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Costa Rica Population 2023

Costa Rica map
  • The current population of Costa Rica is estimated at 5,164,220 people as of January, 2023, according to the latest population growth rate and projections.
  • Population of Costa Rica represent 0.07% of the total world population.
  • The population density of Costa Rica is 1.1 inhabitants per km2.
  • Costa Rica is located in Central America.
  • Costa Rica ranks number 122 in the list of countries ordered by population.
  • The latitudinal point of Costa Rica is 9° 37' 48.68" N. The longitudinal coordinate of the country is -84° 15' 15.06" W.
  • The median age in Costa Rica is 33.5 years.
  • Minimum Wages in Costa Rica is not existent. A middle-class salary in Costa Rica averages USD $750.
  • The countries that Costa Rica shares its land boundary with are Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the southeast. It is bounded by the Caribbean Sea to the northeastern coastline and by the Pacific Ocean to the southwestern coastline.

Costa Rica

Official name Republic of Costa Rica
Location Central America
Capital San José
Population 5,135,530 (as of June, 2022)
Population density 1.1/km2
Population growth rate 0.88% (in 2023)
Area 51,100 km2 (19,729.81 sq mi)
Official language Spanish
Currency Costa Rican colón (CRC)
Life expectancy 80.70 years
Internet TLD .cr
Call code +506

Costa Rica Population Graph

Costa Rica Population History (1960-2020)

Year Population Male Population Female Population Male (%) Female (%) Urban Population Urban (%)
2020 5,098,189 2,547,055 2,551,134 49.96% 50.04% 4,117,807 80.77%
2019 5,051,599 2,524,789 2,526,810 49.98% 50.02% 4,045,320 80.08%
2018 5,003,443 2,501,221 2,502,222 49.99% 50.01% 3,969,732 79.34%
2017 4,953,915 2,477,453 2,476,462 50.01% 49.99% 3,891,796 78.56%
2016 4,903,255 2,452,608 2,450,647 50.02% 49.98% 3,811,790 77.74%
2015 4,851,683 2,427,297 2,424,386 50.03% 49.97% 3,729,004 76.86%
2014 4,799,226 2,402,013 2,397,213 50.05% 49.95% 3,644,532 75.94%
2013 4,745,905 2,375,800 2,370,105 50.06% 49.94% 3,558,005 74.97%
2012 4,691,753 2,349,161 2,342,592 50.07% 49.93% 3,469,551 73.95%
2011 4,636,792 2,322,105 2,314,687 50.08% 49.92% 3,378,830 72.87%
2010 4,581,033 2,294,639 2,286,394 50.09% 49.91% 3,286,433 71.74%
2009 4,524,356 2,266,702 2,257,654 50.1% 49.9% 3,193,290 70.58%
2008 4,466,693 2,238,260 2,228,433 50.11% 49.89% 3,099,438 69.39%
2007 4,408,150 2,209,365 2,198,785 50.12% 49.88% 3,005,036 68.17%
2006 4,348,897 2,180,102 2,168,795 50.13% 49.87% 2,911,152 66.94%
2005 4,288,932 2,150,471 2,138,461 50.14% 49.86% 2,816,542 65.67%
2004 4,228,536 2,120,611 2,107,925 50.15% 49.85% 2,722,754 64.39%
2003 4,167,384 2,089,943 2,077,441 50.15% 49.85% 2,628,786 63.08%
2002 4,104,203 2,058,668 2,045,535 50.16% 49.84% 2,534,345 61.75%
2001 4,037,301 2,025,918 2,011,383 50.18% 49.82% 2,438,934 60.41%
2000 3,965,539 1,990,304 1,975,235 50.19% 49.81% 2,341,651 59.05%
1999 3,888,536 1,952,045 1,936,491 50.2% 49.8% 2,261,573 58.16%
1998 3,806,936 1,911,843 1,895,093 50.22% 49.78% 2,179,852 57.26%
1997 3,721,927 1,869,896 1,852,031 50.24% 49.76% 2,098,050 56.37%
1996 3,635,267 1,827,085 1,808,182 50.26% 49.74% 2,016,483 55.47%
1995 3,548,360 1,784,115 1,764,245 50.28% 49.72% 1,935,985 54.56%
1994 3,461,596 1,741,529 1,720,067 50.31% 49.69% 1,857,146 53.65%
1993 3,374,996 1,698,298 1,676,698 50.32% 49.68% 1,779,973 52.74%
1992 3,289,154 1,655,760 1,633,394 50.34% 49.66% 1,704,769 51.83%
1991 3,204,645 1,613,859 1,590,786 50.36% 49.64% 1,631,805 50.92%
1990 3,121,932 1,572,829 1,549,103 50.38% 49.62% 1,560,966 50%
1989 3,041,446 1,532,585 1,508,861 50.39% 49.61% 1,493,046 49.09%
1988 2,963,597 1,493,653 1,469,944 50.4% 49.6% 1,427,861 48.18%
1987 2,887,452 1,455,565 1,431,887 50.41% 49.59% 1,364,610 47.26%
1986 2,812,774 1,418,201 1,394,573 50.42% 49.58% 1,303,721 46.35%
1985 2,739,182 1,381,369 1,357,813 50.43% 49.57% 1,244,958 45.45%
1984 2,666,618 1,345,309 1,321,309 50.45% 49.55% 1,187,712 44.54%
1983 2,595,349 1,309,613 1,285,736 50.46% 49.54% 1,146,106 44.16%
1982 2,525,629 1,274,938 1,250,691 50.48% 49.52% 1,106,226 43.8%
1981 2,457,803 1,240,945 1,216,858 50.49% 49.51% 1,067,915 43.45%
1980 2,392,124 1,208,262 1,183,862 50.51% 49.49% 1,031,005 43.1%
1979 2,328,554 1,176,385 1,152,169 50.52% 49.48% 995,457 42.75%
1978 2,266,980 1,145,505 1,121,475 50.53% 49.47% 961,200 42.4%
1977 2,207,603 1,115,723 1,091,880 50.54% 49.46% 928,297 42.05%
1976 2,150,615 1,087,136 1,063,479 50.55% 49.45% 896,806 41.7%
1975 2,096,071 1,059,773 1,036,298 50.56% 49.44% 866,725 41.35%
1974 2,044,080 1,033,896 1,010,184 50.58% 49.42% 838,073 41%
1973 1,994,315 1,009,123 985,192 50.6% 49.4% 810,888 40.66%
1972 1,945,920 985,025 960,895 50.62% 49.38% 779,730 40.07%
1971 1,897,780 961,036 936,744 50.64% 49.36% 748,674 39.45%
1970 1,849,057 936,732 912,325 50.66% 49.34% 717,989 38.83%
1969 1,799,509 911,811 887,698 50.67% 49.33% 687,592 38.21%
1968 1,749,263 886,701 862,562 50.69% 49.31% 657,723 37.6%
1967 1,698,269 861,192 837,077 50.71% 49.29% 628,190 36.99%
1966 1,646,557 835,298 811,259 50.73% 49.27% 599,182 36.39%
1965 1,594,268 809,091 785,177 50.75% 49.25% 570,589 35.79%
1964 1,541,328 782,378 758,950 50.76% 49.24% 542,547 35.2%
1963 1,487,893 755,552 732,341 50.78% 49.22% 514,960 34.61%
1962 1,434,636 728,652 705,984 50.79% 49.21% 493,515 34.4%
1961 1,382,430 702,274 680,156 50.8% 49.2% 474,588 34.33%
1960 1,331,985 676,782 655,203 50.81% 49.19% 456,205 34.25%
Source: Worldbank Open Data | Some data could be adjusted by Pediaglobe.

Cities in Costa Rica ordered by Population

The list offered below features the biggest cities of Costa Rica. Besides, in the table you will find information regarding the population size in these cities. Cities are ordered by population (largest to smallest).

Costa Rica

# City Population 2023
1 San Jose 339,898
2 Limon 63,838
3 San Francisco 56,667
4 Alajuela 48,211
5 Liberia 45,784
6 Paraiso 40,278
7 Puntarenas 36,049
8 San Isidro 35,414
9 Curridabat 35,081
10 San Vicente 34,847
11 San Vicente de Moravia 34,802
12 Purral 30,343
13 Turrialba 29,381
14 San Miguel 29,144
15 San Pedro 27,928
16 San Rafael Abajo 27,762
17 Quesada 27,720
18 Ipis 27,005
19 Cartago 26,823
20 Chacarita 26,610
21 Guadalupe 26,418
22 San Juan 26,396
23 Mercedes Norte 26,298
24 Aserri 26,239
25 San Rafael 25,629
26 San Felipe 25,222
27 Patarra 24,283
28 Tejar 22,740
29 Heredia 22,169
30 San Pablo 21,850
31 Calle Blancos 20,911
32 Canas 20,623
33 Guapiles 19,252
34 Siquirres 18,437
35 San Diego 17,234
36 Colima 16,075
37 Esparza 15,821
38 San Juan de Dios 15,608
39 Nicoya 15,452
40 San Rafael Arriba 15,220
41 Desamparados 14,613
42 Concepcion 14,234
43 Alajuelita 14,058
44 Sabanilla 13,403
45 Granadilla 12,857
46 Santa Cruz 12,489
47 San Josecito 12,367
48 Escazu 12,265
49 Naranjo 12,015
50 Buenos Aires 11,791
51 San Antonio 11,071
52 San Ramon 10,866
53 Tres Rios 10,574
54 Daniel Flores 10,186
55 Rio Segundo 9,989
56 Colon 9,800
57 Santiago 8,385
58 Santa Ana 8,121
59 Quepos 7,885
60 Tilaran 7,362
61 Corredor 7,158
62 Guacimo 7,116
63 Atenas 7,092
64 Golfito 6,864
65 Cot 6,850
66 Llorente 6,707
67 Miramar 6,603
68 Orotina 6,196
69 Salitrillos 5,809
70 Santo Domingo 5,791
71 Mercedes 5,511
72 Pocora 5,303
73 Juntas 4,798
74 Canoas 4,636
75 Batan 4,621
76 La Asuncion 4,447
77 Orosi 4,415
78 La Cruz 4,386
79 Carrillos 4,321
80 San Marcos 4,312

Other Countries from Central America Ranked by Population

Country Name Population 2023 Population density
Guatemala 18,452,611 130/km2
Honduras 10,183,541 85.7/km2
El Salvador 6,800,672 324/km2
Nicaragua 6,768,951 51/km2
Costa Rica 5,135,530 1.1/km2
Panama 4,433,818 56/km2
Belize 416,349 17.70/km2