The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 335,169 people in Vanuatu in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 346,488 in Vanuatu.
Population statistics:
- Costa Rica's population is 15 times bigger than Vanuatu's.
- Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Vanuatu is the 174th.
- The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.004% for Vanuatu.
- For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.71% per year vs +2.33% in Vanuatu.
- Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Vanuatu has grown from 216K to 346K (60.5% growth).
Costa Rica vs Vanuatu: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Costa Rica
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | 3,803,678 | 883,016 |
| 2099 | 3,841,913 | 878,369 |
| 2098 | 3,880,484 | 873,597 |
| 2097 | 3,919,475 | 868,672 |
| 2096 | 3,958,826 | 863,700 |
| 2095 | 3,998,552 | 858,515 |
| 2094 | 4,038,516 | 853,182 |
| 2093 | 4,078,807 | 847,713 |
| 2092 | 4,119,351 | 842,198 |
| 2091 | 4,160,111 | 836,615 |
| 2090 | 4,200,989 | 830,915 |
| 2089 | 4,241,888 | 825,143 |
| 2088 | 4,282,758 | 819,225 |
| 2087 | 4,323,650 | 813,199 |
| 2086 | 4,364,399 | 807,118 |
| 2085 | 4,404,935 | 800,846 |
| 2084 | 4,445,179 | 794,459 |
| 2083 | 4,485,048 | 788,013 |
| 2082 | 4,524,570 | 781,513 |
| 2081 | 4,563,658 | 774,913 |
| 2080 | 4,602,126 | 768,233 |
| 2079 | 4,640,060 | 761,418 |
| 2078 | 4,677,313 | 754,464 |
| 2077 | 4,713,901 | 747,507 |
| 2076 | 4,749,678 | 740,413 |
| 2075 | 4,784,723 | 733,236 |
| 2074 | 4,819,050 | 725,977 |
| 2073 | 4,852,492 | 718,583 |
| 2072 | 4,885,078 | 711,096 |
| 2071 | 4,916,792 | 703,543 |
| 2070 | 4,947,655 | 695,963 |
| 2069 | 4,977,764 | 688,347 |
| 2068 | 5,006,939 | 680,670 |
| 2067 | 5,035,207 | 672,919 |
| 2066 | 5,062,849 | 665,095 |
| 2065 | 5,089,797 | 657,238 |
| 2064 | 5,115,866 | 649,317 |
| 2063 | 5,141,239 | 641,384 |
| 2062 | 5,165,574 | 633,453 |
| 2061 | 5,189,146 | 625,585 |
| 2060 | 5,211,857 | 617,652 |
| 2059 | 5,233,370 | 609,661 |
| 2058 | 5,253,830 | 601,631 |
| 2057 | 5,273,143 | 593,578 |
| 2056 | 5,291,310 | 585,523 |
| 2055 | 5,308,124 | 577,375 |
| 2054 | 5,323,598 | 569,204 |
| 2053 | 5,337,707 | 560,984 |
| 2052 | 5,350,263 | 552,762 |
| 2051 | 5,361,152 | 544,521 |
| 2050 | 5,370,484 | 536,181 |
| 2049 | 5,378,189 | 527,854 |
| 2048 | 5,384,366 | 519,491 |
| 2047 | 5,388,962 | 511,139 |
| 2046 | 5,391,996 | 502,701 |
| 2045 | 5,393,493 | 494,279 |
| 2044 | 5,393,407 | 485,821 |
| 2043 | 5,391,873 | 477,431 |
| 2042 | 5,388,912 | 469,034 |
| 2041 | 5,384,386 | 460,706 |
| 2040 | 5,378,629 | 452,395 |
| 2039 | 5,371,473 | 444,129 |
| 2038 | 5,362,904 | 435,887 |
| 2037 | 5,353,217 | 427,727 |
| 2036 | 5,342,317 | 419,648 |
| 2035 | 5,330,286 | 411,652 |
| 2034 | 5,317,189 | 403,718 |
| 2033 | 5,302,930 | 395,853 |
| 2032 | 5,287,714 | 388,114 |
| 2031 | 5,271,514 | 380,413 |
| 2030 | 5,254,366 | 372,755 |
| 2029 | 5,236,206 | 365,162 |
| 2028 | 5,217,031 | 357,621 |
| 2027 | 5,196,723 | 350,124 |
| 2026 | 5,175,408 | 342,649 |
| 2025 | 5,152,950 | 335,169 |
| 2024 | 5,129,910 | 327,777 |
| 2023 | 5,105,525 | 320,409 |
| 2022 | 5,081,765 | 313,046 |
| 2021 | 5,059,988 | 305,868 |
| 2020 | 5,034,320 | 298,858 |
| 2019 | 4,999,553 | 291,985 |
| 2018 | 4,957,818 | 285,259 |
| 2017 | 4,913,177 | 278,507 |
| 2016 | 4,866,998 | 272,087 |
| 2015 | 4,818,038 | 266,101 |
| 2014 | 4,767,119 | 260,240 |
| 2013 | 4,716,147 | 254,482 |
| 2012 | 4,663,934 | 248,883 |
| 2011 | 4,609,833 | 243,474 |
| 2010 | 4,555,962 | 238,248 |
| 2009 | 4,499,791 | 232,731 |
| 2008 | 4,440,056 | 226,896 |
| 2007 | 4,380,248 | 221,276 |
| 2006 | 4,321,340 | 215,923 |
| 2005 | 4,261,240 | 210,760 |
| 2004 | 4,200,078 | 205,711 |
| 2003 | 4,138,784 | 200,746 |
| 2002 | 4,075,705 | 195,863 |
| 2001 | 4,008,947 | 191,031 |
| 2000 | 3,937,739 | 186,281 |
| 1999 | 3,862,101 | 182,048 |
| 1998 | 3,782,838 | 178,313 |
| 1997 | 3,701,711 | 174,626 |
| 1996 | 3,619,013 | 170,911 |
| 1995 | 3,535,176 | 167,137 |
| 1994 | 3,451,122 | 163,314 |
| 1993 | 3,367,434 | 159,463 |
| 1992 | 3,284,258 | 155,608 |
| 1991 | 3,202,176 | 151,793 |
| 1990 | 3,121,706 | 148,063 |
| 1989 | 3,043,827 | 144,393 |
| 1988 | 2,968,103 | 140,756 |
| 1987 | 2,892,699 | 137,187 |
| 1986 | 2,817,216 | 133,720 |
| 1985 | 2,741,894 | 130,356 |
| 1984 | 2,667,595 | 127,109 |
| 1983 | 2,595,153 | 123,998 |
| 1982 | 2,524,806 | 121,035 |
| 1981 | 2,456,637 | 118,249 |
| 1980 | 2,390,633 | 115,660 |
| 1979 | 2,326,490 | 113,040 |
| 1978 | 2,264,510 | 109,963 |
| 1977 | 2,205,025 | 106,618 |
| 1976 | 2,147,774 | 103,388 |
| 1975 | 2,092,719 | 100,269 |
| 1974 | 2,039,643 | 97,260 |
| 1973 | 1,988,343 | 94,362 |
| 1972 | 1,938,248 | 91,562 |
| 1971 | 1,888,539 | 88,862 |
| 1970 | 1,838,949 | 86,266 |
| 1969 | 1,789,276 | 83,755 |
| 1968 | 1,739,731 | 81,314 |
| 1967 | 1,689,523 | 78,921 |
| 1966 | 1,638,116 | 76,590 |
| 1965 | 1,586,208 | 74,358 |
| 1964 | 1,533,960 | 72,219 |
| 1963 | 1,481,604 | 70,159 |
| 1962 | 1,429,445 | 68,174 |
| 1961 | 1,377,920 | 66,264 |
| 1960 | 1,327,496 | 64,431 |
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/vanuatu | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Vanuatu gained 56,164 people (a 26% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Vanuatu's population increased by 74,401 people (a 27.3% growth).
Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Vanuatu was ranked 175th in 2006 and ranked 174th 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 Vanuatu will increase by 54.7% to 536,181 people and rank change from 174th to 169th.
Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 883K people in 2100 for Vanuatu.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Costa Rica
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | -1% | 0.53% |
| 2099 | -0.99% | 0.55% |
| 2098 | -0.99% | 0.57% |
| 2097 | -0.99% | 0.58% |
| 2096 | -0.99% | 0.6% |
| 2095 | -0.99% | 0.63% |
| 2094 | -0.99% | 0.65% |
| 2093 | -0.98% | 0.65% |
| 2092 | -0.98% | 0.67% |
| 2091 | -0.97% | 0.69% |
| 2090 | -0.96% | 0.7% |
| 2089 | -0.95% | 0.72% |
| 2088 | -0.95% | 0.74% |
| 2087 | -0.93% | 0.75% |
| 2086 | -0.92% | 0.78% |
| 2085 | -0.91% | 0.8% |
| 2084 | -0.89% | 0.82% |
| 2083 | -0.87% | 0.83% |
| 2082 | -0.86% | 0.85% |
| 2081 | -0.84% | 0.87% |
| 2080 | -0.82% | 0.9% |
| 2079 | -0.8% | 0.92% |
| 2078 | -0.78% | 0.93% |
| 2077 | -0.75% | 0.96% |
| 2076 | -0.73% | 0.98% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | 1% |
| 2074 | -0.69% | 1.03% |
| 2073 | -0.67% | 1.05% |
| 2072 | -0.65% | 1.07% |
| 2071 | -0.62% | 1.09% |
| 2070 | -0.6% | 1.11% |
| 2069 | -0.58% | 1.13% |
| 2068 | -0.56% | 1.15% |
| 2067 | -0.55% | 1.18% |
| 2066 | -0.53% | 1.2% |
| 2065 | -0.51% | 1.22% |
| 2064 | -0.49% | 1.24% |
| 2063 | -0.47% | 1.25% |
| 2062 | -0.45% | 1.26% |
| 2061 | -0.44% | 1.28% |
| 2060 | -0.41% | 1.31% |
| 2059 | -0.39% | 1.33% |
| 2058 | -0.37% | 1.36% |
| 2057 | -0.34% | 1.38% |
| 2056 | -0.32% | 1.41% |
| 2055 | -0.29% | 1.44% |
| 2054 | -0.26% | 1.47% |
| 2053 | -0.23% | 1.49% |
| 2052 | -0.2% | 1.51% |
| 2051 | -0.17% | 1.56% |
| 2050 | -0.14% | 1.58% |
| 2049 | -0.11% | 1.61% |
| 2048 | -0.09% | 1.63% |
| 2047 | -0.06% | 1.68% |
| 2046 | -0.03% | 1.7% |
| 2045 | 0.002% | 1.74% |
| 2044 | 0.03% | 1.76% |
| 2043 | 0.05% | 1.79% |
| 2042 | 0.08% | 1.81% |
| 2041 | 0.11% | 1.84% |
| 2040 | 0.13% | 1.86% |
| 2039 | 0.16% | 1.89% |
| 2038 | 0.18% | 1.91% |
| 2037 | 0.2% | 1.93% |
| 2036 | 0.23% | 1.94% |
| 2035 | 0.25% | 1.97% |
| 2034 | 0.27% | 1.99% |
| 2033 | 0.29% | 1.99% |
| 2032 | 0.31% | 2.02% |
| 2031 | 0.33% | 2.05% |
| 2030 | 0.35% | 2.08% |
| 2029 | 0.37% | 2.11% |
| 2028 | 0.39% | 2.14% |
| 2027 | 0.41% | 2.18% |
| 2026 | 0.44% | 2.23% |
| 2025 | 0.45% | 2.26% |
| 2024 | 0.48% | 2.3% |
| 2023 | 0.47% | 2.35% |
| 2022 | 0.43% | 2.35% |
| 2021 | 0.51% | 2.35% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | 2.35% |
| 2019 | 0.84% | 2.36% |
| 2018 | 0.91% | 2.42% |
| 2017 | 0.95% | 2.36% |
| 2016 | 1.02% | 2.25% |
| 2015 | 1.07% | 2.25% |
| 2014 | 1.08% | 2.26% |
| 2013 | 1.12% | 2.25% |
| 2012 | 1.17% | 2.22% |
| 2011 | 1.18% | 2.19% |
| 2010 | 1.25% | 2.37% |
| 2009 | 1.35% | 2.57% |
| 2008 | 1.37% | 2.54% |
| 2007 | 1.36% | 2.48% |
| 2006 | 1.41% | 2.45% |
| 2005 | 1.46% | 2.45% |
| 2004 | 1.48% | 2.47% |
| 2003 | 1.55% | 2.49% |
| 2002 | 1.67% | 2.53% |
| 2001 | 1.81% | 2.55% |
| 2000 | 1.96% | 2.33% |
| 1999 | 2.1% | 2.09% |
| 1998 | 2.19% | 2.11% |
| 1997 | 2.29% | 2.17% |
| 1996 | 2.37% | 2.26% |
| 1995 | 2.44% | 2.34% |
| 1994 | 2.49% | 2.41% |
| 1993 | 2.53% | 2.48% |
| 1992 | 2.56% | 2.51% |
| 1991 | 2.58% | 2.52% |
| 1990 | 2.56% | 2.54% |
| 1989 | 2.55% | 2.58% |
| 1988 | 2.61% | 2.6% |
| 1987 | 2.68% | 2.59% |
| 1986 | 2.75% | 2.58% |
| 1985 | 2.79% | 2.55% |
| 1984 | 2.79% | 2.51% |
| 1983 | 2.79% | 2.45% |
| 1982 | 2.77% | 2.36% |
| 1981 | 2.76% | 2.24% |
| 1980 | 2.76% | 2.32% |
| 1979 | 2.74% | 2.8% |
| 1978 | 2.7% | 3.14% |
| 1977 | 2.67% | 3.12% |
| 1976 | 2.63% | 3.11% |
| 1975 | 2.6% | 3.09% |
| 1974 | 2.58% | 3.07% |
| 1973 | 2.58% | 3.06% |
| 1972 | 2.63% | 3.04% |
| 1971 | 2.7% | 3.01% |
| 1970 | 2.78% | 3% |
| 1969 | 2.85% | 3% |
| 1968 | 2.97% | 3.03% |
| 1967 | 3.14% | 3.04% |
| 1966 | 3.27% | 3% |
| 1965 | 3.41% | 2.96% |
| 1964 | 3.53% | 2.94% |
| 1963 | 3.65% | 2.91% |
| 1962 | 3.74% | 2.88% |
| 1961 | 3.8% | 2.84% |
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/vanuatu | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Vanuatu's population grew by 2.26%.
Live population counters
|
Costa Rica
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
5186356
|
346488
|
| Population rank | 126/197 | 174/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.06% | 0.004% |
| One net population change |
22.9 minutes
|
1.19 hours
|
| One birth every |
10.3 minutes
|
58 minutes
|
| One death every |
18.4 minutes
|
5.33 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +63 | +20 |
| Annual growth/decline | +23,040 | +7,392 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.45% | +2.26% |
| Population growth rate rank | 134/197 | 36/197 |
| One migration net change every |
8.78 hours
|
1.01 weeks
|
| Annual migration change | +1,000 | -52 |
| Net migration rank | 63/196 | 80/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 628,404 | 3,315 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 75/195 | 188/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 12.2% | 1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 55/195 | 155/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Costa Rica
|
Vanuatu
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 1,000 | - | -52 |
| 2024 | 22,699 | 967 | 7,419 | -43 |
| 2023 | 24,109 | 995 | 7,359 | 0 |
| 2022 | 21,409 | 1,006 | 7,358 | 0 |
| 2021 | 20,119 | 1,018 | 7,199 | -201 |
| 2020 | 29,164 | 1,029 | 7,233 | -201 |
| 2019 | 37,682 | 1,653 | 7,364 | -652 |
| 2018 | 42,469 | 1,673 | 7,379 | -638 |
| 2017 | 43,471 | 1,671 | 7,371 | -610 |
| 2016 | 45,565 | 1,649 | 7,315 | -1,235 |
| 2015 | 49,077 | 1,617 | 7,220 | -1,324 |
| 2014 | 49,559 | 1,589 | 7,143 | -1,320 |
| 2013 | 49,227 | 1,579 | 7,036 | -1,343 |
| 2012 | 52,036 | 1,587 | 6,877 | -1,369 |
| 2011 | 52,884 | 1,695 | 6,715 | -1,395 |
| 2010 | 50,803 | 2,357 | 6,548 | -1,413 |
| 2009 | 55,757 | 3,432 | 6,362 | -467 |
| 2008 | 56,491 | 3,794 | 6,138 | -372 |
| 2007 | 55,244 | 4,080 | 5,842 | -374 |
| 2006 | 54,177 | 4,321 | 5,606 | -364 |
| 2005 | 57,139 | 4,567 | 5,454 | -364 |
| 2004 | 55,769 | 4,856 | 5,353 | -349 |
| 2003 | 56,743 | 5,216 | 5,258 | -342 |
| 2002 | 58,388 | 5,812 | 5,181 | -329 |
| 2001 | 62,199 | 7,119 | 5,144 | -328 |
| 2000 | 64,268 | 8,826 | 5,026 | -339 |
| 1999 | 64,922 | 13,253 | 4,871 | -1,090 |
| 1998 | 64,788 | 15,556 | 4,866 | -1,178 |
| 1997 | 64,954 | 16,954 | 4,854 | -1,166 |
| 1996 | 66,094 | 17,393 | 4,897 | -1,154 |
| 1995 | 67,585 | 16,609 | 4,945 | -1,140 |
| 1994 | 68,336 | 15,587 | 4,973 | -1,132 |
| 1993 | 69,016 | 14,431 | 4,973 | -1,115 |
| 1992 | 69,830 | 13,069 | 4,941 | -1,095 |
| 1991 | 70,506 | 10,757 | 4,859 | -1,078 |
| 1990 | 71,727 | 7,949 | 4,762 | -1,072 |
| 1989 | 72,327 | 3,758 | 4,656 | -1,006 |
| 1988 | 72,944 | 2,414 | 4,577 | -959 |
| 1987 | 73,188 | 2,267 | 4,427 | -907 |
| 1986 | 73,211 | 2,302 | 4,360 | -938 |
| 1985 | 72,776 | 2,357 | 4,219 | -916 |
| 1984 | 71,062 | 2,402 | 4,088 | -907 |
| 1983 | 68,972 | 2,449 | 3,944 | -899 |
| 1982 | 66,826 | 2,453 | 3,778 | -897 |
| 1981 | 64,632 | 2,431 | 3,592 | -896 |
| 1980 | 62,561 | 2,387 | 3,383 | -896 |
| 1979 | 60,984 | 2,349 | 3,590 | -845 |
| 1978 | 58,327 | 2,296 | 3,428 | -15 |
| 1977 | 56,122 | 2,228 | 3,285 | -3 |
| 1976 | 54,019 | 2,129 | 3,174 | 3 |
| 1975 | 51,979 | 1,992 | 3,074 | -15 |
| 1974 | 50,349 | 1,839 | 2,968 | -17 |
| 1973 | 48,943 | 1,468 | 2,876 | -22 |
| 1972 | 48,417 | 1,366 | 2,775 | -28 |
| 1971 | 48,341 | 1,296 | 2,685 | -40 |
| 1970 | 48,398 | 1,137 | 2,597 | -46 |
| 1969 | 48,790 | 1,017 | 2,529 | -53 |
| 1968 | 48,361 | 939 | 2,470 | -68 |
| 1967 | 50,193 | 926 | 2,384 | 0 |
| 1966 | 50,755 | 930 | 2,278 | 0 |
| 1965 | 51,196 | 932 | 2,180 | 0 |
| 1964 | 51,435 | 934 | 2,098 | 0 |
| 1963 | 51,403 | 938 | 2,025 | 0 |
| 1962 | 51,046 | 934 | 1,947 | 0 |
| 1961 | 50,149 | 924 | 1,872 | 0 |
| 1960 | 48,857 | 910 | 1,796 | 0 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/vanuatu | 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 Vanuatu 93.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 73,217 people) and 6.28% is from migration (a loss of 4,904 people).
As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 3,315 people or 1% in Vanuatu.
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 |
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Port Vila | 49K |
| Luganville | 17.7K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Costa Rica and Vanuatu
|
Costa Rica
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 81.4 years | 72 years |
| Average age | 37.5 years | 25.7 years |
| Median age | 36.2 years | 21.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.4:50.6 | 50.5:49.5 |
| Fertility rate | 1.32 births per woman | 3.57 births per woman |
| Population density | 262.5 ppl/mi² | 72.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/vanuatu | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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