From The Rio Times · Contributing Reporter · · 1m 50s
Costa Rica Population Breakdown
Costa Rica's population of 5.15 million is aging, mixed, and growing slower than before.
In brief
Costa Rica's population of 5.15 million is aging, mixed, and growing slower than before. Costa Rica has 5.15 million people, with 10.1% aged 65+ and 83.6% white or mestizo. Originally reported by The Rio Times.
Population Estimate
Costa Rica's population is 5,044,197 in 2022, with the World Bank showing 5.15 million in 2025.
Age Distribution
20.8% of people are under 15, and 10.1% are 65 or older in 2022.
Ethnic Groups
83.6% identify as white or mestizo, 7.8% as Afro-descendant, and 2.4% as indigenous.
Foreign-Born Residents
12.2% of Costa Ricans are foreign-born, with Nicaraguans making up 74.6% of that group.
Urban Population
79.7% of Costa Ricans live in urban areas, up from 72.8% in the 2011 census.
Indigenous Peoples
The Bribri and Cabecar are the largest indigenous groups, with 18,198 and 16,985 people respectively.
Afro-Costa Ricans
Limón province has the highest Afro-descendant share at 13.3%, with 51,344 residents.
Population Aging
Births per woman dropped to 1.32 in 2024, down from 1.8 in 2011, causing rapid aging.
Growth Rates
Guanacaste grew 2.12% annually between 2011 and 2022, the fastest among provinces.
Language and Faith
Spanish is the official language, and Catholicism is the state religion with protections for other beliefs.
US Readers
People born in the United States are the third-largest foreign group in Costa Rica.
What's Unknown
INEC has no 2022 ethnic breakdown, so 2011 census data is the latest available.
Key Statistics
Life expectancy is 81.0 years, with a crude birth rate of 10.0 per 1,000 people.
Regional Breakdown
San José holds 31.7% of the population, with 1,601,167 residents.
Population Trends
The population grew from 4.3 million in 2011 to 5.15 million in 2025, slowing significantly.
The takeaway
Costa Rica has 5.15 million people, with 10.1% aged 65+ and 83.6% white or mestizo.
