Population of Costa Rica

As of May 2026, the population of Costa Rica is 5.3 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 32 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 0.62%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 30.6 years in 2016 to 35.3 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 80.9 years and population density is 104 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Costa Rica peaked in 1960, reaching around 3.65% annually, but has since declined to approximately 0.6% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 83.84 thousand in 1994 to nearly 31.95 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Costa Rica, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 78.5 years in 2006 to 80.9 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 2 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Costa Rica

The cities of Costa Rica are small, with the 5 most populated adding up to around 546.9 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is San José, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 335 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by Limón, Limón Province with 63.1 thousand and San Francisco, Heredia Province with 55.9 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Costa Rica: