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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 10,569,709 people in Sweden in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 10,680,056 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 91st.
  • 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 +0.77% per year vs +0.88% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.6% growth).

Costa Rica vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Sweden
2100 3,804,183 11,357,586
2099 3,842,423 11,361,443
2098 3,880,999 11,365,725
2097 3,919,996 11,366,889
2096 3,959,352 11,368,572
2095 3,999,084 11,371,525
2094 4,039,053 11,374,169
2093 4,079,349 11,376,054
2092 4,119,898 11,378,099
2091 4,160,663 11,379,549
2090 4,201,548 11,381,475
2089 4,242,452 11,384,408
2088 4,283,327 11,387,073
2087 4,324,225 11,390,874
2086 4,364,979 11,398,223
2085 4,405,520 11,403,279
2084 4,445,770 11,408,050
2083 4,485,644 11,411,588
2082 4,525,171 11,416,796
2081 4,564,265 11,418,438
2080 4,602,737 11,420,629
2079 4,640,677 11,420,158
2078 4,677,935 11,418,032
2077 4,714,527 11,415,948
2076 4,750,309 11,412,112
2075 4,785,359 11,407,978
2074 4,819,691 11,404,682
2073 4,853,137 11,401,754
2072 4,885,727 11,398,056
2071 4,917,445 11,393,134
2070 4,948,313 11,389,416
2069 4,978,425 11,385,560
2068 5,007,604 11,384,165
2067 5,035,877 11,383,331
2066 5,063,521 11,383,335
2065 5,090,474 11,382,611
2064 5,116,546 11,381,643
2063 5,141,922 11,381,489
2062 5,166,260 11,382,109
2061 5,189,836 11,379,849
2060 5,212,549 11,378,661
2059 5,234,066 11,376,317
2058 5,254,528 11,372,527
2057 5,273,844 11,367,109
2056 5,292,013 11,361,843
2055 5,308,829 11,354,884
2054 5,324,305 11,347,343
2053 5,338,417 11,336,678
2052 5,350,974 11,322,876
2051 5,361,865 11,306,983
2050 5,371,197 11,287,973
2049 5,378,904 11,268,461
2048 5,385,081 11,247,615
2047 5,389,678 11,225,655
2046 5,392,713 11,202,749
2045 5,394,209 11,178,920
2044 5,394,124 11,153,887
2043 5,392,590 11,128,417
2042 5,389,628 11,102,505
2041 5,385,101 11,078,898
2040 5,379,344 11,054,498
2039 5,372,186 11,031,322
2038 5,363,617 11,008,943
2037 5,353,928 10,987,323
2036 5,343,027 10,964,438
2035 5,330,994 10,941,953
2034 5,317,895 10,919,289
2033 5,303,634 10,895,104
2032 5,288,416 10,869,796
2031 5,272,215 10,844,434
2030 5,255,064 10,815,888
2029 5,236,901 10,784,274
2028 5,217,724 10,749,191
2027 5,197,413 10,710,226
2026 5,176,096 10,668,870
2025 5,153,634 10,621,495
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Sweden's population increased by 756,971 people (a 7.63% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 91st 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 Sweden will increase by 5.69% to 11,287,973 people and rank change from 91st to 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 0.46% 0.49%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/sweden | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Sweden
Current population
5181862
10680056
Population rank 126/197 91/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.13%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
15.9 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
5.25 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
5.54 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +91
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +33,077
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 149/197
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 - 967 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/sweden | 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 Sweden 21.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 201,900 people) and 78.6% is from migration (a gain of 743,642 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 (1960–2024, 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/sweden | 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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