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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • The United States' population is 66.4 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 4.21% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).

Costa Rica vs United States: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica United States
2100 3,804,183 415,429,771
2099 3,842,423 414,829,167
2098 3,880,999 414,231,720
2097 3,919,996 413,576,381
2096 3,959,352 412,927,393
2095 3,999,084 412,225,379
2094 4,039,053 411,498,749
2093 4,079,349 410,785,729
2092 4,119,898 410,051,921
2091 4,160,663 409,320,183
2090 4,201,548 408,613,732
2089 4,242,452 407,885,645
2088 4,283,327 407,129,733
2087 4,324,225 406,421,298
2086 4,364,979 405,715,343
2085 4,405,520 405,059,379
2084 4,445,770 404,343,130
2083 4,485,644 403,612,785
2082 4,525,171 402,871,293
2081 4,564,265 402,054,554
2080 4,602,737 401,319,194
2079 4,640,677 400,554,914
2078 4,677,935 399,737,968
2077 4,714,527 398,906,565
2076 4,750,309 398,035,750
2075 4,785,359 397,109,170
2074 4,819,691 396,226,412
2073 4,853,137 395,307,725
2072 4,885,727 394,393,561
2071 4,917,445 393,415,363
2070 4,948,313 392,469,727
2069 4,978,425 391,479,981
2068 5,007,604 390,517,695
2067 5,035,877 389,543,856
2066 5,063,521 388,597,719
2065 5,090,474 387,685,327
2064 5,116,546 386,805,026
2063 5,141,922 385,911,917
2062 5,166,260 385,032,627
2061 5,189,836 384,170,837
2060 5,212,549 383,361,269
2059 5,234,066 382,542,030
2058 5,254,528 381,704,804
2057 5,273,844 380,907,023
2056 5,292,013 380,159,777
2055 5,308,829 379,430,756
2054 5,324,305 378,682,851
2053 5,338,417 377,878,421
2052 5,350,974 377,073,303
2051 5,361,865 376,229,840
2050 5,371,197 375,373,155
2049 5,378,904 374,493,150
2048 5,385,081 373,590,762
2047 5,389,678 372,626,259
2046 5,392,713 371,644,809
2045 5,394,209 370,602,914
2044 5,394,124 369,518,897
2043 5,392,590 368,375,680
2042 5,389,628 367,158,772
2041 5,385,101 365,937,822
2040 5,379,344 364,671,837
2039 5,372,186 363,367,337
2038 5,363,617 361,997,023
2037 5,353,928 360,606,236
2036 5,343,027 359,193,245
2035 5,330,994 357,750,686
2034 5,317,895 356,266,726
2033 5,303,634 354,775,032
2032 5,288,416 353,259,037
2031 5,272,215 351,721,511
2030 5,255,064 350,155,042
2029 5,236,901 348,564,667
2028 5,217,724 346,906,294
2027 5,197,413 345,257,605
2026 5,176,096 343,565,426
2025 5,153,634 341,784,857
2024 5,129,910 340,110,988
2023 5,105,525 334,914,895
2022 5,081,765 333,271,411
2021 5,059,988 331,893,745
2020 5,034,320 331,526,933
2019 4,999,553 328,329,953
2018 4,957,818 326,838,199
2017 4,913,177 325,122,128
2016 4,866,998 323,071,755
2015 4,818,038 320,738,994
2014 4,767,119 318,386,329
2013 4,716,147 316,059,947
2012 4,663,934 313,877,662
2011 4,609,833 311,583,481
2010 4,555,962 309,327,143
2009 4,499,791 306,771,529
2008 4,440,056 304,093,966
2007 4,380,248 301,231,207
2006 4,321,340 298,379,912
2005 4,261,240 295,516,599
2004 4,200,078 292,805,298
2003 4,138,784 290,107,933
2002 4,075,705 287,625,193
2001 4,008,947 284,968,955
2000 3,937,739 282,162,411
1999 3,862,101 279,294,713
1998 3,782,838 276,115,288
1997 3,701,711 272,911,760
1996 3,619,013 269,667,391
1995 3,535,176 266,557,091
1994 3,451,122 263,435,673
1993 3,367,434 260,255,352
1992 3,284,258 256,894,189
1991 3,202,176 253,492,503
1990 3,121,706 250,131,894
1989 3,043,827 246,819,222
1988 2,968,103 244,499,004
1987 2,892,699 242,288,936
1986 2,817,216 240,132,831
1985 2,741,894 237,923,734
1984 2,667,595 235,824,908
1983 2,595,153 233,792,014
1982 2,524,806 231,664,432
1981 2,456,637 229,465,744
1980 2,390,633 226,542,250
1979 2,326,490 225,055,487
1978 2,264,510 222,584,545
1977 2,205,025 220,239,425
1976 2,147,774 218,035,164
1975 2,092,719 215,973,199
1974 2,039,643 213,853,928
1973 1,988,343 211,908,788
1972 1,938,248 209,896,021
1971 1,888,539 207,660,677
1970 1,838,949 205,052,174
1969 1,789,276 202,676,946
1968 1,739,731 200,706,052
1967 1,689,523 198,712,056
1966 1,638,116 196,560,338
1965 1,586,208 194,302,963
1964 1,533,960 191,888,791
1963 1,481,604 189,241,798
1962 1,429,445 186,537,737
1961 1,377,920 183,691,481
1960 1,327,496 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/united-states | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 415M people in 2100 for the United States.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica United States
2100 -1% 0.14%
2099 -0.99% 0.14%
2098 -0.99% 0.16%
2097 -0.99% 0.16%
2096 -0.99% 0.17%
2095 -0.99% 0.18%
2094 -0.99% 0.17%
2093 -0.98% 0.18%
2092 -0.98% 0.18%
2091 -0.97% 0.17%
2090 -0.96% 0.18%
2089 -0.95% 0.19%
2088 -0.95% 0.17%
2087 -0.93% 0.17%
2086 -0.92% 0.16%
2085 -0.91% 0.18%
2084 -0.89% 0.18%
2083 -0.87% 0.18%
2082 -0.86% 0.2%
2081 -0.84% 0.18%
2080 -0.82% 0.19%
2079 -0.8% 0.2%
2078 -0.78% 0.21%
2077 -0.75% 0.22%
2076 -0.73% 0.23%
2075 -0.71% 0.22%
2074 -0.69% 0.23%
2073 -0.67% 0.23%
2072 -0.65% 0.25%
2071 -0.62% 0.24%
2070 -0.6% 0.25%
2069 -0.58% 0.25%
2068 -0.56% 0.25%
2067 -0.55% 0.24%
2066 -0.53% 0.24%
2065 -0.51% 0.23%
2064 -0.49% 0.23%
2063 -0.47% 0.23%
2062 -0.45% 0.22%
2061 -0.44% 0.21%
2060 -0.41% 0.21%
2059 -0.39% 0.22%
2058 -0.37% 0.21%
2057 -0.34% 0.2%
2056 -0.32% 0.19%
2055 -0.29% 0.2%
2054 -0.26% 0.21%
2053 -0.23% 0.21%
2052 -0.2% 0.22%
2051 -0.17% 0.23%
2050 -0.14% 0.23%
2049 -0.11% 0.24%
2048 -0.09% 0.26%
2047 -0.06% 0.26%
2046 -0.03% 0.28%
2045 0.002% 0.29%
2044 0.03% 0.31%
2043 0.05% 0.33%
2042 0.08% 0.33%
2041 0.11% 0.35%
2040 0.13% 0.36%
2039 0.16% 0.38%
2038 0.18% 0.39%
2037 0.2% 0.39%
2036 0.23% 0.4%
2035 0.25% 0.42%
2034 0.27% 0.42%
2033 0.29% 0.43%
2032 0.31% 0.44%
2031 0.33% 0.45%
2030 0.35% 0.46%
2029 0.37% 0.48%
2028 0.39% 0.48%
2027 0.41% 0.49%
2026 0.44% 0.52%
2025 0.46% 0.49%
2024 0.48% 1.55%
2023 0.47% 0.49%
2022 0.43% 0.42%
2021 0.51% 0.11%
2020 0.7% 0.97%
2019 0.84% 0.46%
2018 0.91% 0.53%
2017 0.95% 0.63%
2016 1.02% 0.73%
2015 1.07% 0.74%
2014 1.08% 0.74%
2013 1.12% 0.7%
2012 1.17% 0.74%
2011 1.18% 0.73%
2010 1.25% 0.83%
2009 1.35% 0.88%
2008 1.37% 0.95%
2007 1.36% 0.96%
2006 1.41% 0.97%
2005 1.46% 0.93%
2004 1.48% 0.93%
2003 1.55% 0.86%
2002 1.67% 0.93%
2001 1.81% 0.99%
2000 1.96% 1.03%
1999 2.1% 1.15%
1998 2.19% 1.17%
1997 2.29% 1.2%
1996 2.37% 1.17%
1995 2.44% 1.18%
1994 2.49% 1.22%
1993 2.53% 1.31%
1992 2.56% 1.34%
1991 2.58% 1.34%
1990 2.56% 1.34%
1989 2.55% 0.95%
1988 2.61% 0.91%
1987 2.68% 0.9%
1986 2.75% 0.93%
1985 2.79% 0.89%
1984 2.79% 0.87%
1983 2.79% 0.92%
1982 2.77% 0.96%
1981 2.76% 1.29%
1980 2.76% 0.66%
1979 2.74% 1.11%
1978 2.7% 1.06%
1977 2.67% 1.01%
1976 2.63% 0.95%
1975 2.6% 0.99%
1974 2.58% 0.92%
1973 2.58% 0.96%
1972 2.63% 1.08%
1971 2.7% 1.27%
1970 2.78% 1.17%
1969 2.85% 0.98%
1968 2.97% 1%
1967 3.14% 1.09%
1966 3.27% 1.16%
1965 3.41% 1.26%
1964 3.53% 1.4%
1963 3.65% 1.45%
1962 3.74% 1.55%
1961 3.8% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/united-states | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica United States
Current population
5181862
344023146
Population rank 126/197 3/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 4.15%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
8.8 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
10.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline +67 +4,586
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 134/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change +1,000 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 63/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 1,230,663
2024 - 967 - 1,286,132
2023 24,109 995 502,372 1,322,668
2022 21,409 1,006 399,926 1,319,009
2021 20,119 1,018 199,137 674,787
2020 29,164 1,029 208,862 329,769
2019 37,682 1,653 887,476 1,774,500
2018 42,469 1,673 955,022 1,764,961
2017 43,471 1,671 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 45,565 1,649 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 49,077 1,617 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 49,559 1,589 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 49,227 1,579 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 52,036 1,587 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 52,884 1,695 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 50,803 2,357 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 55,757 3,432 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 56,491 3,794 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 55,244 4,080 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 54,177 4,321 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 57,139 4,567 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 55,769 4,856 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 56,743 5,216 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 58,388 5,812 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 62,199 7,119 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 64,268 8,826 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 64,922 13,253 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 64,788 15,556 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 64,954 16,954 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 66,094 17,393 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 67,585 16,609 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 68,336 15,587 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 69,016 14,431 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 69,830 13,069 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 70,506 10,757 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 71,727 7,949 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 72,327 3,758 1,875,826 400,998
1988 72,944 2,414 1,735,943 460,778
1987 73,188 2,267 1,720,252 480,815
1986 73,211 2,302 1,656,917 493,082
1985 72,776 2,357 1,689,258 598,777
1984 71,062 2,402 1,627,192 622,793
1983 68,972 2,449 1,636,544 662,840
1982 66,826 2,453 1,714,317 600,149
1981 64,632 2,431 1,652,153 583,070
1980 62,561 2,387 1,608,450 595,916
1979 60,984 2,349 1,597,894 503,559
1978 58,327 2,296 1,402,283 556,521
1977 56,122 2,228 1,431,556 577,060
1976 54,019 2,129 1,264,604 635,590
1975 51,979 1,992 1,252,644 655,078
1974 50,349 1,839 1,218,968 706,978
1973 48,943 1,468 1,165,499 783,163
1972 48,417 1,366 1,301,355 833,543
1971 48,341 1,296 1,640,519 833,549
1970 48,398 1,137 1,824,965 744,902
1969 48,790 1,017 1,702,487 523,740
1968 48,361 939 1,565,507 594,514
1967 50,193 926 1,669,181 585,410
1966 50,755 930 1,749,387 637,692
1965 51,196 932 1,943,030 644,902
1964 51,435 934 2,245,099 618,635
1963 51,403 938 2,289,826 639,495
1962 51,046 934 2,406,337 625,617
1961 50,149 924 2,571,681 580,333
1960 48,857 910 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/united-states | 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 States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

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 States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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-states | 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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