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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 9,646 people in Tuvalu in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 9,341 in Tuvalu.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 555 times bigger than Tuvalu's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Tuvalu is the 196th.
  • The countries together account for 0.06% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.0001% for Tuvalu.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs -1.19% in Tuvalu.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Tuvalu has declined from 10.1K to 9.34K (7.11% decline).

Costa Rica vs Tuvalu: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Tuvalu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Tuvalu
2100 3,804,183 12,153
2099 3,842,423 12,146
2098 3,880,999 12,126
2097 3,919,996 12,104
2096 3,959,352 12,081
2095 3,999,084 12,066
2094 4,039,053 12,048
2093 4,079,349 12,028
2092 4,119,898 11,999
2091 4,160,663 11,972
2090 4,201,548 11,941
2089 4,242,452 11,909
2088 4,283,327 11,874
2087 4,324,225 11,847
2086 4,364,979 11,812
2085 4,405,520 11,772
2084 4,445,770 11,728
2083 4,485,644 11,689
2082 4,525,171 11,649
2081 4,564,265 11,609
2080 4,602,737 11,547
2079 4,640,677 11,491
2078 4,677,935 11,441
2077 4,714,527 11,382
2076 4,750,309 11,324
2075 4,785,359 11,268
2074 4,819,691 11,203
2073 4,853,137 11,127
2072 4,885,727 11,069
2071 4,917,445 10,994
2070 4,948,313 10,936
2069 4,978,425 10,866
2068 5,007,604 10,798
2067 5,035,877 10,730
2066 5,063,521 10,666
2065 5,090,474 10,611
2064 5,116,546 10,546
2063 5,141,922 10,482
2062 5,166,260 10,425
2061 5,189,836 10,356
2060 5,212,549 10,299
2059 5,234,066 10,230
2058 5,254,528 10,167
2057 5,273,844 10,115
2056 5,292,013 10,048
2055 5,308,829 9,985
2054 5,324,305 9,927
2053 5,338,417 9,859
2052 5,350,974 9,802
2051 5,361,865 9,731
2050 5,371,197 9,666
2049 5,378,904 9,600
2048 5,385,081 9,533
2047 5,389,678 9,456
2046 5,392,713 9,390
2045 5,394,209 9,329
2044 5,394,124 9,267
2043 5,392,590 9,201
2042 5,389,628 9,136
2041 5,385,101 9,084
2040 5,379,344 9,043
2039 5,372,186 8,992
2038 5,363,617 8,952
2037 5,353,928 8,925
2036 5,343,027 8,910
2035 5,330,994 8,901
2034 5,317,895 8,894
2033 5,303,634 8,903
2032 5,288,416 8,923
2031 5,272,215 8,946
2030 5,255,064 8,997
2029 5,236,901 9,056
2028 5,217,724 9,132
2027 5,197,413 9,226
2026 5,176,096 9,341
2025 5,153,634 9,484
2024 5,129,910 9,646
2023 5,105,525 9,816
2022 5,081,765 9,992
2021 5,059,988 10,194
2020 5,034,320 10,399
2019 4,999,553 10,581
2018 4,957,818 10,751
2017 4,913,177 10,869
2016 4,866,998 10,930
2015 4,818,038 10,963
2014 4,767,119 10,984
2013 4,716,147 11,001
2012 4,663,934 10,934
2011 4,609,833 10,780
2010 4,555,962 10,614
2009 4,499,791 10,461
2008 4,440,056 10,321
2007 4,380,248 10,182
2006 4,321,340 10,056
2005 4,261,240 9,940
2004 4,200,078 9,816
2003 4,138,784 9,695
2002 4,075,705 9,623
2001 4,008,947 9,586
2000 3,937,739 9,544
1999 3,862,101 9,496
1998 3,782,838 9,451
1997 3,701,711 9,400
1996 3,619,013 9,342
1995 3,535,176 9,280
1994 3,451,122 9,207
1993 3,367,434 9,126
1992 3,284,258 9,038
1991 3,202,176 8,928
1990 3,121,706 8,798
1989 3,043,827 8,662
1988 2,968,103 8,518
1987 2,892,699 8,371
1986 2,817,216 8,217
1985 2,741,894 8,046
1984 2,667,595 7,902
1983 2,595,153 7,789
1982 2,524,806 7,664
1981 2,456,637 7,526
1980 2,390,633 7,366
1979 2,326,490 7,184
1978 2,264,510 6,957
1977 2,205,025 6,686
1976 2,147,774 6,404
1975 2,092,719 6,117
1974 2,039,643 5,822
1973 1,988,343 5,681
1972 1,938,248 5,692
1971 1,888,539 5,685
1970 1,838,949 5,663
1969 1,789,276 5,631
1968 1,739,731 5,624
1967 1,689,523 5,652
1966 1,638,116 5,686
1965 1,586,208 5,715
1964 1,533,960 5,752
1963 1,481,604 5,751
1962 1,429,445 5,699
1961 1,377,920 5,648
1960 1,327,496 5,598

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/tuvalu | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Tuvalu gained 874 people (a 8.69% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Tuvalu's population decreased by 1,589 people (a 14.5% decline).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Tuvalu was ranked 195th in 2006 and ranked 196th 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 Tuvalu will increase by 3.48% to 9,666 people and will still be ranked 196th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 12.2K people in 2100 for Tuvalu.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Tuvalu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Tuvalu
2100 -1% 0.06%
2099 -0.99% 0.17%
2098 -0.99% 0.18%
2097 -0.99% 0.19%
2096 -0.99% 0.12%
2095 -0.99% 0.15%
2094 -0.99% 0.16%
2093 -0.98% 0.25%
2092 -0.98% 0.22%
2091 -0.97% 0.26%
2090 -0.96% 0.27%
2089 -0.95% 0.3%
2088 -0.95% 0.23%
2087 -0.93% 0.29%
2086 -0.92% 0.35%
2085 -0.91% 0.37%
2084 -0.89% 0.33%
2083 -0.87% 0.35%
2082 -0.86% 0.34%
2081 -0.84% 0.54%
2080 -0.82% 0.48%
2079 -0.8% 0.43%
2078 -0.78% 0.52%
2077 -0.75% 0.51%
2076 -0.73% 0.5%
2075 -0.71% 0.58%
2074 -0.69% 0.69%
2073 -0.67% 0.53%
2072 -0.65% 0.68%
2071 -0.62% 0.54%
2070 -0.6% 0.64%
2069 -0.58% 0.63%
2068 -0.56% 0.63%
2067 -0.55% 0.6%
2066 -0.53% 0.51%
2065 -0.51% 0.62%
2064 -0.49% 0.61%
2063 -0.47% 0.55%
2062 -0.45% 0.67%
2061 -0.44% 0.55%
2060 -0.41% 0.68%
2059 -0.39% 0.61%
2058 -0.37% 0.52%
2057 -0.34% 0.66%
2056 -0.32% 0.64%
2055 -0.29% 0.58%
2054 -0.26% 0.69%
2053 -0.23% 0.58%
2052 -0.2% 0.73%
2051 -0.17% 0.67%
2050 -0.14% 0.69%
2049 -0.11% 0.7%
2048 -0.09% 0.82%
2047 -0.06% 0.71%
2046 -0.03% 0.65%
2045 0.002% 0.67%
2044 0.03% 0.71%
2043 0.05% 0.72%
2042 0.08% 0.57%
2041 0.11% 0.46%
2040 0.13% 0.56%
2039 0.16% 0.44%
2038 0.18% 0.31%
2037 0.2% 0.17%
2036 0.23% 0.1%
2035 0.25% 0.08%
2034 0.27% -0.1%
2033 0.29% -0.22%
2032 0.31% -0.27%
2031 0.33% -0.56%
2030 0.35% -0.66%
2029 0.37% -0.83%
2028 0.39% -1.02%
2027 0.41% -1.23%
2026 0.44% -1.51%
2025 0.46% -1.68%
2024 0.48% -1.73%
2023 0.47% -1.76%
2022 0.43% -1.98%
2021 0.51% -1.97%
2020 0.7% -1.72%
2019 0.84% -1.58%
2018 0.91% -1.09%
2017 0.95% -0.56%
2016 1.02% -0.3%
2015 1.07% -0.19%
2014 1.08% -0.15%
2013 1.12% 0.61%
2012 1.17% 1.43%
2011 1.18% 1.56%
2010 1.25% 1.46%
2009 1.35% 1.36%
2008 1.37% 1.37%
2007 1.36% 1.25%
2006 1.41% 1.17%
2005 1.46% 1.26%
2004 1.48% 1.25%
2003 1.55% 0.75%
2002 1.67% 0.39%
2001 1.81% 0.44%
2000 1.96% 0.51%
1999 2.1% 0.48%
1998 2.19% 0.54%
1997 2.29% 0.62%
1996 2.37% 0.67%
1995 2.44% 0.79%
1994 2.49% 0.89%
1993 2.53% 0.97%
1992 2.56% 1.23%
1991 2.58% 1.48%
1990 2.56% 1.57%
1989 2.55% 1.69%
1988 2.61% 1.76%
1987 2.68% 1.87%
1986 2.75% 2.13%
1985 2.79% 1.82%
1984 2.79% 1.45%
1983 2.79% 1.63%
1982 2.77% 1.83%
1981 2.76% 2.17%
1980 2.76% 2.53%
1979 2.74% 3.26%
1978 2.7% 4.05%
1977 2.67% 4.4%
1976 2.63% 4.69%
1975 2.6% 5.07%
1974 2.58% 2.48%
1973 2.58% -0.19%
1972 2.63% 0.12%
1971 2.7% 0.39%
1970 2.78% 0.57%
1969 2.85% 0.12%
1968 2.97% -0.5%
1967 3.14% -0.6%
1966 3.27% -0.51%
1965 3.41% -0.64%
1964 3.53% 0.02%
1963 3.65% 0.91%
1962 3.74% 0.9%
1961 3.8% 0.89%

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/tuvalu | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Tuvalu's population declined by 1.73%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Tuvalu
Current population
5181862
9341
Population rank 126/197 196/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.0001%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
2.15 days
One birth every
10.1 minutes
1.62 days
One death every
18.9 minutes
4.1 days
Daily growth/decline +67 +0
Annual growth/decline +24,385 -170
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% -1.73%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 195/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.44 days
Annual migration change +1,000 -255
Net migration rank 63/196 86/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 246
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 195/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 126/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Tuvalu
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Tuvalu
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -255
2024 - 967 - -280
2023 24,109 995 137 -323
2022 21,409 1,006 150 -320
2021 20,119 1,018 151 -366
2020 29,164 1,029 161 -355
2019 37,682 1,653 166 -343
2018 42,469 1,673 169 -329
2017 43,471 1,671 163 -246
2016 45,565 1,649 157 -200
2015 49,077 1,617 153 -179
2014 49,559 1,589 149 -166
2013 49,227 1,579 148 -160
2012 52,036 1,587 148 1
2011 52,884 1,695 142 28
2010 50,803 2,357 136 22
2009 55,757 3,432 130 15
2008 56,491 3,794 125 10
2007 55,244 4,080 125 1
2006 54,177 4,321 129 -5
2005 57,139 4,567 131 -8
2004 55,769 4,856 132 -10
2003 56,743 5,216 136 -16
2002 58,388 5,812 141 -104
2001 62,199 7,119 151 -117
2000 64,268 8,826 159 -118
1999 64,922 13,253 166 -120
1998 64,788 15,556 172 -122
1997 64,954 16,954 177 -120
1996 66,094 17,393 182 -121
1995 67,585 16,609 191 -125
1994 68,336 15,587 195 -120
1993 69,016 14,431 202 -119
1992 69,830 13,069 196 -104
1991 70,506 10,757 203 -72
1990 71,727 7,949 204 -69
1989 72,327 3,758 208 -71
1988 72,944 2,414 215 -72
1987 73,188 2,267 219 -68
1986 73,211 2,302 219 -56
1985 72,776 2,357 215 -36
1984 71,062 2,402 212 -103
1983 68,972 2,449 206 -87
1982 66,826 2,453 198 -66
1981 64,632 2,431 186 -46
1980 62,561 2,387 173 0
1979 60,984 2,349 158 37
1978 58,327 2,296 141 119
1977 56,122 2,228 128 149
1976 54,019 2,129 117 171
1975 51,979 1,992 108 186
1974 50,349 1,839 102 197
1973 48,943 1,468 101 -121
1972 48,417 1,366 94 -102
1971 48,341 1,296 101 -85
1970 48,398 1,137 102 -71
1969 48,790 1,017 102 -65
1968 48,361 939 97 -127
1967 50,193 926 92 -123
1966 50,755 930 91 -121
1965 51,196 932 93 -128
1964 51,435 934 98 -135
1963 51,403 938 106 -52
1962 51,046 934 113 -61
1961 50,149 924 120 -77
1960 48,857 910 126 -79

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/tuvalu | 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 Tuvalu 35.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,556 people) and 64.5% is from migration (a loss of 2,827 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 246 people or 2.6% in Tuvalu.

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
Tuvalu
City Population
Funafuti 6.02K
Vaiaku 516

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/tuvalu | 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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