Costa Rica Population
Latin America & Caribbean · 126th most populous · High income
Population right now (estimate)
5,181,238
The population of Costa Rica is about 5,181,238 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 5.2 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.06% of the world's people.
Costa Rica is ranked 126th of 217 by population. Growth has nearly stopped: the population changes by only 0.42% a year. Projections show it peaking around 2044 at about 5.4 million, then declining. That is 3.9 times its 1960 population of 1.3 million. Population density is 102 people per square kilometre. 80% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
5.2 million
Yearly change
+0.42%
World rank
126th
Share of world
0.06%
Density
102/km²
Land area
50,560 km²
Life expectancy
81.0 yrs
Births per woman
1.32
GDP per capita
$19,970
GDP
$102.9B
Population of Costa Rica, 1960–2050
Costa Rica population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,327,496 | — | 26 |
| 1970 | 1,838,949 | +2.78% | 36 |
| 1980 | 2,390,633 | +2.76% | 47 |
| 1990 | 3,121,706 | +2.56% | 62 |
| 2000 | 3,937,739 | +1.96% | 78 |
| 2010 | 4,555,962 | +1.25% | 90 |
| 2020 | 5,034,320 | +0.70% | 100 |
| 2024 | 5,129,910 | +0.48% | 101 |
| 2026proj. | 5,174,789 | +0.42% | 102 |
| 2030proj. | 5,251,497 | +0.34% | 104 |
| 2040proj. | 5,369,806 | +0.12% | 106 |
| 2050proj. | 5,354,150 | −0.16% | 106 |
Costa Rica vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 34.4 times as many people as Costa Rica. Bangladesh is 13.3 times more densely populated.
Costa Rica population: questions and answers
What is the population of Costa Rica in 2026?
About 5,174,789 (5.2 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is Costa Rica's population growing?
Yes, by about 0.42% a year (2026).
What is the population density of Costa Rica?
About 102 people per km², with a land area of 50,560 km².
What will the population of Costa Rica be in 2050?
About 5.4 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Costa Rica?
San José.
What is the life expectancy in Costa Rica?
81.0 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.