Net migration in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Net migration was 1,000 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Costa Rica, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Costa Rica is 1,000, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 3.4% on the previous year and down 38.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Costa Rica peaked at 17,393 in 1996 and was at its lowest, 910, in 1960.
That places Costa Rica 64th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 910 | — |
| 1961 | 924 | +1.5% |
| 1962 | 934 | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 938 | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 934 | -0.4% |
| 1965 | 932 | -0.2% |
| 1966 | 930 | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 926 | -0.4% |
| 1968 | 939 | +1.4% |
| 1969 | 1,017 | +8.3% |
| 1970 | 1,137 | +11.8% |
| 1971 | 1,296 | +14.0% |
| 1972 | 1,366 | +5.4% |
| 1973 | 1,468 | +7.5% |
| 1974 | 1,839 | +25.3% |
| 1975 | 1,992 | +8.3% |
| 1976 | 2,129 | +6.9% |
| 1977 | 2,228 | +4.7% |
| 1978 | 2,296 | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 2,349 | +2.3% |
| 1980 | 2,387 | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 2,431 | +1.8% |
| 1982 | 2,453 | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 2,449 | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 2,402 | -1.9% |
| 1985 | 2,357 | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 2,302 | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 2,267 | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 2,414 | +6.5% |
| 1989 | 3,758 | +55.7% |
| 1990 | 7,949 | +111.5% |
| 1991 | 10,757 | +35.3% |
| 1992 | 13,069 | +21.5% |
| 1993 | 14,431 | +10.4% |
| 1994 | 15,587 | +8.0% |
| 1995 | 16,609 | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 17,393 | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 16,954 | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 15,556 | -8.2% |
| 1999 | 13,253 | -14.8% |
| 2000 | 8,826 | -33.4% |
| 2001 | 7,119 | -19.3% |
| 2002 | 5,812 | -18.4% |
| 2003 | 5,216 | -10.3% |
| 2004 | 4,856 | -6.9% |
| 2005 | 4,567 | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 4,321 | -5.4% |
| 2007 | 4,080 | -5.6% |
| 2008 | 3,794 | -7.0% |
| 2009 | 3,432 | -9.5% |
| 2010 | 2,357 | -31.3% |
| 2011 | 1,695 | -28.1% |
| 2012 | 1,587 | -6.4% |
| 2013 | 1,579 | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 1,589 | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 1,617 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 1,649 | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 1,671 | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 1,673 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 1,653 | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 1,029 | -37.7% |
| 2021 | 1,018 | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 1,006 | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 995 | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 967 | -2.8% |
| 2025 | 1,000 | +3.4% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 1,000 is above the median for high income countries, which is 843, 1.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 1,000 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is -213.5. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Costa Rica changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +111.5% | 3,758 | 7,949 |
| 1989 | +55.7% | 2,414 | 3,758 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 938.4 | 910 | 1,017 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1,810 | 1,137 | 2,349 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2,522 | 2,267 | 3,758 | 10 |
| 1990s | 14,156 | 7,949 | 17,393 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,202 | 3,432 | 8,826 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,707 | 1,579 | 2,357 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,002 | 967 | 1,029 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More financial sector data for Costa Rica
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0009 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 18.96 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0007 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 13.85 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0009 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 18.96 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Costa Rica?
- Net migration in Costa Rica was 1,000 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 17,393 in 1996.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 910 in 1960.
- How does Costa Rica rank for net migration?
- Costa Rica ranks 64th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.