Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 23,331,886 people in Taiwan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 23,229,461 in Taiwan.

Population statistics:

  • Taiwan's population is 4.48 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Taiwan is the 60th.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.28% for Taiwan.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs -0.03% in Taiwan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Taiwan has grown from 22.8M to 23.2M (1.78% growth).

Costa Rica vs Taiwan: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Taiwan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Taiwan
2100 3,803,678 10,150,338
2099 3,841,913 10,273,881
2098 3,880,484 10,399,680
2097 3,919,475 10,527,804
2096 3,958,826 10,657,536
2095 3,998,552 10,789,978
2094 4,038,516 10,925,075
2093 4,078,807 11,062,491
2092 4,119,351 11,202,670
2091 4,160,111 11,346,131
2090 4,200,989 11,494,369
2089 4,241,888 11,644,743
2088 4,282,758 11,799,177
2087 4,323,650 11,956,109
2086 4,364,399 12,116,149
2085 4,404,935 12,281,248
2084 4,445,179 12,451,872
2083 4,485,048 12,625,681
2082 4,524,570 12,803,442
2081 4,563,658 12,986,931
2080 4,602,126 13,174,137
2079 4,640,060 13,366,920
2078 4,677,313 13,564,788
2077 4,713,901 13,765,770
2076 4,749,678 13,969,802
2075 4,784,723 14,178,904
2074 4,819,050 14,391,331
2073 4,852,492 14,606,033
2072 4,885,078 14,824,987
2071 4,916,792 15,045,310
2070 4,947,655 15,266,143
2069 4,977,764 15,488,280
2068 5,006,939 15,714,125
2067 5,035,207 15,940,945
2066 5,062,849 16,167,553
2065 5,089,797 16,396,032
2064 5,115,866 16,625,600
2063 5,141,239 16,854,355
2062 5,165,574 17,084,600
2061 5,189,146 17,314,450
2060 5,211,857 17,541,998
2059 5,233,370 17,767,014
2058 5,253,830 17,988,239
2057 5,273,143 18,208,151
2056 5,291,310 18,423,453
2055 5,308,124 18,639,554
2054 5,323,598 18,853,384
2053 5,337,707 19,063,428
2052 5,350,263 19,270,076
2051 5,361,152 19,474,323
2050 5,370,484 19,677,203
2049 5,378,189 19,878,438
2048 5,384,366 20,073,645
2047 5,388,962 20,267,326
2046 5,391,996 20,454,154
2045 5,393,493 20,640,565
2044 5,393,407 20,819,477
2043 5,391,873 20,995,111
2042 5,388,912 21,166,213
2041 5,384,386 21,331,710
2040 5,378,629 21,491,361
2039 5,371,473 21,645,911
2038 5,362,904 21,794,529
2037 5,353,217 21,939,617
2036 5,342,317 22,077,701
2035 5,330,286 22,211,115
2034 5,317,189 22,340,809
2033 5,302,930 22,463,465
2032 5,287,714 22,582,449
2031 5,271,514 22,698,460
2030 5,254,366 22,809,605
2029 5,236,206 22,916,803
2028 5,217,031 23,022,058
2027 5,196,723 23,127,410
2026 5,175,408 23,229,461
2025 5,152,950 23,331,886
2024 5,129,910 23,410,331
2023 5,105,525 23,342,541
2022 5,081,765 23,319,977
2021 5,059,988 23,468,275
2020 5,034,320 23,582,179
2019 4,999,553 23,596,027
2018 4,957,818 23,580,080
2017 4,913,177 23,555,522
2016 4,866,998 23,515,945
2015 4,818,038 23,462,914
2014 4,767,119 23,403,635
2013 4,716,147 23,344,670
2012 4,663,934 23,270,367
2011 4,609,833 23,193,518
2010 4,555,962 23,140,948
2009 4,499,791 23,078,402
2008 4,440,056 22,997,696
2007 4,380,248 22,917,444
2006 4,321,340 22,823,455
2005 4,261,240 22,729,753
2004 4,200,078 22,646,836
2003 4,138,784 22,562,663
2002 4,075,705 22,463,172
2001 4,008,947 22,341,120
2000 3,937,739 22,184,530
1999 3,862,101 22,010,489
1998 3,782,838 21,835,703
1997 3,701,711 21,634,124
1996 3,619,013 21,441,432
1995 3,535,176 21,267,653
1994 3,451,122 21,086,645
1993 3,367,434 20,899,019
1992 3,284,258 20,704,227
1991 3,202,176 20,503,568
1990 3,121,706 20,278,946
1989 3,043,827 20,055,492
1988 2,968,103 19,839,704
1987 2,892,699 19,617,046
1986 2,817,216 19,411,454
1985 2,741,894 19,191,510
1984 2,667,595 18,929,866
1983 2,595,153 18,653,146
1982 2,524,806 18,354,855
1981 2,456,637 18,029,982
1980 2,390,633 17,704,538
1979 2,326,490 17,372,779
1978 2,264,510 17,042,272
1977 2,205,025 16,730,895
1976 2,147,774 16,401,413
1975 2,092,719 16,075,128
1974 2,039,643 15,784,817
1973 1,988,343 15,505,121
1972 1,938,248 15,220,495
1971 1,888,539 14,913,564
1970 1,838,949 14,582,944
1969 1,789,276 14,068,984
1968 1,739,731 13,548,537
1967 1,689,523 13,210,344
1966 1,638,116 12,874,153
1965 1,586,208 12,511,863
1964 1,533,960 12,137,143
1963 1,481,604 11,762,101
1962 1,429,445 11,392,513
1961 1,377,920 11,030,385
1960 1,327,496 10,667,705

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); National Statistics, Taiwan (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Taiwan gained 692,490 people (a 3.03% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Taiwan's population decreased by 286,484 people (a 1.22% decline).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Taiwan was ranked 49th in 2006 and ranked 60th 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 Taiwan will decrease by 15.3% to 19,677,203 people and rank change from 60th to 76th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Taiwan's population already peaked in 2019 at 23.6M people and is projected to decrease to 10.2M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Taiwan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Taiwan
2100 -1% -1.2%
2099 -0.99% -1.21%
2098 -0.99% -1.22%
2097 -0.99% -1.22%
2096 -0.99% -1.23%
2095 -0.99% -1.24%
2094 -0.99% -1.24%
2093 -0.98% -1.25%
2092 -0.98% -1.26%
2091 -0.97% -1.29%
2090 -0.96% -1.29%
2089 -0.95% -1.31%
2088 -0.95% -1.31%
2087 -0.93% -1.32%
2086 -0.92% -1.34%
2085 -0.91% -1.37%
2084 -0.89% -1.38%
2083 -0.87% -1.39%
2082 -0.86% -1.41%
2081 -0.84% -1.42%
2080 -0.82% -1.44%
2079 -0.8% -1.46%
2078 -0.78% -1.46%
2077 -0.75% -1.46%
2076 -0.73% -1.47%
2075 -0.71% -1.48%
2074 -0.69% -1.47%
2073 -0.67% -1.48%
2072 -0.65% -1.46%
2071 -0.62% -1.45%
2070 -0.6% -1.43%
2069 -0.58% -1.44%
2068 -0.56% -1.42%
2067 -0.55% -1.4%
2066 -0.53% -1.39%
2065 -0.51% -1.38%
2064 -0.49% -1.36%
2063 -0.47% -1.35%
2062 -0.45% -1.33%
2061 -0.44% -1.3%
2060 -0.41% -1.27%
2059 -0.39% -1.23%
2058 -0.37% -1.21%
2057 -0.34% -1.17%
2056 -0.32% -1.16%
2055 -0.29% -1.13%
2054 -0.26% -1.1%
2053 -0.23% -1.07%
2052 -0.2% -1.05%
2051 -0.17% -1.03%
2050 -0.14% -1.01%
2049 -0.11% -0.97%
2048 -0.09% -0.96%
2047 -0.06% -0.91%
2046 -0.03% -0.9%
2045 0.002% -0.86%
2044 0.03% -0.84%
2043 0.05% -0.81%
2042 0.08% -0.78%
2041 0.11% -0.74%
2040 0.13% -0.71%
2039 0.16% -0.68%
2038 0.18% -0.66%
2037 0.2% -0.63%
2036 0.23% -0.6%
2035 0.25% -0.58%
2034 0.27% -0.55%
2033 0.29% -0.53%
2032 0.31% -0.51%
2031 0.33% -0.49%
2030 0.35% -0.47%
2029 0.37% -0.46%
2028 0.39% -0.46%
2027 0.41% -0.44%
2026 0.44% -0.44%
2025 0.45% -0.34%
2024 0.48% 0.29%
2023 0.47% 0.1%
2022 0.43% -0.63%
2021 0.51% -0.48%
2020 0.7% -0.06%
2019 0.84% 0.07%
2018 0.91% 0.1%
2017 0.95% 0.17%
2016 1.02% 0.23%
2015 1.07% 0.25%
2014 1.08% 0.25%
2013 1.12% 0.32%
2012 1.17% 0.33%
2011 1.18% 0.23%
2010 1.25% 0.27%
2009 1.35% 0.35%
2008 1.37% 0.35%
2007 1.36% 0.41%
2006 1.41% 0.41%
2005 1.46% 0.37%
2004 1.48% 0.37%
2003 1.55% 0.44%
2002 1.67% 0.55%
2001 1.81% 0.71%
2000 1.96% 0.79%
1999 2.1% 0.8%
1998 2.19% 0.93%
1997 2.29% 0.9%
1996 2.37% 0.82%
1995 2.44% 0.86%
1994 2.49% 0.9%
1993 2.53% 0.94%
1992 2.56% 0.98%
1991 2.58% 1.11%
1990 2.56% 1.11%
1989 2.55% 1.09%
1988 2.61% 1.14%
1987 2.68% 1.06%
1986 2.75% 1.15%
1985 2.79% 1.38%
1984 2.79% 1.48%
1983 2.79% 1.63%
1982 2.77% 1.8%
1981 2.76% 1.84%
1980 2.76% 1.91%
1979 2.74% 1.94%
1978 2.7% 1.86%
1977 2.67% 2.01%
1976 2.63% 2.03%
1975 2.6% 1.84%
1974 2.58% 1.8%
1973 2.58% 1.87%
1972 2.63% 2.06%
1971 2.7% 2.27%
1970 2.78% 3.65%
1969 2.85% 3.84%
1968 2.97% 2.56%
1967 3.14% 2.61%
1966 3.27% 2.9%
1965 3.41% 3.09%
1964 3.53% 3.19%
1963 3.65% 3.24%
1962 3.74% 3.28%
1961 3.8% 3.4%
1960 - 3.69%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); National Statistics, Taiwan (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Taiwan's population declined by 0.34%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Taiwan
Current population
5186356
23229461
Population rank 126/197 60/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.28%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
6.72 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
3.9 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
2.6 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 -215
Annual growth/decline +23,040 -78,445
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% -0.34%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 178/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
11.2 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +47,029
Net migration rank 63/196 23/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 55/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Taiwan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Taiwan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -
2024 22,699 967 -67,188 47,029
2023 24,109 995 -69,794 225,599
2022 21,409 1,006 -68,327 -42,430
2021 20,119 1,018 -30,039 -156,010
2020 29,164 1,029 -7,782 -33,978
2019 37,682 1,653 1,416 12,718
2018 42,469 1,673 8,725 8,888
2017 43,471 1,671 22,613 8,809
2016 45,565 1,649 35,980 11,707
2015 49,077 1,617 49,741 8,581
2014 49,559 1,589 - -
2013 49,227 1,579 - -
2012 52,036 1,587 - -
2011 52,884 1,695 43,836 19,077
2010 50,803 2,357 - -
2009 55,757 3,432 - -
2008 56,491 3,794 - -
2007 55,244 4,080 - -
2006 54,177 4,321 - -
2005 57,139 4,567 - -
2004 55,769 4,856 - -
2003 56,743 5,216 - -
2002 58,388 5,812 - -
2001 62,199 7,119 132,707 -3,811
2000 64,268 8,826 - -
1999 64,922 13,253 - -
1998 64,788 15,556 - -
1997 64,954 16,954 - -
1996 66,094 17,393 - -
1995 67,585 16,609 - -
1994 68,336 15,587 - -
1993 69,016 14,431 - -
1992 69,830 13,069 - -
1991 70,506 10,757 215,698 -12,128
1990 71,727 7,949 - -
1989 72,327 3,758 - -
1988 72,944 2,414 - -
1987 73,188 2,267 - -
1986 73,211 2,302 - -
1985 72,776 2,357 - -
1984 71,062 2,402 - -
1983 68,972 2,449 - -
1982 66,826 2,453 - -
1981 64,632 2,431 326,883 4,508
1980 62,561 2,387 - -
1979 60,984 2,349 - -
1978 58,327 2,296 - -
1977 56,122 2,228 - -
1976 54,019 2,129 - -
1975 51,979 1,992 - -
1974 50,349 1,839 - -
1973 48,943 1,468 - -
1972 48,417 1,366 - -
1971 48,341 1,296 - -
1970 48,398 1,137 - -
1969 48,790 1,017 - -
1968 48,361 939 - -
1967 50,193 926 - -
1966 50,755 930 346,958 18,774
1965 51,196 932 - -
1964 51,435 934 - -
1963 51,403 938 - -
1962 51,046 934 - -
1961 50,149 924 - -
1960 48,857 910 - -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); National Statistics, Taiwan (1966–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/taiwan | 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 Taiwan 57.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 124,655 people) and 42.2% is from migration (a gain of 90,913 people).

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
Taiwan
City Population
New Taipei 4.04M
Taichung 2.87M
Kaohsiung 2.71M
Taipei 2.43M
Taoyuan 2.36M
Tainan 1.85M
Hsinchu 456K
Keelung 359K
Chiayi 262K
Zhubei 221K

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); National Statistics, Taiwan (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/taiwan | 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 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. National Statistics, Taiwan (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.