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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 4.4 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 +0.71% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Costa Rica vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Zambia
2100 3,803,678 65,204,593
2099 3,841,913 64,858,778
2098 3,880,484 64,503,193
2097 3,919,475 64,136,110
2096 3,958,826 63,764,760
2095 3,998,552 63,380,692
2094 4,038,516 62,980,254
2093 4,078,807 62,578,008
2092 4,119,351 62,163,693
2091 4,160,111 61,738,437
2090 4,200,989 61,309,330
2089 4,241,888 60,868,166
2088 4,282,758 60,422,781
2087 4,323,650 59,958,303
2086 4,364,399 59,487,524
2085 4,404,935 59,011,423
2084 4,445,179 58,524,337
2083 4,485,048 58,029,088
2082 4,524,570 57,527,347
2081 4,563,658 57,016,267
2080 4,602,126 56,495,299
2079 4,640,060 55,972,223
2078 4,677,313 55,438,864
2077 4,713,901 54,895,964
2076 4,749,678 54,350,375
2075 4,784,723 53,796,265
2074 4,819,050 53,236,297
2073 4,852,492 52,666,980
2072 4,885,078 52,090,884
2071 4,916,792 51,509,551
2070 4,947,655 50,921,590
2069 4,977,764 50,324,793
2068 5,006,939 49,727,689
2067 5,035,207 49,125,817
2066 5,062,849 48,520,891
2065 5,089,797 47,909,160
2064 5,115,866 47,290,430
2063 5,141,239 46,668,252
2062 5,165,574 46,039,755
2061 5,189,146 45,407,718
2060 5,211,857 44,768,534
2059 5,233,370 44,128,619
2058 5,253,830 43,485,891
2057 5,273,143 42,843,489
2056 5,291,310 42,198,591
2055 5,308,124 41,550,105
2054 5,323,598 40,898,440
2053 5,337,707 40,247,706
2052 5,350,263 39,596,094
2051 5,361,152 38,942,292
2050 5,370,484 38,287,070
2049 5,378,189 37,626,787
2048 5,384,366 36,964,032
2047 5,388,962 36,302,603
2046 5,391,996 35,638,852
2045 5,393,493 34,974,927
2044 5,393,407 34,310,227
2043 5,391,873 33,645,797
2042 5,388,912 32,984,164
2041 5,384,386 32,323,084
2040 5,378,629 31,658,029
2039 5,371,473 30,995,204
2038 5,362,904 30,329,691
2037 5,353,217 29,662,721
2036 5,342,317 28,994,556
2035 5,330,286 28,327,922
2034 5,317,189 27,665,749
2033 5,302,930 27,006,658
2032 5,287,714 26,351,393
2031 5,271,514 25,697,754
2030 5,254,366 25,050,285
2029 5,236,206 24,409,600
2028 5,217,031 23,776,128
2027 5,196,723 23,146,922
2026 5,175,408 22,525,308
2025 5,152,950 21,913,874
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% 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 3.55% to 5,370,484 people with a rank change from 126th to 127th. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 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 0.45% 2.81%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Zambia
Current population
5186356
22844606
Population rank 126/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.27%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
52.8 seconds
One birth every
10.3 minutes
45.2 seconds
One death every
18.4 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 19/197
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 22,699 967 587,419 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 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 (1960–2025, 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/zambia | 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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