Population (Our World) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Population (Our World) was 5.11 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
5.11 million
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
126th
of 239 countries
All-time high
5.11 million
in 2023
All-time low
8,000
in 1600
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Costa Rica, 1000–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 5.11 million for population in 2023. That is the highest value across all 241 years on record.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Costa Rica peaked at 5.11 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 8,000, in 1600.
Costa Rica ranks 126th of 239 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population (Our World) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 291,252 | — |
| 1100 | 317,730 | +9.1% |
| 1200 | 346,614 | +9.1% |
| 1300 | 378,125 | +9.1% |
| 1400 | 412,500 | +9.1% |
| 1500 | 450,000 | +9.1% |
| 1600 | 8,000 | -98.2% |
| 1700 | 22,742 | +184.3% |
| 1710 | 24,606 | +8.2% |
| 1720 | 26,623 | +8.2% |
| 1730 | 28,805 | +8.2% |
| 1740 | 31,166 | +8.2% |
| 1750 | 33,720 | +8.2% |
| 1760 | 36,484 | +8.2% |
| 1770 | 39,475 | +8.2% |
| 1780 | 42,711 | +8.2% |
| 1790 | 46,212 | +8.2% |
| 1800 | 53,000 | +14.7% |
| 1801 | 53,460 | +0.9% |
| 1802 | 53,924 | +0.9% |
| 1803 | 54,392 | +0.9% |
| 1804 | 54,864 | +0.9% |
| 1805 | 55,340 | +0.9% |
| 1806 | 55,821 | +0.9% |
| 1807 | 56,305 | +0.9% |
| 1808 | 56,794 | +0.9% |
| 1809 | 57,287 | +0.9% |
| 1810 | 57,788 | +0.9% |
| 1811 | 58,290 | +0.9% |
| 1812 | 58,796 | +0.9% |
| 1813 | 59,306 | +0.9% |
| 1814 | 59,821 | +0.9% |
| 1815 | 60,340 | +0.9% |
| 1816 | 60,864 | +0.9% |
| 1817 | 61,392 | +0.9% |
| 1818 | 61,925 | +0.9% |
| 1819 | 62,625 | +1.1% |
| 1820 | 63,498 | +1.4% |
| 1821 | 64,547 | +1.7% |
| 1822 | 65,779 | +1.9% |
| 1823 | 67,199 | +2.2% |
| 1824 | 68,650 | +2.2% |
| 1825 | 70,132 | +2.2% |
| 1826 | 71,646 | +2.2% |
| 1827 | 73,192 | +2.2% |
| 1828 | 74,772 | +2.2% |
| 1829 | 76,344 | +2.1% |
| 1830 | 77,905 | +2.0% |
| 1831 | 79,455 | +2.0% |
| 1832 | 80,994 | +1.9% |
| 1833 | 82,519 | +1.9% |
| 1834 | 84,073 | +1.9% |
| 1835 | 85,657 | +1.9% |
| 1836 | 87,270 | +1.9% |
| 1837 | 88,914 | +1.9% |
| 1838 | 90,588 | +1.9% |
| 1839 | 92,076 | +1.6% |
| 1840 | 93,371 | +1.4% |
| 1841 | 94,469 | +1.2% |
| 1842 | 95,365 | +0.9% |
| 1843 | 96,052 | +0.7% |
| 1844 | 96,745 | +0.7% |
| 1845 | 97,442 | +0.7% |
| 1846 | 98,145 | +0.7% |
| 1847 | 98,852 | +0.7% |
| 1848 | 99,565 | +0.7% |
| 1849 | 100,488 | +0.9% |
| 1850 | 101,627 | +1.1% |
| 1851 | 103,127 | +1.5% |
| 1852 | 104,857 | +1.7% |
| 1853 | 106,824 | +1.9% |
| 1854 | 108,828 | +1.9% |
| 1855 | 110,870 | +1.9% |
| 1856 | 112,949 | +1.9% |
| 1857 | 115,067 | +1.9% |
| 1858 | 117,225 | +1.9% |
| 1859 | 119,325 | +1.8% |
| 1860 | 121,363 | +1.7% |
| 1861 | 123,339 | +1.6% |
| 1862 | 125,248 | +1.5% |
| 1863 | 127,087 | +1.5% |
| 1864 | 128,954 | +1.5% |
| 1865 | 130,847 | +1.5% |
| 1866 | 132,768 | +1.5% |
| 1867 | 134,718 | +1.5% |
| 1868 | 136,695 | +1.5% |
| 1869 | 139,136 | +1.8% |
| 1870 | 142,062 | +2.1% |
| 1871 | 145,492 | +2.4% |
| 1872 | 149,450 | +2.7% |
| 1873 | 153,958 | +3.0% |
| 1874 | 158,602 | +3.0% |
| 1875 | 163,385 | +3.0% |
| 1876 | 168,312 | +3.0% |
| 1877 | 173,388 | +3.0% |
| 1878 | 178,616 | +3.0% |
| 1879 | 184,022 | +3.0% |
| 1880 | 189,610 | +3.0% |
| 1881 | 195,387 | +3.0% |
| 1882 | 201,360 | +3.1% |
| 1883 | 207,534 | +3.1% |
| 1884 | 213,898 | +3.1% |
| 1885 | 220,456 | +3.1% |
| 1886 | 227,215 | +3.1% |
| 1887 | 234,180 | +3.1% |
| 1888 | 241,359 | +3.1% |
| 1889 | 248,294 | +2.9% |
| 1890 | 254,968 | +2.7% |
| 1891 | 261,360 | +2.5% |
| 1892 | 267,452 | +2.3% |
| 1893 | 273,223 | +2.2% |
| 1894 | 279,118 | +2.2% |
| 1895 | 285,140 | +2.2% |
| 1896 | 291,291 | +2.2% |
| 1897 | 297,574 | +2.2% |
| 1898 | 303,993 | +2.2% |
| 1899 | 310,549 | +2.2% |
| 1900 | 317,246 | +2.2% |
| 1901 | 324,088 | +2.2% |
| 1902 | 331,076 | +2.2% |
| 1903 | 338,214 | +2.2% |
| 1904 | 345,506 | +2.2% |
| 1905 | 352,954 | +2.2% |
| 1906 | 360,563 | +2.2% |
| 1907 | 368,334 | +2.2% |
| 1908 | 376,273 | +2.2% |
| 1909 | 383,945 | +2.0% |
| 1910 | 391,337 | +1.9% |
| 1911 | 398,435 | +1.8% |
| 1912 | 405,225 | +1.7% |
| 1913 | 411,692 | +1.6% |
| 1914 | 418,262 | +1.6% |
| 1915 | 424,936 | +1.6% |
| 1916 | 431,716 | +1.6% |
| 1917 | 438,604 | +1.6% |
| 1918 | 445,048 | +1.5% |
| 1919 | 451,852 | +1.5% |
| 1920 | 459,026 | +1.6% |
| 1921 | 466,580 | +1.6% |
| 1922 | 474,525 | +1.7% |
| 1923 | 482,871 | +1.8% |
| 1924 | 491,364 | +1.8% |
| 1925 | 500,006 | +1.8% |
| 1926 | 508,800 | +1.8% |
| 1927 | 517,749 | +1.8% |
| 1928 | 526,856 | +1.8% |
| 1929 | 536,575 | +1.8% |
| 1930 | 546,929 | +1.9% |
| 1931 | 557,938 | +2.0% |
| 1932 | 569,625 | +2.1% |
| 1933 | 582,011 | +2.2% |
| 1934 | 594,666 | +2.2% |
| 1935 | 607,597 | +2.2% |
| 1936 | 620,809 | +2.2% |
| 1937 | 634,307 | +2.2% |
| 1938 | 648,100 | +2.2% |
| 1939 | 663,863 | +2.4% |
| 1940 | 681,697 | +2.7% |
| 1941 | 701,706 | +2.9% |
| 1942 | 723,998 | +3.2% |
| 1943 | 748,685 | +3.4% |
| 1944 | 774,214 | +3.4% |
| 1945 | 800,613 | +3.4% |
| 1946 | 827,913 | +3.4% |
| 1947 | 856,143 | +3.4% |
| 1948 | 885,336 | +3.4% |
| 1949 | 916,093 | +3.5% |
| 1950 | 926,761 | +1.2% |
| 1951 | 958,418 | +3.4% |
| 1952 | 991,800 | +3.5% |
| 1953 | 1.03 million | +3.6% |
| 1954 | 1.06 million | +3.6% |
| 1955 | 1.10 million | +3.7% |
| 1956 | 1.14 million | +3.7% |
| 1957 | 1.19 million | +3.7% |
| 1958 | 1.23 million | +3.8% |
| 1959 | 1.28 million | +3.8% |
| 1960 | 1.33 million | +3.8% |
| 1961 | 1.38 million | +3.8% |
| 1962 | 1.43 million | +3.7% |
| 1963 | 1.48 million | +3.6% |
| 1964 | 1.53 million | +3.5% |
| 1965 | 1.59 million | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 1.64 million | +3.3% |
| 1967 | 1.69 million | +3.1% |
| 1968 | 1.74 million | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 1.79 million | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 1.84 million | +2.8% |
| 1971 | 1.89 million | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 1.94 million | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 1.99 million | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 2.04 million | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 2.09 million | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 2.15 million | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 2.21 million | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 2.26 million | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 2.33 million | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 2.39 million | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 2.46 million | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 2.52 million | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 2.60 million | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 2.67 million | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 2.74 million | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 2.82 million | +2.7% |
| 1987 | 2.89 million | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 2.97 million | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 3.04 million | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 3.12 million | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 3.20 million | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 3.28 million | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 3.37 million | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 3.45 million | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 3.54 million | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 3.62 million | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 3.70 million | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 3.78 million | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 3.86 million | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 3.94 million | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 4.01 million | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 4.08 million | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 4.14 million | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 4.20 million | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 4.26 million | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 4.32 million | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 4.38 million | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 4.44 million | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 4.50 million | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 4.56 million | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 4.61 million | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 4.66 million | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 4.72 million | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 4.77 million | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 4.82 million | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 4.87 million | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 4.91 million | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 4.96 million | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 5.00 million | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 5.03 million | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 5.06 million | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 5.08 million | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 5.11 million | +0.5% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 5.11 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.98 million, 1.7× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 5.11 million is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 3.04 million, 1.7× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population (Our World) in Costa Rica changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1700 | +184.3% | 8,000 | 22,742 |
| 1600 | -98.2% | 450,000 | 8,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 291,252 | 291,252 | 291,252 | 1 |
| 1100s | 317,730 | 317,730 | 317,730 | 1 |
| 1200s | 346,614 | 346,614 | 346,614 | 1 |
| 1300s | 378,125 | 378,125 | 378,125 | 1 |
| 1400s | 412,500 | 412,500 | 412,500 | 1 |
| 1500s | 450,000 | 450,000 | 450,000 | 1 |
| 1600s | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 1 |
| 1700s | 22,742 | 22,742 | 22,742 | 1 |
| 1710s | 24,606 | 24,606 | 24,606 | 1 |
| 1720s | 26,623 | 26,623 | 26,623 | 1 |
| 1730s | 28,805 | 28,805 | 28,805 | 1 |
| 1740s | 31,166 | 31,166 | 31,166 | 1 |
| 1750s | 33,720 | 33,720 | 33,720 | 1 |
| 1760s | 36,484 | 36,484 | 36,484 | 1 |
| 1770s | 39,475 | 39,475 | 39,475 | 1 |
| 1780s | 42,711 | 42,711 | 42,711 | 1 |
| 1790s | 46,212 | 46,212 | 46,212 | 1 |
| 1800s | 55,119 | 53,000 | 57,287 | 10 |
| 1810s | 60,115 | 57,788 | 62,625 | 10 |
| 1820s | 69,576 | 63,498 | 76,344 | 10 |
| 1830s | 84,945 | 77,905 | 92,076 | 10 |
| 1840s | 97,049 | 93,371 | 100,488 | 10 |
| 1850s | 110,070 | 101,627 | 119,325 | 10 |
| 1860s | 130,016 | 121,363 | 139,136 | 10 |
| 1870s | 161,729 | 142,062 | 184,022 | 10 |
| 1880s | 217,929 | 189,610 | 248,294 | 10 |
| 1890s | 282,467 | 254,968 | 310,549 | 10 |
| 1900s | 349,820 | 317,246 | 383,945 | 10 |
| 1910s | 421,711 | 391,337 | 451,852 | 10 |
| 1920s | 496,435 | 459,026 | 536,575 | 10 |
| 1930s | 602,584 | 546,929 | 663,863 | 10 |
| 1940s | 791,640 | 681,697 | 916,093 | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.09 million | 926,761 | 1.28 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.56 million | 1.33 million | 1.79 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.07 million | 1.84 million | 2.33 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.71 million | 2.39 million | 3.04 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.49 million | 3.12 million | 3.86 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.23 million | 3.94 million | 4.50 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.79 million | 4.56 million | 5.00 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.07 million | 5.03 million | 5.11 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 123 Ireland 5.20 million compare
- 124 New Zealand 5.17 million compare
- 125 Central African Republic 5.15 million compare
- 127 Oman 5.05 million compare
- 128 Mauritania 5.02 million compare
- 129 Kuwait 4.84 million compare
More population data for Costa Rica
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.9965 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.2884 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.9965 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6681 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,703 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5224 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7399 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -1 (2100)
- Population density 73.96 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 123,827 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Costa Rica?
- Population in Costa Rica was 5.11 million in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 5.11 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 8,000 in 1600.
- How does Costa Rica rank for population?
- Costa Rica ranks 126th out of 239 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).