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Population in Costa Rica compared to the DR Congo: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 109,276,265 people in the DR Congo in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 117,507,801 in the DR Congo.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 22.7 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while the DR Congo is the 15th.
  • The countries together account for 1.48% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 1.42% for the DR Congo.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +3.38% in the DR Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while the DR Congo has grown from 60.6M to 118M (93.9% growth).

Costa Rica vs DR Congo: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica DR Congo
2100 3,804,183 436,320,913
2099 3,842,423 433,372,904
2098 3,880,999 430,335,169
2097 3,919,996 427,231,271
2096 3,959,352 424,043,303
2095 3,999,084 420,759,430
2094 4,039,053 417,384,609
2093 4,079,349 413,946,692
2092 4,119,898 410,440,733
2091 4,160,663 406,841,757
2090 4,201,548 403,166,901
2089 4,242,452 399,411,004
2088 4,283,327 395,583,655
2087 4,324,225 391,688,383
2086 4,364,979 387,713,874
2085 4,405,520 383,678,330
2084 4,445,770 379,568,054
2083 4,485,644 375,402,379
2082 4,525,171 371,195,818
2081 4,564,265 366,948,626
2080 4,602,737 362,644,227
2079 4,640,677 358,295,825
2078 4,677,935 353,888,897
2077 4,714,527 349,435,210
2076 4,750,309 344,932,895
2075 4,785,359 340,403,800
2074 4,819,691 335,826,108
2073 4,853,137 331,220,816
2072 4,885,727 326,568,298
2071 4,917,445 321,892,514
2070 4,948,313 317,165,418
2069 4,978,425 312,409,702
2068 5,007,604 307,625,941
2067 5,035,877 302,820,577
2066 5,063,521 297,989,401
2065 5,090,474 293,137,514
2064 5,116,546 288,267,282
2063 5,141,922 283,369,365
2062 5,166,260 278,452,605
2061 5,189,836 273,517,380
2060 5,212,549 268,572,331
2059 5,234,066 263,620,905
2058 5,254,528 258,672,397
2057 5,273,844 253,733,756
2056 5,292,013 248,796,045
2055 5,308,829 243,861,631
2054 5,324,305 238,931,249
2053 5,338,417 234,016,357
2052 5,350,974 229,117,369
2051 5,361,865 224,240,788
2050 5,371,197 219,397,034
2049 5,378,904 214,588,560
2048 5,385,081 209,814,694
2047 5,389,678 205,079,870
2046 5,392,713 200,379,842
2045 5,394,209 195,731,078
2044 5,394,124 191,124,003
2043 5,392,590 186,569,843
2042 5,389,628 182,068,630
2041 5,385,101 177,617,360
2040 5,379,344 173,224,822
2039 5,372,186 168,878,834
2038 5,363,617 164,583,465
2037 5,353,928 160,347,349
2036 5,343,027 156,129,049
2035 5,330,994 151,953,443
2034 5,317,895 147,811,138
2033 5,303,634 143,712,496
2032 5,288,416 139,669,159
2031 5,272,215 135,660,570
2030 5,255,064 131,710,378
2029 5,236,901 127,818,130
2028 5,217,724 123,980,695
2027 5,197,413 120,212,011
2026 5,176,096 116,505,117
2025 5,153,634 112,854,120
2024 5,129,910 109,276,265
2023 5,105,525 105,789,731
2022 5,081,765 102,396,968
2021 5,059,988 99,148,932
2020 5,034,320 95,989,998
2019 4,999,553 92,947,442
2018 4,957,818 90,047,644
2017 4,913,177 87,083,398
2016 4,866,998 83,956,415
2015 4,818,038 81,035,531
2014 4,767,119 78,403,242
2013 4,716,147 75,789,395
2012 4,663,934 73,254,618
2011 4,609,833 70,849,311
2010 4,555,962 68,563,038
2009 4,499,791 66,412,044
2008 4,440,056 64,390,664
2007 4,380,248 62,477,752
2006 4,321,340 60,615,908
2005 4,261,240 58,775,724
2004 4,200,078 56,997,741
2003 4,138,784 55,343,867
2002 4,075,705 53,750,524
2001 4,008,947 52,132,646
2000 3,937,739 50,507,442
1999 3,862,101 48,912,971
1998 3,782,838 47,297,600
1997 3,701,711 46,029,902
1996 3,619,013 45,296,124
1995 3,535,176 44,433,704
1994 3,451,122 42,626,876
1993 3,367,434 40,656,336
1992 3,284,258 39,228,910
1991 3,202,176 37,925,817
1990 3,121,706 36,684,063
1989 3,043,827 35,486,866
1988 2,968,103 34,382,752
1987 2,892,699 33,298,904
1986 2,817,216 32,265,196
1985 2,741,894 31,264,816
1984 2,667,595 30,245,081
1983 2,595,153 29,250,963
1982 2,524,806 28,338,190
1981 2,456,637 27,500,515
1980 2,390,633 26,711,099
1979 2,326,490 25,886,782
1978 2,264,510 24,992,689
1977 2,205,025 24,229,061
1976 2,147,774 23,624,031
1975 2,092,719 23,021,101
1974 2,039,643 22,418,878
1973 1,988,343 21,827,665
1972 1,938,248 21,251,160
1971 1,888,539 20,695,569
1970 1,838,949 20,137,436
1969 1,789,276 19,570,445
1968 1,739,731 19,012,189
1967 1,689,523 18,462,782
1966 1,638,116 17,931,929
1965 1,586,208 17,427,802
1964 1,533,960 16,955,327
1963 1,481,604 16,507,599
1962 1,429,445 16,075,724
1961 1,377,920 15,662,374
1960 1,327,496 15,264,846

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/costa-rica/dr-congo | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while the DR Congo gained 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while the DR Congo's population increased by 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. The DR Congo was ranked 22nd in 2006 and ranked 15th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Costa Rica's population will grow by 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th. The population of the DR Congo will increase by 86.7% to 219,397,034 people and rank change from 15th to 8th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 436M people in 2100 for the DR Congo.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica DR Congo
2100 -1% 0.68%
2099 -0.99% 0.71%
2098 -0.99% 0.73%
2097 -0.99% 0.75%
2096 -0.99% 0.78%
2095 -0.99% 0.81%
2094 -0.99% 0.83%
2093 -0.98% 0.85%
2092 -0.98% 0.88%
2091 -0.97% 0.91%
2090 -0.96% 0.94%
2089 -0.95% 0.97%
2088 -0.95% 0.99%
2087 -0.93% 1.03%
2086 -0.92% 1.05%
2085 -0.91% 1.08%
2084 -0.89% 1.11%
2083 -0.87% 1.13%
2082 -0.86% 1.16%
2081 -0.84% 1.19%
2080 -0.82% 1.21%
2079 -0.8% 1.25%
2078 -0.78% 1.27%
2077 -0.75% 1.31%
2076 -0.73% 1.33%
2075 -0.71% 1.36%
2074 -0.69% 1.39%
2073 -0.67% 1.42%
2072 -0.65% 1.45%
2071 -0.62% 1.49%
2070 -0.6% 1.52%
2069 -0.58% 1.56%
2068 -0.56% 1.59%
2067 -0.55% 1.62%
2066 -0.53% 1.66%
2065 -0.51% 1.69%
2064 -0.49% 1.73%
2063 -0.47% 1.77%
2062 -0.45% 1.8%
2061 -0.44% 1.84%
2060 -0.41% 1.88%
2059 -0.39% 1.91%
2058 -0.37% 1.95%
2057 -0.34% 1.98%
2056 -0.32% 2.02%
2055 -0.29% 2.06%
2054 -0.26% 2.1%
2053 -0.23% 2.14%
2052 -0.2% 2.17%
2051 -0.17% 2.21%
2050 -0.14% 2.24%
2049 -0.11% 2.28%
2048 -0.09% 2.31%
2047 -0.06% 2.35%
2046 -0.03% 2.38%
2045 0.002% 2.41%
2044 0.03% 2.44%
2043 0.05% 2.47%
2042 0.08% 2.51%
2041 0.11% 2.54%
2040 0.13% 2.57%
2039 0.16% 2.61%
2038 0.18% 2.64%
2037 0.2% 2.7%
2036 0.23% 2.75%
2035 0.25% 2.8%
2034 0.27% 2.85%
2033 0.29% 2.89%
2032 0.31% 2.95%
2031 0.33% 3%
2030 0.35% 3.05%
2029 0.37% 3.1%
2028 0.39% 3.14%
2027 0.41% 3.18%
2026 0.44% 3.24%
2025 0.46% 3.27%
2024 0.48% 3.3%
2023 0.47% 3.31%
2022 0.43% 3.28%
2021 0.51% 3.29%
2020 0.7% 3.27%
2019 0.84% 3.22%
2018 0.91% 3.4%
2017 0.95% 3.72%
2016 1.02% 3.6%
2015 1.07% 3.36%
2014 1.08% 3.45%
2013 1.12% 3.46%
2012 1.17% 3.39%
2011 1.18% 3.33%
2010 1.25% 3.24%
2009 1.35% 3.14%
2008 1.37% 3.06%
2007 1.36% 3.07%
2006 1.41% 3.13%
2005 1.46% 3.12%
2004 1.48% 2.99%
2003 1.55% 2.96%
2002 1.67% 3.1%
2001 1.81% 3.22%
2000 1.96% 3.26%
1999 2.1% 3.42%
1998 2.19% 2.75%
1997 2.29% 1.62%
1996 2.37% 1.94%
1995 2.44% 4.24%
1994 2.49% 4.85%
1993 2.53% 3.64%
1992 2.56% 3.44%
1991 2.58% 3.38%
1990 2.56% 3.37%
1989 2.55% 3.21%
1988 2.61% 3.25%
1987 2.68% 3.2%
1986 2.75% 3.2%
1985 2.79% 3.37%
1984 2.79% 3.4%
1983 2.79% 3.22%
1982 2.77% 3.05%
1981 2.76% 2.96%
1980 2.76% 3.18%
1979 2.74% 3.58%
1978 2.7% 3.15%
1977 2.67% 2.56%
1976 2.63% 2.62%
1975 2.6% 2.69%
1974 2.58% 2.71%
1973 2.58% 2.71%
1972 2.63% 2.68%
1971 2.7% 2.77%
1970 2.78% 2.9%
1969 2.85% 2.94%
1968 2.97% 2.98%
1967 3.14% 2.96%
1966 3.27% 2.89%
1965 3.41% 2.79%
1964 3.53% 2.71%
1963 3.65% 2.69%
1962 3.74% 2.64%
1961 3.8% 2.6%

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/costa-rica/dr-congo | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while the DR Congo's population grew by 3.3%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica DR Congo
Current population
5181862
117507801
Population rank 126/197 15/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 1.42%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
9.05 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
7.22 seconds
One death every
18.9 minutes
35 seconds
Daily growth/decline +67 +9,552
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +3,486,534
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +3.3%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 11/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
19.3 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -27,309
Net migration rank 63/196 159/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 1,085,090
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 57/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 1%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 152/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
DR Congo
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica DR Congo
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -27,309
2024 - 967 - -26,968
2023 24,109 995 3,467,787 -14,992
2022 21,409 1,006 3,347,664 -14,991
2021 20,119 1,018 3,227,992 -64,639
2020 29,164 1,029 3,156,152 -1,633
2019 37,682 1,653 3,075,538 -144,920
2018 42,469 1,673 2,993,184 -124,246
2017 43,471 1,671 2,883,245 176,290
2016 45,565 1,649 2,753,687 440,748
2015 49,077 1,617 2,665,016 -17,711
2014 49,559 1,589 2,580,251 36,966
2013 49,227 1,579 2,489,378 121,097
2012 52,036 1,587 2,405,462 53,668
2011 52,884 1,695 2,310,679 40,891
2010 50,803 2,357 2,212,255 8,823
2009 55,757 3,432 2,126,912 -46,009
2008 56,491 3,794 2,044,210 -82,339
2007 55,244 4,080 1,963,738 -99,742
2006 54,177 4,321 1,889,398 -29,715
2005 57,139 4,567 1,800,300 20,384
2004 55,769 4,856 1,731,022 4,260
2003 56,743 5,216 1,679,188 -106,731
2002 58,388 5,812 1,631,597 -17,358
2001 62,199 7,119 1,594,999 26,523
2000 64,268 8,826 1,549,518 79,340
1999 64,922 13,253 1,450,318 109,761
1998 64,788 15,556 1,375,130 295,560
1997 64,954 16,954 1,392,037 -527,356
1996 66,094 17,393 1,380,490 -777,833
1995 67,585 16,609 1,395,440 -273,434
1994 68,336 15,587 1,259,539 1,232,105
1993 69,016 14,431 1,209,242 240,176
1992 69,830 13,069 1,152,781 252,666
1991 70,506 10,757 1,114,033 86,721
1990 71,727 7,949 1,063,508 219,270
1989 72,327 3,758 1,027,238 84,415
1988 72,944 2,414 995,278 101,314
1987 73,188 2,267 959,875 111,220
1986 73,211 2,302 925,334 70,988
1985 72,776 2,357 885,670 118,791
1984 71,062 2,402 844,956 190,045
1983 68,972 2,449 807,122 146,095
1982 66,826 2,453 774,823 97,495
1981 64,632 2,431 748,371 54,656
1980 62,561 2,387 724,111 51,685
1979 60,984 2,349 691,773 181,028
1978 58,327 2,296 646,411 268,974
1977 56,122 2,228 638,242 -26,355
1976 54,019 2,129 624,147 -25,965
1975 51,979 1,992 608,655 -972
1974 50,349 1,839 593,539 3,216
1973 48,943 1,468 578,280 7,414
1972 48,417 1,366 564,495 2,840
1971 48,341 1,296 549,343 -5,497
1970 48,398 1,137 533,300 39,116
1969 48,790 1,017 514,800 46,778
1968 48,361 939 497,682 57,274
1967 50,193 926 479,552 64,307
1966 50,755 930 463,397 54,443
1965 51,196 932 429,002 61,397
1964 51,435 934 406,334 48,207
1963 51,403 938 398,972 41,960
1962 51,046 934 383,406 39,431
1961 50,149 924 368,207 35,654
1960 48,857 910 363,517 27,673

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/dr-congo | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 96.3% of the population change in Costa Rica is from natural causes (a gain of 362,624 people) and 3.69% is from migration (a gain of 13,900 people). In the DR Congo 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,150,516 people) and 0.89% is from migration (a gain of 270,872 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 1,085,090 people or 1% in the DR Congo.

Biggest cities by population

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
DR Congo
City Population
Kinshasa 14.6M
Mbuji-Mayi 2.89M
Kananga 1.97M
Lubumbashi 1.79M
Kisangani 1.37M
Tshikapa 1.01M
Uvira 726K
Bukavu 707K
Kolwezi 480K
Mbandaka 470K

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/costa-rica/dr-congo | 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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