🇨🇷 Costa Rica Population 2026
As of 2026, the population of Costa Rica is 5,174,789, ranking #127 in the world (0.06% of the global population), based on UN World Population Prospects 2024. The population is growing at 0.41% per year. The biggest city is San José with 335,007 inhabitants.
Live estimate
5,175,150
Growth rate
0.41%
Density
101
people / km² (262 / mi²)
Median age
35.7
Fertility rate
1.31
births per woman
Life expectancy
81.4
years
Costa Rica population 1950–2100
By 2050, the population of Costa Rica is projected to reach 5,354,150, and 3,776,474 by 2100. The population is expected to peak in 2044 at 5,381,722, then decline.
Costa Rica population by year
| Year | Population | Growth | Density /km² | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5,174,789 | 0.41% | 101.3 | 35.7 |
| 2025 | 5,152,950 | 0.43% | 100.9 | 35.2 |
| 2024 | 5,129,910 | 0.46% | 100.5 | 34.6 |
| 2023 | 5,105,526 | 0.49% | 100.0 | 34.1 |
| 2022 | 5,081,764 | 0.44% | 99.5 | 33.5 |
| 2021 | 5,059,988 | 0.42% | 99.1 | 33.0 |
| 2020 | 5,034,320 | 0.60% | 98.6 | 32.5 |
| 2019 | 4,999,554 | 0.79% | 97.9 | 32.0 |
| 2018 | 4,957,818 | 0.89% | 97.1 | 31.5 |
| 2017 | 4,913,177 | 0.92% | 96.2 | 31.1 |
| 2016 | 4,866,998 | 0.97% | 95.3 | 30.6 |
| 2015 | 4,818,038 | 1.05% | 94.4 | 30.2 |
| 2014 | 4,767,119 | 1.07% | 93.4 | 29.7 |
| 2013 | 4,716,147 | 1.08% | 92.4 | 29.3 |
| 2012 | 4,663,934 | 1.15% | 91.3 | 28.8 |
| 2011 | 4,609,833 | 1.18% | 90.3 | 28.4 |
| 2010 | 4,555,962 | 1.17% | 89.2 | 28.0 |
| 2009 | 4,499,791 | 1.31% | 88.1 | 27.6 |
| 2008 | 4,440,056 | 1.36% | 87.0 | 27.2 |
| 2007 | 4,380,248 | 1.35% | 85.8 | 26.8 |
| 2006 | 4,321,340 | 1.35% | 84.6 | 26.4 |
| 2005 | 4,261,240 | 1.45% | 83.5 | 26.0 |
| 2004 | 4,200,078 | 1.44% | 82.3 | 25.6 |
| 2003 | 4,138,784 | 1.50% | 81.1 | 25.2 |
| 2002 | 4,075,705 | 1.57% | 79.8 | 24.8 |
| 2001 | 4,008,947 | 1.73% | 78.5 | 24.5 |
| 2000 | 3,937,739 | 1.86% | 77.1 | 24.2 |
| 1999 | 3,862,101 | 2.02% | 75.6 | 23.9 |
| 1998 | 3,782,838 | 2.12% | 74.1 | 23.7 |
| 1997 | 3,701,711 | 2.21% | 72.5 | 23.4 |
| 1996 | 3,619,013 | 2.31% | 70.9 | 23.1 |
| 1995 | 3,535,176 | 2.38% | 69.2 | 22.9 |
| 1994 | 3,451,122 | 2.43% | 67.6 | 22.6 |
| 1993 | 3,367,434 | 2.48% | 66.0 | 22.4 |
| 1992 | 3,284,258 | 2.52% | 64.3 | 22.2 |
| 1991 | 3,202,176 | 2.54% | 62.7 | 21.9 |
| 1990 | 3,121,706 | 2.55% | 61.1 | 21.7 |
| 1989 | 3,043,827 | 2.50% | 59.6 | 21.5 |
| 1988 | 2,968,103 | 2.54% | 58.1 | 21.3 |
| 1987 | 2,892,699 | 2.61% | 56.7 | 21.1 |
| 1986 | 2,817,216 | 2.68% | 55.2 | 20.8 |
| 1985 | 2,741,894 | 2.74% | 53.7 | 20.6 |
| 1984 | 2,667,595 | 2.75% | 52.2 | 20.4 |
| 1983 | 2,595,153 | 2.75% | 50.8 | 20.1 |
| 1982 | 2,524,806 | 2.74% | 49.4 | 19.9 |
| 1981 | 2,456,637 | 2.73% | 48.1 | 19.6 |
| 1980 | 2,390,634 | 2.72% | 46.8 | 19.3 |
| 1979 | 2,326,490 | 2.72% | 45.6 | 19.0 |
| 1978 | 2,264,510 | 2.68% | 44.4 | 18.7 |
| 1977 | 2,205,025 | 2.65% | 43.2 | 18.4 |
| 1976 | 2,147,774 | 2.62% | 42.1 | 18.1 |
| 1975 | 2,092,719 | 2.58% | 41.0 | 17.8 |
| 1974 | 2,039,643 | 2.56% | 39.9 | 17.5 |
| 1973 | 1,988,343 | 2.54% | 38.9 | 17.2 |
| 1972 | 1,938,248 | 2.57% | 38.0 | 17.0 |
| 1971 | 1,888,539 | 2.63% | 37.0 | 16.7 |
| 1970 | 1,838,949 | 2.69% | 36.0 | 16.4 |
| 1969 | 1,789,276 | 2.78% | 35.0 | 16.2 |
| 1968 | 1,739,731 | 2.83% | 34.1 | 16.0 |
| 1967 | 1,689,523 | 3.03% | 33.1 | 15.8 |
| 1966 | 1,638,116 | 3.15% | 32.1 | 15.7 |
| 1965 | 1,586,208 | 3.29% | 31.1 | 15.6 |
| 1964 | 1,533,960 | 3.41% | 30.0 | 15.5 |
| 1963 | 1,481,604 | 3.53% | 29.0 | 15.5 |
| 1962 | 1,429,445 | 3.64% | 28.0 | 15.6 |
| 1961 | 1,377,920 | 3.71% | 27.0 | 15.6 |
| 1960 | 1,327,496 | 3.75% | 26.0 | 15.7 |
| 1959 | 1,278,588 | 3.76% | 25.0 | 15.8 |
| 1958 | 1,231,551 | 3.74% | 24.1 | 16.0 |
| 1957 | 1,186,633 | 3.69% | 23.2 | 16.1 |
| 1956 | 1,143,847 | 3.65% | 22.4 | 16.2 |
| 1955 | 1,103,049 | 3.61% | 21.6 | 16.3 |
| 1954 | 1,064,119 | 3.57% | 20.8 | 16.4 |
| 1953 | 1,027,005 | 3.52% | 20.1 | 16.5 |
| 1952 | 991,794 | 3.45% | 19.4 | 16.6 |
| 1951 | 958,409 | 3.40% | 18.8 | 16.7 |
| 1950 | 926,758 | 3.32% | 18.2 | 16.8 |
| Year | Population | Growth | Density /km² | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 5,195,555 | 0.39% | 101.8 | 36.2 |
| 2028 | 5,215,254 | 0.37% | 102.1 | 36.8 |
| 2029 | 5,233,880 | 0.35% | 102.5 | 37.3 |
| 2030 | 5,251,496 | 0.33% | 102.8 | 37.8 |
| 2031 | 5,268,134 | 0.31% | 103.2 | 38.3 |
| 2032 | 5,283,808 | 0.29% | 103.5 | 38.8 |
| 2033 | 5,298,513 | 0.27% | 103.8 | 39.3 |
| 2034 | 5,312,162 | 0.25% | 104.0 | 39.8 |
| 2035 | 5,324,699 | 0.23% | 104.3 | 40.3 |
| 2036 | 5,336,139 | 0.20% | 104.5 | 40.8 |
| 2037 | 5,346,410 | 0.18% | 104.7 | 41.3 |
| 2038 | 5,355,518 | 0.16% | 104.9 | 41.8 |
| 2039 | 5,363,364 | 0.13% | 105.0 | 42.2 |
| 2040 | 5,369,806 | 0.11% | 105.2 | 42.7 |
| 2041 | 5,374,936 | 0.08% | 105.3 | 43.2 |
| 2042 | 5,378,672 | 0.06% | 105.3 | 43.6 |
| 2043 | 5,380,914 | 0.03% | 105.4 | 44.1 |
| 2044 | 5,381,722 | 0.00% | 105.4 | 44.5 |
| 2045 | 5,381,018 | -0.03% | 105.4 | 44.9 |
| 2046 | 5,378,758 | -0.06% | 105.3 | 45.4 |
| 2047 | 5,374,951 | -0.09% | 105.3 | 45.8 |
| 2048 | 5,369,576 | -0.12% | 105.2 | 46.2 |
| 2049 | 5,362,650 | -0.14% | 105.0 | 46.6 |
| 2050 | 5,354,150 | -0.17% | 104.9 | 47.0 |
| 2051 | 5,344,062 | -0.20% | 104.7 | 47.4 |
| 2052 | 5,332,365 | -0.23% | 104.4 | 47.7 |
| 2053 | 5,319,062 | -0.27% | 104.2 | 48.1 |
| 2054 | 5,304,302 | -0.29% | 103.9 | 48.5 |
| 2055 | 5,288,194 | -0.32% | 103.6 | 48.8 |
| 2056 | 5,270,741 | -0.34% | 103.2 | 49.2 |
| 2057 | 5,252,042 | -0.37% | 102.9 | 49.5 |
| 2058 | 5,232,199 | -0.39% | 102.5 | 49.9 |
| 2059 | 5,211,258 | -0.41% | 102.1 | 50.2 |
| 2060 | 5,189,194 | -0.44% | 101.6 | 50.6 |
| 2061 | 5,166,102 | -0.46% | 101.2 | 51.0 |
| 2062 | 5,142,201 | -0.47% | 100.7 | 51.3 |
| 2063 | 5,117,401 | -0.49% | 100.2 | 51.7 |
| 2064 | 5,091,736 | -0.51% | 99.7 | 52.0 |
| 2065 | 5,065,285 | -0.53% | 99.2 | 52.3 |
| 2066 | 5,038,050 | -0.55% | 98.7 | 52.7 |
| 2067 | 5,010,156 | -0.56% | 98.1 | 53.0 |
| 2068 | 4,981,496 | -0.58% | 97.6 | 53.3 |
| 2069 | 4,951,918 | -0.61% | 97.0 | 53.6 |
| 2070 | 4,921,499 | -0.63% | 96.4 | 53.9 |
| 2071 | 4,890,278 | -0.65% | 95.8 | 54.2 |
| 2072 | 4,858,199 | -0.67% | 95.1 | 54.5 |
| 2073 | 4,825,257 | -0.69% | 94.5 | 54.7 |
| 2074 | 4,791,446 | -0.71% | 93.8 | 55.0 |
| 2075 | 4,756,834 | -0.73% | 93.2 | 55.2 |
| 2076 | 4,721,500 | -0.76% | 92.5 | 55.4 |
| 2077 | 4,685,397 | -0.78% | 91.8 | 55.6 |
| 2078 | 4,648,557 | -0.80% | 91.0 | 55.6 |
| 2079 | 4,611,045 | -0.82% | 90.3 | 55.7 |
| 2080 | 4,572,927 | -0.84% | 89.6 | 55.7 |
| 2081 | 4,534,234 | -0.86% | 88.8 | 55.8 |
| 2082 | 4,495,014 | -0.88% | 88.0 | 55.8 |
| 2083 | 4,455,405 | -0.89% | 87.3 | 55.8 |
| 2084 | 4,415,435 | -0.91% | 86.5 | 55.8 |
| 2085 | 4,375,133 | -0.93% | 85.7 | 55.8 |
| 2086 | 4,334,579 | -0.94% | 84.9 | 55.8 |
| 2087 | 4,293,848 | -0.95% | 84.1 | 55.8 |
| 2088 | 4,253,056 | -0.96% | 83.3 | 55.8 |
| 2089 | 4,212,260 | -0.97% | 82.5 | 55.9 |
| 2090 | 4,171,460 | -0.98% | 81.7 | 55.9 |
| 2091 | 4,130,730 | -0.98% | 80.9 | 55.9 |
| 2092 | 4,090,166 | -0.99% | 80.1 | 55.9 |
| 2093 | 4,049,836 | -0.99% | 79.3 | 56.0 |
| 2094 | 4,009,796 | -0.99% | 78.5 | 56.0 |
| 2095 | 3,970,038 | -1.00% | 77.8 | 56.0 |
| 2096 | 3,930,586 | -1.00% | 77.0 | 56.1 |
| 2097 | 3,891,500 | -1.00% | 76.2 | 56.1 |
| 2098 | 3,852,802 | -1.00% | 75.5 | 56.2 |
| 2099 | 3,814,483 | -1.00% | 74.7 | 56.2 |
| 2100 | 3,776,474 | -1.00% | 74.0 | 56.2 |
States & provinces of Costa Rica by population
| # | State / province | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San José | 1,635,144 | 31.6% |
| 2 | Alajuela | 885,571 | 17.1% |
| 3 | Cartago | 490,903 | 9.5% |
| 4 | Heredia | 433,677 | 8.4% |
| 5 | Puntarenas | 410,929 | 7.9% |
| 6 | Limón | 386,862 | 7.5% |
| 7 | Guanacaste | 354,154 | 6.8% |
State populations: GeoNames (latest official figures, reference dates vary by country).
Biggest cities in Costa Rica
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San José capital | San José | 335,007 |
| 2 | Limón | Limón Province | 63,081 |
| 3 | Alajuela | Alajuela Province | 47,494 |
| 4 | Liberia | Guanacaste Province | 45,380 |
| 5 | Paraíso | Cartago Province | 39,702 |
| 6 | Puntarenas | Puntarenas Province | 35,650 |
| 7 | San Isidro | San José | 34,877 |
| 8 | Curridabat | San José | 34,586 |
| 9 | San Vicente | San José | 34,447 |
| 10 | San Vicente de Moravia | San José | 34,447 |
| 11 | San José | Alajuela Province | 31,430 |
| 12 | Purral | San José | 30,034 |
| 13 | Turrialba | Cartago Province | 28,955 |
| 14 | San Miguel | San José | 28,827 |
| 15 | San Pedro | San José | 27,477 |
FAQ
What is the population of Costa Rica in 2026?
The population of Costa Rica is 5,174,789 in 2026, according to UN World Population Prospects 2024 (medium variant).
What is the biggest city in Costa Rica?
San José is the biggest city in Costa Rica with 335,007 inhabitants and it is also the capital.
Is the population of Costa Rica growing or shrinking?
The population of Costa Rica is growing at 0.41% per year, and is projected to peak in 2044 at 5,381,722.
Neighboring countries
Sources
- Country data: United Nations World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- City and state data: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Retrieved 2026-07-06.
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