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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 13.5 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.91% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).

Costa Rica vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica United Kingdom
2100 3,804,183 74,700,585
2099 3,842,423 74,831,175
2098 3,880,999 74,950,267
2097 3,919,996 75,064,397
2096 3,959,352 75,176,691
2095 3,999,084 75,287,063
2094 4,039,053 75,383,856
2093 4,079,349 75,482,205
2092 4,119,898 75,575,769
2091 4,160,663 75,666,091
2090 4,201,548 75,753,129
2089 4,242,452 75,835,723
2088 4,283,327 75,907,614
2087 4,324,225 75,978,712
2086 4,364,979 76,046,742
2085 4,405,520 76,105,680
2084 4,445,770 76,156,223
2083 4,485,644 76,205,894
2082 4,525,171 76,246,844
2081 4,564,265 76,274,040
2080 4,602,737 76,306,205
2079 4,640,677 76,334,949
2078 4,677,935 76,353,484
2077 4,714,527 76,371,123
2076 4,750,309 76,373,520
2075 4,785,359 76,386,071
2074 4,819,691 76,397,426
2073 4,853,137 76,406,554
2072 4,885,727 76,398,941
2071 4,917,445 76,388,223
2070 4,948,313 76,378,505
2069 4,978,425 76,371,827
2068 5,007,604 76,370,973
2067 5,035,877 76,363,548
2066 5,063,521 76,356,638
2065 5,090,474 76,355,841
2064 5,116,546 76,352,770
2063 5,141,922 76,353,175
2062 5,166,260 76,346,535
2061 5,189,836 76,344,206
2060 5,212,549 76,344,725
2059 5,234,066 76,345,215
2058 5,254,528 76,326,961
2057 5,273,844 76,307,006
2056 5,292,013 76,274,247
2055 5,308,829 76,235,304
2054 5,324,305 76,167,710
2053 5,338,417 76,094,051
2052 5,350,974 76,001,979
2051 5,361,865 75,895,690
2050 5,371,197 75,777,445
2049 5,378,904 75,646,044
2048 5,385,081 75,499,380
2047 5,389,678 75,338,951
2046 5,392,713 75,171,300
2045 5,394,209 74,993,186
2044 5,394,124 74,807,530
2043 5,392,590 74,607,485
2042 5,389,628 74,407,783
2041 5,385,101 74,203,292
2040 5,379,344 73,994,525
2039 5,372,186 73,782,112
2038 5,363,617 73,559,085
2037 5,353,928 73,335,723
2036 5,343,027 73,101,646
2035 5,330,994 72,850,722
2034 5,317,895 72,597,177
2033 5,303,634 72,322,802
2032 5,288,416 72,046,316
2031 5,272,215 71,757,868
2030 5,255,064 71,442,811
2029 5,236,901 71,123,782
2028 5,217,724 70,783,199
2027 5,197,413 70,421,923
2026 5,176,096 70,055,911
2025 5,153,634 69,658,188
2024 5,129,910 69,226,000
2023 5,105,525 68,492,000
2022 5,081,765 67,604,000
2021 5,059,988 66,984,000
2020 5,034,320 66,744,000
2019 4,999,553 66,631,000
2018 4,957,818 66,289,000
2017 4,913,177 65,966,000
2016 4,866,998 65,607,000
2015 4,818,038 65,088,000
2014 4,767,119 64,620,000
2013 4,716,147 64,139,000
2012 4,663,934 63,711,000
2011 4,609,833 63,258,810
2010 4,555,962 62,766,365
2009 4,499,791 62,276,270
2008 4,440,056 61,806,995
2007 4,380,248 61,322,463
2006 4,321,340 60,846,820
2005 4,261,240 60,401,206
2004 4,200,078 59,987,905
2003 4,138,784 59,647,577
2002 4,075,705 59,370,479
2001 4,008,947 59,119,673
2000 3,937,739 58,892,514
1999 3,862,101 58,682,466
1998 3,782,838 58,487,141
1997 3,701,711 58,316,954
1996 3,619,013 58,166,950
1995 3,535,176 58,019,030
1994 3,451,122 57,865,745
1993 3,367,434 57,718,614
1992 3,284,258 57,580,402
1991 3,202,176 57,424,897
1990 3,121,706 57,247,586
1989 3,043,827 57,076,711
1988 2,968,103 56,928,327
1987 2,892,699 56,802,050
1986 2,817,216 56,681,396
1985 2,741,894 56,550,268
1984 2,667,595 56,422,072
1983 2,595,153 56,332,848
1982 2,524,806 56,313,641
1981 2,456,637 56,333,829
1980 2,390,633 56,314,216
1979 2,326,490 56,246,951
1978 2,264,510 56,196,504
1977 2,205,025 56,193,492
1976 2,147,774 56,211,968
1975 2,092,719 56,225,800
1974 2,039,643 56,229,974
1973 1,988,343 56,194,527
1972 1,938,248 56,086,065
1971 1,888,539 55,896,223
1970 1,838,949 55,663,250
1969 1,789,276 55,441,750
1968 1,739,731 55,211,700
1967 1,689,523 54,943,600
1966 1,638,116 54,648,500
1965 1,586,208 54,348,050
1964 1,533,960 54,000,000
1963 1,481,604 53,650,000
1962 1,429,445 53,250,000
1961 1,377,920 52,800,000
1960 1,327,496 52,400,000

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-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica United Kingdom
2100 -1% -0.17%
2099 -0.99% -0.16%
2098 -0.99% -0.15%
2097 -0.99% -0.15%
2096 -0.99% -0.15%
2095 -0.99% -0.13%
2094 -0.99% -0.13%
2093 -0.98% -0.12%
2092 -0.98% -0.12%
2091 -0.97% -0.11%
2090 -0.96% -0.11%
2089 -0.95% -0.09%
2088 -0.95% -0.09%
2087 -0.93% -0.09%
2086 -0.92% -0.08%
2085 -0.91% -0.07%
2084 -0.89% -0.07%
2083 -0.87% -0.05%
2082 -0.86% -0.04%
2081 -0.84% -0.04%
2080 -0.82% -0.04%
2079 -0.8% -0.02%
2078 -0.78% -0.02%
2077 -0.75% -0.003%
2076 -0.73% -0.02%
2075 -0.71% -0.01%
2074 -0.69% -0.01%
2073 -0.67% 0.01%
2072 -0.65% 0.01%
2071 -0.62% 0.01%
2070 -0.6% 0.009%
2069 -0.58% 0.001%
2068 -0.56% 0.01%
2067 -0.55% 0.009%
2066 -0.53% 0.001%
2065 -0.51% 0.004%
2064 -0.49% -0%
2063 -0.47% 0.009%
2062 -0.45% 0.003%
2061 -0.44% -0.001%
2060 -0.41% -0.001%
2059 -0.39% 0.02%
2058 -0.37% 0.03%
2057 -0.34% 0.04%
2056 -0.32% 0.05%
2055 -0.29% 0.09%
2054 -0.26% 0.1%
2053 -0.23% 0.12%
2052 -0.2% 0.14%
2051 -0.17% 0.16%
2050 -0.14% 0.17%
2049 -0.11% 0.19%
2048 -0.09% 0.21%
2047 -0.06% 0.22%
2046 -0.03% 0.24%
2045 0.002% 0.25%
2044 0.03% 0.27%
2043 0.05% 0.27%
2042 0.08% 0.28%
2041 0.11% 0.28%
2040 0.13% 0.29%
2039 0.16% 0.3%
2038 0.18% 0.3%
2037 0.2% 0.32%
2036 0.23% 0.34%
2035 0.25% 0.35%
2034 0.27% 0.38%
2033 0.29% 0.38%
2032 0.31% 0.4%
2031 0.33% 0.44%
2030 0.35% 0.45%
2029 0.37% 0.48%
2028 0.39% 0.51%
2027 0.41% 0.52%
2026 0.44% 0.57%
2025 0.46% 0.62%
2024 0.48% 1.07%
2023 0.47% 1.31%
2022 0.43% 0.93%
2021 0.51% 0.36%
2020 0.7% 0.17%
2019 0.84% 0.52%
2018 0.91% 0.49%
2017 0.95% 0.55%
2016 1.02% 0.8%
2015 1.07% 0.72%
2014 1.08% 0.75%
2013 1.12% 0.67%
2012 1.17% 0.71%
2011 1.18% 0.78%
2010 1.25% 0.79%
2009 1.35% 0.76%
2008 1.37% 0.79%
2007 1.36% 0.78%
2006 1.41% 0.74%
2005 1.46% 0.69%
2004 1.48% 0.57%
2003 1.55% 0.47%
2002 1.67% 0.42%
2001 1.81% 0.39%
2000 1.96% 0.36%
1999 2.1% 0.33%
1998 2.19% 0.29%
1997 2.29% 0.26%
1996 2.37% 0.25%
1995 2.44% 0.26%
1994 2.49% 0.25%
1993 2.53% 0.24%
1992 2.56% 0.27%
1991 2.58% 0.31%
1990 2.56% 0.3%
1989 2.55% 0.26%
1988 2.61% 0.22%
1987 2.68% 0.21%
1986 2.75% 0.23%
1985 2.79% 0.23%
1984 2.79% 0.16%
1983 2.79% 0.03%
1982 2.77% -0.04%
1981 2.76% 0.03%
1980 2.76% 0.12%
1979 2.74% 0.09%
1978 2.7% 0.005%
1977 2.67% -0.03%
1976 2.63% -0.02%
1975 2.6% -0.007%
1974 2.58% 0.06%
1973 2.58% 0.19%
1972 2.63% 0.34%
1971 2.7% 0.42%
1970 2.78% 0.4%
1969 2.85% 0.42%
1968 2.97% 0.49%
1967 3.14% 0.54%
1966 3.27% 0.55%
1965 3.41% 0.64%
1964 3.53% 0.65%
1963 3.65% 0.75%
1962 3.74% 0.85%
1961 3.8% 0.76%

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-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica United Kingdom
Current population
5181862
70154914
Population rank 126/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.85%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
43 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
45.9 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline +67 +2,011
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 97/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 +389,911
Net migration rank 63/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 389,911
2024 - 967 - 417,114
2023 24,109 995 34,589 445,523
2022 21,409 1,006 39,751 487,029
2021 20,119 1,018 30,612 462,967
2020 29,164 1,029 -4,272 144,221
2019 37,682 1,653 108,342 232,727
2018 42,469 1,673 119,321 259,744
2017 43,471 1,671 145,125 272,311
2016 45,565 1,649 177,139 324,649
2015 49,077 1,617 175,738 347,839
2014 49,559 1,589 206,784 306,091
2013 49,227 1,579 198,830 237,272
2012 52,036 1,587 248,473 172,088
2011 52,884 1,695 259,361 228,773
2010 50,803 2,357 251,066 274,811
2009 55,757 3,432 230,422 249,639
2008 56,491 3,794 216,325 263,390
2007 55,244 4,080 196,232 309,385
2006 54,177 4,321 176,455 288,923
2005 57,139 4,567 144,963 308,279
2004 55,769 4,856 131,974 276,077
2003 56,743 5,216 89,471 211,846
2002 58,388 5,812 65,308 203,577
2001 62,199 7,119 65,032 175,133
2000 64,268 8,826 70,671 153,917
1999 64,922 13,253 64,551 152,653
1998 64,788 15,556 87,730 125,541
1997 64,954 16,954 99,138 59,723
1996 66,094 17,393 98,884 54,964
1995 67,585 16,609 87,028 61,385
1994 68,336 15,587 127,304 45,339
1993 69,016 14,431 103,893 27,403
1992 69,830 13,069 149,709 17,846
1991 70,506 10,757 143,562 27,601
1990 71,727 7,949 154,569 57,132
1989 72,327 3,758 119,861 49,586
1988 72,944 2,414 136,628 13,952
1987 73,188 2,267 136,325 8,266
1986 73,211 2,302 90,690 41,836
1985 72,776 2,357 79,170 83,164
1984 71,062 2,402 84,633 71,107
1983 68,972 2,449 61,966 27,063
1982 66,826 2,453 56,314 -61,152
1981 64,632 2,431 73,234 -83,876
1980 62,561 2,387 95,734 -25,187
1979 60,984 2,349 61,872 11,255
1978 58,327 2,296 16,859 3,783
1977 56,122 2,228 0 -21,636
1976 54,019 2,129 -5,621 -19,135
1975 51,979 1,992 33,735 -40,241
1974 50,349 1,839 67,476 -65,710
1973 48,943 1,468 112,389 -33,840
1972 48,417 1,366 162,650 -1,406
1971 48,341 1,296 257,123 1,175
1970 48,398 1,137 244,918 -15,254
1969 48,790 1,017 260,577 -60,655
1968 48,361 939 292,622 -38,852
1967 50,193 926 346,145 -39,659
1966 50,755 930 333,356 -27,935
1965 51,196 932 364,132 -24,955
1964 51,435 934 405,000 -23,885
1963 51,403 938 337,995 8,271
1962 51,046 934 340,800 76,443
1961 50,149 924 311,519 52,295
1960 48,857 910 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/united-kingdom | 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 Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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-kingdom | 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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