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Population in Costa Rica compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • The United Arab Emirates' population is 2.26 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.2% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Costa Rica vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica UAE
2100 3,804,183 26,368,750
2099 3,842,423 26,130,374
2098 3,880,999 25,894,010
2097 3,919,996 25,660,062
2096 3,959,352 25,427,961
2095 3,999,084 25,197,670
2094 4,039,053 24,968,891
2093 4,079,349 24,741,434
2092 4,119,898 24,515,086
2091 4,160,663 24,289,496
2090 4,201,548 24,064,404
2089 4,242,452 23,839,033
2088 4,283,327 23,613,963
2087 4,324,225 23,388,786
2086 4,364,979 23,163,641
2085 4,405,520 22,938,169
2084 4,445,770 22,711,804
2083 4,485,644 22,484,154
2082 4,525,171 22,255,625
2081 4,564,265 22,026,183
2080 4,602,737 21,796,073
2079 4,640,677 21,565,118
2078 4,677,935 21,333,574
2077 4,714,527 21,101,274
2076 4,750,309 20,868,733
2075 4,785,359 20,636,203
2074 4,819,691 20,404,044
2073 4,853,137 20,171,659
2072 4,885,727 19,940,853
2071 4,917,445 19,710,934
2070 4,948,313 19,483,026
2069 4,978,425 19,256,572
2068 5,007,604 19,032,681
2067 5,035,877 18,811,331
2066 5,063,521 18,593,017
2065 5,090,474 18,377,364
2064 5,116,546 18,164,584
2063 5,141,922 17,955,352
2062 5,166,260 17,749,596
2061 5,189,836 17,547,827
2060 5,212,549 17,349,620
2059 5,234,066 17,153,273
2058 5,254,528 16,959,263
2057 5,273,844 16,767,893
2056 5,292,013 16,579,195
2055 5,308,829 16,392,558
2054 5,324,305 16,207,309
2053 5,338,417 16,024,789
2052 5,350,974 15,844,357
2051 5,361,865 15,665,362
2050 5,371,197 15,487,008
2049 5,378,904 15,309,031
2048 5,385,081 15,132,784
2047 5,389,678 14,958,209
2046 5,392,713 14,788,046
2045 5,394,209 14,620,902
2044 5,394,124 14,454,466
2043 5,392,590 14,289,021
2042 5,389,628 14,124,515
2041 5,385,101 13,961,010
2040 5,379,344 13,798,651
2039 5,372,186 13,637,499
2038 5,363,617 13,477,450
2037 5,353,928 13,319,346
2036 5,343,027 13,163,073
2035 5,330,994 13,009,160
2034 5,317,895 12,857,729
2033 5,303,634 12,709,520
2032 5,288,416 12,564,906
2031 5,272,215 12,424,286
2030 5,255,064 12,288,186
2029 5,236,901 12,148,661
2028 5,217,724 11,999,549
2027 5,197,413 11,831,082
2026 5,176,096 11,632,806
2025 5,153,634 11,367,504
2024 5,129,910 10,986,400
2023 5,105,525 10,483,751
2022 5,081,765 10,074,977
2021 5,059,988 9,575,152
2020 5,034,320 9,401,038
2019 4,999,553 9,445,785
2018 4,957,818 9,346,701
2017 4,913,177 9,223,225
2016 4,866,998 8,935,095
2015 4,818,038 8,505,237
2014 4,767,119 8,059,440
2013 4,716,147 7,693,031
2012 4,663,934 7,391,448
2011 4,609,833 7,104,538
2010 4,555,962 6,869,838
2009 4,499,791 6,707,058
2008 4,440,056 6,302,664
2007 4,380,248 5,624,635
2006 4,321,340 5,009,100
2005 4,261,240 4,664,790
2004 4,200,078 4,428,967
2003 4,138,784 4,192,457
2002 4,075,705 3,956,826
2001 4,008,947 3,723,590
2000 3,937,739 3,493,575
1999 3,862,101 3,266,009
1998 3,782,838 3,040,421
1997 3,701,711 2,817,410
1996 3,619,013 2,597,564
1995 3,535,176 2,434,662
1994 3,451,122 2,328,188
1993 3,367,434 2,222,093
1992 3,284,258 2,114,730
1991 3,202,176 2,006,626
1990 3,121,706 1,898,220
1989 3,043,827 1,789,851
1988 2,968,103 1,681,788
1987 2,892,699 1,574,244
1986 2,817,216 1,467,383
1985 2,741,894 1,377,911
1984 2,667,595 1,305,996
1983 2,595,153 1,235,305
1982 2,524,806 1,166,370
1981 2,456,637 1,099,855
1980 2,390,633 1,015,700
1979 2,326,490 912,010
1978 2,264,510 809,274
1977 2,205,025 710,209
1976 2,147,774 615,866
1975 2,092,719 542,856
1974 2,039,643 489,087
1973 1,988,343 436,399
1972 1,938,248 385,014
1971 1,888,539 335,027
1970 1,838,949 286,536
1969 1,789,276 239,660
1968 1,739,731 199,416
1967 1,689,523 179,700
1966 1,638,116 173,976
1965 1,586,208 167,103
1964 1,533,960 159,692
1963 1,481,604 152,211
1962 1,429,445 144,946
1961 1,377,920 137,989
1960 1,327,496 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica UAE
2100 -1% 0.91%
2099 -0.99% 0.91%
2098 -0.99% 0.91%
2097 -0.99% 0.91%
2096 -0.99% 0.91%
2095 -0.99% 0.92%
2094 -0.99% 0.92%
2093 -0.98% 0.92%
2092 -0.98% 0.93%
2091 -0.97% 0.94%
2090 -0.96% 0.95%
2089 -0.95% 0.95%
2088 -0.95% 0.96%
2087 -0.93% 0.97%
2086 -0.92% 0.98%
2085 -0.91% 1%
2084 -0.89% 1.01%
2083 -0.87% 1.03%
2082 -0.86% 1.04%
2081 -0.84% 1.06%
2080 -0.82% 1.07%
2079 -0.8% 1.09%
2078 -0.78% 1.1%
2077 -0.75% 1.11%
2076 -0.73% 1.13%
2075 -0.71% 1.14%
2074 -0.69% 1.15%
2073 -0.67% 1.16%
2072 -0.65% 1.17%
2071 -0.62% 1.17%
2070 -0.6% 1.18%
2069 -0.58% 1.18%
2068 -0.56% 1.18%
2067 -0.55% 1.17%
2066 -0.53% 1.17%
2065 -0.51% 1.17%
2064 -0.49% 1.17%
2063 -0.47% 1.16%
2062 -0.45% 1.15%
2061 -0.44% 1.14%
2060 -0.41% 1.14%
2059 -0.39% 1.14%
2058 -0.37% 1.14%
2057 -0.34% 1.14%
2056 -0.32% 1.14%
2055 -0.29% 1.14%
2054 -0.26% 1.14%
2053 -0.23% 1.14%
2052 -0.2% 1.14%
2051 -0.17% 1.15%
2050 -0.14% 1.16%
2049 -0.11% 1.16%
2048 -0.09% 1.17%
2047 -0.06% 1.15%
2046 -0.03% 1.14%
2045 0.002% 1.15%
2044 0.03% 1.16%
2043 0.05% 1.16%
2042 0.08% 1.17%
2041 0.11% 1.18%
2040 0.13% 1.18%
2039 0.16% 1.19%
2038 0.18% 1.19%
2037 0.2% 1.19%
2036 0.23% 1.18%
2035 0.25% 1.18%
2034 0.27% 1.17%
2033 0.29% 1.15%
2032 0.31% 1.13%
2031 0.33% 1.11%
2030 0.35% 1.15%
2029 0.37% 1.24%
2028 0.39% 1.42%
2027 0.41% 1.7%
2026 0.44% 2.33%
2025 0.46% 3.47%
2024 0.48% 4.79%
2023 0.47% 4.06%
2022 0.43% 5.22%
2021 0.51% 1.85%
2020 0.7% -0.47%
2019 0.84% 1.06%
2018 0.91% 1.34%
2017 0.95% 3.22%
2016 1.02% 5.05%
2015 1.07% 5.53%
2014 1.08% 4.76%
2013 1.12% 4.08%
2012 1.17% 4.04%
2011 1.18% 3.42%
2010 1.25% 2.43%
2009 1.35% 6.42%
2008 1.37% 12.1%
2007 1.36% 12.3%
2006 1.41% 7.38%
2005 1.46% 5.32%
2004 1.48% 5.64%
2003 1.55% 5.96%
2002 1.67% 6.26%
2001 1.81% 6.58%
2000 1.96% 6.97%
1999 2.1% 7.42%
1998 2.19% 7.92%
1997 2.29% 8.46%
1996 2.37% 6.69%
1995 2.44% 4.57%
1994 2.49% 4.77%
1993 2.53% 5.08%
1992 2.56% 5.39%
1991 2.58% 5.71%
1990 2.56% 6.05%
1989 2.55% 6.43%
1988 2.61% 6.83%
1987 2.68% 7.28%
1986 2.75% 6.49%
1985 2.79% 5.51%
1984 2.79% 5.72%
1983 2.79% 5.91%
1982 2.77% 6.05%
1981 2.76% 8.29%
1980 2.76% 11.4%
1979 2.74% 12.7%
1978 2.7% 13.9%
1977 2.67% 15.3%
1976 2.63% 13.4%
1975 2.6% 11%
1974 2.58% 12.1%
1973 2.58% 13.3%
1972 2.63% 14.9%
1971 2.7% 16.9%
1970 2.78% 19.6%
1969 2.85% 20.2%
1968 2.97% 11%
1967 3.14% 3.29%
1966 3.27% 4.11%
1965 3.41% 4.64%
1964 3.53% 4.91%
1963 3.65% 5.01%
1962 3.74% 5.04%
1961 3.8% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica UAE
Current population
5181862
11686438
Population rank 126/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.14%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
1.05 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
5.13 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 3/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +158,634
Net migration rank 63/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 158,634
2024 - 967 - 278,439
2023 24,109 995 92,698 300,004
2022 21,409 1,006 81,758 322,773
2021 20,119 1,018 76,802 421,663
2020 29,164 1,029 87,871 92,541
2019 37,682 1,653 86,296 -125,186
2018 42,469 1,673 86,840 14,611
2017 43,471 1,671 89,382 34,155
2016 45,565 1,649 87,028 195,317
2015 49,077 1,617 85,044 342,468
2014 49,559 1,589 84,277 360,174
2013 49,227 1,579 82,977 279,269
2012 52,036 1,587 78,682 225,921
2011 52,884 1,695 73,496 215,183
2010 50,803 2,357 69,907 161,842
2009 55,757 3,432 66,521 163,643
2008 56,491 3,794 55,426 523,207
2007 55,244 4,080 55,048 722,380
2006 54,177 4,321 54,338 399,306
2005 57,139 4,567 60,046 174,926
2004 55,769 4,856 60,344 176,319
2003 56,743 5,216 59,118 177,237
2002 58,388 5,812 55,922 178,988
2001 62,199 7,119 52,789 178,779
2000 64,268 8,826 49,993 178,469
1999 64,922 13,253 46,198 180,469
1998 64,788 15,556 41,176 183,329
1997 64,954 16,954 38,207 183,310
1996 66,094 17,393 37,886 180,296
1995 67,585 16,609 38,685 68,938
1994 68,336 15,587 42,976 62,352
1993 69,016 14,431 41,324 65,545
1992 69,830 13,069 42,119 65,739
1991 70,506 10,757 41,409 66,943
1990 71,727 7,949 41,339 67,118
1989 72,327 3,758 40,148 68,132
1988 72,944 2,414 38,861 68,991
1987 73,188 2,267 37,741 69,493
1986 73,211 2,302 36,829 69,655
1985 72,776 2,357 34,855 37,605
1984 71,062 2,402 33,250 38,124
1983 68,972 2,449 31,480 38,536
1982 66,826 2,453 29,585 38,276
1981 64,632 2,431 27,560 37,600
1980 62,561 2,387 25,005 78,148
1979 60,984 2,349 21,987 82,238
1978 58,327 2,296 18,879 82,359
1977 56,122 2,228 15,787 81,111
1976 54,019 2,129 12,876 78,903
1975 51,979 1,992 11,859 42,380
1974 50,349 1,839 10,835 42,474
1973 48,943 1,468 9,822 42,243
1972 48,417 1,366 8,818 41,888
1971 48,341 1,296 7,839 41,425
1970 48,398 1,137 6,922 40,792
1969 48,790 1,017 6,138 39,902
1968 48,361 939 5,588 28,866
1967 50,193 926 5,264 -283
1966 50,755 930 4,955 1,516
1965 51,196 932 4,675 2,598
1964 51,435 934 4,410 3,126
1963 51,403 938 4,157 3,264
1962 51,046 934 3,901 3,212
1961 50,149 924 3,657 3,141
1960 48,857 910 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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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