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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • South Sudan's population is 2.41 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 +0.77% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% 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 3,804,183 24,086,901
2099 3,842,423 24,081,477
2098 3,880,999 24,063,461
2097 3,919,996 24,065,268
2096 3,959,352 24,054,483
2095 3,999,084 24,046,345
2094 4,039,053 24,047,776
2093 4,079,349 24,039,017
2092 4,119,898 24,019,054
2091 4,160,663 24,000,308
2090 4,201,548 23,978,496
2089 4,242,452 23,937,487
2088 4,283,327 23,892,166
2087 4,324,225 23,857,250
2086 4,364,979 23,803,312
2085 4,405,520 23,759,178
2084 4,445,770 23,687,109
2083 4,485,644 23,617,646
2082 4,525,171 23,541,119
2081 4,564,265 23,466,449
2080 4,602,737 23,391,758
2079 4,640,677 23,294,252
2078 4,677,935 23,197,067
2077 4,714,527 23,086,584
2076 4,750,309 22,987,331
2075 4,785,359 22,868,587
2074 4,819,691 22,726,189
2073 4,853,137 22,583,672
2072 4,885,727 22,438,943
2071 4,917,445 22,288,026
2070 4,948,313 22,151,650
2069 4,978,425 22,003,659
2068 5,007,604 21,829,800
2067 5,035,877 21,662,211
2066 5,063,521 21,496,881
2065 5,090,474 21,317,455
2064 5,116,546 21,142,002
2063 5,141,922 20,965,122
2062 5,166,260 20,785,055
2061 5,189,836 20,608,964
2060 5,212,549 20,430,857
2059 5,234,066 20,235,022
2058 5,254,528 20,048,974
2057 5,273,844 19,853,696
2056 5,292,013 19,659,362
2055 5,308,829 19,464,297
2054 5,324,305 19,257,481
2053 5,338,417 19,060,517
2052 5,350,974 18,840,461
2051 5,361,865 18,633,198
2050 5,371,197 18,434,212
2049 5,378,904 18,230,881
2048 5,385,081 18,021,026
2047 5,389,678 17,806,282
2046 5,392,713 17,579,173
2045 5,394,209 17,355,041
2044 5,394,124 17,121,972
2043 5,392,590 16,888,278
2042 5,389,628 16,645,354
2041 5,385,101 16,396,768
2040 5,379,344 16,142,816
2039 5,372,186 15,889,952
2038 5,363,617 15,628,043
2037 5,353,928 15,363,975
2036 5,343,027 15,091,275
2035 5,330,994 14,815,307
2034 5,317,895 14,543,511
2033 5,303,634 14,278,180
2032 5,288,416 14,007,134
2031 5,272,215 13,730,637
2030 5,255,064 13,465,615
2029 5,236,901 13,206,477
2028 5,217,724 12,947,082
2027 5,197,413 12,692,769
2026 5,176,096 12,439,296
2025 5,153,634 12,193,102
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% 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 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th. The population of South Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 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 0.46% 2.09%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica South Sudan
Current population
5181862
12507858
Population rank 126/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.15%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
1.14 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
1.6 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 7/197
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 - 967 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 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 (1960–2024, 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-sudan | 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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