -0.98% -1.56%
2091 -0.97% -1.56%
2090 -0.96% -1.56%
2089 -0.95% -1.55%
2088 -0.95% -1.54%
2087 -0.93% -1.53%
2086 -0.92% -1.52%
2085 -0.91% -1.51%
2084 -0.89% -1.51%
2083 -0.87% -1.5%
2082 -0.86% -1.5%
2081 -0.84% -1.49%
2080 -0.82% -1.48%
2079 -0.8% -1.48%
2078 -0.78% -1.49%
2077 -0.75% -1.48%
2076 -0.73% -1.48%
2075 -0.71% -1.48%
2074 -0.69% -1.48%
2073 -0.67% -1.48%
2072 -0.65% -1.48%
2071 -0.62% -1.48%
2070 -0.6% -1.48%
2069 -0.58% -1.46%
2068 -0.56% -1.46%
2067 -0.55% -1.45%
2066 -0.53% -1.45%
2065 -0.51% -1.45%
2064 -0.49% -1.44%
2063 -0.47% -1.43%
2062 -0.45% -1.4%
2061 -0.44% -1.41%
2060 -0.41% -1.38%
2059 -0.39% -1.37%
2058 -0.37% -1.33%
2057 -0.34% -1.28%
2056 -0.32% -1.24%
2055 -0.29% -1.19%
2054 -0.26% -1.16%
2053 -0.23% -1.13%
2052 -0.2% -1.07%
2051 -0.17% -1.02%
2050 -0.14% -0.97%
2049 -0.11% -0.92%
2048 -0.09% -0.88%
2047 -0.06% -0.82%
2046 -0.03% -0.79%
2045 0.002% -0.76%
2044 0.03% -0.72%
2043 0.05% -0.69%
2042 0.08% -0.67%
2041 0.11% -0.63%
2040 0.13% -0.6%
2039 0.16% -0.57%
2038 0.18% -0.53%
2037 0.2% -0.48%
2036 0.23% -0.45%
2035 0.25% -0.41%
2034 0.27% -0.37%
2033 0.29% -0.33%
2032 0.31% -0.29%
2031 0.33% -0.26%
2030 0.35% -0.23%
2029 0.37% -0.2%
2028 0.39% -0.17%
2027 0.41% -0.14%
2026 0.44% -0.12%
2025 0.45% -0.13%
2024 0.48% 0.07%
2023 0.47% 0.08%
2022 0.43% -0.19%
2021 0.51% -0.13%
2020 0.7% 0.14%
2019 0.84% 0.35%
2018 0.91% 0.43%
2017 0.95% 0.28%
2016 1.02% 0.4%
2015 1.07% 0.53%
2014 1.08% 0.63%
2013 1.12% 0.46%
2012 1.17% 0.53%
2011 1.18% 0.77%
2010 1.25% 0.5%
2009 1.35% 0.52%
2008 1.37% 0.76%
2007 1.36% 0.51%
2006 1.41% 0.53%
2005 1.46% 0.21%
2004 1.48% 0.4%
2003 1.55% 0.52%
2002 1.67% 0.58%
2001 1.81% 0.77%
2000 1.96% 0.84%
1999 2.1% 0.71%
1998 2.19% 0.72%
1997 2.29% 0.94%
1996 2.37% 0.96%
1995 2.44% 1.01%
1994 2.49% 1.01%
1993 2.53% 1.02%
1992 2.56% 1.04%
1991 2.58% 0.99%
1990 2.56% 0.99%
1989 2.55% 0.99%
1988 2.61% 0.98%
1987 2.68% 0.99%
1986 2.75% 1%
1985 2.79% 0.99%
1984 2.79% 1.24%
1983 2.79% 1.49%
1982 2.77% 1.56%
1981 2.76% 1.57%
1980 2.76% 1.57%
1979 2.74% 1.53%
1978 2.7% 1.53%
1977 2.67% 1.57%
1976 2.63% 1.61%
1975 2.6% 1.7%
1974 2.58% 1.73%
1973 2.58% 1.78%
1972 2.63% 1.89%
1971 2.7% 1.99%
1970 2.78% 2.21%
1969 2.85% 2.29%
1968 2.97% 2.35%
1967 3.14% 2.36%
1966 3.27% 2.55%
1965 3.41% 2.57%
1964 3.53% 2.65%
1963 3.65% 2.82%
1962 3.74% 2.9%
1961 3.8% 3.01%

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/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica South Korea
Current population
5186356
51624449
Population rank 126/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.62%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
7.93 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
2.16 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 -182
Annual growth/decline +23,040 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 169/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +65,731
Net migration rank 63/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 65,731
2024 22,699 967 -119,027 75,963
2023 24,109 995 -124,111 87,800
2022 21,409 1,006 -124,014 87,800
2021 20,119 1,018 -56,947 -16,778
2020 29,164 1,029 -31,101 112,631
2019 37,682 1,653 10,353 128,622
2018 42,469 1,673 30,951 118,220
2017 43,471 1,671 71,907 104,029
2016 45,565 1,649 122,923 91,568
2015 49,077 1,617 163,248 276,427
2014 49,559 1,589 167,464 308,037
2013 49,227 1,579 166,415 301,926
2012 52,036 1,587 215,859 281,866
2011 52,884 1,695 214,728 269,958
2010 50,803 2,357 213,083 52,042
2009 55,757 3,432 197,231 5,308
2008 56,491 3,794 215,841 -19,630
2007 55,244 4,080 248,286 -42,293
2006 54,177 4,321 203,441 -28,434
2005 57,139 4,567 187,920 -47,821
2004 55,769 4,856 225,988 -42,549
2003 56,743 5,216 244,251 -31,994
2002 58,388 5,812 247,752 -18,105
2001 62,199 7,119 312,643 -28,006
2000 64,268 8,826 390,167 -84,960
1999 64,922 13,253 368,272 -107,448
1998 64,788 15,556 393,436 -98,044
1997 64,954 16,954 422,773 -109,130
1996 66,094 17,393 446,142 -115,705
1995 67,585 16,609 468,967 -208,491
1994 68,336 15,587 473,200 -208,309
1993 69,016 14,431 477,302 -222,802
1992 69,830 13,069 494,352 -265,849
1991 70,506 10,757 467,594 -270,754
1990 71,727 7,949 411,546 79,294
1989 72,327 3,758 403,266 186,120
1988 72,944 2,414 399,297 192,534
1987 73,188 2,267 378,758 198,057
1986 73,211 2,302 395,651 189,782
1985 72,776 2,357 416,219 97,949
1984 71,062 2,402 436,384 101,394
1983 68,972 2,449 514,844 102,167
1982 66,826 2,453 605,626 48,638
1981 64,632 2,431 631,189 18,442
1980 62,561 2,387 583,294 -148,341
1979 60,984 2,349 623,068 -139,566
1978 58,327 2,296 499,084 -85,721
1977 56,122 2,228 578,947 -90,737
1976 54,019 2,129 530,558 -92,314
1975 51,979 1,992 603,300 -52,332
1974 50,349 1,839 673,030 27,005
1973 48,943 1,468 699,115 35,779
1972 48,417 1,366 740,469 25,382
1971 48,341 1,296 789,185 -6,326
1970 48,398 1,137 747,987 -27,999
1969 48,790 1,017 694,227 -21,175
1968 48,361 939 684,487 -16,868
1967 50,193 926 692,169 -16,484
1966 50,755 930 623,534 -16,688
1965 51,196 932 641,090 -146,386
1964 51,435 934 655,501 -102,284
1963 51,403 938 685,824 -80,226
1962 51,046 934 712,590 -94,606
1961 50,149 924 730,173 -93,179
1960 48,857 910 728,010 47,245

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/south-korea | 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 South Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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 Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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/south-korea | 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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