Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Switzerland's population is 1.76 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.17% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

Costa Rica vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Switzerland
2100 3,804,183 9,234,296
2099 3,842,423 9,226,472
2098 3,880,999 9,220,109
2097 3,919,996 9,212,728
2096 3,959,352 9,208,997
2095 3,999,084 9,203,477
2094 4,039,053 9,199,095
2093 4,079,349 9,196,672
2092 4,119,898 9,194,082
2091 4,160,663 9,191,145
2090 4,201,548 9,189,122
2089 4,242,452 9,188,754
2088 4,283,327 9,190,102
2087 4,324,225 9,189,763
2086 4,364,979 9,191,494
2085 4,405,520 9,195,728
2084 4,445,770 9,199,983
2083 4,485,644 9,204,908
2082 4,525,171 9,210,695
2081 4,564,265 9,217,065
2080 4,602,737 9,223,475
2079 4,640,677 9,230,920
2078 4,677,935 9,237,649
2077 4,714,527 9,245,300
2076 4,750,309 9,250,248
2075 4,785,359 9,255,753
2074 4,819,691 9,266,455
2073 4,853,137 9,275,439
2072 4,885,727 9,283,185
2071 4,917,445 9,292,913
2070 4,948,313 9,303,843
2069 4,978,425 9,311,935
2068 5,007,604 9,320,335
2067 5,035,877 9,327,741
2066 5,063,521 9,339,455
2065 5,090,474 9,351,481
2064 5,116,546 9,362,413
2063 5,141,922 9,372,441
2062 5,166,260 9,383,258
2061 5,189,836 9,395,036
2060 5,212,549 9,403,920
2059 5,234,066 9,414,241
2058 5,254,528 9,422,560
2057 5,273,844 9,428,212
2056 5,292,013 9,435,441
2055 5,308,829 9,443,890
2054 5,324,305 9,451,268
2053 5,338,417 9,456,389
2052 5,350,974 9,456,418
2051 5,361,865 9,456,395
2050 5,371,197 9,454,544
2049 5,378,904 9,451,083
2048 5,385,081 9,444,091
2047 5,389,678 9,437,061
2046 5,392,713 9,430,954
2045 5,394,209 9,425,155
2044 5,394,124 9,418,152
2043 5,392,590 9,410,763
2042 5,389,628 9,400,808
2041 5,385,101 9,393,857
2040 5,379,344 9,382,662
2039 5,372,186 9,373,984
2038 5,363,617 9,365,030
2037 5,353,928 9,354,254
2036 5,343,027 9,342,450
2035 5,330,994 9,328,907
2034 5,317,895 9,312,054
2033 5,303,634 9,294,881
2032 5,288,416 9,276,221
2031 5,272,215 9,253,034
2030 5,255,064 9,228,188
2029 5,236,901 9,201,743
2028 5,217,724 9,170,620
2027 5,197,413 9,135,740
2026 5,176,096 9,097,532
2025 5,153,634 9,053,983
2024 5,129,910 9,005,582
2023 5,105,525 8,888,822
2022 5,081,765 8,777,088
2021 5,059,988 8,704,546
2020 5,034,320 8,638,167
2019 4,999,553 8,575,280
2018 4,957,818 8,514,329
2017 4,913,177 8,451,840
2016 4,866,998 8,373,338
2015 4,818,038 8,282,396
2014 4,767,119 8,188,649
2013 4,716,147 8,089,346
2012 4,663,934 7,996,861
2011 4,609,833 7,912,398
2010 4,555,962 7,824,909
2009 4,499,791 7,743,831
2008 4,440,056 7,647,675
2007 4,380,248 7,551,117
2006 4,321,340 7,483,934
2005 4,261,240 7,437,115
2004 4,200,078 7,389,625
2003 4,138,784 7,339,001
2002 4,075,705 7,284,753
2001 4,008,947 7,229,854
2000 3,937,739 7,184,250
1999 3,862,101 7,143,991
1998 3,782,838 7,110,001
1997 3,701,711 7,088,906
1996 3,619,013 7,071,850
1995 3,535,176 7,040,687
1994 3,451,122 6,993,795
1993 3,367,434 6,938,265
1992 3,284,258 6,875,364
1991 3,202,176 6,799,978
1990 3,121,706 6,715,519
1989 3,043,827 6,646,912
1988 2,968,103 6,593,386
1987 2,892,699 6,545,106
1986 2,817,216 6,504,124
1985 2,741,894 6,470,365
1984 2,667,595 6,441,865
1983 2,595,153 6,418,773
1982 2,524,806 6,391,309
1981 2,456,637 6,354,074
1980 2,390,633 6,319,408
1979 2,326,490 6,294,365
1978 2,264,510 6,281,738
1977 2,205,025 6,281,174
1976 2,147,774 6,302,504
1975 2,092,719 6,338,632
1974 2,039,643 6,341,405
1973 1,988,343 6,307,347
1972 1,938,248 6,260,956
1971 1,888,539 6,213,399
1970 1,838,949 6,180,877
1969 1,789,276 6,136,387
1968 1,739,731 6,067,714
1967 1,689,523 5,991,785
1966 1,638,116 5,918,002
1965 1,586,208 5,856,472
1964 1,533,960 5,789,228
1963 1,481,604 5,694,247
1962 1,429,445 5,573,815
1961 1,377,920 5,434,294
1960 1,327,496 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 9.46M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Switzerland
2100 -1% 0.08%
2099 -0.99% 0.07%
2098 -0.99% 0.08%
2097 -0.99% 0.04%
2096 -0.99% 0.06%
2095 -0.99% 0.05%
2094 -0.99% 0.03%
2093 -0.98% 0.03%
2092 -0.98% 0.03%
2091 -0.97% 0.02%
2090 -0.96% 0.004%
2089 -0.95% -0.01%
2088 -0.95% 0.004%
2087 -0.93% -0.02%
2086 -0.92% -0.05%
2085 -0.91% -0.05%
2084 -0.89% -0.05%
2083 -0.87% -0.06%
2082 -0.86% -0.07%
2081 -0.84% -0.07%
2080 -0.82% -0.08%
2079 -0.8% -0.07%
2078 -0.78% -0.08%
2077 -0.75% -0.05%
2076 -0.73% -0.06%
2075 -0.71% -0.12%
2074 -0.69% -0.1%
2073 -0.67% -0.08%
2072 -0.65% -0.1%
2071 -0.62% -0.12%
2070 -0.6% -0.09%
2069 -0.58% -0.09%
2068 -0.56% -0.08%
2067 -0.55% -0.13%
2066 -0.53% -0.13%
2065 -0.51% -0.12%
2064 -0.49% -0.11%
2063 -0.47% -0.12%
2062 -0.45% -0.13%
2061 -0.44% -0.09%
2060 -0.41% -0.11%
2059 -0.39% -0.09%
2058 -0.37% -0.06%
2057 -0.34% -0.08%
2056 -0.32% -0.09%
2055 -0.29% -0.08%
2054 -0.26% -0.05%
2053 -0.23% -0%
2052 -0.2% 0%
2051 -0.17% 0.02%
2050 -0.14% 0.04%
2049 -0.11% 0.07%
2048 -0.09% 0.07%
2047 -0.06% 0.06%
2046 -0.03% 0.06%
2045 0.002% 0.07%
2044 0.03% 0.08%
2043 0.05% 0.11%
2042 0.08% 0.07%
2041 0.11% 0.12%
2040 0.13% 0.09%
2039 0.16% 0.1%
2038 0.18% 0.12%
2037 0.2% 0.13%
2036 0.23% 0.15%
2035 0.25% 0.18%
2034 0.27% 0.18%
2033 0.29% 0.2%
2032 0.31% 0.25%
2031 0.33% 0.27%
2030 0.35% 0.29%
2029 0.37% 0.34%
2028 0.39% 0.38%
2027 0.41% 0.42%
2026 0.44% 0.48%
2025 0.46% 0.54%
2024 0.48% 1.31%
2023 0.47% 1.27%
2022 0.43% 0.83%
2021 0.51% 0.77%
2020 0.7% 0.73%
2019 0.84% 0.72%
2018 0.91% 0.74%
2017 0.95% 0.94%
2016 1.02% 1.1%
2015 1.07% 1.14%
2014 1.08% 1.23%
2013 1.12% 1.16%
2012 1.17% 1.07%
2011 1.18% 1.12%
2010 1.25% 1.05%
2009 1.35% 1.26%
2008 1.37% 1.28%
2007 1.36% 0.9%
2006 1.41% 0.63%
2005 1.46% 0.64%
2004 1.48% 0.69%
2003 1.55% 0.74%
2002 1.67% 0.76%
2001 1.81% 0.63%
2000 1.96% 0.56%
1999 2.1% 0.48%
1998 2.19% 0.3%
1997 2.29% 0.24%
1996 2.37% 0.44%
1995 2.44% 0.67%
1994 2.49% 0.8%
1993 2.53% 0.91%
1992 2.56% 1.11%
1991 2.58% 1.26%
1990 2.56% 1.03%
1989 2.55% 0.81%
1988 2.61% 0.74%
1987 2.68% 0.63%
1986 2.75% 0.52%
1985 2.79% 0.44%
1984 2.79% 0.36%
1983 2.79% 0.43%
1982 2.77% 0.59%
1981 2.76% 0.55%
1980 2.76% 0.4%
1979 2.74% 0.2%
1978 2.7% 0.009%
1977 2.67% -0.34%
1976 2.63% -0.57%
1975 2.6% -0.04%
1974 2.58% 0.54%
1973 2.58% 0.74%
1972 2.63% 0.77%
1971 2.7% 0.53%
1970 2.78% 0.73%
1969 2.85% 1.13%
1968 2.97% 1.27%
1967 3.14% 1.25%
1966 3.27% 1.05%
1965 3.41% 1.16%
1964 3.53% 1.67%
1963 3.65% 2.16%
1962 3.74% 2.57%
1961 3.8% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Switzerland
Current population
5181862
9107866
Population rank 126/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.11%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
4.5 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
6.57 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +320
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 81/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +37,253
Net migration rank 63/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 37,253
2024 - 967 - 40,099
2023 24,109 995 8,000 45,098
2022 21,409 1,006 7,899 96,424
2021 20,119 1,018 18,279 50,665
2020 29,164 1,029 9,502 55,523
2019 37,682 1,653 18,008 44,517
2018 42,469 1,673 20,434 41,253
2017 43,471 1,671 20,284 45,658
2016 45,565 1,649 22,608 71,009
2015 49,077 1,617 19,050 71,876
2014 49,559 1,589 21,290 78,122
2013 49,227 1,579 17,797 83,823
2012 52,036 1,587 18,393 67,840
2011 52,884 1,695 18,990 67,194
2010 50,803 2,357 17,997 76,388
2009 55,757 3,432 15,487 69,324
2008 56,491 3,794 15,295 94,430
2007 55,244 4,080 13,592 72,475
2006 54,177 4,321 12,723 37,308
2005 57,139 4,567 11,899 33,203
2004 55,769 4,856 13,302 39,484
2003 56,743 5,216 8,807 42,567
2002 58,388 5,812 10,199 49,650
2001 62,199 7,119 10,845 35,420
2000 64,268 8,826 15,806 24,463
1999 64,922 13,253 16,431 25,599
1998 64,788 15,556 16,353 11,325
1997 64,954 16,954 17,722 -1,939
1996 66,094 17,393 19,801 -131
1995 67,585 16,609 19,010 25,343
1994 68,336 15,587 20,982 30,274
1993 69,016 14,431 21,509 40,267
1992 69,830 13,069 24,064 42,014
1991 70,506 10,757 23,800 69,738
1990 71,727 7,949 20,146 58,428
1989 72,327 3,758 19,941 34,432
1988 72,944 2,414 21,099 34,602
1987 73,188 2,267 15,708 27,081
1986 73,211 2,302 16,261 23,242
1985 72,776 2,357 14,882 14,402
1984 71,062 2,402 16,105 12,532
1983 68,972 2,449 12,837 5,663
1982 66,826 2,453 15,339 21,929
1981 64,632 2,431 13,979 24,229
1980 62,561 2,387 14,535 17,841
1979 60,984 2,349 14,477 4,262
1978 58,327 2,296 13,820 -6,552
1977 56,122 2,228 16,959 -22,516
1976 54,019 2,129 17,017 -54,255
1975 51,979 1,992 22,820 -58,187
1974 50,349 1,839 27,902 2,008
1973 48,943 1,468 30,906 8,158
1972 48,417 1,366 35,061 19,991
1971 48,341 1,296 38,523 2,636
1970 48,398 1,137 42,648 -18,326
1969 48,790 1,017 44,182 20,754
1968 48,361 939 47,328 25,828
1967 50,193 926 52,128 27,697
1966 50,755 930 53,854 14,979
1965 51,196 932 56,222 -1,351
1964 51,435 934 59,050 21,455
1963 51,403 938 52,956 58,415
1962 51,046 934 49,050 82,798
1961 50,149 924 48,365 101,278
1960 48,857 910 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

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
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.