Costa Rica Birth Rate
Crude birth rate per 1,000 people SP.DYN.CBRT.IN
Costa Rica's birth rate was 8.6 in 2025, ranked 172nd globally. This represents a 15.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Costa Rica's birth rate stood at 8.6 in 2025, a decline of +1.6 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 8.6 by 2025. Costa Rica ranked 172nd globally.
Costa Rica’s birth rate has fallen dramatically over the 65‑year span from 45.47 in 1960, the all‑time peak, to 8.61 in 2025, the lowest figure recorded and the 172nd lowest globally. This decline represents a reduction of more than 80 percent and mirrors the demographic transition experienced by many middle‑income nations that have expanded education, health services and female labour‑force participation. The 2025 rate of 8.61 is closely aligned with peer countries such as Bulgaria (8.60) and Switzerland (8.72), indicating that Costa Rica now shares a low‑fertility profile with both European and high‑human‑development economies. The sustained drop reflects persistent urbanisation, widespread access to contraception and shifting cultural preferences toward smaller families. If current policies that support maternal health and child welfare continue, the birth rate is likely to stabilise around the low‑single‑digit range, although any reversal in economic conditions or a resurgence of pronatalist incentives could alter this trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Birth Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 8.0 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 8.6 | - | - |
| 2025 | 8.6 | −1.6 | #172 |
| 2023 | 10.2 | −0.1 | #61 |
| 2022 | 10.3 | −0.2 | #62 |
| 2021 | 10.5 | −0.8 | #59 |
| 2020 | 11.4 | −1.3 | #70 |
| 2019 | 12.7 | −1.0 | #90 |
| 2018 | 13.6 | −0.2 | #93 |
| 2017 | 13.8 | −0.4 | #91 |
| 2016 | 14.2 | −0.5 | #90 |
| 2015 | 14.7 | −0.1 | #88 |
| 2014 | 14.8 | +0.1 | #89 |
| 2013 | 14.8 | −0.7 | #87 |
| 2012 | 15.5 | −0.3 | #90 |
| 2011 | 15.8 | +0.4 | #90 |
| 2010 | 15.4 | −1.1 | #87 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Costa Rica matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 1995. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw birth rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Rica's birth rate was 8.6 in 2025. Ranked 172nd globally. This represents a 15.4% decrease from the previous year.
Costa Rica's birth rate peaked at 45.5 in 1960.
The lowest birth rate in Costa Rica was 8.6 in 2025.
Costa Rica ranks 172nd globally in birth rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.DYN.CBRT.IN. Data sourced from World Bank.
Costa Rica's birth rate is projected to reach 8.6 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The birth rate of Costa Rica in 2025 was 8.6. This ranks 172nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_costa-rica_birth-rate,
title = {Costa Rica Birth Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/costa-rica/birth-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}