Costa Rica
- Fertility
- 1.32 28 of 237 with a TFR, lowest first
- World population rank
- 127 of 237
- Regional population rank
- 18 of 50 in Latin America and the Caribbean
- Population
- 5.13m
- Annual change
- +23,670
- Natural change
- +22,702
- Migrant share
- 12.3%
What drives population change?
Births and deaths set natural change. Net migration can reinforce, reduce, or reverse that direction.
Positive net migration adds to natural growth.
Costa Rica, 2024 projected: natural change +22,702 people, net migration +967, WPP adjustment +1, total population change +23,670. Positive net migration adds to natural growth.
Exact reconciliation: WPP includes a +1-person statistical adjustment. Figures are rounded to whole people.
SOURCE · UN WPP 2024 CHECKS PASSED · DETAILS⌄
Growth in this series
- Current run
- Since 1950 75 consecutive years · projected 2024
- Latest annual gain
- +23,670 0.46% of 2024 population
- Series maximum
- projected 2044 Projected from the WPP medium variant, not a forecast.
Costa Rica observed 2023 population pyramid. Mirrored bars compare male and female population from oldest to youngest across 85+, 80–84, 75–79, 70–74, 65–69, 60–64, 55–59, 50–54, 45–49, 40–44, 35–39, 30–34, 25–29, 20–24, 15–19, 10–14, 5–9, 0–4 age bands.
| Year | Population | Annual change | Fertility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5.13m | +23,670 | 1.32 |
| 2050 | 5.35m | −9,311 | 1.38 |
| 2080 | 4.57m | −38,384 | 1.46 |
| 2100 | 3.78m | −37,867 | 1.49 |
Values after 2023 are medium-variant projections, not forecasts.
Youth and older population
Annual share of the population aged under 18 and aged 65+. The crossing shows when the older group first becomes larger in the annual source series.
- First annual crossover
- 2035 · projected
- Rule
- 65+ strictly exceeds under 18
Costa Rica annual age balance from 1950 to 2100. Under-18 population moves from 50.4% in 1950 to 23.6% in 2023 and 12.6% in the 2100 projection. Population aged 65 and older moves from 3.3% to 11.7% and 40.5%. First annual crossover: 2035 · projected. Estimates run through 2023 and WPP Medium projections begin in 2024.
- 1950
- Under 18 · 50.4%65+ · 3.3%
- 2023 observed
- Under 18 · 23.6%65+ · 11.7%
- 2100 projected
- Under 18 · 12.6%65+ · 40.5%
Annual evidence · 151 source rows
| Year | Evidence | Under 18 | Share | 65+ | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | observed | 466,880 | 50.4% | 30,982 | 3.3% |
| 1951 | observed | 484,676 | 50.6% | 31,364 | 3.3% |
| 1952 | observed | 503,587 | 50.8% | 31,883 | 3.2% |
| 1953 | observed | 523,585 | 51.0% | 32,545 | 3.2% |
| 1954 | observed | 544,610 | 51.2% | 33,373 | 3.1% |
| 1955 | observed | 566,521 | 51.4% | 34,309 | 3.1% |
| 1956 | observed | 589,525 | 51.5% | 35,377 | 3.1% |
| 1957 | observed | 614,048 | 51.7% | 36,478 | 3.1% |
| 1958 | observed | 640,236 | 52.0% | 37,624 | 3.1% |
| 1959 | observed | 667,808 | 52.2% | 38,904 | 3.0% |
| 1960 | observed | 696,438 | 52.5% | 40,317 | 3.0% |
| 1961 | observed | 725,738 | 52.7% | 41,854 | 3.0% |
| 1962 | observed | 755,183 | 52.8% | 43,517 | 3.0% |
| 1963 | observed | 784,165 | 52.9% | 45,289 | 3.1% |
| 1964 | observed | 812,083 | 52.9% | 47,130 | 3.1% |
| 1965 | observed | 838,634 | 52.9% | 49,017 | 3.1% |
| 1966 | observed | 863,412 | 52.7% | 50,954 | 3.1% |
| 1967 | observed | 886,228 | 52.5% | 52,961 | 3.1% |
| 1968 | observed | 906,719 | 52.1% | 55,038 | 3.2% |
| 1969 | observed | 925,200 | 51.7% | 57,214 | 3.2% |
| 1970 | observed | 942,181 | 51.2% | 59,556 | 3.2% |
| 1971 | observed | 957,442 | 50.7% | 62,096 | 3.3% |
| 1972 | observed | 971,175 | 50.1% | 64,842 | 3.3% |
| 1973 | observed | 983,653 | 49.5% | 67,803 | 3.4% |
| 1974 | observed | 995,453 | 48.8% | 70,958 | 3.5% |
| 1975 | observed | 1,006,916 | 48.1% | 74,327 | 3.6% |
| 1976 | observed | 1,018,159 | 47.4% | 77,876 | 3.6% |
| 1977 | observed | 1,029,546 | 46.7% | 81,540 | 3.7% |
| 1978 | observed | 1,041,401 | 46.0% | 85,265 | 3.8% |
| 1979 | observed | 1,054,261 | 45.3% | 89,018 | 3.8% |
| 1980 | observed | 1,068,121 | 44.7% | 92,789 | 3.9% |
| 1981 | observed | 1,083,071 | 44.1% | 96,555 | 3.9% |
| 1982 | observed | 1,099,798 | 43.6% | 100,371 | 4.0% |
| 1983 | observed | 1,118,643 | 43.1% | 104,345 | 4.0% |
| 1984 | observed | 1,139,840 | 42.7% | 108,582 | 4.1% |
| 1985 | observed | 1,163,443 | 42.4% | 113,116 | 4.1% |
| 1986 | observed | 1,189,311 | 42.2% | 117,883 | 4.2% |
| 1987 | observed | 1,216,101 | 42.0% | 122,969 | 4.3% |
| 1988 | observed | 1,242,782 | 41.9% | 128,486 | 4.3% |
| 1989 | observed | 1,269,425 | 41.7% | 134,447 | 4.4% |
| 1990 | observed | 1,296,082 | 41.5% | 140,802 | 4.5% |
| 1991 | observed | 1,322,336 | 41.3% | 147,585 | 4.6% |
| 1992 | observed | 1,347,340 | 41.0% | 154,766 | 4.7% |
| 1993 | observed | 1,370,753 | 40.7% | 162,259 | 4.8% |
| 1994 | observed | 1,392,207 | 40.3% | 169,884 | 4.9% |
| 1995 | observed | 1,411,348 | 39.9% | 177,632 | 5.0% |
| 1996 | observed | 1,427,639 | 39.4% | 185,534 | 5.1% |
| 1997 | observed | 1,440,488 | 38.9% | 193,592 | 5.2% |
| 1998 | observed | 1,450,589 | 38.3% | 201,870 | 5.3% |
| 1999 | observed | 1,458,692 | 37.8% | 210,443 | 5.4% |
| 2000 | observed | 1,464,013 | 37.2% | 219,317 | 5.6% |
| 2001 | observed | 1,465,447 | 36.6% | 228,635 | 5.7% |
| 2002 | observed | 1,461,720 | 35.9% | 238,555 | 5.9% |
| 2003 | observed | 1,453,274 | 35.1% | 249,024 | 6.0% |
| 2004 | observed | 1,442,341 | 34.3% | 259,882 | 6.2% |
| 2005 | observed | 1,431,269 | 33.6% | 271,172 | 6.4% |
| 2006 | observed | 1,419,527 | 32.8% | 282,969 | 6.5% |
| 2007 | observed | 1,407,480 | 32.1% | 295,275 | 6.7% |
| 2008 | observed | 1,397,420 | 31.5% | 308,102 | 6.9% |
| 2009 | observed | 1,388,592 | 30.9% | 321,573 | 7.1% |
| 2010 | observed | 1,377,963 | 30.2% | 335,781 | 7.4% |
| 2011 | observed | 1,366,587 | 29.6% | 350,930 | 7.6% |
| 2012 | observed | 1,356,334 | 29.1% | 367,121 | 7.9% |
| 2013 | observed | 1,344,921 | 28.5% | 384,492 | 8.2% |
| 2014 | observed | 1,333,607 | 28.0% | 402,878 | 8.5% |
| 2015 | observed | 1,323,897 | 27.5% | 422,011 | 8.8% |
| 2016 | observed | 1,313,824 | 27.0% | 441,672 | 9.1% |
| 2017 | observed | 1,302,179 | 26.5% | 461,841 | 9.4% |
| 2018 | observed | 1,289,913 | 26.0% | 483,000 | 9.7% |
| 2019 | observed | 1,276,599 | 25.5% | 505,230 | 10.1% |
| 2020 | observed | 1,260,927 | 25.0% | 527,848 | 10.5% |
| 2021 | observed | 1,242,789 | 24.6% | 549,791 | 10.9% |
| 2022 | observed | 1,223,381 | 24.1% | 572,310 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | observed | 1,202,948 | 23.6% | 598,307 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | projected | 1,182,507 | 23.1% | 627,139 | 12.2% |
| 2025 | projected | 1,161,871 | 22.5% | 657,102 | 12.8% |
| 2026 | projected | 1,138,986 | 22.0% | 687,982 | 13.3% |
| 2027 | projected | 1,114,958 | 21.5% | 719,457 | 13.8% |
| 2028 | projected | 1,092,784 | 21.0% | 751,141 | 14.4% |
| 2029 | projected | 1,071,155 | 20.5% | 782,685 | 15.0% |
| 2030 | projected | 1,048,325 | 20.0% | 813,780 | 15.5% |
| 2031 | projected | 1,026,751 | 19.5% | 844,158 | 16.0% |
| 2032 | projected | 1,005,657 | 19.0% | 873,626 | 16.5% |
| 2033 | projected | 983,802 | 18.6% | 901,623 | 17.0% |
| 2034 | projected | 962,574 | 18.1% | 928,513 | 17.5% |
| 2035 | projected | 942,573 | 17.7% | 954,827 | 17.9% |
| 2036 | projected | 923,084 | 17.3% | 980,325 | 18.4% |
| 2037 | projected | 905,627 | 16.9% | 1,005,072 | 18.8% |
| 2038 | projected | 893,050 | 16.7% | 1,029,206 | 19.2% |
| 2039 | projected | 885,069 | 16.5% | 1,053,218 | 19.6% |
| 2040 | projected | 879,044 | 16.4% | 1,077,456 | 20.1% |
| 2041 | projected | 873,327 | 16.2% | 1,102,116 | 20.5% |
| 2042 | projected | 867,797 | 16.1% | 1,127,388 | 21.0% |
| 2043 | projected | 862,482 | 16.0% | 1,153,308 | 21.4% |
| 2044 | projected | 857,215 | 15.9% | 1,180,103 | 21.9% |
| 2045 | projected | 851,781 | 15.8% | 1,207,475 | 22.4% |
| 2046 | projected | 846,125 | 15.7% | 1,235,202 | 23.0% |
| 2047 | projected | 840,195 | 15.6% | 1,263,588 | 23.5% |
| 2048 | projected | 833,896 | 15.5% | 1,292,727 | 24.1% |
| 2049 | projected | 827,167 | 15.4% | 1,322,700 | 24.7% |
| 2050 | projected | 819,893 | 15.3% | 1,353,488 | 25.3% |
| 2051 | projected | 812,057 | 15.2% | 1,384,460 | 25.9% |
| 2052 | projected | 803,732 | 15.1% | 1,414,859 | 26.5% |
| 2053 | projected | 794,923 | 14.9% | 1,444,422 | 27.2% |
| 2054 | projected | 785,643 | 14.8% | 1,472,981 | 27.8% |
| 2055 | projected | 775,934 | 14.7% | 1,500,471 | 28.4% |
| 2056 | projected | 765,835 | 14.5% | 1,526,705 | 29.0% |
| 2057 | projected | 755,470 | 14.4% | 1,551,698 | 29.5% |
| 2058 | projected | 744,971 | 14.2% | 1,575,747 | 30.1% |
| 2059 | projected | 734,360 | 14.1% | 1,598,909 | 30.7% |
| 2060 | projected | 723,684 | 13.9% | 1,621,102 | 31.2% |
| 2061 | projected | 713,034 | 13.8% | 1,641,959 | 31.8% |
| 2062 | projected | 702,580 | 13.7% | 1,661,279 | 32.3% |
| 2063 | projected | 692,422 | 13.5% | 1,679,506 | 32.8% |
| 2064 | projected | 682,605 | 13.4% | 1,697,204 | 33.3% |
| 2065 | projected | 673,177 | 13.3% | 1,714,196 | 33.8% |
| 2066 | projected | 664,200 | 13.2% | 1,729,440 | 34.3% |
| 2067 | projected | 655,743 | 13.1% | 1,741,478 | 34.8% |
| 2068 | projected | 647,835 | 13.0% | 1,750,528 | 35.1% |
| 2069 | projected | 640,428 | 12.9% | 1,757,940 | 35.5% |
| 2070 | projected | 633,523 | 12.9% | 1,765,077 | 35.9% |
| 2071 | projected | 627,145 | 12.8% | 1,771,078 | 36.2% |
| 2072 | projected | 621,229 | 12.8% | 1,776,069 | 36.6% |
| 2073 | projected | 615,721 | 12.8% | 1,782,094 | 36.9% |
| 2074 | projected | 610,597 | 12.7% | 1,788,241 | 37.3% |
| 2075 | projected | 605,794 | 12.7% | 1,791,741 | 37.7% |
| 2076 | projected | 601,274 | 12.7% | 1,793,931 | 38.0% |
| 2077 | projected | 596,949 | 12.7% | 1,796,576 | 38.3% |
| 2078 | projected | 592,717 | 12.8% | 1,797,454 | 38.7% |
| 2079 | projected | 588,520 | 12.8% | 1,797,403 | 39.0% |
| 2080 | projected | 584,265 | 12.8% | 1,797,650 | 39.3% |
| 2081 | projected | 579,875 | 12.8% | 1,796,891 | 39.6% |
| 2082 | projected | 575,325 | 12.8% | 1,794,604 | 39.9% |
| 2083 | projected | 570,633 | 12.8% | 1,791,569 | 40.2% |
| 2084 | projected | 565,754 | 12.8% | 1,786,412 | 40.5% |
| 2085 | projected | 560,619 | 12.8% | 1,776,473 | 40.6% |
| 2086 | projected | 555,281 | 12.8% | 1,762,003 | 40.6% |
| 2087 | projected | 549,774 | 12.8% | 1,745,481 | 40.7% |
| 2088 | projected | 544,126 | 12.8% | 1,728,576 | 40.6% |
| 2089 | projected | 538,338 | 12.8% | 1,711,487 | 40.6% |
| 2090 | projected | 532,435 | 12.8% | 1,694,146 | 40.6% |
| 2091 | projected | 526,479 | 12.7% | 1,676,703 | 40.6% |
| 2092 | projected | 520,512 | 12.7% | 1,659,353 | 40.6% |
| 2093 | projected | 514,558 | 12.7% | 1,642,133 | 40.5% |
| 2094 | projected | 508,634 | 12.7% | 1,625,107 | 40.5% |
| 2095 | projected | 502,775 | 12.7% | 1,608,371 | 40.5% |
| 2096 | projected | 497,038 | 12.6% | 1,591,917 | 40.5% |
| 2097 | projected | 491,475 | 12.6% | 1,575,844 | 40.5% |
| 2098 | projected | 486,097 | 12.6% | 1,560,178 | 40.5% |
| 2099 | projected | 480,935 | 12.6% | 1,544,867 | 40.5% |
| 2100 | projected | 475,967 | 12.6% | 1,529,885 | 40.5% |