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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 4.38 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Costa Rica vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Zambia
2100 3,804,183 65,217,429
2099 3,842,423 64,871,545
2098 3,880,999 64,515,891
2097 3,919,996 64,148,736
2096 3,959,352 63,777,313
2095 3,999,084 63,393,169
2094 4,039,053 62,992,652
2093 4,079,349 62,590,327
2092 4,119,898 62,175,930
2091 4,160,663 61,750,591
2090 4,201,548 61,321,399
2089 4,242,452 60,880,148
2088 4,283,327 60,434,676
2087 4,324,225 59,970,107
2086 4,364,979 59,499,234
2085 4,405,520 59,023,040
2084 4,445,770 58,535,857
2083 4,485,644 58,040,512
2082 4,525,171 57,538,672
2081 4,564,265 57,027,491
2080 4,602,737 56,506,421
2079 4,640,677 55,983,242
2078 4,677,935 55,449,777
2077 4,714,527 54,906,771
2076 4,750,309 54,361,075
2075 4,785,359 53,806,856
2074 4,819,691 53,246,777
2073 4,853,137 52,677,348
2072 4,885,727 52,101,139
2071 4,917,445 51,519,691
2070 4,948,313 50,931,614
2069 4,978,425 50,334,700
2068 5,007,604 49,737,479
2067 5,035,877 49,135,488
2066 5,063,521 48,530,443
2065 5,090,474 47,918,592
2064 5,116,546 47,299,740
2063 5,141,922 46,677,439
2062 5,166,260 46,048,819
2061 5,189,836 45,416,657
2060 5,212,549 44,777,347
2059 5,234,066 44,137,306
2058 5,254,528 43,494,451
2057 5,273,844 42,851,923
2056 5,292,013 42,206,898
2055 5,308,829 41,558,284
2054 5,324,305 40,906,492
2053 5,338,417 40,255,629
2052 5,350,974 39,603,888
2051 5,361,865 38,949,958
2050 5,371,197 38,294,607
2049 5,378,904 37,634,194
2048 5,385,081 36,971,309
2047 5,389,678 36,309,749
2046 5,392,713 35,645,868
2045 5,394,209 34,981,812
2044 5,394,124 34,316,981
2043 5,392,590 33,652,420
2042 5,389,628 32,990,657
2041 5,385,101 32,329,447
2040 5,379,344 31,664,262
2039 5,372,186 31,001,305
2038 5,363,617 30,335,662
2037 5,353,928 29,668,561
2036 5,343,027 29,000,264
2035 5,330,994 28,333,498
2034 5,317,895 27,671,195
2033 5,303,634 27,011,974
2032 5,288,416 26,356,580
2031 5,272,215 25,702,812
2030 5,255,064 25,055,216
2029 5,236,901 24,414,405
2028 5,217,724 23,780,809
2027 5,197,413 23,151,479
2026 5,176,096 22,529,742
2025 5,153,634 21,918,187
2024 5,129,910 21,314,956
2023 5,105,525 20,723,965
2022 5,081,765 20,152,938
2021 5,059,988 19,603,607
2020 5,034,320 19,059,395
2019 4,999,553 18,513,839
2018 4,957,818 17,973,569
2017 4,913,177 17,441,320
2016 4,866,998 16,914,423
2015 4,818,038 16,399,089
2014 4,767,119 15,895,315
2013 4,716,147 15,398,997
2012 4,663,934 14,913,629
2011 4,609,833 14,437,796
2010 4,555,962 13,965,594
2009 4,499,791 13,490,389
2008 4,440,056 13,021,324
2007 4,380,248 12,565,085
2006 4,321,340 12,129,553
2005 4,261,240 11,718,819
2004 4,200,078 11,338,198
2003 4,138,784 10,983,595
2002 4,075,705 10,647,949
2001 4,008,947 10,325,185
2000 3,937,739 10,017,631
1999 3,862,101 9,740,005
1998 3,782,838 9,482,408
1997 3,701,711 9,237,063
1996 3,619,013 9,004,053
1995 3,535,176 8,785,763
1994 3,451,122 8,576,269
1993 3,367,434 8,373,921
1992 3,284,258 8,176,680
1991 3,202,176 7,981,650
1990 3,121,706 7,786,169
1989 3,043,827 7,589,216
1988 2,968,103 7,391,440
1987 2,892,699 7,191,282
1986 2,817,216 6,986,471
1985 2,741,894 6,780,953
1984 2,667,595 6,580,490
1983 2,595,153 6,381,038
1982 2,524,806 6,178,637
1981 2,456,637 5,983,289
1980 2,390,633 5,802,833
1979 2,326,490 5,631,728
1978 2,264,510 5,465,374
1977 2,205,025 5,302,480
1976 2,147,774 5,143,842
1975 2,092,719 4,990,086
1974 2,039,643 4,842,746
1973 1,988,343 4,702,693
1972 1,938,248 4,569,309
1971 1,888,539 4,442,525
1970 1,838,949 4,321,718
1969 1,789,276 4,197,116
1968 1,739,731 4,065,593
1967 1,689,523 3,936,343
1966 1,638,116 3,812,003
1965 1,586,208 3,692,086
1964 1,533,960 3,577,017
1963 1,481,604 3,465,907
1962 1,429,445 3,358,099
1961 1,377,920 3,254,086
1960 1,327,496 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Zambia
2100 -1% 0.53%
2099 -0.99% 0.55%
2098 -0.99% 0.57%
2097 -0.99% 0.58%
2096 -0.99% 0.61%
2095 -0.99% 0.64%
2094 -0.99% 0.64%
2093 -0.98% 0.67%
2092 -0.98% 0.69%
2091 -0.97% 0.7%
2090 -0.96% 0.72%
2089 -0.95% 0.74%
2088 -0.95% 0.77%
2087 -0.93% 0.79%
2086 -0.92% 0.81%
2085 -0.91% 0.83%
2084 -0.89% 0.85%
2083 -0.87% 0.87%
2082 -0.86% 0.9%
2081 -0.84% 0.92%
2080 -0.82% 0.93%
2079 -0.8% 0.96%
2078 -0.78% 0.99%
2077 -0.75% 1%
2076 -0.73% 1.03%
2075 -0.71% 1.05%
2074 -0.69% 1.08%
2073 -0.67% 1.11%
2072 -0.65% 1.13%
2071 -0.62% 1.15%
2070 -0.6% 1.19%
2069 -0.58% 1.2%
2068 -0.56% 1.23%
2067 -0.55% 1.25%
2066 -0.53% 1.28%
2065 -0.51% 1.31%
2064 -0.49% 1.33%
2063 -0.47% 1.37%
2062 -0.45% 1.39%
2061 -0.44% 1.43%
2060 -0.41% 1.45%
2059 -0.39% 1.48%
2058 -0.37% 1.5%
2057 -0.34% 1.53%
2056 -0.32% 1.56%
2055 -0.29% 1.59%
2054 -0.26% 1.62%
2053 -0.23% 1.65%
2052 -0.2% 1.68%
2051 -0.17% 1.71%
2050 -0.14% 1.75%
2049 -0.11% 1.79%
2048 -0.09% 1.82%
2047 -0.06% 1.86%
2046 -0.03% 1.9%
2045 0.002% 1.94%
2044 0.03% 1.97%
2043 0.05% 2.01%
2042 0.08% 2.05%
2041 0.11% 2.1%
2040 0.13% 2.14%
2039 0.16% 2.19%
2038 0.18% 2.25%
2037 0.2% 2.3%
2036 0.23% 2.35%
2035 0.25% 2.39%
2034 0.27% 2.44%
2033 0.29% 2.49%
2032 0.31% 2.54%
2031 0.33% 2.58%
2030 0.35% 2.62%
2029 0.37% 2.66%
2028 0.39% 2.72%
2027 0.41% 2.76%
2026 0.44% 2.79%
2025 0.46% 2.83%
2024 0.48% 2.85%
2023 0.47% 2.83%
2022 0.43% 2.8%
2021 0.51% 2.86%
2020 0.7% 2.95%
2019 0.84% 3.01%
2018 0.91% 3.05%
2017 0.95% 3.12%
2016 1.02% 3.14%
2015 1.07% 3.17%
2014 1.08% 3.22%
2013 1.12% 3.25%
2012 1.17% 3.3%
2011 1.18% 3.38%
2010 1.25% 3.52%
2009 1.35% 3.6%
2008 1.37% 3.63%
2007 1.36% 3.59%
2006 1.41% 3.5%
2005 1.46% 3.36%
2004 1.48% 3.23%
2003 1.55% 3.15%
2002 1.67% 3.13%
2001 1.81% 3.07%
2000 1.96% 2.85%
1999 2.1% 2.72%
1998 2.19% 2.66%
1997 2.29% 2.59%
1996 2.37% 2.48%
1995 2.44% 2.44%
1994 2.49% 2.42%
1993 2.53% 2.41%
1992 2.56% 2.44%
1991 2.58% 2.51%
1990 2.56% 2.6%
1989 2.55% 2.68%
1988 2.61% 2.78%
1987 2.68% 2.93%
1986 2.75% 3.03%
1985 2.79% 3.05%
1984 2.79% 3.13%
1983 2.79% 3.28%
1982 2.77% 3.26%
1981 2.76% 3.11%
1980 2.76% 3.04%
1979 2.74% 3.04%
1978 2.7% 3.07%
1977 2.67% 3.08%
1976 2.63% 3.08%
1975 2.6% 3.04%
1974 2.58% 2.98%
1973 2.58% 2.92%
1972 2.63% 2.85%
1971 2.7% 2.8%
1970 2.78% 2.97%
1969 2.85% 3.24%
1968 2.97% 3.28%
1967 3.14% 3.26%
1966 3.27% 3.25%
1965 3.41% 3.22%
1964 3.53% 3.21%
1963 3.65% 3.21%
1962 3.74% 3.2%
1961 3.8% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Zambia
Current population
5181862
22697916
Population rank 126/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.27%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 21/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 +6,562
Net migration rank 63/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 6,562
2024 - 967 - 7,381
2023 24,109 995 577,660 9,521
2022 21,409 1,006 563,456 -8,566
2021 20,119 1,018 535,629 8,143
2020 29,164 1,029 536,484 8,156
2019 37,682 1,653 528,089 18,385
2018 42,469 1,673 515,644 18,431
2017 43,471 1,671 504,630 25,789
2016 45,565 1,649 497,521 25,860
2015 49,077 1,617 491,021 16,261
2014 49,559 1,589 483,663 16,574
2013 49,227 1,579 476,846 15,542
2012 52,036 1,587 469,406 8,958
2011 52,884 1,695 459,743 13,569
2010 50,803 2,357 448,337 22,761
2009 55,757 3,432 434,458 44,867
2008 56,491 3,794 419,560 39,249
2007 55,244 4,080 403,729 49,945
2006 54,177 4,321 387,891 29,517
2005 57,139 4,567 368,756 35,316
2004 55,769 4,856 349,352 7,819
2003 56,743 5,216 331,189 20,845
2002 58,388 5,812 316,041 3,206
2001 62,199 7,119 302,682 23,582
2000 64,268 8,826 293,186 -4,338
1999 64,922 13,253 283,297 -16,888
1998 64,788 15,556 275,568 -26,796
1997 64,954 16,954 268,198 -26,276
1996 66,094 17,393 262,468 -38,358
1995 67,585 16,609 257,897 -45,423
1994 68,336 15,587 252,023 -45,504
1993 69,016 14,431 245,917 -47,739
1992 69,830 13,069 239,953 -43,656
1991 70,506 10,757 237,957 -44,203
1990 71,727 7,949 235,835 -38,619
1989 72,327 3,758 233,429 -36,736
1988 72,944 2,414 230,118 -31,270
1987 73,188 2,267 227,813 -26,338
1986 73,211 2,302 224,768 -16,610
1985 72,776 2,357 221,351 -18,474
1984 71,062 2,402 216,695 -18,652
1983 68,972 2,449 212,712 -11,849
1982 66,826 2,453 207,621 -3,676
1981 64,632 2,431 202,822 -16,072
1980 62,561 2,387 198,817 -24,664
1979 60,984 2,349 197,578 -29,515
1978 58,327 2,296 194,933 -30,284
1977 56,122 2,228 191,557 -30,423
1976 54,019 2,129 186,762 -30,612
1975 51,979 1,992 182,258 -30,886
1974 50,349 1,839 174,484 -31,178
1973 48,943 1,468 168,258 -31,472
1972 48,417 1,366 161,648 -31,672
1971 48,341 1,296 155,249 -31,651
1970 48,398 1,137 149,380 -31,370
1969 48,790 1,017 142,660 -11,469
1968 48,361 939 137,315 -5,447
1967 50,193 926 131,938 -5,298
1966 50,755 930 127,164 -5,129
1965 51,196 932 122,814 -5,023
1964 51,435 934 117,197 -4,851
1963 51,403 938 114,555 -4,676
1962 51,046 934 110,173 -4,428
1961 50,149 924 106,318 -4,043
1960 48,857 910 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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