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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 26,956,472 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 5.2 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.39% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Costa Rica vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Syria
2100 3,803,678 44,500,028
2099 3,841,913 44,570,009
2098 3,880,484 44,629,837
2097 3,919,475 44,692,566
2096 3,958,826 44,747,012
2095 3,998,552 44,774,686
2094 4,038,516 44,824,294
2093 4,078,807 44,853,295
2092 4,119,351 44,882,700
2091 4,160,111 44,895,349
2090 4,200,989 44,926,869
2089 4,241,888 44,925,891
2088 4,282,758 44,920,667
2087 4,323,650 44,928,298
2086 4,364,399 44,947,658
2085 4,404,935 44,913,669
2084 4,445,179 44,878,845
2083 4,485,048 44,850,592
2082 4,524,570 44,790,014
2081 4,563,658 44,723,244
2080 4,602,126 44,624,321
2079 4,640,060 44,567,127
2078 4,677,313 44,529,618
2077 4,713,901 44,484,155
2076 4,749,678 44,400,339
2075 4,784,723 44,306,882
2074 4,819,050 44,209,517
2073 4,852,492 44,102,028
2072 4,885,078 43,965,642
2071 4,916,792 43,821,617
2070 4,947,655 43,678,154
2069 4,977,764 43,530,683
2068 5,006,939 43,348,487
2067 5,035,207 43,154,741
2066 5,062,849 42,944,885
2065 5,089,797 42,695,249
2064 5,115,866 42,445,036
2063 5,141,239 42,198,056
2062 5,165,574 41,949,014
2061 5,189,146 41,695,586
2060 5,211,857 41,410,547
2059 5,233,370 41,097,942
2058 5,253,830 40,815,606
2057 5,273,143 40,534,091
2056 5,291,310 40,224,053
2055 5,308,124 39,918,930
2054 5,323,598 39,584,624
2053 5,337,707 39,242,144
2052 5,350,263 38,940,206
2051 5,361,152 38,629,604
2050 5,370,484 38,307,069
2049 5,378,189 37,986,965
2048 5,384,366 37,682,780
2047 5,388,962 37,391,752
2046 5,391,996 37,081,479
2045 5,393,493 36,744,441
2044 5,393,407 36,428,225
2043 5,391,873 36,090,851
2042 5,388,912 35,729,021
2041 5,384,386 35,352,033
2040 5,378,629 34,947,817
2039 5,371,473 34,533,772
2038 5,362,904 34,091,760
2037 5,353,217 33,612,993
2036 5,342,317 33,134,445
2035 5,330,286 32,608,669
2034 5,317,189 32,062,309
2033 5,302,930 31,477,500
2032 5,287,714 30,883,996
2031 5,271,514 30,248,264
2030 5,254,366 29,592,787
2029 5,236,206 28,871,638
2028 5,217,031 28,141,821
2027 5,196,723 27,355,002
2026 5,175,408 26,535,554
2025 5,152,950 25,620,427
2024 5,129,910 24,672,760
2023 5,105,525 23,594,623
2022 5,081,765 22,462,173
2021 5,059,988 21,628,839
2020 5,034,320 21,049,429
2019 4,999,553 20,353,534
2018 4,957,818 19,577,845
2017 4,913,177 19,224,668
2016 4,866,998 19,193,834
2015 4,818,038 19,424,618
2014 4,767,119 20,273,659
2013 4,716,147 21,666,917
2012 4,663,934 22,759,763
2011 4,609,833 22,878,098
2010 4,555,962 22,482,421
2009 4,499,791 21,976,969
2008 4,440,056 21,636,564
2007 4,380,248 20,884,125
2006 4,321,340 19,637,022
2005 4,261,240 18,814,091
2004 4,200,078 18,336,875
2003 4,138,784 17,889,296
2002 4,075,705 17,468,332
2001 4,008,947 17,051,338
2000 3,937,739 16,637,888
1999 3,862,101 16,228,061
1998 3,782,838 15,820,413
1997 3,701,711 15,417,542
1996 3,619,013 15,018,104
1995 3,535,176 14,616,801
1994 3,451,122 14,208,583
1993 3,367,434 13,795,686
1992 3,284,258 13,385,571
1991 3,202,176 12,980,821
1990 3,121,706 12,579,208
1989 3,043,827 12,179,060
1988 2,968,103 11,782,264
1987 2,892,699 11,388,923
1986 2,817,216 11,002,844
1985 2,741,894 10,625,672
1984 2,667,595 10,258,398
1983 2,595,153 9,904,809
1982 2,524,806 9,572,511
1981 2,456,637 9,260,189
1980 2,390,633 8,957,663
1979 2,326,490 8,661,909
1978 2,264,510 8,372,759
1977 2,205,025 8,090,501
1976 2,147,774 7,817,320
1975 2,092,719 7,554,364
1974 2,039,643 7,302,160
1973 1,988,343 7,060,321
1972 1,938,248 6,826,024
1971 1,888,539 6,598,094
1970 1,838,949 6,380,609
1969 1,789,276 6,175,166
1968 1,739,731 5,978,742
1967 1,689,523 5,790,198
1966 1,638,116 5,609,047
1965 1,586,208 5,435,267
1964 1,533,960 5,269,087
1963 1,481,604 5,110,467
1962 1,429,445 4,959,340
1961 1,377,920 4,815,466
1960 1,327,496 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 44.9M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Syria
2100 -1% -0.16%
2099 -0.99% -0.13%
2098 -0.99% -0.14%
2097 -0.99% -0.12%
2096 -0.99% -0.06%
2095 -0.99% -0.11%
2094 -0.99% -0.06%
2093 -0.98% -0.07%
2092 -0.98% -0.03%
2091 -0.97% -0.07%
2090 -0.96% 0.002%
2089 -0.95% 0.01%
2088 -0.95% -0.02%
2087 -0.93% -0.04%
2086 -0.92% 0.08%
2085 -0.91% 0.08%
2084 -0.89% 0.06%
2083 -0.87% 0.14%
2082 -0.86% 0.15%
2081 -0.84% 0.22%
2080 -0.82% 0.13%
2079 -0.8% 0.08%
2078 -0.78% 0.1%
2077 -0.75% 0.19%
2076 -0.73% 0.21%
2075 -0.71% 0.22%
2074 -0.69% 0.24%
2073 -0.67% 0.31%
2072 -0.65% 0.33%
2071 -0.62% 0.33%
2070 -0.6% 0.34%
2069 -0.58% 0.42%
2068 -0.56% 0.45%
2067 -0.55% 0.49%
2066 -0.53% 0.58%
2065 -0.51% 0.59%
2064 -0.49% 0.59%
2063 -0.47% 0.59%
2062 -0.45% 0.61%
2061 -0.44% 0.69%
2060 -0.41% 0.76%
2059 -0.39% 0.69%
2058 -0.37% 0.69%
2057 -0.34% 0.77%
2056 -0.32% 0.76%
2055 -0.29% 0.84%
2054 -0.26% 0.87%
2053 -0.23% 0.78%
2052 -0.2% 0.8%
2051 -0.17% 0.84%
2050 -0.14% 0.84%
2049 -0.11% 0.81%
2048 -0.09% 0.78%
2047 -0.06% 0.84%
2046 -0.03% 0.92%
2045 0.002% 0.87%
2044 0.03% 0.93%
2043 0.05% 1.01%
2042 0.08% 1.07%
2041 0.11% 1.16%
2040 0.13% 1.2%
2039 0.16% 1.3%
2038 0.18% 1.42%
2037 0.2% 1.44%
2036 0.23% 1.61%
2035 0.25% 1.7%
2034 0.27% 1.86%
2033 0.29% 1.92%
2032 0.31% 2.1%
2031 0.33% 2.21%
2030 0.35% 2.5%
2029 0.37% 2.59%
2028 0.39% 2.88%
2027 0.41% 3.09%
2026 0.44% 3.57%
2025 0.45% 3.84%
2024 0.48% 4.57%
2023 0.47% 5.04%
2022 0.43% 3.85%
2021 0.51% 2.75%
2020 0.7% 3.42%
2019 0.84% 3.96%
2018 0.91% 1.84%
2017 0.95% 0.16%
2016 1.02% -1.19%
2015 1.07% -4.19%
2014 1.08% -6.43%
2013 1.12% -4.8%
2012 1.17% -0.52%
2011 1.18% 1.76%
2010 1.25% 2.3%
2009 1.35% 1.57%
2008 1.37% 3.6%
2007 1.36% 6.35%
2006 1.41% 4.37%
2005 1.46% 2.6%
2004 1.48% 2.5%
2003 1.55% 2.41%
2002 1.67% 2.45%
2001 1.81% 2.48%
2000 1.96% 2.53%
1999 2.1% 2.58%
1998 2.19% 2.61%
1997 2.29% 2.66%
1996 2.37% 2.75%
1995 2.44% 2.87%
1994 2.49% 2.99%
1993 2.53% 3.06%
1992 2.56% 3.12%
1991 2.58% 3.19%
1990 2.56% 3.29%
1989 2.55% 3.37%
1988 2.61% 3.45%
1987 2.68% 3.51%
1986 2.75% 3.55%
1985 2.79% 3.58%
1984 2.79% 3.57%
1983 2.79% 3.47%
1982 2.77% 3.37%
1981 2.76% 3.38%
1980 2.76% 3.41%
1979 2.74% 3.45%
1978 2.7% 3.49%
1977 2.67% 3.49%
1976 2.63% 3.48%
1975 2.6% 3.45%
1974 2.58% 3.43%
1973 2.58% 3.43%
1972 2.63% 3.45%
1971 2.7% 3.41%
1970 2.78% 3.33%
1969 2.85% 3.29%
1968 2.97% 3.26%
1967 3.14% 3.23%
1966 3.27% 3.2%
1965 3.41% 3.15%
1964 3.53% 3.1%
1963 3.65% 3.05%
1962 3.74% 2.99%
1961 3.8% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Syria
Current population
5186356
26956472
Population rank 126/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.32%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
33.4 seconds
One birth every
10.3 minutes
55.2 seconds
One death every
18.4 minutes
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +2,596
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 5/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +421,693
Net migration rank 63/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 421,693
2024 22,699 967 449,784 546,494
2023 24,109 995 402,713 757,309
2022 21,409 1,006 369,750 735,142
2021 20,119 1,018 350,560 211,220
2020 29,164 1,029 327,992 269,050
2019 37,682 1,653 293,762 500,985
2018 42,469 1,673 242,530 514,102
2017 43,471 1,671 237,214 -287,501
2016 45,565 1,649 236,007 -124,063
2015 49,077 1,617 253,977 -827,496
2014 49,559 1,589 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 49,227 1,579 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 52,036 1,587 475,520 -999,267
2011 52,884 1,695 543,950 -256,888
2010 50,803 2,357 558,666 -54,359
2009 55,757 3,432 559,314 -52,703
2008 56,491 3,794 576,593 -402,393
2007 55,244 4,080 529,162 801,514
2006 54,177 4,321 480,616 682,911
2005 57,139 4,567 468,960 13,382
2004 55,769 4,856 461,209 10,881
2003 56,743 5,216 457,000 -33,920
2002 58,388 5,812 453,967 -35,096
2001 62,199 7,119 451,503 -36,383
2000 64,268 8,826 446,211 -34,425
1999 64,922 13,253 439,261 -31,394
1998 64,788 15,556 433,447 -26,025
1997 64,954 16,954 429,887 -31,571
1996 66,094 17,393 430,765 -30,197
1995 67,585 16,609 430,172 -28,122
1994 68,336 15,587 426,996 -12,630
1993 69,016 14,431 420,244 -8,828
1992 69,830 13,069 412,878 -4,063
1991 70,506 10,757 410,830 -10,154
1990 71,727 7,949 409,177 -6,620
1989 72,327 3,758 406,111 -8,379
1988 72,944 2,414 404,285 -8,426
1987 73,188 2,267 399,159 -8,335
1986 73,211 2,302 390,821 -9,485
1985 72,776 2,357 379,231 -6,221
1984 71,062 2,402 366,768 -5,245
1983 68,972 2,449 355,375 -9,729
1982 66,826 2,453 319,664 -721
1981 64,632 2,431 330,237 -24,536
1980 62,561 2,387 332,464 -33,114
1979 60,984 2,349 324,943 -32,793
1978 58,327 2,296 316,724 -30,567
1977 56,122 2,228 306,630 -28,275
1976 54,019 2,129 294,267 -26,268
1975 51,979 1,992 282,299 -24,389
1974 50,349 1,839 270,735 -24,242
1973 48,943 1,468 254,687 -17,502
1972 48,417 1,366 249,027 -17,610
1971 48,341 1,296 239,610 -15,167
1970 48,398 1,137 230,117 -19,594
1969 48,790 1,017 219,114 -18,749
1968 48,361 939 209,454 -16,968
1967 50,193 926 199,223 -14,618
1966 50,755 930 191,122 -13,434
1965 51,196 932 182,560 -12,704
1964 51,435 934 174,549 -12,044
1963 51,403 938 166,555 -11,817
1962 51,046 934 159,155 -11,641
1961 50,149 924 151,485 -11,237
1960 48,857 910 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/syria | 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 Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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