Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 104,175 people in Tonga in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 103,309 in Tonga.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 50.2 times bigger than Tonga's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Tonga is the 183rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.06% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.001% for Tonga.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs -0.25% in Tonga.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Tonga has declined from 106K to 103K (2.77% decline).

Costa Rica vs Tonga: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Tonga
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Tonga
2100 3,804,183 117,647
2099 3,842,423 117,615
2098 3,880,999 117,560
2097 3,919,996 117,522
2096 3,959,352 117,491
2095 3,999,084 117,414
2094 4,039,053 117,321
2093 4,079,349 117,237
2092 4,119,898 117,127
2091 4,160,663 117,013
2090 4,201,548 116,869
2089 4,242,452 116,712
2088 4,283,327 116,511
2087 4,324,225 116,307
2086 4,364,979 116,118
2085 4,405,520 115,902
2084 4,445,770 115,658
2083 4,485,644 115,366
2082 4,525,171 115,071
2081 4,564,265 114,782
2080 4,602,737 114,453
2079 4,640,677 114,103
2078 4,677,935 113,740
2077 4,714,527 113,378
2076 4,750,309 112,974
2075 4,785,359 112,594
2074 4,819,691 112,208
2073 4,853,137 111,819
2072 4,885,727 111,405
2071 4,917,445 110,992
2070 4,948,313 110,605
2069 4,978,425 110,238
2068 5,007,604 109,853
2067 5,035,877 109,474
2066 5,063,521 109,090
2065 5,090,474 108,765
2064 5,116,546 108,405
2063 5,141,922 108,061
2062 5,166,260 107,738
2061 5,189,836 107,424
2060 5,212,549 107,145
2059 5,234,066 106,869
2058 5,254,528 106,617
2057 5,273,844 106,372
2056 5,292,013 106,158
2055 5,308,829 105,942
2054 5,324,305 105,725
2053 5,338,417 105,513
2052 5,350,974 105,313
2051 5,361,865 105,106
2050 5,371,197 104,871
2049 5,378,904 104,663
2048 5,385,081 104,414
2047 5,389,678 104,180
2046 5,392,713 103,879
2045 5,394,209 103,575
2044 5,394,124 103,241
2043 5,392,590 102,961
2042 5,389,628 102,718
2041 5,385,101 102,474
2040 5,379,344 102,254
2039 5,372,186 102,088
2038 5,363,617 101,861
2037 5,353,928 101,733
2036 5,343,027 101,653
2035 5,330,994 101,607
2034 5,317,895 101,598
2033 5,303,634 101,618
2032 5,288,416 101,659
2031 5,272,215 101,790
2030 5,255,064 101,954
2029 5,236,901 102,207
2028 5,217,724 102,521
2027 5,197,413 102,868
2026 5,176,096 103,309
2025 5,153,634 103,768
2024 5,129,910 104,175
2023 5,105,525 104,597
2022 5,081,765 105,042
2021 5,059,988 105,490
2020 5,034,320 105,704
2019 4,999,553 105,669
2018 4,957,818 105,567
2017 4,913,177 105,356
2016 4,866,998 105,524
2015 4,818,038 106,095
2014 4,767,119 106,609
2013 4,716,147 107,078
2012 4,663,934 107,460
2011 4,609,833 107,570
2010 4,555,962 107,400
2009 4,499,791 107,203
2008 4,440,056 107,020
2007 4,380,248 106,726
2006 4,321,340 106,253
2005 4,261,240 105,671
2004 4,200,078 105,071
2003 4,138,784 104,464
2002 4,075,705 103,874
2001 4,008,947 103,288
2000 3,937,739 102,677
1999 3,862,101 102,046
1998 3,782,838 101,388
1997 3,701,711 100,674
1996 3,619,013 100,275
1995 3,535,176 100,225
1994 3,451,122 100,166
1993 3,367,434 100,103
1992 3,284,258 100,022
1991 3,202,176 99,895
1990 3,121,706 99,700
1989 3,043,827 99,403
1988 2,968,103 98,969
1987 2,892,699 98,376
1986 2,817,216 98,010
1985 2,741,894 97,984
1984 2,667,595 97,990
1983 2,595,153 97,998
1982 2,524,806 97,980
1981 2,456,637 97,909
1980 2,390,633 97,769
1979 2,326,490 97,544
1978 2,264,510 97,204
1977 2,205,025 96,725
1976 2,147,774 95,325
1975 2,092,719 93,017
1974 2,039,643 90,683
1973 1,988,343 88,805
1972 1,938,248 87,356
1971 1,888,539 85,896
1970 1,838,949 84,401
1969 1,789,276 82,885
1968 1,739,731 81,353
1967 1,689,523 79,814
1966 1,638,116 78,002
1965 1,586,208 75,924
1964 1,533,960 73,879
1963 1,481,604 71,885
1962 1,429,445 69,940
1961 1,377,920 68,037
1960 1,327,496 66,170

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/tonga | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Tonga lost 729 people (a 0.69% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Tonga's population decreased by 2,215 people (a 2.1% decline).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Tonga was ranked 182nd in 2006 and ranked 183rd 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 Tonga will increase by 1.51% to 104,871 people and will still be ranked 183rd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 118K people in 2100 for Tonga.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Tonga
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Tonga
2100 -1% 0.03%
2099 -0.99% 0.05%
2098 -0.99% 0.03%
2097 -0.99% 0.03%
2096 -0.99% 0.07%
2095 -0.99% 0.08%
2094 -0.99% 0.07%
2093 -0.98% 0.09%
2092 -0.98% 0.1%
2091 -0.97% 0.12%
2090 -0.96% 0.13%
2089 -0.95% 0.17%
2088 -0.95% 0.18%
2087 -0.93% 0.16%
2086 -0.92% 0.19%
2085 -0.91% 0.21%
2084 -0.89% 0.25%
2083 -0.87% 0.26%
2082 -0.86% 0.25%
2081 -0.84% 0.29%
2080 -0.82% 0.31%
2079 -0.8% 0.32%
2078 -0.78% 0.32%
2077 -0.75% 0.36%
2076 -0.73% 0.34%
2075 -0.71% 0.34%
2074 -0.69% 0.35%
2073 -0.67% 0.37%
2072 -0.65% 0.37%
2071 -0.62% 0.35%
2070 -0.6% 0.33%
2069 -0.58% 0.35%
2068 -0.56% 0.35%
2067 -0.55% 0.35%
2066 -0.53% 0.3%
2065 -0.51% 0.33%
2064 -0.49% 0.32%
2063 -0.47% 0.3%
2062 -0.45% 0.29%
2061 -0.44% 0.26%
2060 -0.41% 0.26%
2059 -0.39% 0.24%
2058 -0.37% 0.23%
2057 -0.34% 0.2%
2056 -0.32% 0.2%
2055 -0.29% 0.2%
2054 -0.26% 0.2%
2053 -0.23% 0.19%
2052 -0.2% 0.2%
2051 -0.17% 0.22%
2050 -0.14% 0.2%
2049 -0.11% 0.24%
2048 -0.09% 0.22%
2047 -0.06% 0.29%
2046 -0.03% 0.29%
2045 0.002% 0.32%
2044 0.03% 0.27%
2043 0.05% 0.24%
2042 0.08% 0.24%
2041 0.11% 0.21%
2040 0.13% 0.16%
2039 0.16% 0.22%
2038 0.18% 0.13%
2037 0.2% 0.08%
2036 0.23% 0.05%
2035 0.25% 0.009%
2034 0.27% -0.02%
2033 0.29% -0.04%
2032 0.31% -0.13%
2031 0.33% -0.16%
2030 0.35% -0.25%
2029 0.37% -0.31%
2028 0.39% -0.34%
2027 0.41% -0.43%
2026 0.44% -0.44%
2025 0.46% -0.39%
2024 0.48% -0.4%
2023 0.47% -0.42%
2022 0.43% -0.42%
2021 0.51% -0.2%
2020 0.7% 0.03%
2019 0.84% 0.1%
2018 0.91% 0.2%
2017 0.95% -0.16%
2016 1.02% -0.54%
2015 1.07% -0.48%
2014 1.08% -0.44%
2013 1.12% -0.36%
2012 1.17% -0.1%
2011 1.18% 0.16%
2010 1.25% 0.18%
2009 1.35% 0.17%
2008 1.37% 0.28%
2007 1.36% 0.45%
2006 1.41% 0.55%
2005 1.46% 0.57%
2004 1.48% 0.58%
2003 1.55% 0.57%
2002 1.67% 0.57%
2001 1.81% 0.6%
2000 1.96% 0.62%
1999 2.1% 0.65%
1998 2.19% 0.71%
1997 2.29% 0.4%
1996 2.37% 0.05%
1995 2.44% 0.06%
1994 2.49% 0.06%
1993 2.53% 0.08%
1992 2.56% 0.13%
1991 2.58% 0.2%
1990 2.56% 0.3%
1989 2.55% 0.44%
1988 2.61% 0.6%
1987 2.68% 0.37%
1986 2.75% 0.03%
1985 2.79% -0.006%
1984 2.79% -0.008%
1983 2.79% 0.02%
1982 2.77% 0.07%
1981 2.76% 0.14%
1980 2.76% 0.23%
1979 2.74% 0.35%
1978 2.7% 0.5%
1977 2.67% 1.47%
1976 2.63% 2.48%
1975 2.6% 2.57%
1974 2.58% 2.11%
1973 2.58% 1.66%
1972 2.63% 1.7%
1971 2.7% 1.77%
1970 2.78% 1.83%
1969 2.85% 1.88%
1968 2.97% 1.93%
1967 3.14% 2.32%
1966 3.27% 2.74%
1965 3.41% 2.77%
1964 3.53% 2.77%
1963 3.65% 2.78%
1962 3.74% 2.8%
1961 3.8% 2.82%

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/tonga | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Tonga's population declined by 0.4%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Tonga
Current population
5181862
103309
Population rank 126/197 183/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.001%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
20.8 hours
One birth every
10.1 minutes
3.62 hours
One death every
18.9 minutes
13 hours
Daily growth/decline +67 -1
Annual growth/decline +24,385 -422
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% -0.4%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 183/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
4.09 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -2,150
Net migration rank 63/196 99/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 3,581
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 187/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 113/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Tonga
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Tonga
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -2,150
2024 - 967 - -2,149
2023 24,109 995 1,744 -2,173
2022 21,409 1,006 1,772 -2,218
2021 20,119 1,018 1,773 -2,220
2020 29,164 1,029 1,816 -1,807
2019 37,682 1,653 1,841 -1,778
2018 42,469 1,673 1,873 -1,723
2017 43,471 1,671 1,912 -1,642
2016 45,565 1,649 1,989 -2,591
2015 49,077 1,617 2,064 -2,610
2014 49,559 1,589 2,135 -2,622
2013 49,227 1,579 2,199 -2,637
2012 52,036 1,587 2,255 -2,578
2011 52,884 1,695 2,298 -2,198
2010 50,803 2,357 2,332 -2,097
2009 55,757 3,432 2,358 -2,204
2008 56,491 3,794 2,397 -2,177
2007 55,244 4,080 2,423 -2,057
2006 54,177 4,321 2,459 -1,875
2005 57,139 4,567 2,495 -1,906
2004 55,769 4,856 2,478 -1,876
2003 56,743 5,216 2,448 -1,844
2002 58,388 5,812 2,396 -1,815
2001 62,199 7,119 2,358 -1,766
2000 64,268 8,826 2,346 -1,721
1999 64,922 13,253 2,352 -1,710
1998 64,788 15,556 2,344 -1,665
1997 64,954 16,954 2,332 -1,589
1996 66,094 17,393 2,393 -2,338
1995 67,585 16,609 2,476 -2,422
1994 68,336 15,587 2,547 -2,484
1993 69,016 14,431 2,594 -2,532
1992 69,830 13,069 2,622 -2,524
1991 70,506 10,757 2,637 -2,484
1990 71,727 7,949 2,641 -2,409
1989 72,327 3,758 2,644 -2,280
1988 72,944 2,414 2,649 -2,138
1987 73,188 2,267 2,646 -1,970
1986 73,211 2,302 2,704 -2,650
1985 72,776 2,357 2,762 -2,775
1984 71,062 2,402 2,814 -2,823
1983 68,972 2,449 2,840 -2,840
1982 66,826 2,453 2,853 -2,814
1981 64,632 2,431 2,882 -2,778
1980 62,561 2,387 2,885 -2,708
1979 60,984 2,349 2,884 -2,604
1978 58,327 2,296 2,862 -2,457
1977 56,122 2,228 2,822 -2,273
1976 54,019 2,129 2,769 -523
1975 51,979 1,992 2,709 -346
1974 50,349 1,839 2,650 -344
1973 48,943 1,468 2,617 -1,168
1972 48,417 1,366 2,605 -1,153
1971 48,341 1,296 2,611 -1,138
1970 48,398 1,137 2,628 -1,122
1969 48,790 1,017 2,632 -1,101
1968 48,361 939 2,614 -1,078
1967 50,193 926 2,603 -1,060
1966 50,755 930 2,550 -465
1965 51,196 932 2,498 -426
1964 51,435 934 2,445 -428
1963 51,403 938 2,394 -426
1962 51,046 934 2,343 -420
1961 50,149 924 2,284 -401
1960 48,857 910 2,230 -384

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/tonga | 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 Tonga 46.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 18,919 people) and 53.1% is from migration (a loss of 21,384 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 3,581 people or 3.4% in Tonga.

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
Tonga
City Population
Nukualofa 23.2K
Mua 5K

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/tonga | 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 2026-04-06)
  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)

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.