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Central African Republic vs Costa Rica statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Central African Republic has a population of 5.33M (ranked 121/197), compared with 5.13M in Costa Rica (ranked 126/197). The Central African Republic's land area is 240,534 sq mi versus 19,714 sq mi for Costa Rica (ranked 43rd vs. 126th).

By GDP, The Central African Republic ranks 171/197 ($2.75B) and Costa Rica ranks 73/197 ($95.4B). By GDP per capita, The Central African Republic ranks 195/197 ($516), while Costa Rica ranks 62/197 ($18,587).

Main facts and rankings

CAR Costa Rica
Population
5753659
5181862
Population rank 118/197 126/197
GDP
$2.75B
2024
$95.4B
2024
GDP rank 171/197 73/197
GDP per capita
$516
2024
$18,587
2024
GDP per capita rank 195/197 62/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,263
2024
$31,107
2024
Government debt
$1.67B
2024
$57B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
60.7%
2024
59.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$313
2024
$11,106
2024
Government debt per person rank 178/185 50/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,078
2026
$12,150
2026
Land area 240,534 sq mi 19,714 sq mi
Population density
23.7 ppl/mi²
2026
262.6 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
6.01
2023
1.33
2023
Median age
15.4 years
2024
35.6 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.2 years
2026
81.4 years
2026

Central African Republic and Costa Rica: Comparison Charts

Central African Republic and Costa Rica economies compared

GDP
Central African Republic

Costa Rica
1x
Year GDP
CAR Costa Rica
2024 $2,751,494,281 $95,350,423,177
2023 $2,555,492,086 $86,497,941,439
2022 $2,382,618,615 $69,243,626,029
2021 $2,516,498,412 $64,960,725,734
2020 $2,326,720,900 $62,395,610,760
2019 $2,221,301,351 $64,417,670,521
2018 $2,220,979,146 $62,420,164,992
2017 $2,072,349,973 $60,516,044,657
2016 $1,825,018,145 $58,847,019,610
2015 $1,695,825,714 $56,441,920,821
2014 $1,894,813,389 $52,016,408,854
2013 $1,691,544,110 $50,949,668,842
2012 $2,510,126,512 $47,231,655,432
2011 $2,437,982,705 $42,762,613,699
2010 $2,142,591,540 $37,658,616,952
2009 $2,067,381,665 $30,745,714,313
2008 $1,993,407,888 $30,801,745,700
2007 $1,699,811,295 $26,884,700,709
2006 $1,461,859,762 $22,715,540,324
2005 $1,337,894,379 $20,040,642,477
2004 $1,272,360,517 $18,610,594,846
2003 $1,142,315,523 $17,271,760,507
2002 $996,068,145 $16,578,820,687
2001 $932,648,605 $15,976,174,337
2000 $916,777,283 $15,013,629,662
1999 $999,477,511 $14,254,866,285
1998 $967,338,390 $13,684,255,947
1997 $937,741,513 $12,614,602,382
1996 $1,007,791,127 $11,678,424,507
1995 $1,115,389,674 $11,578,594,260
1994 $851,174,357 $10,489,903,725
1993 $1,278,781,262 $9,564,815,975
1992 $1,411,917,553 $8,579,754,758
1991 $1,377,374,987 $7,215,725,487
1990 $1,440,711,459 $5,711,687,787
1989 $1,233,930,281 $5,251,025,767
1988 $1,264,899,288 $4,614,629,898
1987 $1,200,991,978 $4,532,952,047
1986 $1,122,265,013 $4,418,983,871
1985 $864,849,836 $3,919,203,960
1984 $637,820,670 $3,660,477,856
1983 $658,679,333 $3,146,772,631
1982 $748,312,391 $2,606,623,555
1981 $694,803,623 $2,623,803,096
1980 $797,048,199 $4,831,447,001
1979 $700,764,748 $4,035,519,323
1978 $610,578,632 $3,523,208,810
1977 $507,298,148 $3,072,427,013
1976 $451,152,461 $2,412,555,426
1975 $378,660,016 $1,960,863,466
1974 $281,398,706 $1,666,544,754
1973 $271,183,082 $1,528,925,846
1972 $230,317,883 $1,238,251,696
1971 $201,450,800 $1,077,147,538
1970 $189,106,529 $984,830,158
1969 $188,039,210 $853,630,204
1968 $191,767,442 $773,841,494
1967 $163,820,514 $699,456,619
1966 $157,930,018 $647,305,630
1965 $150,574,795 $592,981,162
1964 $142,025,079 $542,578,367
1963 $129,379,124 $511,902,137
1962 $124,482,774 $479,180,824
1961 $123,134,583 $490,325,182
1960 $112,155,598 $507,513,830

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/central-african-republic/costa-rica | CC BY

Central African Republic and Costa Rica economies compared

GDP per capita
Central African Republic

Costa Rica
1x
Year GDP per capita
CAR Costa Rica
2024 $516 $18,587
2023 $496 $16,942
2022 $467 $13,626
2021 $492 $12,838
2020 $463 $12,394
2019 $449 $12,885
2018 $455 $12,590
2017 $432 $12,317
2016 $387 $12,091
2015 $366 $11,715
2014 $410 $10,911
2013 $364 $10,803
2012 $544 $10,127
2011 $534 $9,276
2010 $477 $8,266
2009 $456 $6,833
2008 $437 $6,937
2007 $381 $6,138
2006 $334 $5,257
2005 $312 $4,703
2004 $303 $4,431
2003 $278.4 $4,173
2002 $248.6 $4,068
2001 $238 $3,985
2000 $239.2 $3,813
1999 $268 $3,691
1998 $266.6 $3,617
1997 $265.5 $3,408
1996 $293.3 $3,227
1995 $333 $3,275
1994 $261.3 $3,040
1993 $405 $2,840
1992 $462 $2,612
1991 $465 $2,253
1990 $502 $1,830
1989 $443 $1,725
1988 $466 $1,555
1987 $450 $1,567
1986 $426 $1,569
1985 $333 $1,429
1984 $248.3 $1,372
1983 $259.6 $1,213
1982 $298.4 $1,032
1981 $280.3 $1,068
1980 $325 $2,021
1979 $289.1 $1,735
1978 $254.6 $1,556
1977 $213.8 $1,393
1976 $192.1 $1,123
1975 $163.6 $937
1974 $124 $817
1973 $121.8 $769
1972 $105.5 $639
1971 $94.1 $570
1970 $90.2 $536
1969 $91.7 $477
1968 $95.6 $445
1967 $83.6 $414
1966 $82.3 $395
1965 $80.2 $374
1964 $77.2 $354
1963 $71.8 $346
1962 $70.4 $335
1961 $71 $356
1960 $65.9 $382

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/central-african-republic/costa-rica | CC BY

Central African Republic vs. Costa Rica life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Central African Republic

Costa Rica
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
CAR Costa Rica
2026 58.2 81.4
2025 57.9 81.2
2024 57.7 81
2023 57.4 80.8
2022 18.8 79.3
2021 40.3 78.1
2020 50.6 79.7
2019 31.5 80.3
2018 52.3 80.1
2017 45.2 80
2016 51 80
2015 51.9 80.4
2014 40.3 80.2
2013 49.5 80.2
2012 51.3 79.9
2011 50.1 79.6
2010 46.9 79.4
2009 14.7 79.4
2008 49.9 79.2
2007 49.3 79.1
2006 48.7 79
2005 48.2 78.9
2004 47.7 78.5
2003 47.3 78.2
2002 46.8 77.9
2001 46.7 77.6
2000 46.6 77.3
1999 46.9 77.1
1998 47.1 76.9
1997 47.3 76.6
1996 47.7 76.4
1995 48.1 76.4
1994 48.5 76.3
1993 48.9 76.3
1992 49.2 76.4
1991 49.6 76.2
1990 49.9 76.1
1989 50.1 75.9
1988 50.2 75.5
1987 50.4 75.2
1986 50.4 74.9
1985 50.5 74.8
1984 50.4 74.6
1983 50.3 74.2
1982 50.2 73.9
1981 50 73.4
1980 49.8 73
1979 49.5 72.5
1978 49.2 72
1977 48.8 71.5
1976 48.4 70.9
1975 47.9 70.3
1974 47.4 69.4
1973 46.9 68.7
1972 46.3 68
1971 45.8 67.4
1970 45.2 66.8
1969 44.6 66.4
1968 44 65.8
1967 43.4 65.6
1966 42.8 65.1
1965 42.2 64.8
1964 41.6 64.5
1963 41.1 64.3
1962 40.6 64.2
1961 40.1 63.9
1960 39.6 63.5
1959 39.1 62.9
1958 38.7 62.3
1957 38.3 61.6
1956 37.8 61.2
1955 37.4 60.5
1954 37 59.9
1953 36.6 59.1
1952 36.2 58.1
1951 35.8 57.8
1950 35.4 57.5

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/central-african-republic/costa-rica | CC BY

Central African Republic and Costa Rica population clocks and comparison

Population
Central African Republic

Costa Rica
1x
Year Population
CAR Costa Rica
2024 5,330,690 5,129,910
2023 5,152,421 5,105,525
2022 5,098,039 5,081,765
2021 5,112,100 5,059,988
2020 5,026,628 5,034,320
2019 4,944,703 4,999,553
2018 4,878,657 4,957,818
2017 4,793,511 4,913,177
2016 4,713,663 4,866,998
2015 4,629,320 4,818,038
2014 4,623,182 4,767,119
2013 4,642,419 4,716,147
2012 4,610,848 4,663,934
2011 4,565,021 4,609,833
2010 4,492,995 4,555,962
2009 4,529,047 4,499,791
2008 4,558,984 4,440,056
2007 4,462,770 4,380,248
2006 4,377,579 4,321,340
2005 4,288,810 4,261,240
2004 4,192,826 4,200,078
2003 4,103,086 4,138,784
2002 4,006,077 4,075,705
2001 3,919,487 4,008,947
2000 3,833,416 3,937,739
1999 3,729,450 3,862,101
1998 3,628,827 3,782,838
1997 3,531,700 3,701,711
1996 3,435,965 3,619,013
1995 3,348,052 3,535,176
1994 3,257,954 3,451,122
1993 3,157,839 3,367,434
1992 3,058,831 3,284,258
1991 2,963,191 3,202,176
1990 2,871,910 3,121,706
1989 2,783,970 3,043,827
1988 2,713,965 2,968,103
1987 2,669,155 2,892,699
1986 2,634,258 2,817,216
1985 2,600,932 2,741,894
1984 2,568,610 2,667,595
1983 2,537,399 2,595,153
1982 2,507,375 2,524,806
1981 2,478,402 2,456,637
1980 2,450,535 2,390,633
1979 2,423,794 2,326,490
1978 2,397,961 2,264,510
1977 2,372,930 2,205,025
1976 2,348,566 2,147,774
1975 2,313,916 2,092,719
1974 2,269,338 2,039,643
1973 2,226,008 1,988,343
1972 2,183,769 1,938,248
1971 2,141,450 1,888,539
1970 2,097,505 1,838,949
1969 2,051,515 1,789,276
1968 2,005,100 1,739,731
1967 1,960,444 1,689,523
1966 1,918,082 1,638,116
1965 1,877,854 1,586,208
1964 1,839,583 1,533,960
1963 1,803,063 1,481,604
1962 1,768,115 1,429,445
1961 1,734,580 1,377,920
1960 1,702,346 1,327,496

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/central-african-republic/costa-rica | CC BY

Fertility rates in Central African Republic and Costa Rica

Fertility rate
Central African Republic

Costa Rica
1x
Year Fertility rate
CAR Costa Rica
2023 6.01 1.33
2022 6.02 1.34
2021 6.05 1.35
2020 6.06 1.45
2019 6.09 1.6
2018 6.11 1.71
2017 6.13 1.71
2016 6.13 1.75
2015 6.13 1.8
2014 6.1 1.8
2013 6.08 1.78
2012 6.05 1.85
2011 6.01 1.88
2010 5.96 1.83
2009 5.94 1.95
2008 5.9 1.98
2007 5.87 1.95
2006 5.84 1.94
2005 5.81 2.04
2004 5.78 2.03
2003 5.8 2.08
2002 5.79 2.16
2001 5.81 2.31
2000 5.85 2.41
1999 5.88 2.48
1998 5.89 2.53
1997 5.92 2.59
1996 5.96 2.68
1995 5.94 2.78
1994 5.92 2.86
1993 5.93 2.93
1992 5.96 3
1991 6.03 3.08
1990 6.05 3.17
1989 6.07 3.24
1988 6.1 3.31
1987 6.12 3.38
1986 6.11 3.45
1985 6.12 3.51
1984 6.14 3.52
1983 6.15 3.53
1982 6.16 3.54
1981 6.17 3.56
1980 6.13 3.58
1979 6.09 3.65
1978 6.04 3.66
1977 5.99 3.7
1976 5.94 3.75
1975 5.88 3.8
1974 5.9 3.89
1973 5.93 3.99
1972 5.96 4.16
1971 5.99 4.36
1970 6.03 4.59
1969 6.06 4.84
1968 6.1 5.03
1967 6.08 5.42
1966 6.06 5.7
1965 6.03 5.96
1964 6.01 6.19
1963 5.99 6.39
1962 5.97 6.54
1961 5.96 6.65
1960 5.95 6.71

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/central-african-republic/costa-rica | CC BY

Central African Republic and Costa Rica demographics compared

Median age
Central African Republic

Costa Rica
1x
Year Median age, years
CAR Costa Rica
2024 15.4 35.6
2023 15.3 35.1
2022 15.3 34.5
2021 15.4 34
2020 15.4 33.5
2019 15.4 33
2018 15.4 32.6
2017 15.4 32.1
2016 15.4 31.7
2015 15.4 31.2
2014 15.6 30.7
2013 16 30.3
2012 16.3 29.8
2011 16.6 29.4
2010 16.7 29
2009 16.9 28.6
2008 17 28.2
2007 17.1 27.8
2006 17.1 27.4
2005 17.2 27
2004 17.2 26.7
2003 17.2 26.3
2002 17.1 25.9
2001 17.1 25.5
2000 17.1 25.2
1999 17.1 24.9
1998 17.1 24.7
1997 17.1 24.4
1996 17.2 24.1
1995 17.3 23.9
1994 17.4 23.6
1993 17.5 23.4
1992 17.5 23.2
1991 17.6 22.9
1990 17.8 22.7
1989 17.9 22.5
1988 18 22.3
1987 18.1 22.1
1986 18.2 21.8
1985 18.3 21.6
1984 18.3 21.4
1983 18.3 21.2
1982 18.4 20.9
1981 18.4 20.6
1980 18.5 20.3
1979 18.5 20
1978 18.5 19.7
1977 18.5 19.5
1976 18.5 19.2
1975 18.5 18.9
1974 18.6 18.6
1973 18.6 18.4
1972 18.7 18.1
1971 18.8 17.8
1970 18.9 17.6
1969 18.9 17.3
1968 19 17.1
1967 19.2 16.9
1966 19.3 16.8
1965 19.4 16.7
1964 19.6 16.7
1963 19.7 16.7
1962 19.9 16.7
1961 20.1 16.8
1960 20.3 16.8

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/central-african-republic/costa-rica | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

CAR Costa Rica
GNI, Atlas method
$2.74B
2024
$80.2B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
19.5%
2024
18.9%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
1.83%
2023
6.25%
2021
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.52%
2024
n/a
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
10,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.08%
2024
-3.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.9%
2017
6.94%
2024
Services, % of GDP
42.1%
2024
68.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
20%
2024
19.7%
2024
Economic freedom index
43.1
2026
69.1
2026
Income share by richest 10%
33.1%
2021
34.2%
2024
Income share by poorest 10%
2.1%
2021
1.7%
2024
Listed domestic companies n/a
9
2022
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$2.23B
2022
Total reserves including gold
$480M
2023
$14.2B
2024
Personal remittances received
$159K
1993
$725M
2024
International tourist arrivals
87,000
2019
1,146,500
2020
International tourism as share of exports n/a
7.41%
2020
Banked people share
13.7%
2017
71.4%
2024

Energy

CAR Costa Rica
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita n/a
1,025 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$28.2
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
0.34 megatons
2024
8.38 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.06 tons
2024
1.63 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share n/a
51.6%
2023
Renewable energy use share
90.9%
2022
34.2%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
37.7%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
60.4%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
2,206 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
96.5%
2021
99.4%
2021
Hydroelectric share
96.2%
2021
69.3%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
17.6%
2023
100%
2023

Society

CAR Costa Rica
% of world population
0.07%
2024
0.06%
2024
Annual migration change
-14,693
2025
+1,000
2025
Urban population
44.1%
2024
79.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48:52
2024
49.4:50.6
2024
Average male height
5.54 ft
2025
5.71 ft
2025
Average female height
5.24 ft
2025
5.26 ft
2025
Quality of life index
0.85
2026
64.8
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
24
2025
56
2025
Higher education index
3
2026
73
2026
Homicides per 100K people
20.1
2016
17.7
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
37.7
2019
14.8
2019
Visa free countries
59
2025
142
2025
Adult literacy rate
37.5%
2020
98%
2021
English speaking
3%
2025
8.15%
2023
People using the Internet
7.51%
2019
85.4%
2023

Health

CAR Costa Rica
Government health expenditure per capita
$53.8
2023
$1,163
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$24.2
2023
$280.7
2023
Life expectancy
58.2 years
2026
81.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
39.9%
2023
0.01%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.07
2023
2.69
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
692
2023
24
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
92.2
2023
10.5
2023
Obesity rate
9.57%
2022
32.3%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.6%
2024
9.8%
2024
Air quality index
7
2026
80
2026
Tobacco use prevalence n/a
8.9%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.75 liters
2020
3.4 liters
2020

Territory

CAR Costa Rica
% of world land
0.42%
2026
0.03%
2026
Land area per capita
45,122 sq mi
2024
3,843 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
21,887 sq mi
2026
6,534 sq mi
2026
Forest area
85,765 sq mi
2026
11,907 sq mi
2026
Roads length
14,913 mi
2018
3,129 mi
2017

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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