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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 10,596,620 people in Sweden in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 10,665,077 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • Sweden's population is 2.06 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 93rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.19% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.13% for Sweden.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +0.81% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.5% growth).

Costa Rica vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Sweden
2100 3,803,678 11,330,987
2099 3,841,913 11,334,835
2098 3,880,484 11,339,107
2097 3,919,475 11,340,268
2096 3,958,826 11,341,947
2095 3,998,552 11,344,893
2094 4,038,516 11,347,531
2093 4,078,807 11,349,412
2092 4,119,351 11,351,452
2091 4,160,111 11,352,899
2090 4,200,989 11,354,820
2089 4,241,888 11,357,746
2088 4,282,758 11,360,405
2087 4,323,650 11,364,197
2086 4,364,399 11,371,529
2085 4,404,935 11,376,573
2084 4,445,179 11,381,332
2083 4,485,048 11,384,862
2082 4,524,570 11,390,058
2081 4,563,658 11,391,696
2080 4,602,126 11,393,882
2079 4,640,060 11,393,412
2078 4,677,313 11,391,291
2077 4,713,901 11,389,212
2076 4,749,678 11,385,385
2075 4,784,723 11,381,261
2074 4,819,050 11,377,973
2073 4,852,492 11,375,051
2072 4,885,078 11,371,362
2071 4,916,792 11,366,451
2070 4,947,655 11,362,742
2069 4,977,764 11,358,895
2068 5,006,939 11,357,504
2067 5,035,207 11,356,672
2066 5,062,849 11,356,676
2065 5,089,797 11,355,953
2064 5,115,866 11,354,988
2063 5,141,239 11,354,834
2062 5,165,574 11,355,452
2061 5,189,146 11,353,198
2060 5,211,857 11,352,013
2059 5,233,370 11,349,674
2058 5,253,830 11,345,893
2057 5,273,143 11,340,487
2056 5,291,310 11,335,234
2055 5,308,124 11,328,291
2054 5,323,598 11,320,768
2053 5,337,707 11,310,127
2052 5,350,263 11,296,358
2051 5,361,152 11,280,503
2050 5,370,484 11,261,537
2049 5,378,189 11,242,070
2048 5,384,366 11,221,274
2047 5,388,962 11,199,365
2046 5,391,996 11,176,512
2045 5,393,493 11,152,739
2044 5,393,407 11,127,765
2043 5,391,873 11,102,354
2042 5,388,912 11,076,504
2041 5,384,386 11,052,951
2040 5,378,629 11,028,609
2039 5,371,473 11,005,487
2038 5,362,904 10,983,160
2037 5,353,217 10,961,591
2036 5,342,317 10,938,759
2035 5,330,286 10,916,327
2034 5,317,189 10,893,717
2033 5,302,930 10,869,588
2032 5,287,714 10,844,339
2031 5,271,514 10,819,037
2030 5,254,366 10,790,557
2029 5,236,206 10,759,017
2028 5,217,031 10,724,017
2027 5,196,723 10,685,143
2026 5,175,408 10,643,884
2025 5,152,950 10,596,620
2024 5,129,910 10,569,709
2023 5,105,525 10,536,632
2022 5,081,765 10,486,941
2021 5,059,988 10,415,811
2020 5,034,320 10,353,442
2019 4,999,553 10,278,887
2018 4,957,818 10,175,214
2017 4,913,177 10,057,698
2016 4,866,998 9,923,085
2015 4,818,038 9,799,186
2014 4,767,119 9,696,110
2013 4,716,147 9,600,379
2012 4,663,934 9,519,374
2011 4,609,833 9,449,213
2010 4,555,962 9,378,126
2009 4,499,791 9,298,515
2008 4,440,056 9,219,637
2007 4,380,248 9,148,092
2006 4,321,340 9,080,505
2005 4,261,240 9,029,572
2004 4,200,078 8,993,531
2003 4,138,784 8,958,229
2002 4,075,705 8,924,958
2001 4,008,947 8,895,960
2000 3,937,739 8,872,109
1999 3,862,101 8,857,874
1998 3,782,838 8,850,974
1997 3,701,711 8,846,062
1996 3,619,013 8,840,998
1995 3,535,176 8,826,939
1994 3,451,122 8,780,745
1993 3,367,434 8,718,561
1992 3,284,258 8,668,067
1991 3,202,176 8,617,375
1990 3,121,706 8,558,835
1989 3,043,827 8,492,964
1988 2,968,103 8,436,489
1987 2,892,699 8,397,804
1986 2,817,216 8,369,829
1985 2,741,894 8,350,386
1984 2,667,595 8,336,605
1983 2,595,153 8,329,033
1982 2,524,806 8,325,263
1981 2,456,637 8,320,503
1980 2,390,633 8,310,531
1979 2,326,490 8,293,678
1978 2,264,510 8,275,599
1977 2,205,025 8,251,540
1976 2,147,774 8,222,286
1975 2,092,719 8,192,437
1974 2,039,643 8,159,955
1973 1,988,343 8,136,312
1972 1,938,248 8,122,300
1971 1,888,539 8,098,334
1970 1,838,949 8,042,801
1969 1,789,276 7,968,072
1968 1,739,731 7,912,273
1967 1,689,523 7,867,931
1966 1,638,116 7,807,797
1965 1,586,208 7,733,853
1964 1,533,960 7,661,354
1963 1,481,604 7,604,328
1962 1,429,445 7,561,588
1961 1,377,920 7,519,998
1960 1,327,496 7,484,656

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/sweden | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Sweden gained 842,580 people (a 9.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Sweden's population increased by 741,992 people (a 7.48% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 93rd 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 Sweden will increase by 5.59% to 11,261,537 people and will still be ranked 93rd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 11.4M people in 2080 for Sweden.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Sweden
2100 -1% -0.03%
2099 -0.99% -0.04%
2098 -0.99% -0.01%
2097 -0.99% -0.01%
2096 -0.99% -0.03%
2095 -0.99% -0.02%
2094 -0.99% -0.02%
2093 -0.98% -0.02%
2092 -0.98% -0.01%
2091 -0.97% -0.02%
2090 -0.96% -0.03%
2089 -0.95% -0.02%
2088 -0.95% -0.03%
2087 -0.93% -0.06%
2086 -0.92% -0.04%
2085 -0.91% -0.04%
2084 -0.89% -0.03%
2083 -0.87% -0.05%
2082 -0.86% -0.01%
2081 -0.84% -0.02%
2080 -0.82% 0.004%
2079 -0.8% 0.02%
2078 -0.78% 0.02%
2077 -0.75% 0.03%
2076 -0.73% 0.04%
2075 -0.71% 0.03%
2074 -0.69% 0.03%
2073 -0.67% 0.03%
2072 -0.65% 0.04%
2071 -0.62% 0.03%
2070 -0.6% 0.03%
2069 -0.58% 0.01%
2068 -0.56% 0.007%
2067 -0.55% -0%
2066 -0.53% 0.006%
2065 -0.51% 0.009%
2064 -0.49% 0.001%
2063 -0.47% -0.005%
2062 -0.45% 0.02%
2061 -0.44% 0.01%
2060 -0.41% 0.02%
2059 -0.39% 0.03%
2058 -0.37% 0.05%
2057 -0.34% 0.05%
2056 -0.32% 0.06%
2055 -0.29% 0.07%
2054 -0.26% 0.09%
2053 -0.23% 0.12%
2052 -0.2% 0.14%
2051 -0.17% 0.17%
2050 -0.14% 0.17%
2049 -0.11% 0.19%
2048 -0.09% 0.2%
2047 -0.06% 0.2%
2046 -0.03% 0.21%
2045 0.002% 0.22%
2044 0.03% 0.23%
2043 0.05% 0.23%
2042 0.08% 0.21%
2041 0.11% 0.22%
2040 0.13% 0.21%
2039 0.16% 0.2%
2038 0.18% 0.2%
2037 0.2% 0.21%
2036 0.23% 0.21%
2035 0.25% 0.21%
2034 0.27% 0.22%
2033 0.29% 0.23%
2032 0.31% 0.23%
2031 0.33% 0.26%
2030 0.35% 0.29%
2029 0.37% 0.33%
2028 0.39% 0.36%
2027 0.41% 0.39%
2026 0.44% 0.45%
2025 0.45% 0.25%
2024 0.48% 0.31%
2023 0.47% 0.47%
2022 0.43% 0.68%
2021 0.51% 0.6%
2020 0.7% 0.73%
2019 0.84% 1.02%
2018 0.91% 1.17%
2017 0.95% 1.36%
2016 1.02% 1.26%
2015 1.07% 1.06%
2014 1.08% 1%
2013 1.12% 0.85%
2012 1.17% 0.74%
2011 1.18% 0.76%
2010 1.25% 0.86%
2009 1.35% 0.86%
2008 1.37% 0.78%
2007 1.36% 0.74%
2006 1.41% 0.56%
2005 1.46% 0.4%
2004 1.48% 0.39%
2003 1.55% 0.37%
2002 1.67% 0.33%
2001 1.81% 0.27%
2000 1.96% 0.16%
1999 2.1% 0.08%
1998 2.19% 0.06%
1997 2.29% 0.06%
1996 2.37% 0.16%
1995 2.44% 0.53%
1994 2.49% 0.71%
1993 2.53% 0.58%
1992 2.56% 0.59%
1991 2.58% 0.68%
1990 2.56% 0.78%
1989 2.55% 0.67%
1988 2.61% 0.46%
1987 2.68% 0.33%
1986 2.75% 0.23%
1985 2.79% 0.17%
1984 2.79% 0.09%
1983 2.79% 0.05%
1982 2.77% 0.06%
1981 2.76% 0.12%
1980 2.76% 0.2%
1979 2.74% 0.22%
1978 2.7% 0.29%
1977 2.67% 0.36%
1976 2.63% 0.36%
1975 2.6% 0.4%
1974 2.58% 0.29%
1973 2.58% 0.17%
1972 2.63% 0.3%
1971 2.7% 0.69%
1970 2.78% 0.94%
1969 2.85% 0.71%
1968 2.97% 0.56%
1967 3.14% 0.77%
1966 3.27% 0.96%
1965 3.41% 0.95%
1964 3.53% 0.75%
1963 3.65% 0.57%
1962 3.74% 0.55%
1961 3.8% 0.47%

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/sweden | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.25%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Sweden
Current population
5186356
10665077
Population rank 126/197 93/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.13%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
19.6 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
5.35 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
5.78 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +74
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +26,911
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +0.25%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 148/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
11.2 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +47,079
Net migration rank 63/196 22/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 2,272,158
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 34/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 21.4%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 28/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Sweden
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Sweden
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 47,079
2024 22,699 967 7,399 50,115
2023 24,109 995 5,269 55,209
2022 21,409 1,006 10,487 58,955
2021 20,119 1,018 22,914 51,947
2020 29,164 1,029 14,495 37,302
2019 37,682 1,653 25,697 72,619
2018 42,469 1,673 23,403 87,517
2017 43,471 1,671 24,138 102,671
2016 45,565 1,649 25,800 119,234
2015 49,077 1,617 23,518 80,534
2014 49,559 1,589 26,179 77,654
2013 49,227 1,579 23,041 66,760
2012 52,036 1,587 20,943 52,879
2011 52,884 1,695 21,733 46,049
2010 50,803 2,357 25,320 51,175
2009 55,757 3,432 21,387 63,638
2008 56,491 3,794 18,439 56,452
2007 55,244 4,080 15,552 54,907
2006 54,177 4,321 15,436 51,675
2005 57,139 4,567 9,030 27,030
2004 55,769 4,856 9,893 25,842
2003 56,743 5,216 6,271 29,161
2002 58,388 5,812 893 31,364
2001 62,199 7,119 -1,779 28,856
2000 64,268 8,826 -2,662 24,900
1999 64,922 13,253 -6,201 13,940
1998 64,788 15,556 -3,541 11,325
1997 64,954 16,954 -3,539 6,047
1996 66,094 17,393 1,768 5,773
1995 67,585 16,609 9,710 11,621
1994 68,336 15,587 20,196 51,545
1993 69,016 14,431 20,924 32,725
1992 69,830 13,069 28,605 20,507
1991 70,506 10,757 29,299 25,314
1990 71,727 7,949 29,100 35,668
1989 72,327 3,758 24,629 44,565
1988 72,944 2,414 15,186 30,064
1987 73,188 2,267 11,757 21,335
1986 73,211 2,302 9,206 15,211
1985 72,776 2,357 4,175 11,464
1984 71,062 2,402 3,335 8,668
1983 68,972 2,449 833 2,105
1982 66,826 2,453 1,665 2,524
1981 64,632 2,431 1,664 3,209
1980 62,561 2,387 5,818 10,040
1979 60,984 2,349 4,976 13,895
1978 58,327 2,296 4,138 13,807
1977 56,122 2,228 7,426 23,528
1976 54,019 2,129 8,222 20,324
1975 51,979 1,992 14,746 16,564
1974 50,349 1,839 23,664 9,217
1973 48,943 1,468 24,409 -9,551
1972 48,417 1,366 28,428 -13,519
1971 48,341 1,296 31,583 2,334
1970 48,398 1,137 30,563 47,242
1969 48,790 1,017 23,904 48,824
1968 48,361 939 30,858 8,545
1967 50,193 926 41,700 11,075
1966 50,755 930 45,286 24,920
1965 51,196 932 44,857 32,444
1964 51,435 934 45,968 23,581
1963 51,403 938 35,741 11,009
1962 51,046 934 30,246 9,627
1961 50,149 924 30,832 14,401
1960 48,857 910 27,693 1,080

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/sweden | 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 Sweden 20.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 183,120 people) and 79.6% is from migration (a gain of 716,103 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 2,272,158 people or 21.4% in Sweden.

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
Sweden
City Population
Stockholm 985K
Gothenburg 675K
Malmo 339K
Uppsala 175K
Vasteras 132K
Orebro 129K
Linkoping 117K
Helsingborg 116K
Jonkoping 103K
Lund 98.3K

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/sweden | 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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