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In 2026, Costa Rica's population is projected at 5,174,789. That is a 6-fold increase on the 926,758 recorded in 1950. It is growing modestly, at +0.41% a year, adding about 21.3K people a year. Settlement is fairly dense, at 101 people/km². Half the population is younger than 35.7 years, and the age structure is steadily tilting older: the median is projected to reach 47.0 by 2050. The sexes are close to evenly balanced, at 98 males per 100 females. By 2100, UN projections see it falling to 3,776,474 (-27% from 2026).
Total population
5,174,789
Density
101 people/km²
Median age
35.7 years
Growth rate
+0.41%
Costa Rica's population continues to grow, though at a moderate pace. The population is aging rapidly; median age will rise from 36 in 2026 to 47 by 2050. UN projections show a decline to 3.8M by 2100.