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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 50,015,092 people in Uganda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 53,170,946 in Uganda.

Population statistics:

  • Uganda's population is 10.3 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Uganda is the 30th.
  • The countries together account for 0.7% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.64% for Uganda.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +3.21% in Uganda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Uganda has grown from 28.8M to 53.2M (84.7% growth).

Costa Rica vs Uganda: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Uganda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Uganda
2100 3,804,183 122,497,526
2099 3,842,423 122,436,109
2098 3,880,999 122,364,302
2097 3,919,996 122,266,255
2096 3,959,352 122,146,810
2095 3,999,084 121,976,411
2094 4,039,053 121,799,752
2093 4,079,349 121,584,860
2092 4,119,898 121,336,796
2091 4,160,663 121,070,447
2090 4,201,548 120,767,412
2089 4,242,452 120,427,771
2088 4,283,327 120,064,594
2087 4,324,225 119,668,549
2086 4,364,979 119,256,686
2085 4,405,520 118,815,763
2084 4,445,770 118,339,179
2083 4,485,644 117,821,938
2082 4,525,171 117,274,958
2081 4,564,265 116,707,394
2080 4,602,737 116,096,095
2079 4,640,677 115,474,153
2078 4,677,935 114,805,376
2077 4,714,527 114,118,687
2076 4,750,309 113,390,189
2075 4,785,359 112,637,851
2074 4,819,691 111,863,410
2073 4,853,137 111,070,771
2072 4,885,727 110,240,940
2071 4,917,445 109,392,890
2070 4,948,313 108,505,633
2069 4,978,425 107,607,659
2068 5,007,604 106,677,578
2067 5,035,877 105,722,829
2066 5,063,521 104,739,111
2065 5,090,474 103,737,893
2064 5,116,546 102,701,560
2063 5,141,922 101,646,533
2062 5,166,260 100,561,859
2061 5,189,836 99,450,764
2060 5,212,549 98,334,788
2059 5,234,066 97,187,498
2058 5,254,528 96,014,439
2057 5,273,844 94,821,765
2056 5,292,013 93,613,209
2055 5,308,829 92,385,049
2054 5,324,305 91,132,827
2053 5,338,417 89,857,705
2052 5,350,974 88,568,311
2051 5,361,865 87,270,603
2050 5,371,197 85,957,376
2049 5,378,904 84,632,277
2048 5,385,081 83,284,965
2047 5,389,678 81,928,165
2046 5,392,713 80,569,225
2045 5,394,209 79,208,662
2044 5,394,124 77,834,944
2043 5,392,590 76,453,982
2042 5,389,628 75,075,287
2041 5,385,101 73,701,695
2040 5,379,344 72,333,375
2039 5,372,186 70,963,211
2038 5,363,617 69,580,447
2037 5,353,928 68,186,136
2036 5,343,027 66,804,746
2035 5,330,994 65,411,934
2034 5,317,895 64,023,352
2033 5,303,634 62,634,483
2032 5,288,416 61,235,174
2031 5,272,215 59,825,075
2030 5,255,064 58,415,479
2029 5,236,901 57,006,283
2028 5,217,724 55,596,520
2027 5,197,413 54,191,271
2026 5,176,096 52,792,624
2025 5,153,634 51,400,003
2024 5,129,910 50,015,092
2023 5,105,525 48,656,601
2022 5,081,765 47,312,719
2021 5,059,988 45,910,930
2020 5,034,320 44,457,152
2019 4,999,553 42,999,637
2018 4,957,818 41,565,831
2017 4,913,177 40,177,388
2016 4,866,998 38,799,152
2015 4,818,038 37,531,446
2014 4,767,119 36,395,539
2013 4,716,147 35,337,042
2012 4,663,934 34,337,438
2011 4,609,833 33,354,543
2010 4,555,962 32,390,802
2009 4,499,791 31,451,151
2008 4,440,056 30,539,553
2007 4,380,248 29,653,430
2006 4,321,340 28,794,003
2005 4,261,240 27,963,289
2004 4,200,078 27,154,515
2003 4,138,784 26,352,124
2002 4,075,705 25,532,870
2001 4,008,947 24,745,676
2000 3,937,739 24,000,150
1999 3,862,101 23,257,281
1998 3,782,838 22,515,806
1997 3,701,711 21,856,046
1996 3,619,013 21,231,550
1995 3,535,176 20,665,667
1994 3,451,122 20,108,801
1993 3,367,434 19,445,161
1992 3,284,258 18,785,032
1991 3,202,176 18,155,901
1990 3,121,706 17,569,897
1989 3,043,827 17,010,698
1988 2,968,103 16,470,483
1987 2,892,699 15,954,170
1986 2,817,216 15,467,579
1985 2,741,894 15,023,681
1984 2,667,595 14,607,677
1983 2,595,153 14,221,881
1982 2,524,806 13,873,631
1981 2,456,637 13,556,452
1980 2,390,633 13,275,741
1979 2,326,490 13,002,163
1978 2,264,510 12,692,113
1977 2,205,025 12,359,669
1976 2,147,774 12,037,294
1975 2,092,719 11,725,240
1974 2,039,643 11,424,846
1973 1,988,343 11,144,236
1972 1,938,248 10,885,796
1971 1,888,539 10,618,206
1970 1,838,949 10,321,603
1969 1,789,276 10,014,858
1968 1,739,731 9,708,632
1967 1,689,523 9,408,924
1966 1,638,116 9,122,864
1965 1,586,208 8,849,203
1964 1,533,960 8,586,363
1963 1,481,604 8,333,663
1962 1,429,445 8,092,231
1961 1,377,920 7,862,217
1960 1,327,496 7,640,973

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/uganda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Uganda gained 10,005,149 people (a 34.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Uganda's population increased by 14,371,794 people (a 37% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Uganda was ranked 38th in 2006 and ranked 30th 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 Uganda will increase by 61.7% to 85,957,376 people and rank change from 30th to 20th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 122M people in 2100 for Uganda.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Uganda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Uganda
2100 -1% 0.05%
2099 -0.99% 0.06%
2098 -0.99% 0.08%
2097 -0.99% 0.1%
2096 -0.99% 0.14%
2095 -0.99% 0.15%
2094 -0.99% 0.18%
2093 -0.98% 0.2%
2092 -0.98% 0.22%
2091 -0.97% 0.25%
2090 -0.96% 0.28%
2089 -0.95% 0.3%
2088 -0.95% 0.33%
2087 -0.93% 0.35%
2086 -0.92% 0.37%
2085 -0.91% 0.4%
2084 -0.89% 0.44%
2083 -0.87% 0.47%
2082 -0.86% 0.49%
2081 -0.84% 0.53%
2080 -0.82% 0.54%
2079 -0.8% 0.58%
2078 -0.78% 0.6%
2077 -0.75% 0.64%
2076 -0.73% 0.67%
2075 -0.71% 0.69%
2074 -0.69% 0.71%
2073 -0.67% 0.75%
2072 -0.65% 0.78%
2071 -0.62% 0.82%
2070 -0.6% 0.83%
2069 -0.58% 0.87%
2068 -0.56% 0.9%
2067 -0.55% 0.94%
2066 -0.53% 0.97%
2065 -0.51% 1.01%
2064 -0.49% 1.04%
2063 -0.47% 1.08%
2062 -0.45% 1.12%
2061 -0.44% 1.13%
2060 -0.41% 1.18%
2059 -0.39% 1.22%
2058 -0.37% 1.26%
2057 -0.34% 1.29%
2056 -0.32% 1.33%
2055 -0.29% 1.37%
2054 -0.26% 1.42%
2053 -0.23% 1.46%
2052 -0.2% 1.49%
2051 -0.17% 1.53%
2050 -0.14% 1.57%
2049 -0.11% 1.62%
2048 -0.09% 1.66%
2047 -0.06% 1.69%
2046 -0.03% 1.72%
2045 0.002% 1.76%
2044 0.03% 1.81%
2043 0.05% 1.84%
2042 0.08% 1.86%
2041 0.11% 1.89%
2040 0.13% 1.93%
2039 0.16% 1.99%
2038 0.18% 2.04%
2037 0.2% 2.07%
2036 0.23% 2.13%
2035 0.25% 2.17%
2034 0.27% 2.22%
2033 0.29% 2.29%
2032 0.31% 2.36%
2031 0.33% 2.41%
2030 0.35% 2.47%
2029 0.37% 2.54%
2028 0.39% 2.59%
2027 0.41% 2.65%
2026 0.44% 2.71%
2025 0.46% 2.77%
2024 0.48% 2.79%
2023 0.47% 2.84%
2022 0.43% 3.05%
2021 0.51% 3.27%
2020 0.7% 3.39%
2019 0.84% 3.45%
2018 0.91% 3.46%
2017 0.95% 3.55%
2016 1.02% 3.38%
2015 1.07% 3.12%
2014 1.08% 3%
2013 1.12% 2.91%
2012 1.17% 2.95%
2011 1.18% 2.98%
2010 1.25% 2.99%
2009 1.35% 2.98%
2008 1.37% 2.99%
2007 1.36% 2.98%
2006 1.41% 2.97%
2005 1.46% 2.98%
2004 1.48% 3.04%
2003 1.55% 3.21%
2002 1.67% 3.18%
2001 1.81% 3.11%
2000 1.96% 3.19%
1999 2.1% 3.29%
1998 2.19% 3.02%
1997 2.29% 2.94%
1996 2.37% 2.74%
1995 2.44% 2.77%
1994 2.49% 3.41%
1993 2.53% 3.51%
1992 2.56% 3.47%
1991 2.58% 3.34%
1990 2.56% 3.29%
1989 2.55% 3.28%
1988 2.61% 3.24%
1987 2.68% 3.15%
1986 2.75% 2.95%
1985 2.79% 2.85%
1984 2.79% 2.71%
1983 2.79% 2.51%
1982 2.77% 2.34%
1981 2.76% 2.11%
1980 2.76% 2.1%
1979 2.74% 2.44%
1978 2.7% 2.69%
1977 2.67% 2.68%
1976 2.63% 2.66%
1975 2.6% 2.63%
1974 2.58% 2.52%
1973 2.58% 2.37%
1972 2.63% 2.52%
1971 2.7% 2.87%
1970 2.78% 3.06%
1969 2.85% 3.15%
1968 2.97% 3.19%
1967 3.14% 3.14%
1966 3.27% 3.09%
1965 3.41% 3.06%
1964 3.53% 3.03%
1963 3.65% 2.98%
1962 3.74% 2.93%
1961 3.8% 2.9%

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/uganda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Uganda's population grew by 2.79%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Uganda
Current population
5181862
53170946
Population rank 126/197 30/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.64%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
23.2 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
18.4 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
2.23 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +3,722
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +1,358,491
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +2.79%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 22/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
4.43 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -119,059
Net migration rank 63/196 183/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 2,057,759
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 37/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 106/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Uganda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Uganda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -119,059
2024 - 967 - -117,924
2023 24,109 995 1,477,166 -126,181
2022 21,409 1,006 1,455,576 -118,843
2021 20,119 1,018 1,423,377 43,464
2020 29,164 1,029 1,397,288 43,464
2019 37,682 1,653 1,367,044 107,210
2018 42,469 1,673 1,332,600 60,724
2017 43,471 1,671 1,290,658 92,879
2016 45,565 1,649 1,249,565 123,379
2015 49,077 1,617 1,224,839 -62,366
2014 49,559 1,589 1,201,599 -92,273
2013 49,227 1,579 1,184,250 -176,579
2012 52,036 1,587 1,167,473 -175,936
2011 52,884 1,695 1,147,263 -173,005
2010 50,803 2,357 1,121,564 -168,322
2009 55,757 3,432 1,090,600 -164,553
2008 56,491 3,794 1,055,935 -158,790
2007 55,244 4,080 1,029,893 -154,773
2006 54,177 4,321 999,958 -156,232
2005 57,139 4,567 969,096 -151,386
2004 55,769 4,856 938,623 -138,770
2003 56,743 5,216 901,374 -96,429
2002 58,388 5,812 868,756 -35,149
2001 62,199 7,119 836,751 -95,956
2000 64,268 8,826 803,069 -52,824
1999 64,922 13,253 775,166 -39,695
1998 64,788 15,556 741,175 6,277
1997 64,954 16,954 727,523 -155,461
1996 66,094 17,393 699,707 -22,795
1995 67,585 16,609 697,218 -242,378
1994 68,336 15,587 675,092 -16,198
1993 69,016 14,431 650,032 18,349
1992 69,830 13,069 627,139 24,723
1991 70,506 10,757 602,740 3,643
1990 71,727 7,949 587,291 -21,688
1989 72,327 3,758 565,367 -12,576
1988 72,944 2,414 547,759 -20,113
1987 73,188 2,267 527,397 -22,415
1986 73,211 2,302 487,693 -19,485
1985 72,776 2,357 462,534 -42,942
1984 71,062 2,402 421,241 -8,818
1983 68,972 2,449 404,940 -45,776
1982 66,826 2,453 390,820 -53,497
1981 64,632 2,431 380,028 -83,010
1980 62,561 2,387 370,287 -105,900
1979 60,984 2,349 381,626 -98,863
1978 58,327 2,296 371,930 -34,606
1977 56,122 2,228 365,216 -37,671
1976 54,019 2,129 359,458 -42,259
1975 51,979 1,992 354,278 -47,359
1974 50,349 1,839 345,773 -51,910
1973 48,943 1,468 340,780 -73,439
1972 48,417 1,366 335,935 -86,409
1971 48,341 1,296 328,294 -42,642
1970 48,398 1,137 333,202 -25,646
1969 48,790 1,017 320,486 -14,548
1968 48,361 939 309,725 -3,214
1967 50,193 926 296,692 -3,773
1966 50,755 930 282,225 -3,021
1965 51,196 932 271,830 -3,716
1964 51,435 934 260,733 -3,169
1963 51,403 938 250,885 -3,058
1962 51,046 934 241,513 -6,470
1961 50,149 924 232,894 -7,893
1960 48,857 910 225,080 -7,586

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/uganda | 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 Uganda 99.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 13,419,712 people) and 0.53% is from migration (a gain of 71,457 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 2,057,759 people or 4.1% in Uganda.

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
Uganda
City Population
Kampala 1.68M
Mbale 586K
Arua 385K
Kira Town 317K
Jinja 279K
Gulu 177K
Kasese 101K
Entebbe 70K
Tororo 41.9K

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/uganda | 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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