The population of Costa Rica is expected to grow by 37,000 in 2026 and reach 5,319,000 in 2027. Migration (including immigration and emigration) increases population by 2,196 people yearly. The population density of Costa Rica has changed from 46.8 in 1980 to 102.0 in 2024.
| Current population | 5,291,288 people at present (Tuesday 17th of March 2026) | |
| Median Age | 37.4 years |
| Population density | 103.5 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5,284,000 | 37,000 (0.7%) | 2,196 | 37.4 | 104 | 4,427,000 (83.8%) | |
| 2025 | 5,247,000 | 38,000 (0.7%) | 2,196 | 37.1 | 1.68 | 103 | 4,373,000 (83.3%) |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 2,699 | 36.7 | 102 | 4,317,000 (82.9%) | |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 2,699 | 36.4 | 101 | 4,258,000 (82.4%) | |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 2,699 | 36.1 | 101 | 4,197,000 (81.8%) | |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 2,699 | 35.7 | 100 | 4,133,000 (81.2%) | |
| 2020 | 5,044,000 | 45,000 (0.9%) | 2,699 | 35.4 | 1.73 | 99 | 4,066,000 (80.6%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 3,277 | 35.0 | 1.74 | 98 | 3,997,000 (79.9%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 3,277 | 34.7 | 1.76 | 97 | 3,925,000 (79.2%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 3,277 | 34.3 | 1.77 | 96 | 3,850,000 (78.5%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 3,277 | 34.0 | 1.79 | 95 | 3,772,888 (77.7%) |
| 2015 | 4,807,852 | 50,277 (1.1%) | 3,277 | 33.7 | 1.80 | 94 | 3,693,440 (76.8%) |
| 2010 | 4,545,280 | 57,017 (1.3%) | 3,932 | 32.0 | 1.92 | 89 | 3,260,511 (71.7%) |
| 2005 | 4,247,841 | 60,803 (1.4%) | 6,068 | 30.3 | 2.07 | 83 | 2,789,515 (65.7%) |
| 2000 | 3,925,443 | 76,720 (2.0%) | 8,358 | 28.7 | 2.37 | 77 | 2,317,935 (59.0%) |
| 1995 | 3,510,926 | 85,236 (2.4%) | 17,905 | 27.4 | 2.82 | 69 | 1,915,526 (54.6%) |
| 1990 | 3,095,995 | 77,040 (2.5%) | 13,840 | 26.3 | 3.17 | 61 | 1,548,059 (50.0%) |
| 1985 | 2,730,233 | 70,452 (2.6%) | 3,483 | 25.6 | 3.41 | 53 | 1,240,754 (45.4%) |
| 1980 | 2,389,310 | 62,606 (2.6%) | 3,775 | 24.8 | 3.59 | 47 | 1,029,769 (43.1%) |
| 1975 | 2,097,407 | 51,827 (2.5%) | 3,485 | 24.0 | 3.81 | 41 | 867,257 (41.3%) |
| 1970 | 1,848,866 | 50,555 (2.7%) | 2,528 | 23.0 | 4.61 | 36 | 717,859 (38.8%) |
| 1965 | 1,589,621 | 52,580 (3.3%) | 1,565 | 22.5 | 5.85 | 31 | 568,941 (35.8%) |
| 1960 | 1,333,040 | 48,877 (3.5%) | 1,581 | 22.5 | 6.45 | 26 | 456,620 (34.3%) |
In 2025 the population of Costa Rica was 5,247,000 and the average age increased from 22.5 in 1960 to 37.1. Urban population has increased from 2,317,935 (59.0%) in 2000 to 4,427,000 (83.8%) in the current year. The population density of Costa Rica has changed from 46.8 in 1980 to 102.0 in 2024.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 2,699 | 35.4 | 1.73 | 99 | 4,066,000 (80.6%) |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 2,196 | 37.1 | 1.68 | 103 | 4,373,000 (83.3%) |
| 2030 | 5,417,000 | 31,000 (0.6%) | 1,758 | 38.8 | 1.66 | 106 | 4,618,000 (85.2%) |
| 2035 | 5,554,000 | 25,000 (0.5%) | 1,756 | 40.4 | 1.66 | 109 | 4,802,000 (86.5%) |
| 2040 | 5,659,000 | 19,000 (0.3%) | 1,755 | 41.9 | 1.67 | 111 | 4,935,000 (87.2%) |
| 2045 | 5,733,000 | 13,000 (0.2%) | 1,756 | 43.3 | 1.68 | 112 | 5,040,000 (87.9%) |
| 2050 | 5,774,000 | 6,000 (0.1%) | 1,756 | 44.5 | 1.69 | 113 | 5,115,000 (88.6%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 85.4 (84.0 years for male and 86.9 years for females). Population density will go up to 113.1 people per square kilometer.
The demographics of Costa Rica constitutes of 2,645,000 women and 2,639,000 men, which means there are 998 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 25.9% of population (1,370,670) is 19 or younger, 61.0% of population (3,222,712) is between age 20 and 64 and 13.1% of population (692,732) is over 65.