Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 36,395 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Costa Rica, 1972–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 36,395 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.1% on the previous year and up 910.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Costa Rica peaked at 278,800 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 200, in 1974.
Costa Rica ranks 70th of 183 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.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 700 | — |
| 1974 | 200 | -71.4% |
| 1977 | 3,500 | +1650.0% |
| 1978 | 133,000 | +3700.0% |
| 1979 | 18,610 | -86.0% |
| 1980 | 10,060 | -45.9% |
| 1981 | 15,000 | +49.1% |
| 1982 | 16,360 | +9.1% |
| 1983 | 16,910 | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 16,910 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 24,000 | +41.9% |
| 1986 | 31,200 | +30.0% |
| 1987 | 31,600 | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 278,800 | +782.3% |
| 1989 | 278,800 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 276,210 | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 117,492 | -57.5% |
| 1992 | 114,392 | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 24,834 | -78.3% |
| 1994 | 24,630 | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 24,226 | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 23,176 | -4.3% |
| 1997 | 23,114 | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 22,986 | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 22,903 | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 5,519 | -75.9% |
| 2001 | 8,104 | +46.8% |
| 2002 | 12,433 | +53.4% |
| 2003 | 13,508 | +8.6% |
| 2004 | 10,413 | -22.9% |
| 2005 | 11,253 | +8.1% |
| 2006 | 11,515 | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 17,176 | +49.2% |
| 2008 | 18,119 | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 19,101 | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 19,486 | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 20,044 | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 20,435 | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 20,554 | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 20,726 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 3,603 | -82.6% |
| 2016 | 4,162 | +15.5% |
| 2017 | 4,479 | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 4,531 | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 6,204 | +36.9% |
| 2020 | 9,593 | +54.6% |
| 2021 | 10,224 | +6.6% |
| 2022 | 14,088 | +37.8% |
| 2023 | 23,422 | +66.3% |
| 2024 | 31,632 | +35.1% |
| 2025 | 36,395 | +15.1% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 36,395 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11,811, 3.1× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 36,395 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 226, 161.0× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +3700.0% | 3,500 | 133,000 |
| 1977 | +1650.0% | 200 | 3,500 |
| 1988 | +782.3% | 31,600 | 278,800 |
| 1979 | -86.0% | 133,000 | 18,610 |
| 2015 | -82.6% | 20,726 | 3,603 |
| 1993 | -78.3% | 114,392 | 24,834 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 31,202 | 200 | 133,000 | 5 |
| 1980s | 71,964 | 10,060 | 278,800 | 10 |
| 1990s | 67,396 | 22,903 | 276,210 | 10 |
| 2000s | 12,714 | 5,519 | 19,101 | 10 |
| 2010s | 12,422 | 3,603 | 20,726 | 10 |
| 2020s | 20,892 | 9,593 | 36,395 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
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 refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Costa Rica?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Costa Rica was 36,395 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 278,800 in 1988.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 200 in 1974.
- How does Costa Rica rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Costa Rica ranks 70th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 910.1%. 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 Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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