The population of Costa Rica is expected to grow by 21,839 in 2026 and reach 5,195,555 in 2027. Migration (including immigration and emigration) increases population by 966 people yearly. On average there are 50,534 births and 29,986 deaths in Costa Rica per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 0.40 percent per year. The population density of Costa Rica has changed from 46.8 in 1980 to 101.5 in 2024.
| Current population | 5,192,312 people at present (Wednesday 4th of November 2026) | |
| Median Age | 37.9 years |
| Life expectancy | 81.4 years | |
| Population density | 101.3 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5,174,789 | 21,839 (0.4%) | 966 | 37.9 | 1.31 | 101 | 4,146,550 (80.1%) |
| 2025 | 5,152,950 | 23,040 (0.5%) | 1,000 | 37.5 | 1.32 | 101 | 4,108,283 (79.7%) |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 967 | 37.0 | 1.32 | 101 | 4,068,571 (79.3%) |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 995 | 36.6 | 1.33 | 101 | 4,027,337 (78.9%) |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 1,006 | 36.2 | 1.34 | 101 | 3,986,165 (78.4%) |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 1,018 | 35.8 | 1.35 | 100 | 3,946,127 (78.0%) |
| 2020 | 5,034,320 | 34,767 (0.7%) | 1,029 | 35.4 | 1.45 | 99 | 3,902,663 (77.5%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 1,653 | 35.0 | 1.60 | 98 | 3,851,835 (77.0%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 1,673 | 34.6 | 1.71 | 97 | 3,795,429 (76.6%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 1,671 | 34.3 | 1.71 | 96 | 3,736,664 (76.1%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 1,649 | 33.9 | 1.75 | 95 | 3,676,643 (75.5%) |
| 2015 | 4,818,038 | 50,919 (1.1%) | 1,617 | 33.6 | 1.80 | 94 | 3,614,483 (75.0%) |
| 2010 | 4,555,962 | 56,171 (1.2%) | 2,357 | 31.8 | 1.83 | 89 | 3,257,884 (71.5%) |
| 2005 | 4,261,240 | 61,162 (1.4%) | 4,567 | 30.1 | 2.04 | 83 | 2,765,539 (64.9%) |
| 2000 | 3,937,739 | 75,638 (1.9%) | 8,826 | 28.4 | 2.41 | 77 | 2,325,087 (59.0%) |
| 1995 | 3,535,176 | 84,054 (2.4%) | 16,609 | 27.0 | 2.78 | 69 | 1,894,681 (53.6%) |
| 1990 | 3,121,706 | 77,879 (2.5%) | 7,949 | 25.9 | 3.17 | 61 | 1,516,519 (48.6%) |
| 1985 | 2,741,894 | 74,299 (2.7%) | 2,357 | 25.1 | 3.51 | 54 | 1,230,371 (44.9%) |
| 1980 | 2,390,633 | 64,143 (2.7%) | 2,387 | 24.4 | 3.58 | 47 | 1,025,451 (42.9%) |
| 1975 | 2,092,719 | 53,076 (2.5%) | 1,992 | 23.5 | 3.80 | 41 | 866,943 (41.4%) |
| 1970 | 1,838,949 | 49,673 (2.7%) | 1,137 | 22.5 | 4.59 | 36 | 713,808 (38.8%) |
| 1965 | 1,586,208 | 52,248 (3.3%) | 932 | 21.9 | 5.96 | 31 | 558,454 (35.2%) |
| 1960 | 1,327,496 | 50,424 (3.7%) | 910 | 21.9 | 6.71 | 26 | 452,743 (34.1%) |
In 2025 the population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 and the average age increased from 21.9 in 1960 to 37.5. Urban population has increased from 2,325,087 (59.0%) in 2000 to 4,146,550 (80.1%) in the current year. The population density of Costa Rica has changed from 46.8 in 1980 to 101.5 in 2024.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 1,029 | 35.4 | 1.45 | 99 | 3,902,663 (77.5%) |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 1,000 | 37.5 | 1.32 | 101 | 4,108,283 (79.7%) |
| 2030 | 5,251,497 | 17,616 (0.3%) | 1,026 | 39.6 | 1.31 | 103 | 4,285,588 (81.6%) |
| 2035 | 5,324,699 | 12,537 (0.2%) | 1,089 | 41.5 | 1.33 | 104 | 4,426,519 (83.1%) |
| 2040 | 5,369,806 | 6,442 (0.1%) | 1,074 | 43.3 | 1.35 | 105 | 4,525,217 (84.3%) |
| 2045 | 5,381,019 | -703 (0.0%) | 1,113 | 45.0 | 1.37 | 105 | 4,573,663 (85.0%) |
| 2050 | 5,354,150 | -8,500 (-0.2%) | 1,198 | 46.5 | 1.38 | 105 | 4,565,816 (85.3%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 85.3 (83.4 years for male and 87.1 years for females). Population density will go up to 104.9 people per square kilometer.
The population growth rate is 0.42% (23,040 residents, including 28,553 deaths). The demographics of Costa Rica constitutes of 2,618,752 women and 2,556,037 men, which means there are 976 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 24.8% of population (1,283,865) is 19 or younger, 61.9% of population (3,203,712) is between age 20 and 64 and 13.3% of population (688,764) is over 65.