Costa Rica vs Nicaragua: Urban and rural population
Costa Rica
4.11 million
in 2025
Nicaragua
4.17 million
in 2025
Costa Rica rank
114th
Nicaragua rank
112th
Urban and rural population over time
- Costa Rica
- Nicaragua
How they compare
Nicaragua currently reports 4.17 million against 4.11 million in Costa Rica, a difference of 57,230.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 76 shared years of data; in 1950 it was Nicaragua ahead.
Costa Rica ranks 114th and Nicaragua ranks 112th of 236 countries.
Across the 8 decades both report, Costa Rica averaged higher in 2 and Nicaragua in 6.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Costa Rica | Nicaragua | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 367,689 | 557,423 | 189,734 | Nicaragua |
| 1960s | 554,984 | 876,073 | 321,089 | Nicaragua |
| 1970s | 852,553 | 1.37 million | 519,579 | Nicaragua |
| 1980s | 1.22 million | 1.92 million | 695,200 | Nicaragua |
| 1990s | 1.86 million | 2.49 million | 626,147 | Nicaragua |
| 2000s | 2.73 million | 2.98 million | 247,998 | Nicaragua |
| 2010s | 3.58 million | 3.53 million | 48,507 | Costa Rica |
| 2020s | 4.01 million | 4.01 million | 755 | Costa Rica |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher urban and rural population, Costa Rica or Nicaragua?
- Nicaragua, at 4.17 million against 4.11 million in Costa Rica as of 2025.
- What is the difference in urban and rural population between Costa Rica and Nicaragua?
- 57,230, with Nicaragua ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Costa Rica and Nicaragua?
- 76 years are reported by both, from 1950 to 2025.
- How do Costa Rica and Nicaragua rank globally for urban and rural population?
- Costa Rica ranks 114th and Nicaragua ranks 112th of 236 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Urban and rural population. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.