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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 70,545,865 people in Tanzania in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 73,639,263 in Tanzania.

Population statistics:

  • Tanzania's population is 14.2 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 0.89% for Tanzania.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +3.11% in Tanzania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Tanzania has grown from 40.3M to 73.6M (82.8% growth).

Costa Rica vs Tanzania: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Tanzania
2100 3,803,678 265,471,550
2099 3,841,913 263,137,702
2098 3,880,484 260,784,676
2097 3,919,475 258,387,890
2096 3,958,826 255,972,277
2095 3,998,552 253,543,248
2094 4,038,516 251,095,452
2093 4,078,807 248,605,184
2092 4,119,351 246,083,651
2091 4,160,111 243,533,968
2090 4,200,989 240,979,094
2089 4,241,888 238,393,867
2088 4,282,758 235,775,056
2087 4,323,650 233,145,231
2086 4,364,399 230,474,072
2085 4,404,935 227,778,580
2084 4,445,179 225,090,075
2083 4,485,048 222,400,079
2082 4,524,570 219,697,321
2081 4,563,658 216,974,796
2080 4,602,126 214,235,505
2079 4,640,060 211,466,096
2078 4,677,313 208,688,171
2077 4,713,901 205,898,494
2076 4,749,678 203,086,766
2075 4,784,723 200,278,383
2074 4,819,050 197,449,196
2073 4,852,492 194,624,081
2072 4,885,078 191,805,820
2071 4,916,792 188,974,004
2070 4,947,655 186,134,634
2069 4,977,764 183,293,747
2068 5,006,939 180,458,385
2067 5,035,207 177,622,538
2066 5,062,849 174,786,430
2065 5,089,797 171,897,059
2064 5,115,866 169,048,435
2063 5,141,239 166,202,091
2062 5,165,574 163,354,473
2061 5,189,146 160,521,858
2060 5,211,857 157,707,240
2059 5,233,370 154,905,240
2058 5,253,830 152,106,040
2057 5,273,143 149,311,257
2056 5,291,310 146,505,507
2055 5,308,124 143,722,840
2054 5,323,598 140,970,467
2053 5,337,707 138,249,490
2052 5,350,263 135,540,803
2051 5,361,152 132,838,721
2050 5,370,484 130,145,345
2049 5,378,189 127,483,126
2048 5,384,366 124,809,212
2047 5,388,962 122,146,647
2046 5,391,996 119,511,124
2045 5,393,493 116,903,642
2044 5,393,407 114,318,843
2043 5,391,873 111,765,580
2042 5,388,912 109,231,423
2041 5,384,386 106,738,458
2040 5,378,629 104,262,479
2039 5,371,473 101,804,600
2038 5,362,904 99,370,760
2037 5,353,217 96,974,485
2036 5,342,317 94,592,848
2035 5,330,286 92,248,476
2034 5,317,189 89,920,872
2033 5,302,930 87,646,627
2032 5,287,714 85,401,853
2031 5,271,514 83,172,579
2030 5,254,366 80,989,443
2029 5,236,206 78,830,947
2028 5,217,031 76,723,335
2027 5,196,723 74,639,948
2026 5,175,408 72,582,361
2025 5,152,950 70,545,865
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Tanzania's population increased by 19,815,250 people (a 36.8% 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 3.55% to 5,370,484 people with a rank change from 126th to 127th. The population of Tanzania will increase by 76.7% to 130,145,345 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 0.45% 2.9%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Tanzania's population grew by 2.9%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Tanzania
Current population
5186356
73639263
Population rank 126/197 20/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.89%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
15.9 seconds
One birth every
10.3 minutes
13.2 seconds
One death every
18.4 minutes
1.34 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +5,440
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +1,985,708
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +2.9%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 16/197
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 22,699 967 1,993,730 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/tanzania | 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 Tanzania 98.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 18,197,641 people) and 1.2% is from migration (a gain of 220,684 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
Morogoro 471K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Moshi 145K

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/tanzania | 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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