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Costa Rica Population Overview (2026 Projection)
Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, and sharing a maritime boundary with Ecuador near Cocos Island.
According to INEC – Costa Rica (Population and Housing Estimate 2022), the population of Costa Rica in 2022 was 5,044,197 (≈5 million). Based on the UN World Population Prospects, the projected population of Costa Rica in 2026 is 5,312,699 (≈5.3 million).
Costa Rica has a moderate population density, with a majority of inhabitants living in urban centers such as San José, Alajuela, and Heredia. The country has experienced steady population growth over recent decades, driven by birth rates, migration, and urbanization.
👉 Projected Population of Costa Rica (2026): ~5.3 million
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Costa Rica – Quick Facts
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Republic of Costa Rica |
| Region | Central America |
| Estimated Population (2026) | 5,312,699 |
| Population (2022 Census) | 5,044,197 |
| Population Rank (Central America) | 5th |
| Land Area | 51,100 sq. km (19,730 sq. mi) |
| Population Density | ~104 people per sq. km |
| Urban Population | 82% |
| Fertility Rate | 1.86 births per woman |
| Infant Mortality Rate | 9.3 per 1,000 live births |
| Median Age | 34.5 years |
| Life Expectancy | 80.1 years |
| Capital City | San José |
Source: INEC Costa Rica & UN World Population Prospects
Religion in Costa Rica
Christianity is the largest religion in Costa Rica, followed by 83.1% of the population, with Catholics as the largest group, followed by Protestants. Costa Rica’s religious landscape reflects strong Catholic traditions alongside a growing Evangelical and Protestant presence.
According to Latinobarómetro 2024, 54.8% of Costa Ricans identify as Roman Catholic, while 26.8% are Protestant, including Evangelicals (25%), Baptists (0.2%), Methodists (0.6%), Pentecostals (0.1%), Adventists (0.7%), and other Protestant denominations (0.2%). Smaller Christian groups include Jehovah’s Witnesses (0.8%) and Mormons (0.7%).
About 15.9% of the population is unaffiliated, including atheists, agnostics, and those who do not follow any organized religion. Non-Christian faiths, such as Jewish, Islam, Baháʼí, and Buddhist communities, make up roughly 1.2% of the population.
Religion Percentage in Costa Rica
| Religion / Affiliation | Percent |
|---|---|
| Catholic | 54.8% |
| Protestant (Total) | 26.8% |
| – Evangelical (no specific) | 25.0% |
| – Evangelical Baptist | 0.2% |
| – Evangelical Methodist | 0.6% |
| – Evangelical Pentecostal | 0.1% |
| – Adventist | 0.7% |
| – Protestant Others | 0.2% |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | 0.8% |
| Mormon | 0.7% |
| Believers, not church-affiliated | 1.0% |
| Other Religions | 0.2% |
| Unaffiliated | 15.9% |
| Agnostic | 0.5% |
| Atheist | 0.4% |
| None | 14.2% |
| Don’t know | 0.4% |
| No answer | 0.4% |
Source: Latinobarómetro 2024 – Costa Rica
Race and Ethnicity in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. The majority of the population, about 83.6%, is composed of mestizos and whites, primarily of Spanish and European ancestry. Whites also include families of Italian, German, English, Dutch, French, Irish, Portuguese, Polish, and Jewish descent.
Around 6.7% of Costa Ricans are Mulatto, a mix of white and Black ancestry. Indigenous peoples represent 2.4% of the population and are distributed among eight main ethnic groups: Quitirrisí, Matambú/Chorotega, Maleku, Bribri, Cabécar, Guaymí, Boruca, and Térraba, mostly living in rural reservations. About 1.05% are Black/Afro-Caribbean, and 0.2% are of Chinese ancestry, with other minor groups making up 0.84% and 2.21% not stated.
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
| Ethnic Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Mestizos & Whites | 83.64% |
| Mulatto | 6.72% |
| Indigenous | 2.42% |
| Black / Afro-Caribbean | 1.05% |
| Chinese | 0.21% |
| Other | 0.84% |
| Did not state | 2.21% |
Source: 2011 Census & Latinobarómetro 2024
Largest Cities in Costa Rica by Population
The largest cities in Costa Rica are concentrated in the Central Valley region, with San José being the most populous city and the country’s capital. Other major cities include Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, and Puntarenas.
| Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San José | 342,188 |
| 2 | Alajuela | 276,794 |
| 3 | Cartago | 151,744 |
| 4 | Heredia | 128,550 |
| 5 | Puntarenas | 122,335 |
| 6 | Limón | 96,314 |
| 7 | Liberia | 64,797 |
| 8 | San Isidro de El General | 45,773 |
| 9 | Quesada | 42,060 |
| 10 | Desamparados | 36,794 |
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