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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 68,560,157 people in Tanzania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 73,145,892 in Tanzania.

Population statistics:

  • Tanzania's population is 14.1 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Tanzania is the 20th.
  • The countries together account for 0.95% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.88% for Tanzania.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +3.13% in Tanzania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Tanzania has grown from 40.3M to 73.1M (81.5% growth).

Costa Rica vs Tanzania: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Tanzania
2100 3,804,183 265,496,854
2099 3,842,423 263,162,785
2098 3,880,999 260,809,535
2097 3,919,996 258,412,520
2096 3,959,352 255,996,677
2095 3,999,084 253,567,416
2094 4,039,053 251,119,386
2093 4,079,349 248,628,881
2092 4,119,898 246,107,108
2091 4,160,663 243,557,182
2090 4,201,548 241,002,065
2089 4,242,452 238,416,591
2088 4,283,327 235,797,530
2087 4,324,225 233,167,455
2086 4,364,979 230,496,041
2085 4,405,520 227,800,292
2084 4,445,770 225,111,530
2083 4,485,644 222,421,279
2082 4,525,171 219,718,263
2081 4,564,265 216,995,478
2080 4,602,737 214,255,926
2079 4,640,677 211,486,253
2078 4,677,935 208,708,063
2077 4,714,527 205,918,120
2076 4,750,309 203,106,125
2075 4,785,359 200,297,474
2074 4,819,691 197,468,017
2073 4,853,137 194,642,633
2072 4,885,727 191,824,103
2071 4,917,445 188,992,017
2070 4,948,313 186,152,377
2069 4,978,425 183,311,218
2068 5,007,604 180,475,586
2067 5,035,877 177,639,469
2066 5,063,521 174,803,090
2065 5,090,474 171,913,445
2064 5,116,546 169,064,549
2063 5,141,922 166,217,933
2062 5,166,260 163,370,044
2061 5,189,836 160,537,159
2060 5,212,549 157,722,273
2059 5,234,066 154,920,005
2058 5,254,528 152,120,539
2057 5,273,844 149,325,489
2056 5,292,013 146,519,472
2055 5,308,829 143,736,540
2054 5,324,305 140,983,905
2053 5,338,417 138,262,668
2052 5,350,974 135,553,723
2051 5,361,865 132,851,383
2050 5,371,197 130,157,751
2049 5,378,904 127,495,278
2048 5,385,081 124,821,109
2047 5,389,678 122,158,290
2046 5,392,713 119,522,516
2045 5,394,209 116,914,785
2044 5,394,124 114,329,740
2043 5,392,590 111,776,234
2042 5,389,628 109,241,835
2041 5,385,101 106,748,632
2040 5,379,344 104,272,418
2039 5,372,186 101,814,304
2038 5,363,617 99,380,232
2037 5,353,928 96,983,729
2036 5,343,027 94,601,865
2035 5,330,994 92,257,269
2034 5,317,895 89,929,444
2033 5,303,634 87,654,982
2032 5,288,416 85,409,993
2031 5,272,215 83,180,507
2030 5,255,064 80,997,163
2029 5,236,901 78,838,461
2028 5,217,724 76,730,649
2027 5,197,413 74,647,063
2026 5,176,096 72,589,279
2025 5,153,634 70,552,589
2024 5,129,910 68,560,157
2023 5,105,525 66,617,606
2022 5,081,765 64,711,821
2021 5,059,988 62,830,412
2020 5,034,320 60,972,798
2019 4,999,553 59,174,891
2018 4,957,818 57,437,145
2017 4,913,177 55,652,890
2016 4,866,998 53,824,013
2015 4,818,038 52,020,962
2014 4,767,119 50,351,512
2013 4,716,147 48,824,128
2012 4,663,934 47,374,260
2011 4,609,833 46,029,367
2010 4,555,962 44,758,488
2009 4,499,791 43,633,982
2008 4,440,056 42,570,728
2007 4,380,248 41,435,512
2006 4,321,340 40,294,902
2005 4,261,240 39,182,076
2004 4,200,078 38,109,668
2003 4,138,784 37,089,555
2002 4,075,705 36,121,304
2001 4,008,947 35,198,299
2000 3,937,739 34,260,139
1999 3,862,101 33,300,330
1998 3,782,838 32,420,458
1997 3,701,711 31,578,089
1996 3,619,013 30,945,762
1995 3,535,176 30,383,497
1994 3,451,122 29,442,356
1993 3,367,434 28,332,692
1992 3,284,258 27,457,588
1991 3,202,176 26,780,436
1990 3,121,706 26,110,207
1989 3,043,827 25,438,759
1988 2,968,103 24,769,686
1987 2,892,699 24,030,378
1986 2,817,216 23,258,959
1985 2,741,894 22,501,693
1984 2,667,595 21,779,066
1983 2,595,153 21,079,874
1982 2,524,806 20,398,571
1981 2,456,637 19,784,703
1980 2,390,633 19,189,769
1979 2,326,490 18,592,038
1978 2,264,510 17,976,566
1977 2,205,025 17,352,929
1976 2,147,774 16,736,211
1975 2,092,719 16,138,361
1974 2,039,643 15,561,630
1973 1,988,343 15,010,101
1972 1,938,248 14,479,308
1971 1,888,539 13,971,451
1970 1,838,949 13,492,677
1969 1,789,276 13,036,700
1968 1,739,731 12,602,076
1967 1,689,523 12,200,109
1966 1,638,116 11,827,459
1965 1,586,208 11,470,728
1964 1,533,960 11,127,826
1963 1,481,604 10,799,528
1962 1,429,445 10,487,756
1961 1,377,920 10,187,886
1960 1,327,496 9,901,419

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/tanzania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Tanzania gained 13,529,111 people (a 33.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Tanzania's population increased by 19,321,879 people (a 35.9% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Tanzania was ranked 30th in 2006 and ranked 20th 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 Tanzania will increase by 77.9% to 130,157,751 people and rank change from 20th to 15th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 265M people in 2100 for Tanzania.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Tanzania
2100 -1% 0.89%
2099 -0.99% 0.9%
2098 -0.99% 0.93%
2097 -0.99% 0.94%
2096 -0.99% 0.96%
2095 -0.99% 0.97%
2094 -0.99% 1%
2093 -0.98% 1.02%
2092 -0.98% 1.05%
2091 -0.97% 1.06%
2090 -0.96% 1.08%
2089 -0.95% 1.11%
2088 -0.95% 1.13%
2087 -0.93% 1.16%
2086 -0.92% 1.18%
2085 -0.91% 1.19%
2084 -0.89% 1.21%
2083 -0.87% 1.23%
2082 -0.86% 1.25%
2081 -0.84% 1.28%
2080 -0.82% 1.31%
2079 -0.8% 1.33%
2078 -0.78% 1.35%
2077 -0.75% 1.38%
2076 -0.73% 1.4%
2075 -0.71% 1.43%
2074 -0.69% 1.45%
2073 -0.67% 1.47%
2072 -0.65% 1.5%
2071 -0.62% 1.53%
2070 -0.6% 1.55%
2069 -0.58% 1.57%
2068 -0.56% 1.6%
2067 -0.55% 1.62%
2066 -0.53% 1.68%
2065 -0.51% 1.69%
2064 -0.49% 1.71%
2063 -0.47% 1.74%
2062 -0.45% 1.76%
2061 -0.44% 1.78%
2060 -0.41% 1.81%
2059 -0.39% 1.84%
2058 -0.37% 1.87%
2057 -0.34% 1.92%
2056 -0.32% 1.94%
2055 -0.29% 1.95%
2054 -0.26% 1.97%
2053 -0.23% 2%
2052 -0.2% 2.03%
2051 -0.17% 2.07%
2050 -0.14% 2.09%
2049 -0.11% 2.14%
2048 -0.09% 2.18%
2047 -0.06% 2.21%
2046 -0.03% 2.23%
2045 0.002% 2.26%
2044 0.03% 2.28%
2043 0.05% 2.32%
2042 0.08% 2.34%
2041 0.11% 2.37%
2040 0.13% 2.41%
2039 0.16% 2.45%
2038 0.18% 2.47%
2037 0.2% 2.52%
2036 0.23% 2.54%
2035 0.25% 2.59%
2034 0.27% 2.59%
2033 0.29% 2.63%
2032 0.31% 2.68%
2031 0.33% 2.7%
2030 0.35% 2.74%
2029 0.37% 2.75%
2028 0.39% 2.79%
2027 0.41% 2.83%
2026 0.44% 2.89%
2025 0.46% 2.91%
2024 0.48% 2.92%
2023 0.47% 2.95%
2022 0.43% 2.99%
2021 0.51% 3.05%
2020 0.7% 3.04%
2019 0.84% 3.03%
2018 0.91% 3.21%
2017 0.95% 3.4%
2016 1.02% 3.47%
2015 1.07% 3.32%
2014 1.08% 3.13%
2013 1.12% 3.06%
2012 1.17% 2.92%
2011 1.18% 2.84%
2010 1.25% 2.58%
2009 1.35% 2.5%
2008 1.37% 2.74%
2007 1.36% 2.83%
2006 1.41% 2.84%
2005 1.46% 2.81%
2004 1.48% 2.75%
2003 1.55% 2.68%
2002 1.67% 2.62%
2001 1.81% 2.74%
2000 1.96% 2.88%
1999 2.1% 2.71%
1998 2.19% 2.67%
1997 2.29% 2.04%
1996 2.37% 1.85%
1995 2.44% 3.2%
1994 2.49% 3.92%
1993 2.53% 3.19%
1992 2.56% 2.53%
1991 2.58% 2.57%
1990 2.56% 2.64%
1989 2.55% 2.7%
1988 2.61% 3.08%
1987 2.68% 3.32%
1986 2.75% 3.37%
1985 2.79% 3.32%
1984 2.79% 3.32%
1983 2.79% 3.34%
1982 2.77% 3.1%
1981 2.76% 3.1%
1980 2.76% 3.21%
1979 2.74% 3.42%
1978 2.7% 3.59%
1977 2.67% 3.68%
1976 2.63% 3.7%
1975 2.6% 3.71%
1974 2.58% 3.67%
1973 2.58% 3.67%
1972 2.63% 3.63%
1971 2.7% 3.55%
1970 2.78% 3.5%
1969 2.85% 3.45%
1968 2.97% 3.29%
1967 3.14% 3.15%
1966 3.27% 3.11%
1965 3.41% 3.08%
1964 3.53% 3.04%
1963 3.65% 2.97%
1962 3.74% 2.94%
1961 3.8% 2.89%

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/tanzania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Tanzania's population grew by 2.92%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Tanzania
Current population
5181862
73145892
Population rank 126/197 20/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.88%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
16.2 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
13.4 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
1.36 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +5,322
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +1,942,551
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +2.92%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 18/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
41.4 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -12,730
Net migration rank 63/196 139/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 462,371
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 83/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 167/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Tanzania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Tanzania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -12,730
2024 - 967 - -29,865
2023 24,109 995 1,960,623 -39,388
2022 21,409 1,006 1,927,960 -37,557
2021 20,119 1,018 1,880,137 -7,704
2020 29,164 1,029 1,861,377 -18,587
2019 37,682 1,653 1,816,669 -63,602
2018 42,469 1,673 1,777,852 -55,444
2017 43,471 1,671 1,726,909 119,142
2016 45,565 1,649 1,659,502 152,194
2015 49,077 1,617 1,592,882 201,495
2014 49,559 1,589 1,565,630 -21,083
2013 49,227 1,579 1,509,008 1,241
2012 52,036 1,587 1,439,325 -49,875
2011 52,884 1,695 1,384,886 -84,546
2010 50,803 2,357 1,363,477 -122,020
2009 55,757 3,432 1,332,015 -324,478
2008 56,491 3,794 1,303,728 -184,816
2007 55,244 4,080 1,278,285 -126,793
2006 54,177 4,321 1,257,927 -128,231
2005 57,139 4,567 1,224,165 -128,251
2004 55,769 4,856 1,175,379 -126,490
2003 56,743 5,216 1,118,435 -127,101
2002 58,388 5,812 1,063,195 -118,047
2001 62,199 7,119 1,026,242 -125,375
2000 64,268 8,826 985,185 -9,701
1999 64,922 13,253 948,659 -4,489
1998 64,788 15,556 920,806 -105,184
1997 64,954 16,954 882,544 -13,400
1996 66,094 17,393 868,524 -473,007
1995 67,585 16,609 838,980 -109,971
1994 68,336 15,587 803,953 349,348
1993 69,016 14,431 778,044 288,004
1992 69,830 13,069 767,961 -83,825
1991 70,506 10,757 762,011 -91,851
1990 71,727 7,949 750,825 -80,529
1989 72,327 3,758 743,854 -71,268
1988 72,944 2,414 736,551 -71,012
1987 73,188 2,267 718,580 94,498
1986 73,211 2,302 705,677 24,101
1985 72,776 2,357 697,867 86,864
1984 71,062 2,402 687,435 -26,938
1983 68,972 2,449 679,720 58,161
1982 66,826 2,453 662,627 -37,883
1981 64,632 2,431 645,496 -42,485
1980 62,561 2,387 629,444 -42,588
1979 60,984 2,349 613,388 -4,792
1978 58,327 2,296 595,024 27,307
1977 56,122 2,228 574,938 49,997
1976 54,019 2,129 553,617 54,875
1975 51,979 1,992 533,906 53,290
1974 50,349 1,839 515,152 51,127
1973 48,943 1,468 488,429 48,363
1972 48,417 1,366 467,305 57,489
1971 48,341 1,296 449,014 41,900
1970 48,398 1,137 427,988 38,635
1969 48,790 1,017 408,322 37,006
1968 48,361 939 389,467 34,455
1967 50,193 926 374,763 5,265
1966 50,755 930 360,229 5,049
1965 51,196 932 343,456 4,742
1964 51,435 934 328,527 9,090
1963 51,403 938 314,644 4,333
1962 51,046 934 300,663 3,916
1961 50,149 924 286,839 8,338
1960 48,857 910 275,814 1,946

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/tanzania | 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 Tanzania 98.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 17,769,541 people) and 1.27% is from migration (a gain of 229,466 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 462,371 people or 0.7% in Tanzania.

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
Tanzania
City Population
Dar es Salaam 4.72M
Zanzibar 710K
Mwanza 706K
Mbeya 542K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Morogoro 207K
Moshi 145K
Stone Town 18K

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/tanzania | 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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