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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 12,188,788 people in South Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 12,565,048 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • South Sudan's population is 2.42 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.21% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +0.78% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.6M (57.5% growth).

Costa Rica vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica South Sudan
2100 3,803,678 24,078,379
2099 3,841,913 24,072,957
2098 3,880,484 24,054,947
2097 3,919,475 24,056,753
2096 3,958,826 24,045,972
2095 3,998,552 24,037,837
2094 4,038,516 24,039,267
2093 4,078,807 24,030,512
2092 4,119,351 24,010,555
2091 4,160,111 23,991,816
2090 4,200,989 23,970,012
2089 4,241,888 23,929,017
2088 4,282,758 23,883,712
2087 4,323,650 23,848,809
2086 4,364,399 23,794,890
2085 4,404,935 23,750,772
2084 4,445,179 23,678,728
2083 4,485,048 23,609,290
2082 4,524,570 23,532,790
2081 4,563,658 23,458,146
2080 4,602,126 23,383,482
2079 4,640,060 23,286,011
2078 4,677,313 23,188,860
2077 4,713,901 23,078,416
2076 4,749,678 22,979,198
2075 4,784,723 22,860,496
2074 4,819,050 22,718,148
2073 4,852,492 22,575,682
2072 4,885,078 22,431,004
2071 4,916,792 22,280,140
2070 4,947,655 22,143,813
2069 4,977,764 21,995,874
2068 5,006,939 21,822,076
2067 5,035,207 21,654,546
2066 5,062,849 21,489,275
2065 5,089,797 21,309,913
2064 5,115,866 21,134,522
2063 5,141,239 20,957,705
2062 5,165,574 20,777,701
2061 5,189,146 20,601,672
2060 5,211,857 20,423,629
2059 5,233,370 20,227,862
2058 5,253,830 20,041,880
2057 5,273,143 19,846,671
2056 5,291,310 19,652,407
2055 5,308,124 19,457,411
2054 5,323,598 19,250,667
2053 5,337,707 19,053,773
2052 5,350,263 18,833,795
2051 5,361,152 18,626,605
2050 5,370,484 18,427,690
2049 5,378,189 18,224,430
2048 5,384,366 18,014,650
2047 5,388,962 17,799,982
2046 5,391,996 17,572,953
2045 5,393,493 17,348,901
2044 5,393,407 17,115,914
2043 5,391,873 16,882,303
2042 5,388,912 16,639,465
2041 5,384,386 16,390,966
2040 5,378,629 16,137,104
2039 5,371,473 15,884,330
2038 5,362,904 15,622,514
2037 5,353,217 15,358,539
2036 5,342,317 15,085,936
2035 5,330,286 14,810,066
2034 5,317,189 14,538,365
2033 5,302,930 14,273,128
2032 5,287,714 14,002,178
2031 5,271,514 13,725,779
2030 5,254,366 13,460,850
2029 5,236,206 13,201,804
2028 5,217,031 12,942,501
2027 5,196,723 12,688,278
2026 5,175,408 12,434,895
2025 5,152,950 12,188,788
2024 5,129,910 11,943,408
2023 5,105,525 11,483,374
2022 5,081,765 11,021,177
2021 5,059,988 10,865,780
2020 5,034,320 10,698,467
2019 4,999,553 10,423,384
2018 4,957,818 10,122,977
2017 4,913,177 10,259,154
2016 4,866,998 10,830,102
2015 4,818,038 11,107,561
2014 4,767,119 11,235,073
2013 4,716,147 11,166,275
2012 4,663,934 10,756,240
2011 4,609,833 10,288,109
2010 4,555,962 9,745,953
2009 4,499,791 9,243,556
2008 4,440,056 8,817,647
2007 4,380,248 8,388,788
2006 4,321,340 7,976,526
2005 4,261,240 7,590,143
2004 4,200,078 7,233,041
2003 4,138,784 6,903,127
2002 4,075,705 6,596,806
2001 4,008,947 6,308,391
2000 3,937,739 6,032,267
1999 3,862,101 5,771,628
1998 3,782,838 5,620,068
1997 3,701,711 5,509,136
1996 3,619,013 5,356,925
1995 3,535,176 5,225,836
1994 3,451,122 5,071,184
1993 3,367,434 4,956,002
1992 3,284,258 4,909,749
1991 3,202,176 4,836,677
1990 3,121,706 4,737,633
1989 3,043,827 4,713,229
1988 2,968,103 4,848,029
1987 2,892,699 4,962,395
1986 2,817,216 4,921,240
1985 2,741,894 4,834,296
1984 2,667,595 4,750,627
1983 2,595,153 4,661,574
1982 2,524,806 4,557,686
1981 2,456,637 4,447,272
1980 2,390,633 4,339,030
1979 2,326,490 4,232,605
1978 2,264,510 4,127,657
1977 2,205,025 4,024,032
1976 2,147,774 3,921,910
1975 2,092,719 3,821,494
1974 2,039,643 3,723,259
1973 1,988,343 3,627,383
1972 1,938,248 3,542,497
1971 1,888,539 3,468,646
1970 1,838,949 3,409,614
1969 1,789,276 3,365,533
1968 1,739,731 3,321,528
1967 1,689,523 3,277,648
1966 1,638,116 3,236,423
1965 1,586,208 3,189,835
1964 1,533,960 3,129,918
1963 1,481,604 3,072,669
1962 1,429,445 3,024,308
1961 1,377,920 2,976,724
1960 1,327,496 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,734,946 people (a 16% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 46.7% to 18,427,690 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica South Sudan
2100 -1% 0.02%
2099 -0.99% 0.07%
2098 -0.99% -0.008%
2097 -0.99% 0.04%
2096 -0.99% 0.03%
2095 -0.99% -0.006%
2094 -0.99% 0.04%
2093 -0.98% 0.08%
2092 -0.98% 0.08%
2091 -0.97% 0.09%
2090 -0.96% 0.17%
2089 -0.95% 0.19%
2088 -0.95% 0.15%
2087 -0.93% 0.23%
2086 -0.92% 0.19%
2085 -0.91% 0.3%
2084 -0.89% 0.29%
2083 -0.87% 0.33%
2082 -0.86% 0.32%
2081 -0.84% 0.32%
2080 -0.82% 0.42%
2079 -0.8% 0.42%
2078 -0.78% 0.48%
2077 -0.75% 0.43%
2076 -0.73% 0.52%
2075 -0.71% 0.63%
2074 -0.69% 0.63%
2073 -0.67% 0.64%
2072 -0.65% 0.68%
2071 -0.62% 0.62%
2070 -0.6% 0.67%
2069 -0.58% 0.8%
2068 -0.56% 0.77%
2067 -0.55% 0.77%
2066 -0.53% 0.84%
2065 -0.51% 0.83%
2064 -0.49% 0.84%
2063 -0.47% 0.87%
2062 -0.45% 0.85%
2061 -0.44% 0.87%
2060 -0.41% 0.97%
2059 -0.39% 0.93%
2058 -0.37% 0.98%
2057 -0.34% 0.99%
2056 -0.32% 1%
2055 -0.29% 1.07%
2054 -0.26% 1.03%
2053 -0.23% 1.17%
2052 -0.2% 1.11%
2051 -0.17% 1.08%
2050 -0.14% 1.12%
2049 -0.11% 1.16%
2048 -0.09% 1.21%
2047 -0.06% 1.29%
2046 -0.03% 1.29%
2045 0.002% 1.36%
2044 0.03% 1.38%
2043 0.05% 1.46%
2042 0.08% 1.52%
2041 0.11% 1.57%
2040 0.13% 1.59%
2039 0.16% 1.68%
2038 0.18% 1.72%
2037 0.2% 1.81%
2036 0.23% 1.86%
2035 0.25% 1.87%
2034 0.27% 1.86%
2033 0.29% 1.94%
2032 0.31% 2.01%
2031 0.33% 1.97%
2030 0.35% 1.96%
2029 0.37% 2%
2028 0.39% 2%
2027 0.41% 2.04%
2026 0.44% 2.02%
2025 0.45% 2.05%
2024 0.48% 4.01%
2023 0.47% 4.19%
2022 0.43% 1.43%
2021 0.51% 1.56%
2020 0.7% 2.64%
2019 0.84% 2.97%
2018 0.91% -1.33%
2017 0.95% -5.27%
2016 1.02% -2.5%
2015 1.07% -1.13%
2014 1.08% 0.62%
2013 1.12% 3.81%
2012 1.17% 4.55%
2011 1.18% 5.56%
2010 1.25% 5.44%
2009 1.35% 4.83%
2008 1.37% 5.11%
2007 1.36% 5.17%
2006 1.41% 5.09%
2005 1.46% 4.94%
2004 1.48% 4.78%
2003 1.55% 4.64%
2002 1.67% 4.57%
2001 1.81% 4.58%
2000 1.96% 4.52%
1999 2.1% 2.7%
1998 2.19% 2.01%
1997 2.29% 2.84%
1996 2.37% 2.51%
1995 2.44% 3.05%
1994 2.49% 2.32%
1993 2.53% 0.94%
1992 2.56% 1.51%
1991 2.58% 2.09%
1990 2.56% 0.52%
1989 2.55% -2.78%
1988 2.61% -2.3%
1987 2.68% 0.84%
1986 2.75% 1.8%
1985 2.79% 1.76%
1984 2.79% 1.91%
1983 2.79% 2.28%
1982 2.77% 2.48%
1981 2.76% 2.49%
1980 2.76% 2.51%
1979 2.74% 2.54%
1978 2.7% 2.58%
1977 2.67% 2.6%
1976 2.63% 2.63%
1975 2.6% 2.64%
1974 2.58% 2.64%
1973 2.58% 2.4%
1972 2.63% 2.13%
1971 2.7% 1.73%
1970 2.78% 1.31%
1969 2.85% 1.32%
1968 2.97% 1.34%
1967 3.14% 1.27%
1966 3.27% 1.46%
1965 3.41% 1.91%
1964 3.53% 1.86%
1963 3.65% 1.6%
1962 3.74% 1.6%
1961 3.8% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while South Sudan's population grew by 2.05%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica South Sudan
Current population
5186356
12565048
Population rank 126/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.15%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
2.15 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
1.51 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
4.48 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +672
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +245,380
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +2.05%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 48/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.43 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 +6,145
Net migration rank 63/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 6,145
2024 22,699 967 231,714 15,374
2023 24,109 995 217,966 455,000
2022 21,409 1,006 211,166 40,259
2021 20,119 1,018 213,567 -154,359
2020 29,164 1,029 212,332 62,935
2019 37,682 1,653 209,708 65,198
2018 42,469 1,673 168,497 157,408
2017 43,471 1,671 72,193 -670,477
2016 45,565 1,649 110,553 -654,225
2015 49,077 1,617 148,542 -159,822
2014 49,559 1,589 227,611 -471,523
2013 49,227 1,579 315,983 65,337
2012 52,036 1,587 312,974 125,771
2011 52,884 1,695 303,181 194,325
2010 50,803 2,357 287,409 299,402
2009 55,757 3,432 278,859 139,129
2008 56,491 3,794 268,268 165,557
2007 55,244 4,080 256,546 167,350
2006 54,177 4,321 246,706 153,926
2005 57,139 4,567 239,272 132,869
2004 55,769 4,856 231,877 110,182
2003 56,743 5,216 225,822 91,951
2002 58,388 5,812 212,014 82,847
2001 62,199 7,119 204,108 77,856
2000 64,268 8,826 196,055 74,227
1999 64,922 13,253 180,721 70,271
1998 64,788 15,556 -12,157 64,285
1997 64,954 16,954 121,454 48,280
1996 66,094 17,393 116,728 17,953
1995 67,585 16,609 110,417 17,077
1994 68,336 15,587 165,407 16,407
1993 69,016 14,431 32,779 15,772
1992 69,830 13,069 28,874 15,077
1991 70,506 10,757 87,873 14,327
1990 71,727 7,949 82,900 12,988
1989 72,327 3,758 83,735 -130,821
1988 72,944 2,414 -125,447 -97,065
1987 73,188 2,267 5,756 -11,976
1986 73,211 2,302 99,502 -10,973
1985 72,776 2,357 95,342 -9,986
1984 71,062 2,402 90,970 -8,984
1983 68,972 2,449 104,107 -7,986
1982 66,826 2,453 118,641 -6,983
1981 64,632 2,431 115,163 -5,994
1980 62,561 2,387 112,307 -4,997
1979 60,984 2,349 109,540 -3,997
1978 58,327 2,296 107,352 -2,998
1977 56,122 2,228 104,886 -1,997
1976 54,019 2,129 102,346 -995
1975 51,979 1,992 99,882 -395
1974 50,349 1,839 97,181 -192
1973 48,943 1,468 94,765 0
1972 48,417 1,366 74,803 193
1971 48,341 1,296 72,308 394
1970 48,398 1,137 44,776 587
1969 48,790 1,017 42,015 786
1968 48,361 939 44,213 995
1967 50,193 926 41,357 1,194
1966 50,755 930 38,523 1,386
1965 51,196 932 51,682 1,591
1964 51,435 934 64,786 1,785
1963 51,403 938 46,333 1,591
1962 51,046 934 47,406 1,386
1961 50,149 924 45,186 1,194
1960 48,857 910 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 68.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,796,238 people) and 31.9% is from migration (a loss of 842,709 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | 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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