Population · North America
Costa Rica population 2026
Right now · estimate
Costa Rica population right now
5,181,928
- Births today
- 0
- Deaths today
- 0
- Births this year
- 42,126
- Births minus deaths this year
- +17,036
Costa Rica has an estimated 5,174,789 people on 1 July 2026, the UN's projection, 21,839 more than a year earlier (+0.42%). It is the 127th most populous country in the world. It is projected to keep growing until 2044, peaking at 5.4 million, then decline to 3.8 million by 2100.
UN projection The counter interpolates the UN’s 1 July figures to the second; it is an estimate, not a count.
Costa Rica in numbers, 2026
- Births in 2026
- 50 thousand 137 a day
- Deaths in 2026
- 30 thousand 82 a day
- Net migration
- +966 more arrivals than departures
- Growth rate
- +0.41% growing
- Fertility rate
- 1.31per woman below replacement (2.1)
- Median age
- 35.7years world: 31.1
- Life expectancy
- 81.4years
- Aged 65 and over
- 13.3% 25.3% by 2050
Land, people and health
- Capital
- San Jose
- Area
- 51,100 km² 129th largest of 237
- Population density
- 101per km² 117th most crowded
- Urban population
- 80.1% 85.3% by 2050
- Men and women
- 2.6 million / 2.6 million 97.6 men per 100 women
- Life expectancy, women
- 83.9years men: 78.8 years
- Infant mortality
- 6.0per 1,000 births under-5: 7.1
- Birth rate
- 9.7per 1,000 death rate: 5.8
- Net migration rate
- +0.2per 1,000 net arrivals
Population of Costa Rica, 1950–2100
Projected peak: 2044, 5.4 million. By 2050: 5.4 million (+3.5% from today).
- UN estimate
- UN projection
3.8M 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 926,758 |
| 1951 | 958,409 |
| 1952 | 991,794 |
| 1953 | 1,027,005 |
| 1954 | 1,064,119 |
| 1955 | 1,103,049 |
| 1956 | 1,143,847 |
| 1957 | 1,186,633 |
| 1958 | 1,231,551 |
| 1959 | 1,278,588 |
| 1960 | 1,327,496 |
| 1961 | 1,377,920 |
| 1962 | 1,429,445 |
| 1963 | 1,481,604 |
| 1964 | 1,533,960 |
| 1965 | 1,586,208 |
| 1966 | 1,638,116 |
| 1967 | 1,689,523 |
| 1968 | 1,739,731 |
| 1969 | 1,789,276 |
| 1970 | 1,838,949 |
| 1971 | 1,888,539 |
| 1972 | 1,938,248 |
| 1973 | 1,988,343 |
| 1974 | 2,039,643 |
| 1975 | 2,092,719 |
| 1976 | 2,147,774 |
| 1977 | 2,205,025 |
| 1978 | 2,264,510 |
| 1979 | 2,326,490 |
| 1980 | 2,390,634 |
| 1981 | 2,456,637 |
| 1982 | 2,524,806 |
| 1983 | 2,595,153 |
| 1984 | 2,667,595 |
| 1985 | 2,741,894 |
| 1986 | 2,817,216 |
| 1987 | 2,892,699 |
| 1988 | 2,968,103 |
| 1989 | 3,043,827 |
| 1990 | 3,121,706 |
| 1991 | 3,202,176 |
| 1992 | 3,284,258 |
| 1993 | 3,367,434 |
| 1994 | 3,451,122 |
| 1995 | 3,535,176 |
| 1996 | 3,619,013 |
| 1997 | 3,701,711 |
| 1998 | 3,782,838 |
| 1999 | 3,862,101 |
| 2000 | 3,937,739 |
| 2001 | 4,008,947 |
| 2002 | 4,075,705 |
| 2003 | 4,138,784 |
| 2004 | 4,200,078 |
| 2005 | 4,261,240 |
| 2006 | 4,321,340 |
| 2007 | 4,380,248 |
| 2008 | 4,440,056 |
| 2009 | 4,499,791 |
| 2010 | 4,555,962 |
| 2011 | 4,609,833 |
| 2012 | 4,663,934 |
| 2013 | 4,716,147 |
| 2014 | 4,767,119 |
| 2015 | 4,818,038 |
| 2016 | 4,866,998 |
| 2017 | 4,913,177 |
| 2018 | 4,957,818 |
| 2019 | 4,999,554 |
| 2020 | 5,034,320 |
| 2021 | 5,059,988 |
| 2022 | 5,081,764 |
| 2023 | 5,105,526 |
| 2024 * | 5,129,910 |
| 2025 * | 5,152,950 |
| 2026 * | 5,174,789 |
| 2027 * | 5,195,555 |
| 2028 * | 5,215,254 |
| 2029 * | 5,233,880 |
| 2030 * | 5,251,496 |
| 2031 * | 5,268,134 |
| 2032 * | 5,283,808 |
| 2033 * | 5,298,513 |
| 2034 * | 5,312,162 |
| 2035 * | 5,324,699 |
| 2036 * | 5,336,139 |
| 2037 * | 5,346,410 |
| 2038 * | 5,355,518 |
| 2039 * | 5,363,364 |
| 2040 * | 5,369,806 |
| 2041 * | 5,374,936 |
| 2042 * | 5,378,672 |
| 2043 * | 5,380,914 |
| 2044 * | 5,381,722 |
| 2045 * | 5,381,018 |
| 2046 * | 5,378,758 |
| 2047 * | 5,374,951 |
| 2048 * | 5,369,576 |
| 2049 * | 5,362,650 |
| 2050 * | 5,354,150 |
| 2051 * | 5,344,062 |
| 2052 * | 5,332,365 |
| 2053 * | 5,319,062 |
| 2054 * | 5,304,302 |
| 2055 * | 5,288,194 |
| 2056 * | 5,270,741 |
| 2057 * | 5,252,042 |
| 2058 * | 5,232,199 |
| 2059 * | 5,211,258 |
| 2060 * | 5,189,194 |
| 2061 * | 5,166,102 |
| 2062 * | 5,142,201 |
| 2063 * | 5,117,401 |
| 2064 * | 5,091,736 |
| 2065 * | 5,065,285 |
| 2066 * | 5,038,050 |
| 2067 * | 5,010,156 |
| 2068 * | 4,981,496 |
| 2069 * | 4,951,918 |
| 2070 * | 4,921,499 |
| 2071 * | 4,890,278 |
| 2072 * | 4,858,199 |
| 2073 * | 4,825,257 |
| 2074 * | 4,791,446 |
| 2075 * | 4,756,834 |
| 2076 * | 4,721,500 |
| 2077 * | 4,685,397 |
| 2078 * | 4,648,557 |
| 2079 * | 4,611,045 |
| 2080 * | 4,572,927 |
| 2081 * | 4,534,234 |
| 2082 * | 4,495,014 |
| 2083 * | 4,455,405 |
| 2084 * | 4,415,435 |
| 2085 * | 4,375,133 |
| 2086 * | 4,334,579 |
| 2087 * | 4,293,848 |
| 2088 * | 4,253,056 |
| 2089 * | 4,212,260 |
| 2090 * | 4,171,460 |
| 2091 * | 4,130,730 |
| 2092 * | 4,090,166 |
| 2093 * | 4,049,836 |
| 2094 * | 4,009,796 |
| 2095 * | 3,970,038 |
| 2096 * | 3,930,586 |
| 2097 * | 3,891,500 |
| 2098 * | 3,852,802 |
| 2099 * | 3,814,483 |
| 2100 * | 3,776,474 |
* UN projection
Population of Costa Rica by year
3.9 million in 2000, 5.2 million in 2026. Every year for the last decade, then every five years to 1950. * UN projection; earlier years are UN estimates.
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Change | Net migrants | Median age | Fertility | Density (km²) | Urban | World share | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 5,174,789 | +0.42% | +21,839 | +966 | 35.7 | 1.31 | 101 | 80% | 0.06% | 127 |
| 2025* | 5,152,950 | +0.45% | +23,040 | +1,000 | 35.2 | 1.31 | 101 | 80% | 0.06% | 127 |
| 2024* | 5,129,910 | +0.48% | +24,384 | +967 | 34.6 | 1.32 | 100 | 79% | 0.06% | 127 |
| 2023 | 5,105,526 | +0.47% | +23,762 | +995 | 34.1 | 1.33 | 100 | 79% | 0.06% | 125 |
| 2022 | 5,081,764 | +0.43% | +21,776 | +1,006 | 33.5 | 1.33 | 99 | 78% | 0.06% | 125 |
| 2021 | 5,059,988 | +0.51% | +25,668 | +1,018 | 33.0 | 1.35 | 99 | 78% | 0.06% | 124 |
| 2020 | 5,034,320 | +0.70% | +34,766 | +1,029 | 32.5 | 1.45 | 99 | 78% | 0.06% | 123 |
| 2019 | 4,999,554 | +0.84% | +41,736 | +1,653 | 32.0 | 1.60 | 98 | 77% | 0.06% | 121 |
| 2018 | 4,957,818 | +0.91% | +44,641 | +1,673 | 31.5 | 1.71 | 97 | 77% | 0.06% | 120 |
| 2017 | 4,913,177 | +0.95% | +46,179 | +1,671 | 31.1 | 1.71 | 96 | 76% | 0.06% | 120 |
| 2016 | 4,866,998 | +1.02% | +48,960 | +1,649 | 30.6 | 1.75 | 95 | 76% | 0.06% | 120 |
| 2015 | 4,818,038 | +1.07% | +50,919 | +1,617 | 30.2 | 1.80 | 94 | 75% | 0.06% | 120 |
| 2010 | 4,555,962 | +1.25% | +56,171 | +2,357 | 28.0 | 1.83 | 89 | 72% | 0.06% | 120 |
| 2005 | 4,261,240 | +1.46% | +61,162 | +4,567 | 26.0 | 2.04 | 83 | 65% | 0.06% | 121 |
| 2000 | 3,937,739 | +1.96% | +75,638 | +8,826 | 24.2 | 2.41 | 77 | 59% | 0.06% | 122 |
| 1995 | 3,535,176 | +2.44% | +84,054 | +16,609 | 22.9 | 2.78 | 69 | 54% | 0.06% | 125 |
| 1990 | 3,121,706 | +2.56% | +77,879 | +7,949 | 21.7 | 3.17 | 61 | 49% | 0.06% | 127 |
| 1985 | 2,741,894 | +2.79% | +74,299 | +2,357 | 20.6 | 3.51 | 54 | 45% | 0.06% | 128 |
| 1980 | 2,390,634 | +2.76% | +64,144 | +2,387 | 19.3 | 3.58 | 47 | 43% | 0.05% | 130 |
| 1975 | 2,092,719 | +2.60% | +53,076 | +1,992 | 17.8 | 3.80 | 41 | 41% | 0.05% | 130 |
| 1970 | 1,838,949 | +2.78% | +49,673 | +1,137 | 16.4 | 4.58 | 36 | 39% | 0.05% | 131 |
| 1965 | 1,586,208 | +3.41% | +52,248 | +932 | 15.6 | 5.96 | 31 | 35% | 0.05% | 132 |
| 1960 | 1,327,496 | +3.83% | +48,908 | +910 | 15.7 | 6.71 | 26 | 34% | 0.04% | 133 |
| 1955 | 1,103,049 | +3.66% | +38,930 | +734 | 16.3 | 6.57 | 22 | 34% | 0.04% | 134 |
| 1950 | 926,758 | – | – | +390 | 16.8 | 6.32 | 18 | 34% | 0.04% | 135 |
Population forecast for Costa Rica
UN medium-variant projection: 5.4 million in 2050 (+3.5% from 2026), 3.8 million in 2100.
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Net migrants | Median age | Fertility | Density (km²) | Urban | World share | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 5,251,496 | +0.34% | +1,026 | 37.8 | 1.31 | 103 | 82% | 0.06% | 128 |
| 2035 | 5,324,699 | +0.24% | +1,089 | 40.3 | 1.33 | 104 | 83% | 0.06% | 127 |
| 2040 | 5,369,806 | +0.12% | +1,074 | 42.7 | 1.35 | 105 | 84% | 0.06% | 127 |
| 2045 | 5,381,018 | −0.01% | +1,113 | 44.9 | 1.37 | 105 | 85% | 0.06% | 128 |
| 2050 | 5,354,150 | −0.16% | +1,198 | 47.0 | 1.38 | 105 | 85% | 0.06% | 128 |
| 2060 | 5,189,194 | −0.42% | +1,029 | 50.6 | 1.41 | 102 | – | 0.05% | 127 |
| 2070 | 4,921,499 | −0.61% | +1,043 | 53.9 | 1.44 | 96 | – | 0.05% | 131 |
| 2080 | 4,572,927 | −0.83% | +1,039 | 55.7 | 1.46 | 90 | – | 0.04% | 131 |
| 2090 | 4,171,460 | −0.97% | +888 | 55.9 | 1.48 | 82 | – | 0.04% | 133 |
| 2100 | 3,776,474 | −1.00% | +702 | 56.2 | 1.49 | 74 | – | 0.04% | 134 |
Largest cities in Costa Rica
Urban area in 2026: the whole built-up city, measured the same way for every country (UN, 2025). * UN projection. Largest cities in the world
| # | City | Population 2026 | 2050* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San José (capital) | 2,175,934 | 2,222,600 |
| 2 | Cartago | 189,986 | 193,176 |
| 3 | Barranca | 64,623 | 68,102 |
| 4 | San Isidro de El General | 52,860 | 55,588 |
| 5 | Limón | 52,449 | 54,171 |
| 6 | Liberia | 51,423 | 53,773 |
Age structure
Median age 35.7. 13.3% are 65 or older, 25.3% by 2050; 17.8% are under 15.
Share of the total population in each age group (%)
Births per woman
1.31 in 2026; about 2.1 keeps a population stable without migration. Below 2.1 since 2003.
- UN estimate
- UN projection
1.5 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 6.32 |
| 1951 | 6.39 |
| 1952 | 6.46 |
| 1953 | 6.51 |
| 1954 | 6.54 |
| 1955 | 6.57 |
| 1956 | 6.60 |
| 1957 | 6.66 |
| 1958 | 6.71 |
| 1959 | 6.73 |
| 1960 | 6.71 |
| 1961 | 6.65 |
| 1962 | 6.54 |
| 1963 | 6.39 |
| 1964 | 6.19 |
| 1965 | 5.96 |
| 1966 | 5.70 |
| 1967 | 5.42 |
| 1968 | 5.03 |
| 1969 | 4.83 |
| 1970 | 4.58 |
| 1971 | 4.36 |
| 1972 | 4.16 |
| 1973 | 3.99 |
| 1974 | 3.89 |
| 1975 | 3.80 |
| 1976 | 3.75 |
| 1977 | 3.70 |
| 1978 | 3.66 |
| 1979 | 3.65 |
| 1980 | 3.58 |
| 1981 | 3.56 |
| 1982 | 3.54 |
| 1983 | 3.52 |
| 1984 | 3.52 |
| 1985 | 3.51 |
| 1986 | 3.45 |
| 1987 | 3.38 |
| 1988 | 3.31 |
| 1989 | 3.24 |
| 1990 | 3.17 |
| 1991 | 3.07 |
| 1992 | 3.00 |
| 1993 | 2.93 |
| 1994 | 2.86 |
| 1995 | 2.78 |
| 1996 | 2.68 |
| 1997 | 2.59 |
| 1998 | 2.53 |
| 1999 | 2.48 |
| 2000 | 2.41 |
| 2001 | 2.31 |
| 2002 | 2.16 |
| 2003 | 2.08 |
| 2004 | 2.03 |
| 2005 | 2.04 |
| 2006 | 1.94 |
| 2007 | 1.95 |
| 2008 | 1.98 |
| 2009 | 1.95 |
| 2010 | 1.83 |
| 2011 | 1.88 |
| 2012 | 1.85 |
| 2013 | 1.78 |
| 2014 | 1.80 |
| 2015 | 1.80 |
| 2016 | 1.75 |
| 2017 | 1.71 |
| 2018 | 1.71 |
| 2019 | 1.60 |
| 2020 | 1.45 |
| 2021 | 1.35 |
| 2022 | 1.33 |
| 2023 | 1.33 |
| 2024 * | 1.32 |
| 2025 * | 1.31 |
| 2026 * | 1.31 |
| 2027 * | 1.31 |
| 2028 * | 1.30 |
| 2029 * | 1.31 |
| 2030 * | 1.31 |
| 2031 * | 1.31 |
| 2032 * | 1.32 |
| 2033 * | 1.32 |
| 2034 * | 1.32 |
| 2035 * | 1.33 |
| 2036 * | 1.33 |
| 2037 * | 1.34 |
| 2038 * | 1.34 |
| 2039 * | 1.35 |
| 2040 * | 1.35 |
| 2041 * | 1.35 |
| 2042 * | 1.36 |
| 2043 * | 1.36 |
| 2044 * | 1.37 |
| 2045 * | 1.37 |
| 2046 * | 1.37 |
| 2047 * | 1.38 |
| 2048 * | 1.38 |
| 2049 * | 1.38 |
| 2050 * | 1.38 |
| 2051 * | 1.39 |
| 2052 * | 1.39 |
| 2053 * | 1.39 |
| 2054 * | 1.40 |
| 2055 * | 1.40 |
| 2056 * | 1.40 |
| 2057 * | 1.41 |
| 2058 * | 1.41 |
| 2059 * | 1.41 |
| 2060 * | 1.41 |
| 2061 * | 1.42 |
| 2062 * | 1.42 |
| 2063 * | 1.42 |
| 2064 * | 1.42 |
| 2065 * | 1.42 |
| 2066 * | 1.43 |
| 2067 * | 1.43 |
| 2068 * | 1.43 |
| 2069 * | 1.43 |
| 2070 * | 1.44 |
| 2071 * | 1.44 |
| 2072 * | 1.44 |
| 2073 * | 1.44 |
| 2074 * | 1.45 |
| 2075 * | 1.45 |
| 2076 * | 1.45 |
| 2077 * | 1.46 |
| 2078 * | 1.46 |
| 2079 * | 1.46 |
| 2080 * | 1.46 |
| 2081 * | 1.46 |
| 2082 * | 1.46 |
| 2083 * | 1.47 |
| 2084 * | 1.47 |
| 2085 * | 1.47 |
| 2086 * | 1.47 |
| 2087 * | 1.47 |
| 2088 * | 1.48 |
| 2089 * | 1.48 |
| 2090 * | 1.48 |
| 2091 * | 1.48 |
| 2092 * | 1.48 |
| 2093 * | 1.49 |
| 2094 * | 1.49 |
| 2095 * | 1.49 |
| 2096 * | 1.49 |
| 2097 * | 1.49 |
| 2098 * | 1.49 |
| 2099 * | 1.49 |
| 2100 * | 1.49 |
* UN projection
Births and deaths each year
Deaths are projected to outnumber births from 2044.
- Births
- Deaths
- UN estimate
- UN projection
24.3k62.9k 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Births | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 41,602 | 11,230 |
| 1951 | 43,418 | 11,345 |
| 1952 | 45,209 | 11,521 |
| 1953 | 46,998 | 11,404 |
| 1954 | 48,718 | 11,360 |
| 1955 | 50,495 | 11,402 |
| 1956 | 52,337 | 11,362 |
| 1957 | 54,506 | 11,512 |
| 1958 | 56,669 | 11,490 |
| 1959 | 58,642 | 11,480 |
| 1960 | 60,357 | 11,500 |
| 1961 | 61,742 | 11,593 |
| 1962 | 62,732 | 11,686 |
| 1963 | 63,302 | 11,898 |
| 1964 | 63,473 | 12,038 |
| 1965 | 63,287 | 12,090 |
| 1966 | 62,794 | 12,038 |
| 1967 | 62,100 | 11,907 |
| 1968 | 60,229 | 11,868 |
| 1969 | 60,432 | 11,644 |
| 1970 | 59,934 | 11,537 |
| 1971 | 59,646 | 11,306 |
| 1972 | 59,513 | 11,094 |
| 1973 | 59,784 | 10,841 |
| 1974 | 60,970 | 10,623 |
| 1975 | 62,334 | 10,356 |
| 1976 | 64,204 | 10,185 |
| 1977 | 66,235 | 10,113 |
| 1978 | 68,408 | 10,082 |
| 1979 | 71,047 | 10,061 |
| 1980 | 72,588 | 10,030 |
| 1981 | 74,720 | 10,090 |
| 1982 | 76,968 | 10,141 |
| 1983 | 79,196 | 10,226 |
| 1984 | 81,415 | 10,354 |
| 1985 | 83,400 | 10,625 |
| 1986 | 84,083 | 10,872 |
| 1987 | 84,209 | 11,020 |
| 1988 | 84,077 | 11,134 |
| 1989 | 83,594 | 11,265 |
| 1990 | 83,202 | 11,474 |
| 1991 | 82,301 | 11,796 |
| 1992 | 81,968 | 12,138 |
| 1993 | 81,741 | 12,725 |
| 1994 | 81,578 | 13,243 |
| 1995 | 81,227 | 13,644 |
| 1996 | 80,302 | 14,209 |
| 1997 | 79,517 | 14,561 |
| 1998 | 79,593 | 14,804 |
| 1999 | 80,086 | 15,162 |
| 2000 | 79,689 | 15,421 |
| 2001 | 77,805 | 15,606 |
| 2002 | 74,128 | 15,738 |
| 2003 | 72,726 | 15,982 |
| 2004 | 71,973 | 16,205 |
| 2005 | 73,520 | 16,381 |
| 2006 | 70,996 | 16,819 |
| 2007 | 72,729 | 17,487 |
| 2008 | 74,620 | 18,131 |
| 2009 | 74,359 | 18,600 |
| 2010 | 70,192 | 19,392 |
| 2011 | 72,648 | 19,763 |
| 2012 | 72,108 | 20,075 |
| 2013 | 69,655 | 20,429 |
| 2014 | 70,781 | 21,222 |
| 2015 | 70,846 | 21,766 |
| 2016 | 69,035 | 23,467 |
| 2017 | 67,859 | 24,391 |
| 2018 | 67,536 | 25,067 |
| 2019 | 63,301 | 25,619 |
| 2020 | 57,220 | 28,056 |
| 2021 | 53,349 | 33,229 |
| 2022 | 52,440 | 31,029 |
| 2023 | 51,969 | 27,861 |
| 2024 * | 51,253 | 28,551 |
| 2025 * | 50,630 | 29,216 |
| 2026 * | 50,203 | 29,901 |
| 2027 * | 49,849 | 30,605 |
| 2028 * | 49,455 | 31,323 |
| 2029 * | 49,193 | 32,072 |
| 2030 * | 48,914 | 32,830 |
| 2031 * | 48,739 | 33,630 |
| 2032 * | 48,589 | 34,440 |
| 2033 * | 48,413 | 35,268 |
| 2034 * | 48,147 | 36,130 |
| 2035 * | 47,899 | 36,986 |
| 2036 * | 47,701 | 37,892 |
| 2037 * | 47,478 | 38,837 |
| 2038 * | 47,206 | 39,810 |
| 2039 * | 46,839 | 40,767 |
| 2040 * | 46,424 | 41,747 |
| 2041 * | 46,081 | 42,760 |
| 2042 * | 45,650 | 43,747 |
| 2043 * | 45,226 | 44,781 |
| 2044 * | 44,697 | 45,758 |
| 2045 * | 44,115 | 46,727 |
| 2046 * | 43,528 | 47,719 |
| 2047 * | 42,898 | 48,661 |
| 2048 * | 42,279 | 49,608 |
| 2049 * | 41,593 | 50,482 |
| 2050 * | 40,860 | 51,371 |
| 2051 * | 40,159 | 52,231 |
| 2052 * | 39,463 | 53,097 |
| 2053 * | 38,718 | 53,896 |
| 2054 * | 38,083 | 54,624 |
| 2055 * | 37,433 | 55,349 |
| 2056 * | 36,800 | 56,048 |
| 2057 * | 36,277 | 56,703 |
| 2058 * | 35,759 | 57,321 |
| 2059 * | 35,298 | 57,937 |
| 2060 * | 34,879 | 58,562 |
| 2061 * | 34,526 | 59,178 |
| 2062 * | 34,279 | 59,766 |
| 2063 * | 34,039 | 60,354 |
| 2064 * | 33,827 | 60,986 |
| 2065 * | 33,607 | 61,563 |
| 2066 * | 33,460 | 62,151 |
| 2067 * | 33,329 | 62,770 |
| 2068 * | 33,138 | 63,392 |
| 2069 * | 32,965 | 63,996 |
| 2070 * | 32,774 | 64,613 |
| 2071 * | 32,551 | 65,280 |
| 2072 * | 32,333 | 65,888 |
| 2073 * | 32,097 | 66,485 |
| 2074 * | 31,834 | 67,097 |
| 2075 * | 31,584 | 67,615 |
| 2076 * | 31,339 | 68,089 |
| 2077 * | 31,018 | 68,499 |
| 2078 * | 30,674 | 68,834 |
| 2079 * | 30,301 | 69,154 |
| 2080 * | 29,941 | 69,367 |
| 2081 * | 29,547 | 69,556 |
| 2082 * | 29,170 | 69,638 |
| 2083 * | 28,822 | 69,626 |
| 2084 * | 28,443 | 69,602 |
| 2085 * | 28,049 | 69,471 |
| 2086 * | 27,705 | 69,327 |
| 2087 * | 27,348 | 69,121 |
| 2088 * | 27,032 | 68,811 |
| 2089 * | 26,687 | 68,421 |
| 2090 * | 26,390 | 68,070 |
| 2091 * | 26,136 | 67,649 |
| 2092 * | 25,870 | 67,149 |
| 2093 * | 25,644 | 66,718 |
| 2094 * | 25,436 | 66,159 |
| 2095 * | 25,214 | 65,647 |
| 2096 * | 25,017 | 65,171 |
| 2097 * | 24,813 | 64,612 |
| 2098 * | 24,654 | 64,036 |
| 2099 * | 24,488 | 63,504 |
| 2100 * | 24,321 | 62,891 |
* UN projection
Economy of Costa Rica
GDP by country →- GDP 2026
- $115 billion 76th largest economy
- GDP per person
- $21,282 US$, market rates
- GDP per person (PPP)
- Int$ 34,214 at purchasing power parity
- Economic growth
- +3.3% real GDP
- Inflation
- -0.8% consumer prices
- Unemployment
- 7.0% of the labour force
- Government debt
- 61.8% of GDP
- Share of world GDP
- 0.1%
- IMF estimate
- IMF projection
154B 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | GDP, US$ |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 5,737,000,000 |
| 1991 | 7,197,000,000 |
| 1992 | 8,566,000,000 |
| 1993 | 9,586,000,000 |
| 1994 | 10,489,000,000 |
| 1995 | 11,578,000,000 |
| 1996 | 11,683,000,000 |
| 1997 | 12,618,000,000 |
| 1998 | 13,688,000,000 |
| 1999 | 14,259,000,000 |
| 2000 | 15,016,000,000 |
| 2001 | 15,979,000,000 |
| 2002 | 16,584,000,000 |
| 2003 | 17,277,000,000 |
| 2004 | 18,615,000,000 |
| 2005 | 20,049,000,000 |
| 2006 | 22,717,000,000 |
| 2007 | 26,885,000,000 |
| 2008 | 30,802,000,000 |
| 2009 | 30,746,000,000 |
| 2010 | 37,656,000,000 |
| 2011 | 42,762,000,000 |
| 2012 | 47,231,000,000 |
| 2013 | 50,949,000,000 |
| 2014 | 52,017,000,000 |
| 2015 | 56,442,000,000 |
| 2016 | 58,847,000,000 |
| 2017 | 60,517,000,000 |
| 2018 | 62,570,000,000 |
| 2019 | 64,748,000,000 |
| 2020 | 62,792,000,000 |
| 2021 | 65,582,000,000 |
| 2022 | 70,993,000,000 |
| 2023 | 87,524,000,000 |
| 2024 | 96,730,000,000 |
| 2025 | 102,902,000,000 |
| 2026 * | 115,254,000,000 |
| 2027 * | 124,401,000,000 |
| 2028 * | 131,286,000,000 |
| 2029 * | 138,456,000,000 |
| 2030 * | 145,882,000,000 |
| 2031 * | 154,001,000,000 |
* IMF projection
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook (October 2026). 2026 and later are IMF projections. GDP per capita by country · Richest countries
CO₂ emissions of Costa Rica
CO₂ by country →- CO₂ emissions 2024
- 8.8 million tonnes 114th largest emitter
- Per person
- 1.71 t world: 4.73 t
- Share of world CO₂
- 0.02% 0.06% of its people
- Change since 1990
- +201% +32% since 2005
8.8 2024
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | CO₂, million tonnes |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.29 |
| 1951 | 0.31 |
| 1952 | 0.39 |
| 1953 | 0.43 |
| 1954 | 0.41 |
| 1955 | 0.35 |
| 1956 | 0.48 |
| 1957 | 0.46 |
| 1958 | 0.45 |
| 1959 | 0.39 |
| 1960 | 0.49 |
| 1961 | 0.49 |
| 1962 | 0.55 |
| 1963 | 0.60 |
| 1964 | 0.67 |
| 1965 | 0.85 |
| 1966 | 0.99 |
| 1967 | 0.88 |
| 1968 | 1.04 |
| 1969 | 1.15 |
| 1970 | 1.25 |
| 1971 | 1.53 |
| 1972 | 1.76 |
| 1973 | 2.04 |
| 1974 | 1.90 |
| 1975 | 2.04 |
| 1976 | 2.08 |
| 1977 | 2.61 |
| 1978 | 2.91 |
| 1979 | 2.78 |
| 1980 | 2.45 |
| 1981 | 2.23 |
| 1982 | 2.07 |
| 1983 | 2.09 |
| 1984 | 1.98 |
| 1985 | 2.24 |
| 1986 | 2.58 |
| 1987 | 2.72 |
| 1988 | 2.90 |
| 1989 | 2.93 |
| 1990 | 2.91 |
| 1991 | 3.28 |
| 1992 | 3.73 |
| 1993 | 3.88 |
| 1994 | 5.19 |
| 1995 | 4.79 |
| 1996 | 4.67 |
| 1997 | 4.90 |
| 1998 | 5.21 |
| 1999 | 5.42 |
| 2000 | 5.37 |
| 2001 | 5.64 |
| 2002 | 6.21 |
| 2003 | 6.55 |
| 2004 | 6.80 |
| 2005 | 6.66 |
| 2006 | 6.98 |
| 2007 | 7.91 |
| 2008 | 7.93 |
| 2009 | 7.69 |
| 2010 | 7.46 |
| 2011 | 7.28 |
| 2012 | 7.22 |
| 2013 | 7.58 |
| 2014 | 7.70 |
| 2015 | 7.35 |
| 2016 | 7.83 |
| 2017 | 7.99 |
| 2018 | 7.97 |
| 2019 | 7.66 |
| 2020 | 6.75 |
| 2021 | 7.67 |
| 2022 | 8.01 |
| 2023 | 8.47 |
| 2024 | 8.76 |
By source, 2024
- Oil94.5%
- Cement4.9%
- Coal0.6%
Fossil fuels and industry, territorial; Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0). CO₂ per capita by country · Historical emissions
Compare with North America
| Country | Population 2026 | Growth | Fertility | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 5.2 million | +0.41% | 1.31 | 35.7 |
| United States | 349 million | +0.49% | 1.62 | 38.7 |
| Mexico | 133 million | +0.78% | 1.85 | 30.0 |
| Canada | 40.5 million | +0.79% | 1.33 | 40.8 |
| Guatemala | 19 million | +1.47% | 2.23 | 23.8 |
| Haiti | 12 million | +1.08% | 2.55 | 24.3 |
| Dominican Republic | 11.6 million | +0.75% | 2.17 | 28.7 |
| Honduras | 11.2 million | +1.59% | 2.42 | 24.6 |
| Cuba | 10.9 million | −0.42% | 1.45 | 42.5 |
All 237 countries · Fertility rate by country · Birth rate by country · Median age by country · Life expectancy by country · Population growth rate by country · Population density by country · Largest countries by area · Death rate by country · Infant mortality rate by country · Elderly population by country · Net migration rate by country · Urban population by country · Sex ratio by country
Air quality in Costa Rica today
Hourly AQI and a 48-hour forecast for San José.
Questions
What is the population of Costa Rica in 2026?
5,174,789 on 1 July 2026, according to the UN's World Population Prospects 2024 (medium-variant projection). That is 5.2 million people, +0.42% on 2025.
Is Costa Rica's population growing or shrinking?
Growing: 21,839 more people in 2026 than in 2025, with 137 births and 82 deaths a day and net migration of +966 a year.
When will Costa Rica's population peak?
In 2044, at about 5.4 million, on the UN's medium projection; 3.8 million by 2100.
What is the fertility rate in Costa Rica?
1.31 births per woman in 2026. A population replaces itself at about 2.1. Costa Rica has been below that since 2003.
How many babies are born in Costa Rica every day?
About 137 a day (50 thousand in 2026), against about 82 deaths a day.
What is the life expectancy in Costa Rica?
81.4 years at birth in 2026: 83.9 for women and 78.8 for men, against a world average of 73.8.
How many men and women live in Costa Rica?
About 2.6 million men and 2.6 million women in 2026, or 97.6 men for every 100 women.
What is the population density of Costa Rica?
101 people per km² of land in 2026, on a total area of 51,100 km². The world average is 64.
What was the population of Costa Rica in 2000?
3,937,739 (3.9 million), the UN estimate for 1 July 2000. It has grown by 31% since, to 5.2 million in 2026.
What will the population of Costa Rica be in 2050?
About 5.4 million on the UN's medium projection (5,354,150), +3.5% from 2026; 3.8 million by 2100.
What are the largest cities in Costa Rica?
San José (2.2 million), Cartago (190 thousand), Barranca (65 thousand), San Isidro de El General (53 thousand), Limón (52 thousand). UN figures for 2026, counting each city’s whole built-up area.
What is the GDP of Costa Rica in 2026?
$115 billion at current prices, the 76th largest economy in the world, on the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (October 2026) figures; real growth of +3.3%.
What is Costa Rica's GDP per capita?
$21,282 per person at market exchange rates in 2026, or Int$ 34,214 at purchasing power parity, which adjusts for local prices.
How much CO₂ does Costa Rica emit?
8.8 million tonnes from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 1.71 t per person and 0.02% of the world total; oil is the largest source (95%).
Source and method
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant. Figures for 1950–2023 are UN estimates; later years are the medium-variant projection, which assumes fertility, mortality and migration follow their most likely paths. National statistics offices publish their own counts, which can differ. Reuse under CC BY 3.0 IGO. How we use the data.