Urban and rural population in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Urban and rural population was 4.11 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.11 million
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
114th
of 236 countries
All-time high
4.11 million
in 2025
All-time low
310,465
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Costa Rica, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 4.11 million for urban and rural population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Costa Rica peaked at 4.11 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 310,465, in 1950.
Costa Rica ranks 114th of 236 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.
Urban and rural population in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 310,465 | — |
| 1951 | 321,135 | +3.4% |
| 1952 | 332,527 | +3.5% |
| 1953 | 344,673 | +3.7% |
| 1954 | 357,608 | +3.8% |
| 1955 | 371,316 | +3.8% |
| 1956 | 385,825 | +3.9% |
| 1957 | 401,189 | +4.0% |
| 1958 | 417,470 | +4.1% |
| 1959 | 434,678 | +4.1% |
| 1960 | 452,743 | +4.2% |
| 1961 | 471,558 | +4.2% |
| 1962 | 490,995 | +4.1% |
| 1963 | 510,994 | +4.1% |
| 1964 | 533,135 | +4.3% |
| 1965 | 558,454 | +4.7% |
| 1966 | 586,451 | +5.0% |
| 1967 | 616,623 | +5.1% |
| 1968 | 648,183 | +5.1% |
| 1969 | 680,707 | +5.0% |
| 1970 | 713,808 | +4.9% |
| 1971 | 746,651 | +4.6% |
| 1972 | 778,484 | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 808,550 | +3.9% |
| 1974 | 837,657 | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 866,943 | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 896,650 | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 927,080 | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 958,481 | +3.4% |
| 1979 | 991,223 | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 1.03 million | +3.5% |
| 1981 | 1.06 million | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 1.10 million | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 1.14 million | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 1.18 million | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 1.23 million | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 1.28 million | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 1.33 million | +4.2% |
| 1988 | 1.39 million | +4.3% |
| 1989 | 1.45 million | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 1.52 million | +4.4% |
| 1991 | 1.59 million | +4.5% |
| 1992 | 1.66 million | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 1.73 million | +4.6% |
| 1994 | 1.81 million | +4.6% |
| 1995 | 1.89 million | +4.5% |
| 1996 | 1.98 million | +4.4% |
| 1997 | 2.06 million | +4.3% |
| 1998 | 2.15 million | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 2.24 million | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 2.33 million | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 2.41 million | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 2.50 million | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 2.58 million | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 2.67 million | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 2.77 million | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 2.86 million | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 2.96 million | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 3.05 million | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 3.16 million | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 3.26 million | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 3.36 million | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 3.42 million | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 3.49 million | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 3.55 million | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 3.61 million | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 3.68 million | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 3.74 million | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 3.80 million | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 3.85 million | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 3.90 million | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 3.95 million | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 3.99 million | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 4.03 million | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 4.07 million | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 4.11 million | +1.0% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 4.11 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.22 million, 1.8× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 4.11 million is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 2.35 million, 1.7× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 367,689 | 310,465 | 434,678 | 10 |
| 1960s | 554,984 | 452,743 | 680,707 | 10 |
| 1970s | 852,553 | 713,808 | 991,223 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.22 million | 1.03 million | 1.45 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.86 million | 1.52 million | 2.24 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.73 million | 2.33 million | 3.16 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.58 million | 3.26 million | 3.85 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.01 million | 3.90 million | 4.11 million | 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 urban and rural population in Costa Rica?
- Urban and rural population in Costa Rica was 4.11 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 4.11 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 310,465 in 1950.
- How does Costa Rica rank for urban and rural population?
- Costa Rica ranks 114th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.7%. 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 Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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