Skip to content

Population density: Burundi vs Costa Rica compared

Updated on by Georank team

Burundi has a population density of 1,487 people per square mile compared to 262.6 people in Costa Rica. Burundi has 21,327 sq ft of land per person vs 107,389 sq ft in Costa Rica. Burundi and Costa Rica rank 15th and 93rd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Burundi has 0.17% of the world's population and 0.02% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.06% of the population and 0.03% of the land area for Costa Rica, making the population density in Burundi 466% higher than in Costa Rica.

Population density by year

Burundi
Costa Rica

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Burundi Costa Rica
2026 1,487 262.6
2025 1,452 261.4
2024 1,417 260.2
2023 1,381 259
2022 1,344 257.8
2021 1,308 256.7
2020 1,273 255.4
2019 1,236 253.6
2018 1,196 251.5
2017 1,161 249.2
2016 1,134 246.9
2015 1,114 244.4
2014 1,089 241.8
2013 1,053 239.2
2012 1,016 236.6
2011 980 233.8
2010 946 231.1
2009 902 228.2
2008 858 225.2
2007 823 222.2
2006 793 219.2
2005 765 216.1
2004 737 213
2003 710 209.9
2002 688 206.7
2001 669 203.4
2000 653 199.7
1999 639 195.9
1998 624 191.9
1997 612 187.8
1996 612 183.6
1995 612 179.3
1994 576 175.1
1993 573 170.8
1992 591 166.6
1991 575 162.4
1990 563 158.3
1989 552 154.4
1988 541 150.6
1987 529 146.7
1986 517 142.9
1985 508 139.1
1984 497 135.3
1983 485 131.6
1982 472 128.1
1981 461 124.6
1980 442 121.3
1979 424 118
1978 414 114.9
1977 402 111.8
1976 392 108.9
1975 383 106.2
1974 374 103.5
1973 364 100.9
1972 365 98.3
1971 365 95.8
1970 356 93.3
1969 348 90.8
1968 341 88.2
1967 333 85.7
1966 325 83.1
1965 317 80.5
1964 308 77.8
1963 299.5 75.2
1962 293.3 72.5
1961 285.9 69.9

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/burundi/costa-rica | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Burundi increased by 87.4%, compared to a 19.8% growth in Costa Rica.

In 2006, Burundi ranked 27th by population density and is 15th now. Costa Rica was 88th in 2006 and ranks 93rd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Burundi
Costa Rica
1x
Year Urban population
Burundi Costa Rica
2024 24.8% 79.3%
2023 23.6% 78.9%
2022 22.3% 78.4%
2021 21.1% 78%
2020 19.9% 77.5%
2019 18.8% 77%
2018 17.7% 76.6%
2017 16.6% 76.1%
2016 15.6% 75.5%
2015 14.7% 75%
2014 13.8% 74.5%
2013 13% 73.9%
2012 12.2% 73.4%
2011 11.6% 72.8%
2010 11% 71.5%
2009 10.5% 70.1%
2008 10.1% 68.8%
2007 9.77% 67.5%
2006 9.46% 66.2%
2005 9.18% 64.9%
2004 8.92% 63.7%
2003 8.68% 62.5%
2002 8.45% 61.3%
2001 8.24% 60.1%
2000 8.04% 59%
1999 7.86% 58%
1998 7.68% 56.9%
1997 7.51% 55.8%
1996 7.34% 54.7%
1995 7.17% 53.6%
1994 7% 52.5%
1993 6.83% 51.5%
1992 6.65% 50.5%
1991 6.46% 49.5%
1990 6.27% 48.6%
1989 6.07% 47.7%
1988 5.86% 46.9%
1987 5.66% 46.1%
1986 5.46% 45.5%
1985 5.26% 44.9%
1984 5.07% 44.4%
1983 4.88% 43.9%
1982 4.69% 43.5%
1981 4.51% 43.2%
1980 4.34% 42.9%
1979 4.18% 42.6%
1978 4.02% 42.3%
1977 3.87% 42%
1976 3.72% 41.7%
1975 3.57% 41.4%
1974 3.42% 41.1%
1973 3.28% 40.7%
1972 3.14% 40.2%
1971 3.01% 39.5%
1970 2.88% 38.8%
1969 2.75% 38%
1968 2.63% 37.3%
1967 2.51% 36.5%
1966 2.4% 35.8%
1965 2.3% 35.2%
1964 2.2% 34.8%
1963 2.11% 34.5%
1962 2.01% 34.3%
1961 1.92% 34.2%
1960 1.84% 34.1%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/burundi/costa-rica | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 8.92% to 24.8% in Burundi and from 63.7% to 79.3% in Costa Rica.

Densely populated cities

Burundi
City Population
Bujumbura 659K
Gitega 136K
Costa Rica
City Population
San Jose 335K
Limon 71.5K
Liberia 65.9K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/burundi/costa-rica | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2014–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.