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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 71,668,011 people in Thailand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 71,571,743 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 13.8 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 0.93% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.86% for Thailand.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +0.23% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.52% growth).

Costa Rica vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Thailand
2100 3,804,183 45,712,111
2099 3,842,423 46,056,854
2098 3,880,999 46,406,925
2097 3,919,996 46,761,683
2096 3,959,352 47,122,446
2095 3,999,084 47,487,866
2094 4,039,053 47,857,414
2093 4,079,349 48,230,566
2092 4,119,898 48,609,149
2091 4,160,663 48,988,448
2090 4,201,548 49,372,024
2089 4,242,452 49,760,635
2088 4,283,327 50,146,313
2087 4,324,225 50,536,233
2086 4,364,979 50,929,394
2085 4,405,520 51,326,092
2084 4,445,770 51,728,619
2083 4,485,644 52,131,789
2082 4,525,171 52,537,598
2081 4,564,265 52,942,608
2080 4,602,737 53,352,029
2079 4,640,677 53,766,821
2078 4,677,935 54,181,891
2077 4,714,527 54,599,508
2076 4,750,309 55,019,721
2075 4,785,359 55,442,571
2074 4,819,691 55,872,412
2073 4,853,137 56,304,891
2072 4,885,727 56,739,842
2071 4,917,445 57,177,118
2070 4,948,313 57,621,370
2069 4,978,425 58,066,637
2068 5,007,604 58,516,959
2067 5,035,877 58,967,738
2066 5,063,521 59,418,676
2065 5,090,474 59,878,082
2064 5,116,546 60,336,709
2063 5,141,922 60,797,201
2062 5,166,260 61,262,000
2061 5,189,836 61,724,999
2060 5,212,549 62,192,387
2059 5,234,066 62,656,203
2058 5,254,528 63,118,413
2057 5,273,844 63,577,864
2056 5,292,013 64,032,675
2055 5,308,829 64,478,337
2054 5,324,305 64,917,436
2053 5,338,417 65,343,383
2052 5,350,974 65,763,356
2051 5,361,865 66,167,939
2050 5,371,197 66,558,274
2049 5,378,904 66,936,876
2048 5,385,081 67,296,897
2047 5,389,678 67,641,907
2046 5,392,713 67,972,603
2045 5,394,209 68,287,399
2044 5,394,124 68,585,177
2043 5,392,590 68,870,333
2042 5,389,628 69,139,548
2041 5,385,101 69,396,419
2040 5,379,344 69,632,464
2039 5,372,186 69,854,146
2038 5,363,617 70,062,543
2037 5,353,928 70,256,027
2036 5,343,027 70,435,348
2035 5,330,994 70,604,705
2034 5,317,895 70,756,791
2033 5,303,634 70,897,217
2032 5,288,416 71,025,384
2031 5,272,215 71,140,609
2030 5,255,064 71,247,320
2029 5,236,901 71,342,891
2028 5,217,724 71,428,869
2027 5,197,413 71,505,168
2026 5,176,096 71,571,743
2025 5,153,634 71,625,629
2024 5,129,910 71,668,011
2023 5,105,525 71,702,435
2022 5,081,765 71,735,329
2021 5,059,988 71,727,332
2020 5,034,320 71,641,484
2019 4,999,553 71,522,271
2018 4,957,818 71,376,079
2017 4,913,177 71,160,187
2016 4,866,998 70,859,841
2015 4,818,038 70,540,795
2014 4,767,119 70,216,367
2013 4,716,147 69,845,114
2012 4,663,934 69,436,098
2011 4,609,833 69,007,208
2010 4,555,962 68,579,447
2009 4,499,791 68,121,080
2008 4,440,056 67,619,830
2007 4,380,248 67,102,394
2006 4,321,340 66,567,687
2005 4,261,240 66,017,420
2004 4,200,078 65,452,047
2003 4,138,784 64,868,166
2002 4,075,705 64,266,437
2001 4,008,947 63,651,141
2000 3,937,739 63,007,815
1999 3,862,101 62,299,043
1998 3,782,838 61,522,630
1997 3,701,711 60,724,584
1996 3,619,013 59,920,064
1995 3,535,176 59,098,232
1994 3,451,122 58,260,854
1993 3,367,434 57,408,198
1992 3,284,258 56,528,834
1991 3,202,176 55,637,434
1990 3,121,706 54,738,329
1989 3,043,827 53,848,956
1988 2,968,103 52,969,595
1987 2,892,699 52,074,105
1986 2,817,216 51,177,834
1985 2,741,894 50,270,753
1984 2,667,595 49,351,708
1983 2,595,153 48,423,309
1982 2,524,806 47,494,577
1981 2,456,637 46,575,855
1980 2,390,633 45,650,022
1979 2,326,490 44,718,434
1978 2,264,510 43,788,976
1977 2,205,025 42,843,974
1976 2,147,774 41,896,504
1975 2,092,719 40,940,005
1974 2,039,643 39,952,891
1973 1,988,343 38,947,787
1972 1,938,248 37,933,929
1971 1,888,539 36,937,387
1970 1,838,949 35,954,408
1969 1,789,276 34,973,782
1968 1,739,731 34,002,560
1967 1,689,523 33,037,801
1966 1,638,116 32,086,071
1965 1,586,208 31,149,337
1964 1,533,960 30,232,141
1963 1,481,604 29,342,322
1962 1,429,445 28,481,040
1961 1,377,920 27,650,334
1960 1,327,496 26,851,747

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Thailand gained 4,292,154 people (a 6.45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 711,902 people (a 1% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Thailand was ranked 19th in 2006 and ranked 21st 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 Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,558,274 people and rank change from 21st to 31st.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Thailand's population already peaked in 2022 at 71.7M people and is projected to decrease to 45.7M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Thailand
2100 -1% -0.75%
2099 -0.99% -0.75%
2098 -0.99% -0.76%
2097 -0.99% -0.77%
2096 -0.99% -0.77%
2095 -0.99% -0.77%
2094 -0.99% -0.77%
2093 -0.98% -0.78%
2092 -0.98% -0.77%
2091 -0.97% -0.78%
2090 -0.96% -0.78%
2089 -0.95% -0.77%
2088 -0.95% -0.77%
2087 -0.93% -0.77%
2086 -0.92% -0.77%
2085 -0.91% -0.78%
2084 -0.89% -0.77%
2083 -0.87% -0.77%
2082 -0.86% -0.76%
2081 -0.84% -0.77%
2080 -0.82% -0.77%
2079 -0.8% -0.77%
2078 -0.78% -0.76%
2077 -0.75% -0.76%
2076 -0.73% -0.76%
2075 -0.71% -0.77%
2074 -0.69% -0.77%
2073 -0.67% -0.77%
2072 -0.65% -0.76%
2071 -0.62% -0.77%
2070 -0.6% -0.77%
2069 -0.58% -0.77%
2068 -0.56% -0.76%
2067 -0.55% -0.76%
2066 -0.53% -0.77%
2065 -0.51% -0.76%
2064 -0.49% -0.76%
2063 -0.47% -0.76%
2062 -0.45% -0.75%
2061 -0.44% -0.75%
2060 -0.41% -0.74%
2059 -0.39% -0.73%
2058 -0.37% -0.72%
2057 -0.34% -0.71%
2056 -0.32% -0.69%
2055 -0.29% -0.68%
2054 -0.26% -0.65%
2053 -0.23% -0.64%
2052 -0.2% -0.61%
2051 -0.17% -0.59%
2050 -0.14% -0.57%
2049 -0.11% -0.53%
2048 -0.09% -0.51%
2047 -0.06% -0.49%
2046 -0.03% -0.46%
2045 0.002% -0.43%
2044 0.03% -0.41%
2043 0.05% -0.39%
2042 0.08% -0.37%
2041 0.11% -0.34%
2040 0.13% -0.32%
2039 0.16% -0.3%
2038 0.18% -0.28%
2037 0.2% -0.25%
2036 0.23% -0.24%
2035 0.25% -0.21%
2034 0.27% -0.2%
2033 0.29% -0.18%
2032 0.31% -0.16%
2031 0.33% -0.15%
2030 0.35% -0.13%
2029 0.37% -0.12%
2028 0.39% -0.11%
2027 0.41% -0.09%
2026 0.44% -0.08%
2025 0.46% -0.06%
2024 0.48% -0.05%
2023 0.47% -0.05%
2022 0.43% 0.01%
2021 0.51% 0.12%
2020 0.7% 0.17%
2019 0.84% 0.2%
2018 0.91% 0.3%
2017 0.95% 0.42%
2016 1.02% 0.45%
2015 1.07% 0.46%
2014 1.08% 0.53%
2013 1.12% 0.59%
2012 1.17% 0.62%
2011 1.18% 0.62%
2010 1.25% 0.67%
2009 1.35% 0.74%
2008 1.37% 0.77%
2007 1.36% 0.8%
2006 1.41% 0.83%
2005 1.46% 0.86%
2004 1.48% 0.9%
2003 1.55% 0.94%
2002 1.67% 0.97%
2001 1.81% 1.02%
2000 1.96% 1.14%
1999 2.1% 1.26%
1998 2.19% 1.31%
1997 2.29% 1.34%
1996 2.37% 1.39%
1995 2.44% 1.44%
1994 2.49% 1.49%
1993 2.53% 1.56%
1992 2.56% 1.6%
1991 2.58% 1.64%
1990 2.56% 1.65%
1989 2.55% 1.66%
1988 2.61% 1.72%
1987 2.68% 1.75%
1986 2.75% 1.8%
1985 2.79% 1.86%
1984 2.79% 1.92%
1983 2.79% 1.96%
1982 2.77% 1.97%
1981 2.76% 2.03%
1980 2.76% 2.08%
1979 2.74% 2.12%
1978 2.7% 2.21%
1977 2.67% 2.26%
1976 2.63% 2.34%
1975 2.6% 2.47%
1974 2.58% 2.58%
1973 2.58% 2.67%
1972 2.63% 2.7%
1971 2.7% 2.73%
1970 2.78% 2.8%
1969 2.85% 2.86%
1968 2.97% 2.92%
1967 3.14% 2.97%
1966 3.27% 3.01%
1965 3.41% 3.03%
1964 3.53% 3.03%
1963 3.65% 3.02%
1962 3.74% 3%
1961 3.8% 2.97%

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/thailand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Thailand
Current population
5181862
71571743
Population rank 126/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.86%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
15.3 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
53.3 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
49.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +67 -94
Annual growth/decline +24,385 -34,424
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 168/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
19.2 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +27,509
Net migration rank 63/196 30/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 3,179,399
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 21/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 100/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Thailand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Thailand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 27,509
2024 - 967 - 23,321
2023 24,109 995 -46,105 19,648
2022 21,409 1,006 -61,046 21,683
2021 20,119 1,018 57,382 -2,093
2020 29,164 1,029 84,107 32,277
2019 37,682 1,653 116,867 5,221
2018 42,469 1,673 159,383 10,984
2017 43,471 1,671 194,695 66,805
2016 45,565 1,649 226,255 112,978
2015 49,077 1,617 266,362 32,500
2014 49,559 1,589 294,628 55,358
2013 49,227 1,579 325,059 67,452
2012 52,036 1,587 351,485 74,033
2011 52,884 1,695 365,670 66,607
2010 50,803 2,357 370,466 52,791
2009 55,757 3,432 382,636 110,883
2008 56,491 3,794 401,730 107,333
2007 55,244 4,080 425,362 100,486
2006 54,177 4,321 441,211 102,362
2005 57,139 4,567 456,378 100,542
2004 55,769 4,856 466,542 107,199
2003 56,743 5,216 488,003 105,917
2002 58,388 5,812 504,299 105,215
2001 62,199 7,119 524,230 96,817
2000 64,268 8,826 543,884 121,640
1999 64,922 13,253 578,073 173,924
1998 64,788 15,556 617,318 183,471
1997 64,954 16,954 644,834 150,411
1996 66,094 17,393 661,397 152,397
1995 67,585 16,609 682,703 147,226
1994 68,336 15,587 712,589 132,271
1993 69,016 14,431 737,696 122,746
1992 69,830 13,069 754,999 143,318
1991 70,506 10,757 760,508 124,034
1990 71,727 7,949 760,808 152,916
1989 72,327 3,758 774,563 90,497
1988 72,944 2,414 765,252 128,469
1987 73,188 2,267 774,498 122,791
1986 73,211 2,302 783,430 111,820
1985 72,776 2,357 776,935 141,963
1984 71,062 2,402 779,856 139,345
1983 68,972 2,449 794,239 143,393
1982 66,826 2,453 817,951 101,885
1981 64,632 2,431 839,297 78,337
1980 62,561 2,387 845,575 88,478
1979 60,984 2,349 843,434 85,693
1978 58,327 2,296 847,799 82,011
1977 56,122 2,228 871,232 88,937
1976 54,019 2,129 894,072 40,656
1975 51,979 1,992 911,980 66,306
1974 50,349 1,839 923,151 72,801
1973 48,943 1,468 933,540 80,704
1972 48,417 1,366 940,420 73,082
1971 48,341 1,296 936,215 43,400
1970 48,398 1,137 937,116 49,221
1969 48,790 1,017 948,314 26,551
1968 48,361 939 953,806 13,718
1967 50,193 926 944,980 17,005
1966 50,755 930 929,469 12,016
1965 51,196 932 909,000 22,995
1964 51,435 934 885,137 17,249
1963 51,403 938 860,728 16,494
1962 51,046 934 828,741 16,605
1961 50,149 924 801,140 14,968
1960 48,857 910 774,190 6,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/thailand | 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 Thailand 78.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,292,528 people) and 21.6% is from migration (a gain of 355,361 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 3,179,399 people or 4.4% in Thailand.

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
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | 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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