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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 5.18 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 +0.77% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Costa Rica vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Syria
2100 3,804,183 44,620,090
2099 3,842,423 44,690,260
2098 3,880,999 44,750,249
2097 3,919,996 44,813,148
2096 3,959,352 44,867,740
2095 3,999,084 44,895,489
2094 4,039,053 44,945,231
2093 4,079,349 44,974,311
2092 4,119,898 45,003,795
2091 4,160,663 45,016,478
2090 4,201,548 45,048,083
2089 4,242,452 45,047,102
2088 4,283,327 45,041,864
2087 4,324,225 45,049,516
2086 4,364,979 45,068,928
2085 4,405,520 45,034,847
2084 4,445,770 44,999,929
2083 4,485,644 44,971,600
2082 4,525,171 44,910,859
2081 4,564,265 44,843,908
2080 4,602,737 44,744,718
2079 4,640,677 44,687,371
2078 4,677,935 44,649,760
2077 4,714,527 44,604,175
2076 4,750,309 44,520,132
2075 4,785,359 44,426,423
2074 4,819,691 44,328,795
2073 4,853,137 44,221,016
2072 4,885,727 44,084,262
2071 4,917,445 43,939,848
2070 4,948,313 43,795,999
2069 4,978,425 43,648,130
2068 5,007,604 43,465,442
2067 5,035,877 43,271,173
2066 5,063,521 43,060,752
2065 5,090,474 42,810,442
2064 5,116,546 42,559,554
2063 5,141,922 42,311,907
2062 5,166,260 42,062,193
2061 5,189,836 41,808,082
2060 5,212,549 41,522,274
2059 5,234,066 41,208,825
2058 5,254,528 40,925,728
2057 5,273,844 40,643,453
2056 5,292,013 40,332,578
2055 5,308,829 40,026,632
2054 5,324,305 39,691,425
2053 5,338,417 39,348,020
2052 5,350,974 39,045,268
2051 5,361,865 38,733,827
2050 5,371,197 38,410,423
2049 5,378,904 38,089,455
2048 5,385,081 37,784,449
2047 5,389,678 37,492,636
2046 5,392,713 37,181,526
2045 5,394,209 36,843,579
2044 5,394,124 36,526,509
2043 5,392,590 36,188,225
2042 5,389,628 35,825,419
2041 5,385,101 35,447,414
2040 5,379,344 35,042,107
2039 5,372,186 34,626,945
2038 5,363,617 34,183,740
2037 5,353,928 33,703,682
2036 5,343,027 33,223,843
2035 5,330,994 32,696,648
2034 5,317,895 32,148,814
2033 5,303,634 31,562,427
2032 5,288,416 30,967,322
2031 5,272,215 30,329,874
2030 5,255,064 29,672,629
2029 5,236,901 28,949,535
2028 5,217,724 28,217,748
2027 5,197,413 27,428,807
2026 5,176,096 26,607,148
2025 5,153,634 25,689,551
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% 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 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 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 45.1M 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 0.46% 4.12%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Syria
Current population
5181862
26829400
Population rank 126/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.32%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 6/197
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 - 967 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 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 (1960–2024, 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/syria | 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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