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Population in the Central African Republic compared to Costa Rica: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,330,690 in 2024 vs 5,129,910 people in Costa Rica in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 5,181,862 in Costa Rica.

Population statistics:

  • The Central African Republic's population is 1.11 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th most populous country in the world, while Costa Rica is the 126th.
  • The countries together account for 0.13% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.06% for Costa Rica.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.27% per year vs +0.77% in Costa Rica.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while Costa Rica has grown from 4.32M to 5.18M (19.9% growth).

Central African Republic vs Costa Rica: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Costa Rica
2100 19,066,004 3,804,183
2099 18,985,867 3,842,423
2098 18,901,154 3,880,999
2097 18,815,607 3,919,996
2096 18,724,783 3,959,352
2095 18,626,431 3,999,084
2094 18,526,390 4,039,053
2093 18,425,013 4,079,349
2092 18,316,437 4,119,898
2091 18,205,237 4,160,663
2090 18,087,725 4,201,548
2089 17,972,896 4,242,452
2088 17,848,943 4,283,327
2087 17,721,681 4,324,225
2086 17,585,946 4,364,979
2085 17,451,621 4,405,520
2084 17,310,863 4,445,770
2083 17,164,209 4,485,644
2082 17,014,388 4,525,171
2081 16,864,906 4,564,265
2080 16,708,761 4,602,737
2079 16,556,341 4,640,677
2078 16,396,395 4,677,935
2077 16,228,166 4,714,527
2076 16,055,590 4,750,309
2075 15,881,626 4,785,359
2074 15,710,778 4,819,691
2073 15,530,355 4,853,137
2072 15,350,553 4,885,727
2071 15,162,785 4,917,445
2070 14,968,105 4,948,313
2069 14,772,746 4,978,425
2068 14,575,859 5,007,604
2067 14,373,538 5,035,877
2066 14,170,754 5,063,521
2065 13,967,146 5,090,474
2064 13,761,777 5,116,546
2063 13,548,616 5,141,922
2062 13,336,037 5,166,260
2061 13,123,628 5,189,836
2060 12,906,496 5,212,549
2059 12,688,037 5,234,066
2058 12,467,461 5,254,528
2057 12,245,441 5,273,844
2056 12,023,522 5,292,013
2055 11,801,006 5,308,829
2054 11,578,020 5,324,305
2053 11,354,432 5,338,417
2052 11,131,786 5,350,974
2051 10,910,913 5,361,865
2050 10,689,058 5,371,197
2049 10,471,199 5,378,904
2048 10,252,433 5,385,081
2047 10,037,332 5,389,678
2046 9,822,499 5,392,713
2045 9,608,962 5,394,209
2044 9,397,018 5,394,124
2043 9,188,292 5,392,590
2042 8,982,316 5,389,628
2041 8,777,138 5,385,101
2040 8,570,085 5,379,344
2039 8,360,267 5,372,186
2038 8,151,599 5,363,617
2037 7,944,754 5,353,928
2036 7,736,415 5,343,027
2035 7,527,731 5,330,994
2034 7,316,613 5,317,895
2033 7,106,984 5,303,634
2032 6,898,917 5,288,416
2031 6,691,778 5,272,215
2030 6,488,327 5,255,064
2029 6,287,899 5,236,901
2028 6,086,983 5,217,724
2027 5,892,506 5,197,413
2026 5,702,177 5,176,096
2025 5,514,692 5,153,634
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: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Costa Rica gained 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while Costa Rica's population increased by 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th 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) the Central African Republic's population will grow by 85.8% to 10,689,058 people with a rank change from 118th to 96th. The population of Costa Rica will increase by 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 5.39M people in 2045 for Costa Rica.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Costa Rica
2100 0.42% -1%
2099 0.45% -0.99%
2098 0.45% -0.99%
2097 0.49% -0.99%
2096 0.53% -0.99%
2095 0.54% -0.99%
2094 0.55% -0.99%
2093 0.59% -0.98%
2092 0.61% -0.98%
2091 0.65% -0.97%
2090 0.64% -0.96%
2089 0.69% -0.95%
2088 0.72% -0.95%
2087 0.77% -0.93%
2086 0.77% -0.92%
2085 0.81% -0.91%
2084 0.85% -0.89%
2083 0.88% -0.87%
2082 0.89% -0.86%
2081 0.93% -0.84%
2080 0.92% -0.82%
2079 0.98% -0.8%
2078 1.04% -0.78%
2077 1.07% -0.75%
2076 1.1% -0.73%
2075 1.09% -0.71%
2074 1.16% -0.69%
2073 1.17% -0.67%
2072 1.24% -0.65%
2071 1.3% -0.62%
2070 1.32% -0.6%
2069 1.35% -0.58%
2068 1.41% -0.56%
2067 1.43% -0.55%
2066 1.46% -0.53%
2065 1.49% -0.51%
2064 1.57% -0.49%
2063 1.59% -0.47%
2062 1.62% -0.45%
2061 1.68% -0.44%
2060 1.72% -0.41%
2059 1.77% -0.39%
2058 1.81% -0.37%
2057 1.85% -0.34%
2056 1.89% -0.32%
2055 1.93% -0.29%
2054 1.97% -0.26%
2053 2% -0.23%
2052 2.02% -0.2%
2051 2.08% -0.17%
2050 2.08% -0.14%
2049 2.13% -0.11%
2048 2.14% -0.09%
2047 2.19% -0.06%
2046 2.22% -0.03%
2045 2.26% 0.002%
2044 2.27% 0.03%
2043 2.29% 0.05%
2042 2.34% 0.08%
2041 2.42% 0.11%
2040 2.51% 0.13%
2039 2.56% 0.16%
2038 2.6% 0.18%
2037 2.69% 0.2%
2036 2.77% 0.23%
2035 2.89% 0.25%
2034 2.95% 0.27%
2033 3.02% 0.29%
2032 3.1% 0.31%
2031 3.14% 0.33%
2030 3.19% 0.35%
2029 3.3% 0.37%
2028 3.3% 0.39%
2027 3.34% 0.41%
2026 3.4% 0.44%
2025 3.45% 0.46%
2024 3.46% 0.48%
2023 1.07% 0.47%
2022 -0.28% 0.43%
2021 1.7% 0.51%
2020 1.66% 0.7%
2019 1.35% 0.84%
2018 1.78% 0.91%
2017 1.69% 0.95%
2016 1.82% 1.02%
2015 0.13% 1.07%
2014 -0.41% 1.08%
2013 0.68% 1.12%
2012 1% 1.17%
2011 1.6% 1.18%
2010 -0.8% 1.25%
2009 -0.66% 1.35%
2008 2.16% 1.37%
2007 1.95% 1.36%
2006 2.07% 1.41%
2005 2.29% 1.46%
2004 2.19% 1.48%
2003 2.42% 1.55%
2002 2.21% 1.67%
2001 2.25% 1.81%
2000 2.79% 1.96%
1999 2.77% 2.1%
1998 2.75% 2.19%
1997 2.79% 2.29%
1996 2.63% 2.37%
1995 2.77% 2.44%
1994 3.17% 2.49%
1993 3.24% 2.53%
1992 3.23% 2.56%
1991 3.18% 2.58%
1990 3.16% 2.56%
1989 2.58% 2.55%
1988 1.68% 2.61%
1987 1.32% 2.68%
1986 1.28% 2.75%
1985 1.26% 2.79%
1984 1.23% 2.79%
1983 1.2% 2.79%
1982 1.17% 2.77%
1981 1.14% 2.76%
1980 1.1% 2.76%
1979 1.08% 2.74%
1978 1.05% 2.7%
1977 1.04% 2.67%
1976 1.5% 2.63%
1975 1.96% 2.6%
1974 1.95% 2.58%
1973 1.93% 2.58%
1972 1.98% 2.63%
1971 2.1% 2.7%
1970 2.24% 2.78%
1969 2.31% 2.85%
1968 2.28% 2.97%
1967 2.21% 3.14%
1966 2.14% 3.27%
1965 2.08% 3.41%
1964 2.03% 3.53%
1963 1.98% 3.65%
1962 1.93% 3.74%
1961 1.89% 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/central-african-republic/costa-rica | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while Costa Rica's population grew by 0.48%.

Live population counters

CAR Costa Rica
Current population
5753659
5181862
Population rank 118/197 126/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.06%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
21.6 minutes
One birth every
2.2 minutes
10.1 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
18.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +67
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +24,385
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +0.48%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 138/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
8.78 hours
Annual migration change -14,693 +1,000
Net migration rank 143/196 63/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 628,404
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 75/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 12.2%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 55/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Costa Rica
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 1,000
2024 - -15,357 - 967
2023 190,325 -14,682 24,109 995
2022 -49,456 -17,430 21,409 1,006
2021 124,408 -85,646 20,119 1,018
2020 156,911 -24,745 29,164 1,029
2019 68,523 -36,849 37,682 1,653
2018 153,361 -52,954 42,469 1,673
2017 128,461 -58,584 43,471 1,671
2016 142,419 -52,607 45,565 1,649
2015 141,912 -63,045 49,077 1,617
2014 107,448 -174,051 49,559 1,589
2013 140,489 -112,382 49,227 1,579
2012 146,791 -111,764 52,036 1,587
2011 142,913 -86,281 52,884 1,695
2010 130,539 -43,126 50,803 2,357
2009 -130,613 -28,899 55,757 3,432
2008 128,627 -28,983 56,491 3,794
2007 123,137 -30,352 55,244 4,080
2006 118,882 -41,282 54,177 4,321
2005 113,534 -13,604 57,139 4,567
2004 108,548 -16,510 55,769 4,856
2003 105,540 -18,097 56,743 5,216
2002 100,588 5,992 58,388 5,812
2001 99,598 -33,006 62,199 7,119
2000 97,468 8,079 64,268 8,826
1999 96,108 6,284 64,922 13,253
1998 94,361 4,479 64,788 15,556
1997 93,378 2,034 64,954 16,954
1996 93,369 2,697 66,094 17,393
1995 92,748 -12,986 67,585 16,609
1994 90,943 9,496 68,336 15,587
1993 89,873 9,930 69,016 14,431
1992 88,939 9,269 69,830 13,069
1991 88,688 4,381 70,506 10,757
1990 87,507 1,995 71,727 7,949
1989 85,969 409 72,327 3,758
1988 84,654 -31,016 72,944 2,414
1987 83,408 -47,428 73,188 2,267
1986 81,149 -47,332 73,211 2,302
1985 79,266 -46,427 72,776 2,357
1984 77,395 -45,591 71,062 2,402
1983 75,399 -44,780 68,972 2,449
1982 73,330 -43,908 66,826 2,453
1981 71,391 -42,872 64,632 2,431
1980 68,759 -41,539 62,561 2,387
1979 66,104 -39,850 60,984 2,349
1978 63,285 -37,874 58,327 2,296
1977 60,436 -35,782 56,122 2,228
1976 57,725 -33,645 54,019 2,129
1975 55,106 -9,895 51,979 1,992
1974 53,777 -9,838 50,349 1,839
1973 52,525 -9,800 48,943 1,468
1972 51,390 -9,634 48,417 1,366
1971 50,142 -7,259 48,341 1,296
1970 48,690 -3,693 48,398 1,137
1969 47,066 -80 48,790 1,017
1968 45,377 474 48,361 939
1967 42,979 474 50,193 926
1966 40,804 474 50,755 930
1965 38,710 474 51,196 932
1964 36,878 474 51,435 934
1963 35,218 474 51,403 938
1962 33,731 474 51,046 934
1961 32,383 474 50,149 924
1960 31,131 474 48,857 910

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 66.7% of the population change in the Central African Republic is from natural causes (a gain of 1,164,312 people) and 33.3% is from migration (a loss of 580,593 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, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 628,404 people or 12.2% in Costa Rica.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
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/central-african-republic/costa-rica | CC BY

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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)

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