Skip to content

Population in Cameroon compared to Costa Rica: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,123,744 in 2024 vs 5,129,910 people in Costa Rica in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 30,864,115 people compared to 5,181,862 in Costa Rica.

Population statistics:

  • Cameroon's population is 5.96 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while Costa Rica is the 126th.
  • The countries together account for 0.43% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 0.06% for Costa Rica.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.84% per year vs +0.77% in Costa Rica.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 30.9M (75.9% growth), while Costa Rica has grown from 4.32M to 5.18M (19.9% growth).

Cameroon vs Costa Rica: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon Costa Rica
2100 89,781,496 3,804,183
2099 89,255,966 3,842,423
2098 88,720,337 3,880,999
2097 88,168,066 3,919,996
2096 87,604,050 3,959,352
2095 87,032,145 3,999,084
2094 86,441,720 4,039,053
2093 85,842,389 4,079,349
2092 85,235,505 4,119,898
2091 84,610,360 4,160,663
2090 83,973,967 4,201,548
2089 83,322,813 4,242,452
2088 82,662,944 4,283,327
2087 81,989,354 4,324,225
2086 81,310,407 4,364,979
2085 80,614,775 4,405,520
2084 79,910,947 4,445,770
2083 79,192,092 4,485,644
2082 78,464,535 4,525,171
2081 77,723,079 4,564,265
2080 76,963,821 4,602,737
2079 76,202,603 4,640,677
2078 75,431,803 4,677,935
2077 74,649,057 4,714,527
2076 73,862,841 4,750,309
2075 73,062,202 4,785,359
2074 72,248,179 4,819,691
2073 71,432,221 4,853,137
2072 70,603,305 4,885,727
2071 69,771,981 4,917,445
2070 68,936,208 4,948,313
2069 68,095,292 4,978,425
2068 67,251,348 5,007,604
2067 66,399,507 5,035,877
2066 65,539,313 5,063,521
2065 64,675,474 5,090,474
2064 63,807,579 5,116,546
2063 62,939,156 5,141,922
2062 62,065,714 5,166,260
2061 61,188,220 5,189,836
2060 60,302,920 5,212,549
2059 59,413,352 5,234,066
2058 58,519,385 5,254,528
2057 57,622,572 5,273,844
2056 56,730,793 5,292,013
2055 55,837,458 5,308,829
2054 54,935,159 5,324,305
2053 54,032,780 5,338,417
2052 53,122,812 5,350,974
2051 52,215,921 5,361,865
2050 51,314,050 5,371,197
2049 50,406,453 5,378,904
2048 49,501,629 5,385,081
2047 48,593,064 5,389,678
2046 47,688,721 5,392,713
2045 46,789,773 5,394,209
2044 45,890,362 5,394,124
2043 44,999,297 5,392,590
2042 44,103,714 5,389,628
2041 43,204,033 5,385,101
2040 42,316,677 5,379,344
2039 41,430,803 5,372,186
2038 40,554,253 5,363,617
2037 39,682,947 5,353,928
2036 38,815,989 5,343,027
2035 37,963,436 5,330,994
2034 37,116,013 5,317,895
2033 36,279,025 5,303,634
2032 35,446,827 5,288,416
2031 34,626,572 5,272,215
2030 33,811,853 5,255,064
2029 33,009,874 5,236,901
2028 32,213,983 5,217,724
2027 31,428,884 5,197,413
2026 30,654,707 5,176,096
2025 29,885,995 5,153,634
2024 29,123,744 5,129,910
2023 28,372,687 5,105,525
2022 27,632,771 5,081,765
2021 26,915,758 5,059,988
2020 26,210,558 5,034,320
2019 25,506,095 4,999,553
2018 24,806,383 4,957,818
2017 24,128,601 4,913,177
2016 23,454,161 4,866,998
2015 22,763,414 4,818,038
2014 22,059,893 4,767,119
2013 21,402,376 4,716,147
2012 20,809,529 4,663,934
2011 20,232,304 4,609,833
2010 19,668,066 4,555,962
2009 19,113,974 4,499,791
2008 18,574,056 4,440,056
2007 18,049,896 4,380,248
2006 17,550,407 4,321,340
2005 17,074,594 4,261,240
2004 16,610,487 4,200,078
2003 16,160,340 4,138,784
2002 15,725,528 4,075,705
2001 15,309,490 4,008,947
2000 14,912,631 3,937,739
1999 14,525,140 3,862,101
1998 14,144,860 3,782,838
1997 13,775,214 3,701,711
1996 13,414,757 3,619,013
1995 13,058,516 3,535,176
1994 12,704,903 3,451,122
1993 12,353,131 3,367,434
1992 12,006,353 3,284,258
1991 11,667,180 3,202,176
1990 11,331,821 3,121,706
1989 11,002,745 3,043,827
1988 10,684,968 2,968,103
1987 10,370,749 2,892,699
1986 10,060,342 2,817,216
1985 9,761,730 2,741,894
1984 9,475,078 2,667,595
1983 9,215,397 2,595,153
1982 9,028,678 2,524,806
1981 8,816,377 2,456,637
1980 8,512,219 2,390,633
1979 8,239,641 2,326,490
1978 8,011,921 2,264,510
1977 7,796,501 2,205,025
1976 7,597,962 2,147,774
1975 7,397,120 2,092,719
1974 7,193,583 2,039,643
1973 6,996,660 1,988,343
1972 6,806,872 1,938,248
1971 6,624,408 1,888,539
1970 6,449,793 1,838,949
1969 6,283,462 1,789,276
1968 6,125,863 1,739,731
1967 5,977,318 1,689,523
1966 5,837,295 1,638,116
1965 5,704,686 1,586,208
1964 5,578,257 1,533,960
1963 5,456,623 1,481,604
1962 5,338,620 1,429,445
1961 5,239,273 1,377,920
1960 5,159,057 1,327,496

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/costa-rica | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while Costa Rica gained 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,409,954 people (a 31.6% growth), while Costa Rica's population increased by 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. Costa Rica was ranked 119th in 2006 and ranked 126th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Cameroon's population will grow by 66.3% to 51,314,050 people with a rank change from 51st to 41st. The population of Costa Rica will increase by 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people compared to the peak of 5.39M people in 2045 for Costa Rica.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon Costa Rica
2100 0.59% -1%
2099 0.6% -0.99%
2098 0.63% -0.99%
2097 0.64% -0.99%
2096 0.66% -0.99%
2095 0.68% -0.99%
2094 0.7% -0.99%
2093 0.71% -0.98%
2092 0.74% -0.98%
2091 0.76% -0.97%
2090 0.78% -0.96%
2089 0.8% -0.95%
2088 0.82% -0.95%
2087 0.84% -0.93%
2086 0.86% -0.92%
2085 0.88% -0.91%
2084 0.91% -0.89%
2083 0.93% -0.87%
2082 0.95% -0.86%
2081 0.99% -0.84%
2080 1% -0.82%
2079 1.02% -0.8%
2078 1.05% -0.78%
2077 1.06% -0.75%
2076 1.1% -0.73%
2075 1.13% -0.71%
2074 1.14% -0.69%
2073 1.17% -0.67%
2072 1.19% -0.65%
2071 1.21% -0.62%
2070 1.23% -0.6%
2069 1.25% -0.58%
2068 1.28% -0.56%
2067 1.31% -0.55%
2066 1.34% -0.53%
2065 1.36% -0.51%
2064 1.38% -0.49%
2063 1.41% -0.47%
2062 1.43% -0.45%
2061 1.47% -0.44%
2060 1.5% -0.41%
2059 1.53% -0.39%
2058 1.56% -0.37%
2057 1.57% -0.34%
2056 1.6% -0.32%
2055 1.64% -0.29%
2054 1.67% -0.26%
2053 1.71% -0.23%
2052 1.74% -0.2%
2051 1.76% -0.17%
2050 1.8% -0.14%
2049 1.83% -0.11%
2048 1.87% -0.09%
2047 1.9% -0.06%
2046 1.92% -0.03%
2045 1.96% 0.002%
2044 1.98% 0.03%
2043 2.03% 0.05%
2042 2.08% 0.08%
2041 2.1% 0.11%
2040 2.14% 0.13%
2039 2.16% 0.16%
2038 2.2% 0.18%
2037 2.23% 0.2%
2036 2.25% 0.23%
2035 2.28% 0.25%
2034 2.31% 0.27%
2033 2.35% 0.29%
2032 2.37% 0.31%
2031 2.41% 0.33%
2030 2.43% 0.35%
2029 2.47% 0.37%
2028 2.5% 0.39%
2027 2.53% 0.41%
2026 2.57% 0.44%
2025 2.62% 0.46%
2024 2.65% 0.48%
2023 2.68% 0.47%
2022 2.66% 0.43%
2021 2.69% 0.51%
2020 2.76% 0.7%
2019 2.82% 0.84%
2018 2.81% 0.91%
2017 2.88% 0.95%
2016 3.03% 1.02%
2015 3.19% 1.07%
2014 3.07% 1.08%
2013 2.85% 1.12%
2012 2.85% 1.17%
2011 2.87% 1.18%
2010 2.9% 1.25%
2009 2.91% 1.35%
2008 2.9% 1.37%
2007 2.85% 1.36%
2006 2.79% 1.41%
2005 2.79% 1.46%
2004 2.79% 1.48%
2003 2.77% 1.55%
2002 2.72% 1.67%
2001 2.66% 1.81%
2000 2.67% 1.96%
1999 2.69% 2.1%
1998 2.68% 2.19%
1997 2.69% 2.29%
1996 2.73% 2.37%
1995 2.78% 2.44%
1994 2.85% 2.49%
1993 2.89% 2.53%
1992 2.91% 2.56%
1991 2.96% 2.58%
1990 2.99% 2.56%
1989 2.97% 2.55%
1988 3.03% 2.61%
1987 3.09% 2.68%
1986 3.06% 2.75%
1985 3.03% 2.79%
1984 2.82% 2.79%
1983 2.07% 2.79%
1982 2.41% 2.77%
1981 3.57% 2.76%
1980 3.31% 2.76%
1979 2.84% 2.74%
1978 2.76% 2.7%
1977 2.61% 2.67%
1976 2.72% 2.63%
1975 2.83% 2.6%
1974 2.81% 2.58%
1973 2.79% 2.58%
1972 2.75% 2.63%
1971 2.71% 2.7%
1970 2.65% 2.78%
1969 2.57% 2.85%
1968 2.49% 2.97%
1967 2.4% 3.14%
1966 2.32% 3.27%
1965 2.27% 3.41%
1964 2.23% 3.53%
1963 2.21% 3.65%
1962 1.9% 3.74%
1961 1.55% 3.8%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/costa-rica | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.65%, while Costa Rica's population grew by 0.48%.

Live population counters

Cameroon Costa Rica
Current population
30864115
5181862
Population rank 51/197 126/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 0.06%
One net population change
42 seconds
21.6 minutes
One birth every
32.9 seconds
10.1 minutes
One death every
2.59 minutes
18.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,058 +67
Annual growth/decline +751,057 +24,385
Annual growth/decline rate +2.65% +0.48%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 138/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
8.78 hours
Annual migration change -15,379 +1,000
Net migration rank 146/196 63/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 628,404
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 75/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 12.2%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 55/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon Costa Rica
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - 1,000
2024 - -13,892 - 967
2023 754,486 -4,798 24,109 995
2022 734,893 -4,798 21,409 1,006
2021 713,806 -9,888 20,119 1,018
2020 716,361 -9,888 29,164 1,029
2019 714,681 -12,255 37,682 1,653
2018 706,188 -9,184 42,469 1,673
2017 696,496 -37,912 43,471 1,671
2016 677,051 13,255 45,565 1,649
2015 649,190 42,008 49,077 1,617
2014 619,243 96,599 49,559 1,589
2013 606,072 -6,900 49,227 1,579
2012 594,029 -7,523 52,036 1,587
2011 580,607 -12,669 52,884 1,695
2010 569,921 -9,366 50,803 2,357
2009 557,841 -10,203 55,757 3,432
2008 542,919 -10,720 56,491 3,794
2007 526,949 -10,807 55,244 4,080
2006 511,366 -28,528 54,177 4,321
2005 496,547 -27,775 57,139 4,567
2004 478,880 -19,444 55,769 4,856
2003 459,422 -18,568 56,743 5,216
2002 439,544 -10,766 58,388 5,812
2001 422,511 -19,203 62,199 7,119
2000 411,633 -21,221 64,268 8,826
1999 401,969 -17,398 64,922 13,253
1998 388,432 -12,446 64,788 15,556
1997 377,138 -13,842 64,954 16,954
1996 370,355 -12,738 66,094 17,393
1995 367,532 -12,661 67,585 16,609
1994 364,390 -12,028 68,336 15,587
1993 360,785 -9,601 69,016 14,431
1992 356,072 -13,702 69,830 13,069
1991 350,493 -14,520 70,506 10,757
1990 342,901 -8,163 71,727 7,949
1989 334,649 -11,244 72,327 3,758
1988 328,168 -16,016 72,944 2,414
1987 320,134 -3,829 73,188 2,267
1986 308,188 -3,671 73,211 2,302
1985 296,317 -3,604 72,776 2,357
1984 284,110 -3,512 71,062 2,402
1983 276,112 -37,346 68,972 2,449
1982 274,652 -139,974 66,826 2,453
1981 262,076 27,845 64,632 2,431
1980 247,808 70,589 62,561 2,387
1979 238,875 -12,108 60,984 2,349
1978 229,958 -1,282 58,327 2,296
1977 222,785 -20,622 56,122 2,228
1976 214,916 -19,994 54,019 2,129
1975 206,986 -237 51,979 1,992
1974 200,693 -377 50,349 1,839
1973 193,997 -466 48,943 1,468
1972 186,521 -473 48,417 1,366
1971 179,317 -439 48,341 1,296
1970 170,713 -367 48,398 1,137
1969 162,603 -286 48,790 1,017
1968 153,080 -204 48,361 939
1967 144,370 -148 50,193 926
1966 135,927 -96 50,755 930
1965 129,428 -39 51,196 932
1964 123,469 0 51,435 934
1963 119,784 0 51,403 938
1962 116,232 0 51,046 934
1961 82,471 0 50,149 924
1960 77,948 0 48,857 910

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/costa-rica | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Cameroon is from natural causes (a gain of 6,982,395 people) and 0.9% is from migration (a gain of 63,139 people). In Costa Rica 96.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 362,624 people) and 3.69% is from migration (a gain of 13,900 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 628,404 people or 12.2% in Costa Rica.

Biggest cities by population

Cameroon
City Population
Douala 2.77M
Yaounde 2.44M
Garoua 1.75M
Bafoussam 480K
Bamenda 349K
Maroua 201K
Ngaoundere 190K
Kumba 144K
Buea 131K
Limbe 84.2K
Costa Rica
City Population
San Jose 335K
Limon 71.5K
Liberia 65.9K
Alajuela 44.4K
Puntarenas 41.5K
Cartago 22.8K
Heredia 16.7K
Tamarindo 7.13K
Santa Teresa 3K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/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 | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, 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. Wikidata (2026, 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.