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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 2.89 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.24% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Costa Rica vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Rwanda
2100 3,804,183 33,092,520
2099 3,842,423 32,987,847
2098 3,880,999 32,907,335
2097 3,919,996 32,832,706
2096 3,959,352 32,747,490
2095 3,999,084 32,615,044
2094 4,039,053 32,529,590
2093 4,079,349 32,396,544
2092 4,119,898 32,274,083
2091 4,160,663 32,171,077
2090 4,201,548 32,068,626
2089 4,242,452 31,872,593
2088 4,283,327 31,726,882
2087 4,324,225 31,533,364
2086 4,364,979 31,379,315
2085 4,405,520 31,235,000
2084 4,445,770 31,092,940
2083 4,485,644 30,917,707
2082 4,525,171 30,733,578
2081 4,564,265 30,557,819
2080 4,602,737 30,367,298
2079 4,640,677 30,176,627
2078 4,677,935 29,997,866
2077 4,714,527 29,800,561
2076 4,750,309 29,627,021
2075 4,785,359 29,423,503
2074 4,819,691 29,225,643
2073 4,853,137 29,007,777
2072 4,885,727 28,780,763
2071 4,917,445 28,560,382
2070 4,948,313 28,316,533
2069 4,978,425 28,103,541
2068 5,007,604 27,854,906
2067 5,035,877 27,591,747
2066 5,063,521 27,355,659
2065 5,090,474 27,084,704
2064 5,116,546 26,821,315
2063 5,141,922 26,543,184
2062 5,166,260 26,296,132
2061 5,189,836 25,985,356
2060 5,212,549 25,712,904
2059 5,234,066 25,437,446
2058 5,254,528 25,106,242
2057 5,273,844 24,837,928
2056 5,292,013 24,566,784
2055 5,308,829 24,266,669
2054 5,324,305 23,976,914
2053 5,338,417 23,690,426
2052 5,350,974 23,406,346
2051 5,361,865 23,099,207
2050 5,371,197 22,800,250
2049 5,378,904 22,484,698
2048 5,385,081 22,157,938
2047 5,389,678 21,834,786
2046 5,392,713 21,540,566
2045 5,394,209 21,215,262
2044 5,394,124 20,902,695
2043 5,392,590 20,535,605
2042 5,389,628 20,201,608
2041 5,385,101 19,832,577
2040 5,379,344 19,463,015
2039 5,372,186 19,096,860
2038 5,363,617 18,761,626
2037 5,353,928 18,421,864
2036 5,343,027 18,116,691
2035 5,330,994 17,753,910
2034 5,317,895 17,421,234
2033 5,303,634 17,089,349
2032 5,288,416 16,811,505
2031 5,272,215 16,485,559
2030 5,255,064 16,167,916
2029 5,236,901 15,858,862
2028 5,217,724 15,544,959
2027 5,197,413 15,207,733
2026 5,176,096 14,888,776
2025 5,153,634 14,560,205
2024 5,129,910 14,256,567
2023 5,105,525 13,954,471
2022 5,081,765 13,651,030
2021 5,059,988 13,355,260
2020 5,034,320 13,065,837
2019 4,999,553 12,776,103
2018 4,957,818 12,487,996
2017 4,913,177 12,202,060
2016 4,866,998 11,919,183
2015 4,818,038 11,640,022
2014 4,767,119 11,364,757
2013 4,716,147 11,093,340
2012 4,663,934 10,829,901
2011 4,609,833 10,573,733
2010 4,555,962 10,317,553
2009 4,499,791 10,060,432
2008 4,440,056 9,804,269
2007 4,380,248 9,549,933
2006 4,321,340 9,299,246
2005 4,261,240 9,054,528
2004 4,200,078 8,816,844
2003 4,138,784 8,586,875
2002 4,075,705 8,400,180
2001 4,008,947 8,287,094
2000 3,937,739 8,213,931
1999 3,862,101 8,147,912
1998 3,782,838 8,081,681
1997 3,701,711 7,755,238
1996 3,619,013 6,708,764
1995 3,535,176 5,674,118
1994 3,451,122 6,792,352
1993 3,367,434 7,981,132
1992 3,284,258 7,683,266
1991 3,202,176 7,526,966
1990 3,121,706 7,375,307
1989 3,043,827 7,184,706
1988 2,968,103 6,968,071
1987 2,892,699 6,749,493
1986 2,817,216 6,531,881
1985 2,741,894 6,317,228
1984 2,667,595 6,107,627
1983 2,595,153 5,905,311
1982 2,524,806 5,711,549
1981 2,456,637 5,527,230
1980 2,390,633 5,353,259
1979 2,326,490 5,189,541
1978 2,264,510 5,035,171
1977 2,205,025 4,888,240
1976 2,147,774 4,745,954
1975 2,092,719 4,607,728
1974 2,039,643 4,474,228
1973 1,988,343 4,345,047
1972 1,938,248 4,220,335
1971 1,888,539 4,100,044
1970 1,838,949 3,980,669
1969 1,789,276 3,861,271
1968 1,739,731 3,744,010
1967 1,689,523 3,629,577
1966 1,638,116 3,521,626
1965 1,586,208 3,423,210
1964 1,533,960 3,334,834
1963 1,481,604 3,258,890
1962 1,429,445 3,186,025
1961 1,377,920 3,106,779
1960 1,327,496 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Rwanda
2100 -1% 0.32%
2099 -0.99% 0.24%
2098 -0.99% 0.23%
2097 -0.99% 0.26%
2096 -0.99% 0.41%
2095 -0.99% 0.26%
2094 -0.99% 0.41%
2093 -0.98% 0.38%
2092 -0.98% 0.32%
2091 -0.97% 0.32%
2090 -0.96% 0.62%
2089 -0.95% 0.46%
2088 -0.95% 0.61%
2087 -0.93% 0.49%
2086 -0.92% 0.46%
2085 -0.91% 0.46%
2084 -0.89% 0.57%
2083 -0.87% 0.6%
2082 -0.86% 0.58%
2081 -0.84% 0.63%
2080 -0.82% 0.63%
2079 -0.8% 0.6%
2078 -0.78% 0.66%
2077 -0.75% 0.59%
2076 -0.73% 0.69%
2075 -0.71% 0.68%
2074 -0.69% 0.75%
2073 -0.67% 0.79%
2072 -0.65% 0.77%
2071 -0.62% 0.86%
2070 -0.6% 0.76%
2069 -0.58% 0.89%
2068 -0.56% 0.95%
2067 -0.55% 0.86%
2066 -0.53% 1%
2065 -0.51% 0.98%
2064 -0.49% 1.05%
2063 -0.47% 0.94%
2062 -0.45% 1.2%
2061 -0.44% 1.06%
2060 -0.41% 1.08%
2059 -0.39% 1.32%
2058 -0.37% 1.08%
2057 -0.34% 1.1%
2056 -0.32% 1.24%
2055 -0.29% 1.21%
2054 -0.26% 1.21%
2053 -0.23% 1.21%
2052 -0.2% 1.33%
2051 -0.17% 1.31%
2050 -0.14% 1.4%
2049 -0.11% 1.47%
2048 -0.09% 1.48%
2047 -0.06% 1.37%
2046 -0.03% 1.53%
2045 0.002% 1.5%
2044 0.03% 1.79%
2043 0.05% 1.65%
2042 0.08% 1.86%
2041 0.11% 1.9%
2040 0.13% 1.92%
2039 0.16% 1.79%
2038 0.18% 1.84%
2037 0.2% 1.68%
2036 0.23% 2.04%
2035 0.25% 1.91%
2034 0.27% 1.94%
2033 0.29% 1.65%
2032 0.31% 1.98%
2031 0.33% 1.96%
2030 0.35% 1.95%
2029 0.37% 2.02%
2028 0.39% 2.22%
2027 0.41% 2.14%
2026 0.44% 2.26%
2025 0.46% 2.13%
2024 0.48% 2.16%
2023 0.47% 2.22%
2022 0.43% 2.21%
2021 0.51% 2.22%
2020 0.7% 2.27%
2019 0.84% 2.31%
2018 0.91% 2.34%
2017 0.95% 2.37%
2016 1.02% 2.4%
2015 1.07% 2.42%
2014 1.08% 2.45%
2013 1.12% 2.43%
2012 1.17% 2.42%
2011 1.18% 2.48%
2010 1.25% 2.56%
2009 1.35% 2.61%
2008 1.37% 2.66%
2007 1.36% 2.7%
2006 1.41% 2.7%
2005 1.46% 2.7%
2004 1.48% 2.68%
2003 1.55% 2.22%
2002 1.67% 1.36%
2001 1.81% 0.89%
2000 1.96% 0.81%
1999 2.1% 0.82%
1998 2.19% 4.21%
1997 2.29% 15.6%
1996 2.37% 18.2%
1995 2.44% -16.5%
1994 2.49% -14.9%
1993 2.53% 3.88%
1992 2.56% 2.08%
1991 2.58% 2.06%
1990 2.56% 2.65%
1989 2.55% 3.11%
1988 2.61% 3.24%
1987 2.68% 3.33%
1986 2.75% 3.4%
1985 2.79% 3.43%
1984 2.79% 3.43%
1983 2.79% 3.39%
1982 2.77% 3.33%
1981 2.76% 3.25%
1980 2.76% 3.15%
1979 2.74% 3.07%
1978 2.7% 3.01%
1977 2.67% 3%
1976 2.63% 3%
1975 2.6% 2.98%
1974 2.58% 2.97%
1973 2.58% 2.96%
1972 2.63% 2.93%
1971 2.7% 3%
1970 2.78% 3.09%
1969 2.85% 3.13%
1968 2.97% 3.15%
1967 3.14% 3.07%
1966 3.27% 2.87%
1965 3.41% 2.65%
1964 3.53% 2.33%
1963 3.65% 2.29%
1962 3.74% 2.55%
1961 3.8% 2.8%

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/costa-rica/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Rwanda
Current population
5181862
14975051
Population rank 126/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.18%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +828
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 45/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
1.4 hours
Annual migration change +1,000 +6,282
Net migration rank 63/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - 6,282
2024 - 967 - -15,582
2023 24,109 995 312,762 -9,001
2022 21,409 1,006 312,145 -9,001
2021 20,119 1,018 309,895 -21,492
2020 29,164 1,029 312,692 -22,251
2019 37,682 1,653 313,525 -24,492
2018 42,469 1,673 312,512 -25,323
2017 43,471 1,671 310,323 -25,634
2016 45,565 1,649 305,549 -24,474
2015 49,077 1,617 299,114 -21,862
2014 49,559 1,589 292,779 -19,505
2013 49,227 1,579 286,331 -16,779
2012 52,036 1,587 282,584 -25,260
2011 52,884 1,695 282,922 -27,915
2010 50,803 2,357 286,848 -29,501
2009 55,757 3,432 287,034 -30,128
2008 56,491 3,794 287,334 -31,913
2007 55,244 4,080 285,791 -32,537
2006 54,177 4,321 282,149 -34,008
2005 57,139 4,567 275,121 -33,830
2004 55,769 4,856 265,273 -31,214
2003 56,743 5,216 251,243 -25,355
2002 58,388 5,812 239,036 -91,518
2001 62,199 7,119 230,845 -152,197
2000 64,268 8,826 221,276 -153,588
1999 64,922 13,253 210,518 -146,162
1998 64,788 15,556 197,185 -129,089
1997 64,954 16,954 174,687 410,106
1996 66,094 17,393 140,455 1,367,700
1995 67,585 16,609 121,137 439,995
1994 68,336 15,587 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 69,016 14,431 183,926 236,110
1992 69,830 13,069 188,025 -12,334
1991 70,506 10,757 196,431 -59,519
1990 71,727 7,949 207,895 -41,483
1989 72,327 3,758 217,632 -2,826
1988 72,944 2,414 223,759 -5,285
1987 73,188 2,267 225,744 -7,062
1986 73,211 2,302 225,526 -8,982
1985 72,776 2,357 223,794 -11,031
1984 71,062 2,402 219,337 -12,899
1983 68,972 2,449 212,750 -14,560
1982 66,826 2,453 205,147 -15,818
1981 64,632 2,431 195,769 -16,453
1980 62,561 2,387 184,988 -16,359
1979 60,984 2,349 174,477 -15,669
1978 58,327 2,296 163,779 -13,838
1977 56,122 2,228 155,011 -11,084
1976 54,019 2,129 147,665 -7,027
1975 51,979 1,992 140,596 -4,791
1974 50,349 1,839 135,743 -4,535
1973 48,943 1,468 131,021 -3,862
1972 48,417 1,366 126,403 -4,156
1971 48,341 1,296 122,567 -4,230
1970 48,398 1,137 119,273 1,149
1969 48,790 1,017 115,394 2,983
1968 48,361 939 111,422 4,728
1967 50,193 926 108,053 4,655
1966 50,755 930 105,128 -1,930
1965 51,196 932 103,422 -9,774
1964 51,435 934 102,562 -19,458
1963 51,403 938 94,296 -25,524
1962 51,046 934 102,548 -25,594
1961 50,149 924 102,051 -20,508
1960 48,857 910 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/costa-rica/rwanda | 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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