Costa Rica population pyramid 2026
Latin America and the Caribbean · Central America
5,174,789 people in 2026 (projected). Costa Rica went from about 6.7 children per woman in 1960 to 1.3 today, so its pyramid now narrows sharply below a wide band of adults born around 1982–96.
- 2026 population
- 5.2Mrank 127 of 237
- Median age
- 35.7 yearsoldest rank 100
- Fertility rate
- 1.31births per woman · below replacement
- Structure
- Older13.3% age 65+
Costa Rica population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Costa Rica age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 17.8% of the population, while 13.3% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 68.9% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Costa Rica’s age structure as older; the guide to constrictive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 45.2: about 45 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (25.9 children and 19.3 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Costa Rica’s population pyramid
Two steep falls in fertility
In 1950 Costa Rica had a classic high-fertility pyramid, with 44% of its population under 15 and a median age below 17. Fertility peaked at about 6.7 children per woman around 1960 and then fell unusually fast, to 3.6 by 1980. The 1975 pyramid already shows the change: the three youngest bands are nearly equal in size rather than each larger than the last. A slower decline followed, to about 2.4 in 2000, and then a second steep drop, from 1.8 in 2010 to about 1.3 in 2023, comparable to the low levels of southern Europe; the fertility rate by country ranking gives the wider comparison.
The 2026 pyramid shows the result. The widest bands are 30–44, people born around 1982–96 when about three children per woman were still the norm and the parent generation was large. Below them each band is smaller, and the gap widens towards the bottom: there are about 257,000 children under five against 351,000 aged 10–14. There are no strong irregular cohorts; the narrowing is steady.
Long lives and a modest migrant inflow
Life expectancy, about 81 years in 2023, is among the highest in Latin America, a level widely associated with the country’s broad public health system; it was already 76 by 1990. Women outlive men by about five years, and the female majority grows from the fifties, reaching 77 men per 100 women at 80–84.
Immigration, much of it from neighbouring Nicaragua, has added to the population: the UN estimates net gains of about 200,000 over 1950–99 and 73,000 over 2000–23. That inflow is too small and too spread across ages to produce a visible bulge, and it does not offset the decline in births.
A peak in the 2040s
Under the medium scenario the population peaks at about 5.4 million in 2044, the same year deaths are projected to overtake births, and falls to about 3.8 million by 2100. By 2050 the widest part of the pyramid has moved up to ages 50–64, and a quarter of residents are 65 or older, a case of fast population ageing. Costa Rica’s current structure is closest to Brazil, the Bahamas, Grenada and Chile.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
No five-year band under age 80 is more than 10% larger or smaller than both of its neighbours, so Costa Rica’s 2026 pyramid has a comparatively smooth profile without sharp bulges or notches.
Births outnumber deaths in 2026; the medium scenario projects deaths to exceed births from 2044. People aged 65 and older are projected to outnumber children under 15 by 2035.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Costa Rica is projected to record 50,203 births (about 137 births a day) and 29,901 deaths, a natural increase of 20,302. Net migration adds +966 people, ranking #89 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 1,651,484 births, 507,736 deaths, and cumulative net migration of +73,141. Over that period the balance of births and deaths moved the total more than migration did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of +27,209 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 83.9 years58.0 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 78.8 years56.9 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 21.0 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 6.0per 1,000 births · 100 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 7.1per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 28.6 yearssex ratio at birth 104.6
Women in Costa Rica are projected to live 5.1 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 100 to 6.0 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #155 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 28.6 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Costa Rica
The median age of 35.7 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 1.31 births per woman is below the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 81.4 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,174,789 | #127 | Largest first |
| Median age | 35.7 years | #100 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 1.31 | #210 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +0.4% | #146 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 81.4 years | #50 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 13.3% | #93 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Costa Rica
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 35–39 | 414,396 | 8.0% | 209.1K / 205.3K |
| 2 | 30–34 | 406,455 | 7.9% | 205.8K / 200.6K |
| 3 | 40–44 | 395,837 | 7.6% | 197.7K / 198.1K |
| 4 | 25–29 | 394,873 | 7.6% | 200.7K / 194.2K |
| 5 | 20–24 | 363,355 | 7.0% | 185.2K / 178.1K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Costa Rica has 2,556,037 males and 2,618,752 females. That is 97.6 males per 100 females, ranking #135 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 49.4% of the population and females for 50.6%. There are 62,715 more females than males overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 82.3 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 104.6 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Costa Rica has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 926,758 in 1950 to 5,174,789 in 2026, a change of 458%. Over the same span, median age moved from 16.8 to 35.7 years.
The under-15 share changed from 44.1% to 17.8%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 3.3% to 13.3%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Costa Rica’s population is projected to grow by about 3%, reaching 5,354,150 in 2050. The median age changes from 35.7 to 47.0 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 12.0 percentage points to 25.3%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 12.6%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The annual UN series reaches its highest projected population of 5,381,722 in 2044. That turning point depends on the medium scenario and may move in later revisions. Compare timing across countries in the population peak ranking.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 926,758 | 16.8 | 6.32 | 57.5 | 41,602 | 11,230 | +390 | +3.3% |
| 1960 | 1,327,496 | 15.7 | 6.71 | 63.5 | 60,357 | 11,500 | +910 | +3.8% |
| 1970 | 1,838,949 | 16.4 | 4.58 | 66.8 | 59,934 | 11,537 | +1,137 | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 2,390,634 | 19.3 | 3.58 | 73.0 | 72,588 | 10,030 | +2,387 | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 3,121,706 | 21.7 | 3.17 | 76.1 | 83,202 | 11,474 | +7,949 | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 3,937,739 | 24.2 | 2.41 | 77.3 | 79,689 | 15,421 | +8,826 | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 4,555,962 | 28.0 | 1.83 | 79.4 | 70,192 | 19,392 | +2,357 | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 5,034,320 | 32.5 | 1.45 | 79.7 | 57,220 | 28,056 | +1,029 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 5,105,526 | 34.1 | 1.33 | 80.8 | 51,969 | 27,861 | +995 | +0.5% |
| 2024* | 5,129,910 | 34.6 | 1.32 | 81.0 | 51,253 | 28,551 | +967 | +0.5% |
| 2026* | 5,174,789 | 35.7 | 1.31 | 81.4 | 50,203 | 29,901 | +966 | +0.4% |
| 2030* | 5,251,496 | 37.8 | 1.31 | 82.1 | 48,914 | 32,830 | +1,026 | +0.3% |
| 2040* | 5,369,806 | 42.7 | 1.35 | 83.8 | 46,424 | 41,747 | +1,074 | +0.1% |
| 2050* | 5,354,150 | 47.0 | 1.38 | 85.3 | 40,860 | 51,371 | +1,198 | -0.2% |
| 2060* | 5,189,194 | 50.6 | 1.41 | 86.6 | 34,879 | 58,562 | +1,029 | -0.4% |
| 2070* | 4,921,499 | 53.9 | 1.44 | 87.8 | 32,774 | 64,613 | +1,043 | -0.6% |
| 2080* | 4,572,927 | 55.7 | 1.46 | 89.0 | 29,941 | 69,367 | +1,039 | -0.8% |
| 2090* | 4,171,460 | 55.9 | 1.48 | 90.1 | 26,390 | 68,070 | +888 | -1.0% |
| 2100* | 3,776,474 | 56.2 | 1.49 | 91.2 | 24,321 | 62,891 | +702 | -1.0% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 131,091 | 125,520 | 256,611 | 5.0% |
| 5–9 | 160,739 | 154,181 | 314,920 | 6.1% |
| 10–14 | 179,402 | 171,899 | 351,301 | 6.8% |
| 15–19 | 184,000 | 176,361 | 360,361 | 7.0% |
| 20–24 | 185,230 | 178,125 | 363,355 | 7.0% |
| 25–29 | 200,693 | 194,180 | 394,873 | 7.6% |
| 30–34 | 205,847 | 200,608 | 406,455 | 7.9% |
| 35–39 | 209,119 | 205,277 | 414,396 | 8.0% |
| 40–44 | 197,737 | 198,100 | 395,837 | 7.6% |
| 45–49 | 171,303 | 177,930 | 349,233 | 6.7% |
| 50–54 | 147,526 | 159,083 | 306,609 | 5.9% |
| 55–59 | 138,913 | 152,581 | 291,494 | 5.6% |
| 60–64 | 133,792 | 147,564 | 281,356 | 5.4% |
| 65–69 | 111,382 | 125,204 | 236,586 | 4.6% |
| 70–74 | 82,110 | 95,038 | 177,148 | 3.4% |
| 75–79 | 57,724 | 69,152 | 126,876 | 2.5% |
| 80–84 | 34,630 | 44,941 | 79,571 | 1.5% |
| 85–89 | 17,244 | 26,198 | 43,442 | 0.8% |
| 90–94 | 6,095 | 12,229 | 18,324 | 0.4% |
| 95–99 | 1,312 | 3,863 | 5,175 | 0.1% |
| 100+ | 147 | 719 | 866 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Costa Rica’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Brazil97% overlap · median age 35.2
- Bahamas97% overlap · median age 35.7
- Grenada96% overlap · median age 34.9
- Chile96% overlap · median age 37.4
- French Polynesia96% overlap · median age 36.7
- Uruguay96% overlap · median age 36.7
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Costa Rica.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Costa Rica Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/costa-rica/
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“Costa Rica Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/costa-rica/.
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World Population Pyramid. “Costa Rica Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/costa-rica/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Costa Rica in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Costa Rica's population in 2026 is projected at 5,174,789.
What is the median age in Costa Rica?
The projected median age in Costa Rica in 2026 is 35.7 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Costa Rica?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 1.31 births per woman, below the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Costa Rica's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 3%, from 5.2M to 5.4M.
What share of Costa Rica is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 13.3% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 25.3%.
How many babies are born in Costa Rica each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 50,203 births and 29,901 deaths in 2026, about 137 births a day. Births exceed deaths by 20,302.
What is life expectancy in Costa Rica for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 83.9 years for women and 78.8 years for men, a gap of 5.1 years in favour of women.
Does Costa Rica have more immigrants or emigrants?
Costa Rica is projected to gain about 966 more people through migration than it loses in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of +73,141.
What is the sex ratio in Costa Rica?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 97.6 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.