International Migrant Population Statistics in Costa Rica (2026)
As of the 2024 data, 12.2% of the population in Costa Rica were international migrants, per World Bank World Development Indicators. Up from 10.3% in 2020 to 12.2% in 2024 (+1.9 percentage points). Costa Rica ranks #14 of 42 economies in Latin America & Caribbean on this measure, and #71 of 216 globally.
Key Statistics
- Latest value (2024)
- 12.2% (2024)
- International Migrant Population in Costa Rica as of 2024, the most recent observation in World Bank World Development Indicators data.
- Change since 2020
- +1.9 pp (2024)
- Up from 10.3% in 2020 to 12.2% in 2024 (+1.9 percentage points).
- Earliest value in this dataset (1990)
- 13.4% (1990)
- Earliest observation in this dataset, which covers 1990 onward (the source series may begin earlier). Down from 13.4% in 1990 to 12.2% in 2024.
- Peak value (1990)
- 13.4% (1990)
- Highest value in the available series; the 2024 value is 12.2%.
- Rank in Latin America & Caribbean
- #14 of 42 (2024)
- Costa Rica ranks 14 of 42 countries in Latin America & Caribbean with data, based on each country's latest value.
- Global rank
- #71 of 216 (2024)
- Costa Rica ranks 71 of 216 countries with data globally.
- Latin America & Caribbean average
- 15.3% (2024)
- Costa Rica (12.2%) is below the average of 15.3% across the 42 countries in Latin America & Caribbean with data.
- Personal remittances, received (current US$) (2024)
- $724.8 million (2024)
- Related indicator from World Bank World Development Indicators.
- Internet use in Costa Rica (2024)
- 87.2% (2024)
- 87.2% of the population in Costa Rica used the internet in 2024 (World Bank); shown for context only.
- Population (2024)
- 5.1 million (2024)
- Costa Rica had a population of 5.1 million in 2024 (World Bank); shown for scale only.
Trend, 1990–2024
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12.2% | +1.9 pp |
| 2020 | 10.3% | +1.8 pp |
| 2015 | 8.5% | −0.4 pp |
| 2010 | 8.9% | +0.5 pp |
| 2005 | 8.4% | +0.5 pp |
| 2000 | 7.9% | −2.4 pp |
| 1995 | 10.3% | −3.1 pp |
| 1990 | 13.4% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What share of people in Costa Rica were international migrants?
12.2% of the population in Costa Rica were international migrants in 2024, according to World Bank World Development Indicators data.
Where does Costa Rica rank globally on international migrant population?
Costa Rica ranks 71 of 216 countries with data globally, based on the latest World Bank World Development Indicators value for each country.
When did international migrant population in Costa Rica peak?
The highest value in the available series was 13.4% in 1990; the latest (2024) value is 12.2%.
Source & methodology
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator
SM.POP.TOTL.ZS, retrieved .
Figures are shown exactly as published in the source dataset; only the change column of the trend table is computed from adjacent published values.Read more on the methodology page. All figures are estimates and projections; this is not financial advice.
Last updated .