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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 9.42 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.65% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Costa Rica vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Spain
2100 3,804,183 33,862,981
2099 3,842,423 34,039,965
2098 3,880,999 34,215,187
2097 3,919,996 34,387,116
2096 3,959,352 34,552,002
2095 3,999,084 34,719,411
2094 4,039,053 34,882,039
2093 4,079,349 35,044,043
2092 4,119,898 35,204,657
2091 4,160,663 35,366,895
2090 4,201,548 35,535,838
2089 4,242,452 35,707,942
2088 4,283,327 35,877,681
2087 4,324,225 36,043,209
2086 4,364,979 36,210,710
2085 4,405,520 36,386,207
2084 4,445,770 36,564,622
2083 4,485,644 36,749,680
2082 4,525,171 36,936,644
2081 4,564,265 37,133,976
2080 4,602,737 37,337,517
2079 4,640,677 37,551,557
2078 4,677,935 37,771,135
2077 4,714,527 38,002,963
2076 4,750,309 38,249,247
2075 4,785,359 38,506,040
2074 4,819,691 38,777,715
2073 4,853,137 39,056,249
2072 4,885,727 39,348,447
2071 4,917,445 39,642,346
2070 4,948,313 39,949,413
2069 4,978,425 40,256,590
2068 5,007,604 40,575,543
2067 5,035,877 40,893,798
2066 5,063,521 41,218,263
2065 5,090,474 41,543,254
2064 5,116,546 41,878,338
2063 5,141,922 42,208,320
2062 5,166,260 42,542,893
2061 5,189,836 42,874,096
2060 5,212,549 43,191,452
2059 5,234,066 43,506,737
2058 5,254,528 43,809,907
2057 5,273,844 44,112,668
2056 5,292,013 44,415,689
2055 5,308,829 44,691,749
2054 5,324,305 44,958,971
2053 5,338,417 45,223,225
2052 5,350,974 45,470,541
2051 5,361,865 45,695,307
2050 5,371,197 45,911,520
2049 5,378,904 46,127,777
2048 5,385,081 46,322,244
2047 5,389,678 46,510,152
2046 5,392,713 46,687,914
2045 5,394,209 46,858,778
2044 5,394,124 47,016,278
2043 5,392,590 47,158,325
2042 5,389,628 47,301,091
2041 5,385,101 47,434,593
2040 5,379,344 47,563,236
2039 5,372,186 47,685,343
2038 5,363,617 47,798,797
2037 5,353,928 47,910,899
2036 5,343,027 48,020,350
2035 5,330,994 48,124,430
2034 5,317,895 48,220,051
2033 5,303,634 48,311,842
2032 5,288,416 48,402,470
2031 5,272,215 48,495,278
2030 5,255,064 48,579,920
2029 5,236,901 48,648,699
2028 5,217,724 48,707,969
2027 5,197,413 48,758,200
2026 5,176,096 48,806,901
2025 5,153,634 48,838,057
2024 5,129,910 48,848,840
2023 5,105,525 48,352,528
2022 5,081,765 47,786,102
2021 5,059,988 47,443,821
2020 5,034,320 47,359,424
2019 4,999,553 47,118,501
2018 4,957,818 46,782,011
2017 4,913,177 46,571,232
2016 4,866,998 46,458,139
2015 4,818,038 46,422,303
2014 4,767,119 46,460,733
2013 4,716,147 46,604,197
2012 4,663,934 46,773,055
2011 4,609,833 46,742,697
2010 4,555,962 46,576,897
2009 4,499,791 46,362,946
2008 4,440,056 45,954,106
2007 4,380,248 45,226,803
2006 4,321,340 44,397,319
2005 4,261,240 43,653,155
2004 4,200,078 42,921,895
2003 4,138,784 42,187,645
2002 4,075,705 41,431,558
2001 4,008,947 40,850,412
2000 3,937,739 40,567,864
1999 3,862,101 40,386,875
1998 3,782,838 40,223,509
1997 3,701,711 40,057,389
1996 3,619,013 39,889,852
1995 3,535,176 39,724,050
1994 3,451,122 39,549,108
1993 3,367,434 39,361,262
1992 3,284,258 39,157,685
1991 3,202,176 38,966,376
1990 3,121,706 38,867,322
1989 3,043,827 38,827,764
1988 2,968,103 38,766,939
1987 2,892,699 38,684,815
1986 2,817,216 38,584,624
1985 2,741,894 38,469,512
1984 2,667,595 38,330,364
1983 2,595,153 38,171,525
1982 2,524,806 37,986,012
1981 2,456,637 37,758,631
1980 2,390,633 37,491,165
1979 2,326,490 37,191,330
1978 2,264,510 36,864,898
1977 2,205,025 36,511,638
1976 2,147,774 36,137,812
1975 2,092,719 35,757,900
1974 2,039,643 35,373,335
1973 1,988,343 34,988,947
1972 1,938,248 34,604,469
1971 1,888,539 34,224,490
1970 1,838,949 33,814,531
1969 1,789,276 33,441,054
1968 1,739,731 33,113,134
1967 1,689,523 32,682,947
1966 1,638,116 32,283,194
1965 1,586,208 31,954,292
1964 1,533,960 31,609,195
1963 1,481,604 31,296,651
1962 1,429,445 31,023,366
1961 1,377,920 30,739,250
1960 1,327,496 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Spain
2100 -1% -0.52%
2099 -0.99% -0.51%
2098 -0.99% -0.5%
2097 -0.99% -0.48%
2096 -0.99% -0.48%
2095 -0.99% -0.47%
2094 -0.99% -0.46%
2093 -0.98% -0.46%
2092 -0.98% -0.46%
2091 -0.97% -0.48%
2090 -0.96% -0.48%
2089 -0.95% -0.47%
2088 -0.95% -0.46%
2087 -0.93% -0.46%
2086 -0.92% -0.48%
2085 -0.91% -0.49%
2084 -0.89% -0.5%
2083 -0.87% -0.51%
2082 -0.86% -0.53%
2081 -0.84% -0.55%
2080 -0.82% -0.57%
2079 -0.8% -0.58%
2078 -0.78% -0.61%
2077 -0.75% -0.64%
2076 -0.73% -0.67%
2075 -0.71% -0.7%
2074 -0.69% -0.71%
2073 -0.67% -0.74%
2072 -0.65% -0.74%
2071 -0.62% -0.77%
2070 -0.6% -0.76%
2069 -0.58% -0.79%
2068 -0.56% -0.78%
2067 -0.55% -0.79%
2066 -0.53% -0.78%
2065 -0.51% -0.8%
2064 -0.49% -0.78%
2063 -0.47% -0.79%
2062 -0.45% -0.77%
2061 -0.44% -0.73%
2060 -0.41% -0.72%
2059 -0.39% -0.69%
2058 -0.37% -0.69%
2057 -0.34% -0.68%
2056 -0.32% -0.62%
2055 -0.29% -0.59%
2054 -0.26% -0.58%
2053 -0.23% -0.54%
2052 -0.2% -0.49%
2051 -0.17% -0.47%
2050 -0.14% -0.47%
2049 -0.11% -0.42%
2048 -0.09% -0.4%
2047 -0.06% -0.38%
2046 -0.03% -0.36%
2045 0.002% -0.33%
2044 0.03% -0.3%
2043 0.05% -0.3%
2042 0.08% -0.28%
2041 0.11% -0.27%
2040 0.13% -0.26%
2039 0.16% -0.24%
2038 0.18% -0.23%
2037 0.2% -0.23%
2036 0.23% -0.22%
2035 0.25% -0.2%
2034 0.27% -0.19%
2033 0.29% -0.19%
2032 0.31% -0.19%
2031 0.33% -0.17%
2030 0.35% -0.14%
2029 0.37% -0.12%
2028 0.39% -0.1%
2027 0.41% -0.1%
2026 0.44% -0.06%
2025 0.46% -0.02%
2024 0.48% 1.03%
2023 0.47% 1.19%
2022 0.43% 0.72%
2021 0.51% 0.18%
2020 0.7% 0.51%
2019 0.84% 0.72%
2018 0.91% 0.45%
2017 0.95% 0.24%
2016 1.02% 0.08%
2015 1.07% -0.08%
2014 1.08% -0.31%
2013 1.12% -0.36%
2012 1.17% 0.06%
2011 1.18% 0.36%
2010 1.25% 0.46%
2009 1.35% 0.89%
2008 1.37% 1.61%
2007 1.36% 1.87%
2006 1.41% 1.7%
2005 1.46% 1.7%
2004 1.48% 1.74%
2003 1.55% 1.82%
2002 1.67% 1.42%
2001 1.81% 0.7%
2000 1.96% 0.45%
1999 2.1% 0.41%
1998 2.19% 0.41%
1997 2.29% 0.42%
1996 2.37% 0.42%
1995 2.44% 0.44%
1994 2.49% 0.48%
1993 2.53% 0.52%
1992 2.56% 0.49%
1991 2.58% 0.25%
1990 2.56% 0.1%
1989 2.55% 0.16%
1988 2.61% 0.21%
1987 2.68% 0.26%
1986 2.75% 0.3%
1985 2.79% 0.36%
1984 2.79% 0.42%
1983 2.79% 0.49%
1982 2.77% 0.6%
1981 2.76% 0.71%
1980 2.76% 0.81%
1979 2.74% 0.89%
1978 2.7% 0.97%
1977 2.67% 1.03%
1976 2.63% 1.06%
1975 2.6% 1.09%
1974 2.58% 1.1%
1973 2.58% 1.11%
1972 2.63% 1.11%
1971 2.7% 1.21%
1970 2.78% 1.12%
1969 2.85% 0.99%
1968 2.97% 1.32%
1967 3.14% 1.24%
1966 3.27% 1.03%
1965 3.41% 1.09%
1964 3.53% 1%
1963 3.65% 0.88%
1962 3.74% 0.92%
1961 3.8% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Spain
Current population
5181862
48806901
Population rank 126/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.59%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 100/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +96,630
Net migration rank 63/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 96,630
2024 - 967 - 111,674
2023 24,109 995 -111,211 119,099
2022 21,409 1,006 -133,801 299,779
2021 20,119 1,018 -113,865 144,385
2020 29,164 1,029 -151,551 236,854
2019 37,682 1,653 -56,542 464,783
2018 42,469 1,673 -56,139 337,467
2017 43,471 1,671 -32,600 201,135
2016 45,565 1,649 0 106,474
2015 49,077 1,617 -4,642 -1,979
2014 49,559 1,589 32,522 -97,870
2013 49,227 1,579 37,284 -250,741
2012 52,036 1,587 51,450 -153,486
2011 52,884 1,695 84,137 60,761
2010 50,803 2,357 102,469 69,406
2009 55,757 3,432 106,635 129,557
2008 56,491 3,794 133,267 434,135
2007 55,244 4,080 108,545 772,317
2006 54,177 4,321 110,994 659,720
2005 57,139 4,567 78,576 629,803
2004 55,769 4,856 85,844 661,158
2003 56,743 5,216 54,844 658,428
2002 58,388 5,812 53,861 737,880
2001 62,199 7,119 44,936 181,307
2000 64,268 8,826 36,512 176,269
1999 64,922 13,253 8,077 178,559
1998 64,788 15,556 4,022 182,926
1997 64,954 16,954 20,028 165,345
1996 66,094 17,393 11,967 162,704
1995 67,585 16,609 15,889 162,434
1994 68,336 15,587 31,639 160,407
1993 69,016 14,431 47,234 160,907
1992 69,830 13,069 62,652 177,544
1991 70,506 10,757 58,450 122,841
1990 71,727 7,949 66,075 -30,684
1989 72,327 3,758 81,538 -25,892
1988 72,944 2,414 100,794 -17,663
1987 73,188 2,267 116,054 -12,681
1986 73,211 2,302 131,188 -13,540
1985 72,776 2,357 146,184 -589
1984 71,062 2,402 172,487 2,754
1983 68,972 2,449 183,223 1,241
1982 66,826 2,453 231,714 -7,384
1981 64,632 2,431 237,879 2,563
1980 62,561 2,387 281,184 20,166
1979 60,984 2,349 312,407 -5,929
1978 58,327 2,296 339,157 -2,504
1977 56,122 2,228 361,465 -1,332
1976 54,019 2,129 375,834 2,804
1975 51,979 1,992 371,882 -218
1974 50,349 1,839 396,182 105,838
1973 48,943 1,468 374,381 8,624
1972 48,417 1,366 391,030 7,935
1971 48,341 1,296 369,625 7,363
1970 48,398 1,137 378,723 -60,580
1969 48,790 1,017 367,851 -49,956
1968 48,361 939 387,423 -46,088
1967 50,193 926 402,001 -42,344
1966 50,755 930 397,084 -41,467
1965 51,196 932 405,819 -42,476
1964 51,435 934 429,885 -41,461
1963 51,403 938 394,338 -44,446
1962 51,046 934 384,690 -45,211
1961 50,149 924 396,537 -46,517
1960 48,857 910 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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