Rank #46 by World Population
🇨🇷Costa Rica
Costa Rica has a population of 5,105,525, ranking #46 in the world. The capital is San Jose. Located in Latin America & Caribbean .
World Bank: High income
5,105,525
Population
#46
World Rank
80.8
Life Expectancy
$16,942
GDP Per Capita
Costa Rica, #46 by world population
Costa Rica Population History (1960-2024)
The country of Costa Rica had a population of 1,327,496 in 1960 and 5,129,910 in 2024, a 3.9× growth over 64 years. The peak was 5,129,910 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 2.14%.
5,129,910
Population (2024)
1,327,496
Population (1960)
5,129,910
Peak (2024)
2.14%
Avg Annual Growth
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 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 | 2,390,633 |
| 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 | 4,999,553 |
| 2020 | 5,034,320 |
| 2021 | 5,059,988 |
| 2022 | 5,081,765 |
| 2023 | 5,105,525 |
| 2024 | 5,129,910 |
Demographics
| Population | 5,105,525 |
| Population Growth Rate | 0.47% |
| Urban Population | 78.9% |
| Fertility Rate | 1.33 births/woman |
| Life Expectancy | 80.8 years |
| Infant Mortality Rate | 8.8 per 1,000 |
| Literacy Rate | - |
Economy & Trade
$16,942
GDP Per Capita
8.3%
Unemployment Rate
High income
Income Level
46.7
Gini Index (inequality)
72.5%
Trade (% of GDP)
1,146,500
Tourism Arrivals
Health & Education
6.9%
Health Expenditure (% GDP)
2.69
Physicians per 1,000
5.3%
Education Expenditure (% GDP)
8.8
Infant Mortality (per 1,000)
Development & Connectivity
100.0%
Electricity Access
82.6%
Internet Users
141
Mobile Subs per 100
100.0
People per km2
995
Net Migration
Environment
60.4%
Forest Area
Other Countries in Latin America & Caribbean
Costa Rica in global context
Costa Rica is one of 212 countries tracked. See how it ranks globally, regional shares of world population, and projections to 2050 / 2100.
World Population 2026: Top 10 Countries, Regions & Trends →Other related entities
Country rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Rica has a population of 5,105,525, ranking #46 in the world. The annual population growth rate is 0.47%.
Life expectancy in Costa Rica is 80.8 years. The infant mortality rate is 8.8 per 1,000 live births.
Costa Rica's GDP per capita is $16,942. It is classified as a high income country by the World Bank.
78.9% of Costa Rica's population lives in urban areas. The overall population density is 100.0 people per square kilometer.
Literacy data for Costa Rica is available from the World Bank.
International data from the World Bank Open Data API. Population figures are latest available estimates. GDP per capita in current US dollars.
this entity is one of the data points covered by this site’s U.S. population demographics dataset. The detail above comes directly from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files; the context that follows situates the headline numbers against the broader distribution across U.S. states, metros, cities, and ZIPs.
The methodology behind every numeric value on this page is publicly documented on the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files portal and described in detail on this site’s methodology page. Refresh cadence varies by underlying series; the page surfaces the as-of date for each number so readers can trace any figure back to the source release.
For readers using this page as a decision input, the related-entity pages elsewhere on the site provide the comparison set. The most useful comparison for this entity is typically a peer within U.S. states, metros, cities, and ZIPs with similar size, similar exposure, or similar geography — not the national-level summary alone.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.