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Population in Costa Rica compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 4.28 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Costa Rica vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Sri Lanka
2100 3,804,183 20,270,496
2099 3,842,423 20,383,669
2098 3,880,999 20,498,567
2097 3,919,996 20,611,123
2096 3,959,352 20,723,560
2095 3,999,084 20,834,629
2094 4,039,053 20,943,809
2093 4,079,349 21,052,131
2092 4,119,898 21,158,833
2091 4,160,663 21,263,961
2090 4,201,548 21,371,263
2089 4,242,452 21,475,426
2088 4,283,327 21,577,177
2087 4,324,225 21,677,510
2086 4,364,979 21,777,420
2085 4,405,520 21,876,464
2084 4,445,770 21,970,336
2083 4,485,644 22,062,801
2082 4,525,171 22,151,745
2081 4,564,265 22,240,834
2080 4,602,737 22,326,555
2079 4,640,677 22,411,438
2078 4,677,935 22,489,772
2077 4,714,527 22,565,028
2076 4,750,309 22,637,463
2075 4,785,359 22,707,112
2074 4,819,691 22,778,489
2073 4,853,137 22,844,703
2072 4,885,727 22,905,707
2071 4,917,445 22,964,866
2070 4,948,313 23,022,515
2069 4,978,425 23,076,310
2068 5,007,604 23,129,541
2067 5,035,877 23,184,596
2066 5,063,521 23,234,419
2065 5,090,474 23,285,901
2064 5,116,546 23,331,390
2063 5,141,922 23,372,184
2062 5,166,260 23,409,522
2061 5,189,836 23,441,893
2060 5,212,549 23,474,032
2059 5,234,066 23,502,132
2058 5,254,528 23,528,076
2057 5,273,844 23,550,580
2056 5,292,013 23,570,923
2055 5,308,829 23,582,432
2054 5,324,305 23,591,414
2053 5,338,417 23,601,371
2052 5,350,974 23,605,361
2051 5,361,865 23,606,194
2050 5,371,197 23,603,330
2049 5,378,904 23,597,604
2048 5,385,081 23,587,307
2047 5,389,678 23,570,881
2046 5,392,713 23,547,409
2045 5,394,209 23,515,133
2044 5,394,124 23,483,546
2043 5,392,590 23,446,242
2042 5,389,628 23,404,983
2041 5,385,101 23,357,358
2040 5,379,344 23,306,148
2039 5,372,186 23,248,341
2038 5,363,617 23,187,512
2037 5,353,928 23,120,775
2036 5,343,027 23,053,427
2035 5,330,994 22,981,808
2034 5,317,895 22,906,587
2033 5,303,634 22,826,414
2032 5,288,416 22,742,267
2031 5,272,215 22,655,907
2030 5,255,064 22,564,038
2029 5,236,901 22,470,759
2028 5,217,724 22,370,999
2027 5,197,413 22,266,017
2026 5,176,096 22,155,543
2025 5,153,634 22,039,908
2024 5,129,910 21,916,000
2023 5,105,525 22,037,000
2022 5,081,765 22,181,000
2021 5,059,988 22,156,000
2020 5,034,320 21,919,000
2019 4,999,553 21,803,000
2018 4,957,818 21,670,000
2017 4,913,177 21,453,000
2016 4,866,998 21,209,000
2015 4,818,038 20,970,000
2014 4,767,119 20,778,000
2013 4,716,147 20,585,000
2012 4,663,934 21,169,458
2011 4,609,833 21,009,048
2010 4,555,962 20,879,089
2009 4,499,791 20,756,435
2008 4,440,056 20,629,378
2007 4,380,248 20,492,545
2006 4,321,340 20,352,411
2005 4,261,240 20,216,524
2004 4,200,078 20,087,605
2003 4,138,784 19,951,521
2002 4,075,705 19,805,752
2001 4,008,947 19,600,362
2000 3,937,739 19,293,054
1999 3,862,101 18,944,731
1998 3,782,838 18,596,003
1997 3,701,711 18,248,200
1996 3,619,013 17,905,018
1995 3,535,176 17,564,068
1994 3,451,122 17,275,773
1993 3,367,434 17,025,918
1992 3,284,258 16,739,284
1991 3,202,176 16,475,354
1990 3,121,706 16,352,458
1989 3,043,827 16,248,557
1988 2,968,103 16,078,621
1987 2,892,699 15,916,576
1986 2,817,216 15,731,256
1985 2,741,894 15,544,154
1984 2,667,595 15,441,860
1983 2,595,153 15,388,794
1982 2,524,806 15,286,567
1981 2,456,637 15,099,414
1980 2,390,633 14,847,974
1979 2,326,490 14,579,614
1978 2,264,510 14,310,128
1977 2,205,025 14,049,371
1976 2,147,774 13,796,770
1975 2,092,719 13,548,984
1974 2,039,643 13,305,693
1973 1,988,343 13,060,916
1972 1,938,248 12,809,205
1971 1,888,539 12,551,910
1970 1,838,949 12,287,110
1969 1,789,276 12,013,858
1968 1,739,731 11,736,088
1967 1,689,523 11,457,328
1966 1,638,116 11,183,928
1965 1,586,208 10,916,965
1964 1,533,960 10,653,397
1963 1,481,604 10,395,040
1962 1,429,445 10,143,754
1961 1,377,920 9,899,372
1960 1,327,496 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Sri Lanka
2100 -1% -0.56%
2099 -0.99% -0.56%
2098 -0.99% -0.55%
2097 -0.99% -0.54%
2096 -0.99% -0.53%
2095 -0.99% -0.52%
2094 -0.99% -0.51%
2093 -0.98% -0.5%
2092 -0.98% -0.49%
2091 -0.97% -0.5%
2090 -0.96% -0.49%
2089 -0.95% -0.47%
2088 -0.95% -0.46%
2087 -0.93% -0.46%
2086 -0.92% -0.45%
2085 -0.91% -0.43%
2084 -0.89% -0.42%
2083 -0.87% -0.4%
2082 -0.86% -0.4%
2081 -0.84% -0.38%
2080 -0.82% -0.38%
2079 -0.8% -0.35%
2078 -0.78% -0.33%
2077 -0.75% -0.32%
2076 -0.73% -0.31%
2075 -0.71% -0.31%
2074 -0.69% -0.29%
2073 -0.67% -0.27%
2072 -0.65% -0.26%
2071 -0.62% -0.25%
2070 -0.6% -0.23%
2069 -0.58% -0.23%
2068 -0.56% -0.24%
2067 -0.55% -0.21%
2066 -0.53% -0.22%
2065 -0.51% -0.19%
2064 -0.49% -0.17%
2063 -0.47% -0.16%
2062 -0.45% -0.14%
2061 -0.44% -0.14%
2060 -0.41% -0.12%
2059 -0.39% -0.11%
2058 -0.37% -0.1%
2057 -0.34% -0.09%
2056 -0.32% -0.05%
2055 -0.29% -0.04%
2054 -0.26% -0.04%
2053 -0.23% -0.02%
2052 -0.2% -0.004%
2051 -0.17% 0.01%
2050 -0.14% 0.02%
2049 -0.11% 0.04%
2048 -0.09% 0.07%
2047 -0.06% 0.1%
2046 -0.03% 0.14%
2045 0.002% 0.13%
2044 0.03% 0.16%
2043 0.05% 0.18%
2042 0.08% 0.2%
2041 0.11% 0.22%
2040 0.13% 0.25%
2039 0.16% 0.26%
2038 0.18% 0.29%
2037 0.2% 0.29%
2036 0.23% 0.31%
2035 0.25% 0.33%
2034 0.27% 0.35%
2033 0.29% 0.37%
2032 0.31% 0.38%
2031 0.33% 0.41%
2030 0.35% 0.42%
2029 0.37% 0.45%
2028 0.39% 0.47%
2027 0.41% 0.5%
2026 0.44% 0.52%
2025 0.46% 0.57%
2024 0.48% -0.55%
2023 0.47% -0.65%
2022 0.43% 0.11%
2021 0.51% 1.08%
2020 0.7% 0.53%
2019 0.84% 0.61%
2018 0.91% 1.01%
2017 0.95% 1.15%
2016 1.02% 1.14%
2015 1.07% 0.92%
2014 1.08% 0.94%
2013 1.12% -2.76%
2012 1.17% 0.76%
2011 1.18% 0.62%
2010 1.25% 0.59%
2009 1.35% 0.62%
2008 1.37% 0.67%
2007 1.36% 0.69%
2006 1.41% 0.67%
2005 1.46% 0.64%
2004 1.48% 0.68%
2003 1.55% 0.74%
2002 1.67% 1.05%
2001 1.81% 1.59%
2000 1.96% 1.84%
1999 2.1% 1.88%
1998 2.19% 1.91%
1997 2.29% 1.92%
1996 2.37% 1.94%
1995 2.44% 1.67%
1994 2.49% 1.47%
1993 2.53% 1.71%
1992 2.56% 1.6%
1991 2.58% 0.75%
1990 2.56% 0.64%
1989 2.55% 1.06%
1988 2.61% 1.02%
1987 2.68% 1.18%
1986 2.75% 1.2%
1985 2.79% 0.66%
1984 2.79% 0.34%
1983 2.79% 0.67%
1982 2.77% 1.24%
1981 2.76% 1.69%
1980 2.76% 1.84%
1979 2.74% 1.88%
1978 2.7% 1.86%
1977 2.67% 1.83%
1976 2.63% 1.83%
1975 2.6% 1.83%
1974 2.58% 1.87%
1973 2.58% 1.97%
1972 2.63% 2.05%
1971 2.7% 2.16%
1970 2.78% 2.27%
1969 2.85% 2.37%
1968 2.97% 2.43%
1967 3.14% 2.44%
1966 3.27% 2.45%
1965 3.41% 2.47%
1964 3.53% 2.49%
1963 3.65% 2.48%
1962 3.74% 2.47%
1961 3.8% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Sri Lanka
Current population
5181862
22185425
Population rank 126/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.27%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 -332
Annual growth/decline +24,385 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 188/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -30,724
Net migration rank 63/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -30,724
2024 - 967 - -27,245
2023 24,109 995 66,111 -28,011
2022 21,409 1,006 95,378 -27,435
2021 20,119 1,018 121,858 -29,586
2020 29,164 1,029 170,968 -29,875
2019 37,682 1,653 172,243 -28,426
2018 42,469 1,673 183,610 -28,607
2017 43,471 1,671 187,993 -22,324
2016 45,565 1,649 194,232 -18,388
2015 49,077 1,617 201,815 -29,797
2014 49,559 1,589 211,541 -33,672
2013 49,227 1,579 221,021 -37,754
2012 52,036 1,587 229,138 -41,955
2011 52,884 1,695 224,461 -90,839
2010 50,803 2,357 224,325 -98,060
2009 55,757 3,432 200,175 -81,130
2008 56,491 3,794 232,225 -97,144
2007 55,244 4,080 248,287 -109,695
2006 54,177 4,321 248,706 -107,045
2005 57,139 4,567 248,683 -118,594
2004 55,769 4,856 212,527 -84,795
2003 56,743 5,216 252,008 -107,573
2002 58,388 5,812 252,840 -105,718
2001 62,199 7,119 244,377 19,273
2000 64,268 8,826 227,060 123,894
1999 64,922 13,253 206,876 138,799
1998 64,788 15,556 201,059 150,724
1997 64,954 16,954 208,193 135,636
1996 66,094 17,393 215,290 127,236
1995 67,585 16,609 221,957 117,416
1994 68,336 15,587 228,904 8,323
1993 69,016 14,431 226,257 36,232
1992 69,830 13,069 222,230 88,542
1991 70,506 10,757 218,117 -1,047
1990 71,727 7,949 224,454 -195,736
1989 72,327 3,758 212,401 -33,305
1988 72,944 2,414 219,184 -58,415
1987 73,188 2,267 226,414 -63,105
1986 73,211 2,302 233,782 -26,460
1985 72,776 2,357 247,836 -80,950
1984 71,062 2,402 263,175 -225,450
1983 68,972 2,449 277,768 -209,362
1982 66,826 2,453 300,030 -163,987
1981 64,632 2,431 328,096 -89,824
1980 62,561 2,387 328,155 -63,541
1979 60,984 2,349 329,791 -57,683
1978 58,327 2,296 317,055 -50,189
1977 56,122 2,228 300,038 -45,383
1976 54,019 2,129 291,816 -41,258
1975 51,979 1,992 282,496 -37,475
1974 50,349 1,839 275,521 -33,979
1973 48,943 1,468 278,577 -30,582
1972 48,417 1,366 282,494 -27,071
1971 48,341 1,296 281,200 -22,021
1970 48,398 1,137 286,719 -16,299
1969 48,790 1,017 286,218 -10,152
1968 48,361 939 286,642 -7,163
1967 50,193 926 284,738 -6,696
1966 50,755 930 275,549 -6,794
1965 51,196 932 272,422 -7,249
1964 51,435 934 269,584 -7,614
1963 51,403 938 262,880 -8,118
1962 51,046 934 256,719 -8,909
1961 50,149 924 251,087 -10,144
1960 48,857 910 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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