Costa Rica
- Capital:
- San Jose
- Continent:
- North America
- Region(s):
- Central America, Latin America
- Largest Cities:
- San Jose, Alajuela, Desamparados
- Abbreviation:
- CRI
5,174,789
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
5,174,789
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
Costa Rica's population is projected to be 3,891,499 by 2097.
Historical
Switch the toggle to see projected data.
| Year ↓ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5,174,789 | 0.45% | 127 |
| 2025 | 5,152,950 | 0.47% | 127 |
| 2020 | 5,034,320 | 0.69% | 123 |
| 2019 | 4,999,553 | 0.84% | 121 |
| 2018 | 4,957,818 | 0.91% | 120 |
| 2017 | 4,913,177 | 0.95% | 120 |
| 2015 | 4,818,038 | 1.13% | 120 |
| 2010 | 4,555,962 | 1.35% | 120 |
| 2005 | 4,261,240 | 1.59% | 121 |
| 2000 | 3,937,739 | 2.18% | 122 |
| Year ↑ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5,174,789 | 0.45% | 127 |
| 2032 | 5,283,807 | 0.34% | 128 |
| 2037 | 5,346,410 | 0.24% | 127 |
| 2042 | 5,378,672 | 0.12% | 127 |
| 2047 | 5,374,951 | -0.01% | 129 |
| 2052 | 5,332,365 | -0.16% | 127 |
| 2057 | 5,252,042 | -0.3% | 126 |
| 2062 | 5,142,201 | -0.42% | 126 |
| 2067 | 5,010,155 | -0.52% | 130 |
| 2072 | 4,858,199 | -0.61% | 131 |
223.4K
46.9K
93.8K
364.1K
San Jose has a metropolitan area population of 364,062, comprising 7.04%% of Costa Rica's total population.
| Rank | City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | % of National Pop. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | 364,062 | 7.04% |
| 2 | Alajuela | 340,416 | 6.58% |
| 3 | Desamparados | 223,378 | 4.32% |
| 4 | San Carlos | 209,455 | 4.05% |
| 5 | Cartago | 170,677 | 3.3% |
| 6 | Perez Zeledon | 163,877 | 3.17% |
| 7 | Pococi | 152,234 | 2.94% |
| 8 | Puntarenas (incl. Monte Verde) | 149,385 | 2.89% |
| 9 | Goicoechea | 134,096 | 2.59% |
| 10 | Heredia | 133,143 | 2.57% |
As of 2026, Costa Rica has a total population of 5,174,789, ranking as the 127th most populous nation in the world.
Costa Rica has a net population change of approximately 58 people per day, driven by 137 births, 82 deaths, and net immigration of 3 people.
Costa Rica represents 0.06% of the total global population and 0.83% of North America's population.
Costa Rica has a population density of 101.3 people per km² (approximately 262.5 per mi²), making it the 114th most densely populated country in the world.
Currently, 100% of the population resides in urban areas.
*Rates last updated: June 8, 2026
As of 2026, the largest ethnicity in Costa Rica is White or Mestizo (83.6%) , followed by Mulatto (6.7%) .
As of 2026, Roman Catholic is the largest religion in Costa Rica, comprising 47.5% of the population.