MigrantoCosta Rican Diaspora
51K Costa Ricans live abroad — 1% of the population of Costa Rica
Costa Rican diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 61% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Panama | 14218 |
| Nicaragua | 11707 |
| Canada | 5117 |
| Mexico | 4592 |
| Colombia | 2070 |
| Italy | 1840 |
| Guatemala | 1373 |
| Chile | 1067 |
| Venezuela | 1012 |
| Peru | 912 |
| El Salvador | 901 |
| Honduras | 895 |
| Puerto Rico | 835 |
| Argentina | 719 |
| Australia | 674 |
| Brazil | 462 |
| Ecuador | 431 |
| Norway | 356 |
| Dominican Republic | 345 |
| Haiti | 277 |
| Denmark | 220 |
| Bolivia | 181 |
| Cayman Islands | 157 |
| Hungary | 116 |
| Guinea | 108 |
| Jamaica | 102 |
| Finland | 86 |
| Bahamas | 59 |
| Greece | 39 |
| Luxembourg | 33 |
| Iceland | 27 |
| Slovakia | 17 |
| Estonia | 12 |
| Bulgaria | 11 |
| Slovenia | 6 |
| Liechtenstein | 4 |
| Cyprus | 1 |
| Latvia | 0 |
By region
83% of the diaspora lives in Latin America
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Key facts
The Costa Rican diaspora in numbers
Most Costa Ricans abroad live in Panama
28% of the diaspora lives in Panama, while the next country accounts for just 23%.
The diaspora has grown 17% since 2020
The number of Costa Ricans living abroad rose from 43.5K to 51K in four years.
Costa Rican diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 22922 |
| 1995 | 22763 |
| 2000 | 26493 |
| 2005 | 30258 |
| 2010 | 34241 |
| 2015 | 39023 |
| 2020 | 43504 |
| 2024 | 50982 |
Largest communities over time
Costa Ricans living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Panama | Nicaragua | Canada | Mexico | Colombia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3919 | 5959 | 1225 | 1929 | 326 |
| 1995 | 4155 | 4727 | 1622 | 2050 | 497 |
| 2000 | 4654 | 6948 | 2127 | 2185 | 646 |
| 2005 | 5121 | 9343 | 2854 | 2330 | 840 |
| 2010 | 6629 | 9989 | 4299 | 2500 | 1099 |
| 2015 | 7760 | 10772 | 4743 | 3104 | 1440 |
| 2020 | 9320 | 11281 | 4672 | 3900 | 1810 |
| 2024 | 14218 | 11707 | 5117 | 4592 | 2070 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Costa Ricans in each country has changed since the selected year
Costa Ricans among immigrants in other countries
Where Costa Ricans make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Costa Ricans live outside Costa Rica?
Around 51K Costa Ricans live abroad, the world's #164 largest diaspora.
Where do most Costa Ricans abroad live?
Most Costa Ricans live in Panama, Nicaragua and Canada — these three countries account for about 61% of all Costa Ricans living abroad.
Which country has the largest Costa Rican population outside Costa Rica?
Panama is home to the largest Costa Rican community abroad — 14.2K people, about 28% of all Costa Ricans living abroad.
What share of the population of Costa Rica lives abroad?
About 1% of the population of Costa Rica lives abroad — that's 51K out of a total population of 5.1M.
Is the Costa Rican diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Costa Ricans living abroad has grown from 39K to 51K, about 31%.
Where does the data on the Costa Rican diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Costa Rica who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Costa Rica
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