Costa Rica vs Switzerland: Population in largest city

Costa Rica
1.50 million
in 2025
Switzerland
1.46 million
in 2025
Costa Rica rank
104th
Switzerland rank
105th

Population in largest city over time

  • Costa Rica
  • Switzerland
0500.0k1.0M1.5M196019922025

How they compare

Costa Rica currently reports 1.50 million against 1.46 million in Switzerland, a difference of 47,540.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 66 shared years of data; in 1960 it was Switzerland ahead.

Costa Rica ranks 104th and Switzerland ranks 105th of 153 countries.

Across the 7 decades both report, Costa Rica averaged higher in 1 and Switzerland in 6.

Head to head by decade

Decade Costa Rica Switzerland Difference Ahead
1960s 282,884 607,832 324,948 Switzerland
1970s 432,413 713,029 280,616 Switzerland
1980s 618,489 826,766 208,277 Switzerland
1990s 863,912 1.07 million 201,473 Switzerland
2000s 1.11 million 1.19 million 79,039 Switzerland
2010s 1.29 million 1.32 million 31,808 Switzerland
2020s 1.45 million 1.43 million 26,005 Costa Rica

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher population in largest city, Costa Rica or Switzerland?
Costa Rica, at 1.50 million against 1.46 million in Switzerland as of 2025.
What is the difference in population in largest city between Costa Rica and Switzerland?
47,540, with Costa Rica ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Costa Rica and Switzerland?
66 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2025.
How do Costa Rica and Switzerland rank globally for population in largest city?
Costa Rica ranks 104th and Switzerland ranks 105th of 153 countries.
Where does this data come from?
World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as Population in largest city. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Costa Rica vs Switzerland: Population in largest city. Statizoid, drawing on World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN). Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://urban.statizoid.com/compare/population-in-largest-city/costa-rica/switzerland/

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About this data

Indicator
Population in largest city
Source
World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
153 places, 10,098 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.