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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 3,384,688 people in Uruguay in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 3,382,672 in Uruguay.

Population statistics:

  • Costa Rica's population is 1.53 times bigger than Uruguay's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Uruguay is the 133rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.04% for Uruguay.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +0.08% in Uruguay.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Uruguay has grown from 3.29M to 3.38M (2.83% growth).

Costa Rica vs Uruguay: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Uruguay
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Uruguay
2100 3,803,678 2,256,662
2099 3,841,913 2,279,820
2098 3,880,484 2,303,272
2097 3,919,475 2,326,907
2096 3,958,826 2,350,717
2095 3,998,552 2,374,752
2094 4,038,516 2,398,877
2093 4,078,807 2,423,185
2092 4,119,351 2,447,561
2091 4,160,111 2,472,040
2090 4,200,989 2,496,427
2089 4,241,888 2,520,765
2088 4,282,758 2,544,964
2087 4,323,650 2,569,010
2086 4,364,399 2,592,884
2085 4,404,935 2,616,538
2084 4,445,179 2,639,909
2083 4,485,048 2,663,057
2082 4,524,570 2,685,928
2081 4,563,658 2,708,500
2080 4,602,126 2,730,788
2079 4,640,060 2,752,736
2078 4,677,313 2,774,335
2077 4,713,901 2,795,612
2076 4,749,678 2,816,580
2075 4,784,723 2,837,210
2074 4,819,050 2,857,609
2073 4,852,492 2,877,622
2072 4,885,078 2,897,443
2071 4,916,792 2,916,996
2070 4,947,655 2,936,376
2069 4,977,764 2,955,513
2068 5,006,939 2,974,342
2067 5,035,207 2,992,883
2066 5,062,849 3,011,205
2065 5,089,797 3,029,336
2064 5,115,866 3,047,237
2063 5,141,239 3,064,958
2062 5,165,574 3,082,535
2061 5,189,146 3,099,898
2060 5,211,857 3,117,041
2059 5,233,370 3,133,843
2058 5,253,830 3,150,140
2057 5,273,143 3,165,945
2056 5,291,310 3,181,263
2055 5,308,124 3,195,961
2054 5,323,598 3,209,999
2053 5,337,707 3,223,284
2052 5,350,263 3,235,861
2051 5,361,152 3,247,775
2050 5,370,484 3,258,995
2049 5,378,189 3,269,562
2048 5,384,366 3,279,496
2047 5,388,962 3,288,855
2046 5,391,996 3,297,581
2045 5,393,493 3,305,802
2044 5,393,407 3,313,441
2043 5,391,873 3,320,450
2042 5,388,912 3,326,840
2041 5,384,386 3,332,768
2040 5,378,629 3,338,161
2039 5,371,473 3,343,179
2038 5,362,904 3,347,674
2037 5,353,217 3,351,794
2036 5,342,317 3,355,554
2035 5,330,286 3,359,009
2034 5,317,189 3,362,159
2033 5,302,930 3,365,133
2032 5,287,714 3,367,940
2031 5,271,514 3,370,610
2030 5,254,366 3,373,156
2029 5,236,206 3,375,688
2028 5,217,031 3,378,080
2027 5,196,723 3,380,387
2026 5,175,408 3,382,672
2025 5,152,950 3,384,688
2024 5,129,910 3,386,588
2023 5,105,525 3,388,081
2022 5,081,765 3,390,913
2021 5,059,988 3,396,695
2020 5,034,320 3,398,968
2019 4,999,553 3,397,206
2018 4,957,818 3,394,534
2017 4,913,177 3,388,438
2016 4,866,998 3,379,283
2015 4,818,038 3,368,017
2014 4,767,119 3,356,334
2013 4,716,147 3,345,337
2012 4,663,934 3,335,401
2011 4,609,833 3,326,825
2010 4,555,962 3,318,580
2009 4,499,791 3,310,091
2008 4,440,056 3,302,177
2007 4,380,248 3,295,153
2006 4,321,340 3,289,506
2005 4,261,240 3,285,771
2004 4,200,078 3,283,148
2003 4,138,784 3,281,186
2002 4,075,705 3,278,867
2001 4,008,947 3,274,251
2000 3,937,739 3,266,206
1999 3,862,101 3,254,015
1998 3,782,838 3,239,280
1997 3,701,711 3,223,345
1996 3,619,013 3,206,324
1995 3,535,176 3,189,440
1994 3,451,122 3,172,834
1993 3,367,434 3,156,345
1992 3,284,258 3,139,702
1991 3,202,176 3,122,354
1990 3,121,706 3,104,403
1989 3,043,827 3,086,255
1988 2,968,103 3,067,961
1987 2,892,699 3,049,896
1986 2,817,216 3,032,845
1985 2,741,894 3,017,037
1984 2,667,595 3,002,488
1983 2,595,153 2,988,778
1982 2,524,806 2,975,492
1981 2,456,637 2,963,246
1980 2,390,633 2,951,953
1979 2,326,490 2,939,903
1978 2,264,510 2,925,715
1977 2,205,025 2,909,461
1976 2,147,774 2,891,392
1975 2,092,719 2,872,320
1974 2,039,643 2,853,944
1973 1,988,343 2,837,133
1972 1,938,248 2,821,644
1971 1,888,539 2,806,462
1970 1,838,949 2,790,807
1969 1,789,276 2,773,974
1968 1,739,731 2,754,606
1967 1,689,523 2,732,277
1966 1,638,116 2,707,646
1965 1,586,208 2,681,169
1964 1,533,960 2,653,180
1963 1,481,604 2,623,766
1962 1,429,445 2,593,298
1961 1,377,920 2,562,044
1960 1,327,496 2,529,957

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/uruguay | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Uruguay gained 89,777 people (a 2.73% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Uruguay's population increased by 3,389 people (a 0.1% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Uruguay was ranked 129th in 2006 and ranked 133rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Costa Rica's population will grow by 3.55% to 5,370,484 people with a rank change from 126th to 127th. The population of Uruguay will decrease by 3.66% to 3,258,995 people and rank change from 133rd to 139th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people, while Uruguay's population already peaked in 2020 at 3.4M people and is projected to decrease to 2.26M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Uruguay
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Uruguay
2100 -1% -1.02%
2099 -0.99% -1.02%
2098 -0.99% -1.02%
2097 -0.99% -1.01%
2096 -0.99% -1.01%
2095 -0.99% -1.01%
2094 -0.99% -1%
2093 -0.98% -1%
2092 -0.98% -0.99%
2091 -0.97% -0.98%
2090 -0.96% -0.97%
2089 -0.95% -0.95%
2088 -0.95% -0.94%
2087 -0.93% -0.92%
2086 -0.92% -0.9%
2085 -0.91% -0.89%
2084 -0.89% -0.87%
2083 -0.87% -0.85%
2082 -0.86% -0.83%
2081 -0.84% -0.82%
2080 -0.82% -0.8%
2079 -0.8% -0.78%
2078 -0.78% -0.76%
2077 -0.75% -0.74%
2076 -0.73% -0.73%
2075 -0.71% -0.71%
2074 -0.69% -0.7%
2073 -0.67% -0.68%
2072 -0.65% -0.67%
2071 -0.62% -0.66%
2070 -0.6% -0.65%
2069 -0.58% -0.63%
2068 -0.56% -0.62%
2067 -0.55% -0.61%
2066 -0.53% -0.6%
2065 -0.51% -0.59%
2064 -0.49% -0.58%
2063 -0.47% -0.57%
2062 -0.45% -0.56%
2061 -0.44% -0.55%
2060 -0.41% -0.54%
2059 -0.39% -0.52%
2058 -0.37% -0.5%
2057 -0.34% -0.48%
2056 -0.32% -0.46%
2055 -0.29% -0.44%
2054 -0.26% -0.41%
2053 -0.23% -0.39%
2052 -0.2% -0.37%
2051 -0.17% -0.34%
2050 -0.14% -0.32%
2049 -0.11% -0.3%
2048 -0.09% -0.28%
2047 -0.06% -0.26%
2046 -0.03% -0.25%
2045 0.002% -0.23%
2044 0.03% -0.21%
2043 0.05% -0.19%
2042 0.08% -0.18%
2041 0.11% -0.16%
2040 0.13% -0.15%
2039 0.16% -0.13%
2038 0.18% -0.12%
2037 0.2% -0.11%
2036 0.23% -0.1%
2035 0.25% -0.09%
2034 0.27% -0.09%
2033 0.29% -0.08%
2032 0.31% -0.08%
2031 0.33% -0.08%
2030 0.35% -0.08%
2029 0.37% -0.07%
2028 0.39% -0.07%
2027 0.41% -0.07%
2026 0.44% -0.06%
2025 0.45% -0.06%
2024 0.48% -0.04%
2023 0.47% -0.08%
2022 0.43% -0.17%
2021 0.51% -0.07%
2020 0.7% 0.05%
2019 0.84% 0.08%
2018 0.91% 0.18%
2017 0.95% 0.27%
2016 1.02% 0.33%
2015 1.07% 0.35%
2014 1.08% 0.33%
2013 1.12% 0.3%
2012 1.17% 0.26%
2011 1.18% 0.25%
2010 1.25% 0.26%
2009 1.35% 0.24%
2008 1.37% 0.21%
2007 1.36% 0.17%
2006 1.41% 0.11%
2005 1.46% 0.08%
2004 1.48% 0.06%
2003 1.55% 0.07%
2002 1.67% 0.14%
2001 1.81% 0.25%
2000 1.96% 0.37%
1999 2.1% 0.45%
1998 2.19% 0.49%
1997 2.29% 0.53%
1996 2.37% 0.53%
1995 2.44% 0.52%
1994 2.49% 0.52%
1993 2.53% 0.53%
1992 2.56% 0.56%
1991 2.58% 0.58%
1990 2.56% 0.59%
1989 2.55% 0.6%
1988 2.61% 0.59%
1987 2.68% 0.56%
1986 2.75% 0.52%
1985 2.79% 0.48%
1984 2.79% 0.46%
1983 2.79% 0.45%
1982 2.77% 0.41%
1981 2.76% 0.38%
1980 2.76% 0.41%
1979 2.74% 0.48%
1978 2.7% 0.56%
1977 2.67% 0.62%
1976 2.63% 0.66%
1975 2.6% 0.64%
1974 2.58% 0.59%
1973 2.58% 0.55%
1972 2.63% 0.54%
1971 2.7% 0.56%
1970 2.78% 0.61%
1969 2.85% 0.7%
1968 2.97% 0.82%
1967 3.14% 0.91%
1966 3.27% 0.99%
1965 3.41% 1.05%
1964 3.53% 1.12%
1963 3.65% 1.17%
1962 3.74% 1.22%
1961 3.8% 1.27%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/uruguay | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Uruguay's population declined by 0.06%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Uruguay
Current population
5186356
3382672
Population rank 126/197 133/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.04%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
4.62 hours
One birth every
10.3 minutes
15.8 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
15.6 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 -5
Annual growth/decline +23,040 -1,900
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% -0.06%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 161/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
6.57 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 -1,338
Net migration rank 63/196 95/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 160,064
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 121/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 4.7%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 95/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Uruguay
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Uruguay
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -1,338
2024 22,699 967 -443 -1,348
2023 24,109 995 298 -1,501
2022 21,409 1,006 -2,964 -1,501
2021 20,119 1,018 -5,621 -1,482
2020 29,164 1,029 4,048 -1,482
2019 37,682 1,653 3,873 -2,899
2018 42,469 1,673 7,322 -2,963
2017 43,471 1,671 10,907 -3,091
2016 45,565 1,649 14,008 -3,506
2015 49,077 1,617 16,194 -4,157
2014 49,559 1,589 16,238 -4,919
2013 49,227 1,579 16,318 -5,647
2012 52,036 1,587 15,520 -6,317
2011 52,884 1,695 14,934 -6,982
2010 50,803 2,357 16,231 -7,696
2009 55,757 3,432 16,947 -8,510
2008 56,491 3,794 16,838 -9,458
2007 55,244 4,080 17,422 -10,750
2006 54,177 4,321 17,783 -13,161
2005 57,139 4,567 18,926 -16,086
2004 55,769 4,856 18,067 -15,668
2003 56,743 5,216 18,628 -17,105
2002 58,388 5,812 20,073 -16,957
2001 62,199 7,119 20,729 -14,620
2000 64,268 8,826 21,060 -11,076
1999 64,922 13,253 21,844 -7,441
1998 64,788 15,556 22,114 -7,048
1997 64,954 16,954 23,737 -6,938
1996 66,094 17,393 24,635 -7,397
1995 67,585 16,609 24,872 -8,339
1994 68,336 15,587 24,637 -7,955
1993 69,016 14,431 24,212 -7,922
1992 69,830 13,069 24,847 -7,850
1991 70,506 10,757 25,422 -7,714
1990 71,727 7,949 25,699 -7,499
1989 72,327 3,758 25,322 -7,229
1988 72,944 2,414 25,071 -6,582
1987 73,188 2,267 24,469 -6,833
1986 73,211 2,302 24,505 -8,046
1985 72,776 2,357 23,988 -8,832
1984 71,062 2,402 23,684 -9,730
1983 68,972 2,449 24,146 -10,671
1982 66,826 2,453 25,224 -12,131
1981 64,632 2,431 24,968 -13,577
1980 62,561 2,387 25,451 -14,252
1979 60,984 2,349 27,456 -14,552
1978 58,327 2,296 30,076 -14,611
1977 56,122 2,228 31,321 -14,280
1976 54,019 2,129 33,199 -14,096
1975 51,979 1,992 33,393 -14,350
1974 50,349 1,839 32,221 -14,512
1973 48,943 1,468 30,213 -14,312
1972 48,417 1,366 28,896 -13,817
1971 48,341 1,296 28,584 -13,288
1970 48,398 1,137 28,737 -12,727
1969 48,790 1,017 28,805 -11,149
1968 48,361 939 29,103 -8,028
1967 50,193 926 29,514 -5,938
1966 50,755 930 30,293 -4,599
1965 51,196 932 30,807 -3,542
1964 51,435 934 31,340 -2,623
1963 51,403 938 31,824 -1,707
1962 51,046 934 31,441 -623
1961 50,149 924 30,975 703
1960 48,857 910 30,438 2,057

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/uruguay | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 96.2% of the population change in Costa Rica is from natural causes (a gain of 335,764 people) and 3.8% is from migration (a gain of 13,278 people). In Uruguay 66.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,622 people) and 33.4% is from migration (a loss of 23,930 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 160,064 people or 4.7% in Uruguay.

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
Uruguay
City Population
Montevideo 1.3M
Salto 114K
Ciudad de la Costa 112K
Maldonado 86.8K
Rivera 84.8K
Paysandu 81.5K
Tacuarembo 60.6K
Melo 56K
Artigas 43.8K
Mercedes 43.5K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/uruguay | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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