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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,152,950 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,186,356 people compared to 15,062,056 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 2.9 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 +0.71% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.19M (20% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).

Costa Rica vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Rwanda
2100 3,803,678 33,113,283
2099 3,841,913 33,008,545
2098 3,880,484 32,927,982
2097 3,919,475 32,853,307
2096 3,958,826 32,768,037
2095 3,998,552 32,635,508
2094 4,038,516 32,550,001
2093 4,078,807 32,416,870
2092 4,119,351 32,294,333
2091 4,160,111 32,191,262
2090 4,200,989 32,088,747
2089 4,241,888 31,892,591
2088 4,282,758 31,746,789
2087 4,323,650 31,553,150
2086 4,364,399 31,399,004
2085 4,404,935 31,254,597
2084 4,445,179 31,112,448
2083 4,485,048 30,937,106
2082 4,524,570 30,752,861
2081 4,563,658 30,576,992
2080 4,602,126 30,386,351
2079 4,640,060 30,195,560
2078 4,677,313 30,016,688
2077 4,713,901 29,819,259
2076 4,749,678 29,645,610
2075 4,784,723 29,441,964
2074 4,819,050 29,243,980
2073 4,852,492 29,025,977
2072 4,885,078 28,798,822
2071 4,916,792 28,578,302
2070 4,947,655 28,334,300
2069 4,977,764 28,121,174
2068 5,006,939 27,872,383
2067 5,035,207 27,609,059
2066 5,062,849 27,372,823
2065 5,089,797 27,101,698
2064 5,115,866 26,838,144
2063 5,141,239 26,559,838
2062 5,165,574 26,312,631
2061 5,189,146 26,001,660
2060 5,211,857 25,729,037
2059 5,233,370 25,453,407
2058 5,253,830 25,121,995
2057 5,273,143 24,853,512
2056 5,291,310 24,582,198
2055 5,308,124 24,281,895
2054 5,323,598 23,991,958
2053 5,337,707 23,705,290
2052 5,350,263 23,421,032
2051 5,361,152 23,113,700
2050 5,370,484 22,814,556
2049 5,378,189 22,498,806
2048 5,384,366 22,171,841
2047 5,388,962 21,848,486
2046 5,391,996 21,554,082
2045 5,393,493 21,228,573
2044 5,393,407 20,915,810
2043 5,391,873 20,548,490
2042 5,388,912 20,214,283
2041 5,384,386 19,845,021
2040 5,378,629 19,475,227
2039 5,371,473 19,108,842
2038 5,362,904 18,773,398
2037 5,353,217 18,433,422
2036 5,342,317 18,128,058
2035 5,330,286 17,765,049
2034 5,317,189 17,432,165
2033 5,302,930 17,100,072
2032 5,287,714 16,822,053
2031 5,271,514 16,495,903
2030 5,254,366 16,178,061
2029 5,236,206 15,868,812
2028 5,217,031 15,554,713
2027 5,196,723 15,217,275
2026 5,175,408 14,898,118
2025 5,152,950 14,569,341
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 319,358 people (a 6.56% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% 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 3.55% to 5,370,484 people with a rank change from 126th to 127th. The population of Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 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 0.45% 2.19%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.45%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Rwanda
Current population
5186356
15062056
Population rank 126/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.18%
One net population change
22.9 minutes
1.69 minutes
One birth every
10.3 minutes
1.31 minutes
One death every
18.4 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +63 +857
Annual growth/decline +23,040 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 134/197 40/197
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 22,699 967 316,025 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 96.2% of the population change in Costa Rica is from natural causes (a gain of 335,764 people) and 3.8% is from migration (a gain of 13,278 people). In Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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