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Belgium vs Costa Rica statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has a population of 11.9M (ranked 82/197), compared with 5.13M in Costa Rica (ranked 126/197). Belgium's land area is 11,774 sq mi versus 19,714 sq mi for Costa Rica (ranked 136th vs. 126th).

By GDP, Belgium ranks 23/197 ($671B) and Costa Rica ranks 73/197 ($95.4B). By GDP per capita, Belgium ranks 18/197 ($56,615), while Costa Rica ranks 62/197 ($18,587).

Main facts and rankings

Belgium Costa Rica
Population
11902714
5181862
Population rank 83/197 126/197
GDP
$671B
2024
$95.4B
2024
GDP rank 23/197 73/197
GDP per capita
$56,615
2024
$18,587
2024
GDP per capita rank 18/197 62/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$73,514
2024
$31,107
2024
Government debt
$703B
2024
$57B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
104.7%
2024
59.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$59,278
2024
$11,106
2024
Government debt per person rank 5/185 50/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$35,259
2026
$12,150
2026
Land area 11,774 sq mi 19,714 sq mi
Population density
1,011 ppl/mi²
2026
262.6 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.47
2023
1.33
2023
Median age
42.7 years
2024
35.6 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
81.4 years
2026

Belgium and Costa Rica: Comparison Charts

Belgium and Costa Rica economies compared

GDP
Belgium

Costa Rica
1x
Year GDP
Belgium Costa Rica
2024 $671,370,081,636 $95,350,423,177
2023 $651,330,595,110 $86,497,941,439
2022 $591,085,783,326 $69,243,626,029
2021 $598,522,422,242 $64,960,725,734
2020 $529,694,473,502 $62,395,610,760
2019 $536,726,344,405 $64,417,670,521
2018 $542,638,913,428 $62,420,164,992
2017 $500,908,767,352 $60,516,044,657
2016 $474,271,566,740 $58,847,019,610
2015 $461,044,767,545 $56,441,920,821
2014 $537,987,419,164 $52,016,408,854
2013 $524,097,026,599 $50,949,668,842
2012 $498,414,364,945 $47,231,655,432
2011 $527,196,649,049 $42,762,613,699
2010 $481,556,503,720 $37,658,616,952
2009 $485,014,525,992 $30,745,714,313
2008 $517,328,087,920 $30,801,745,700
2007 $470,922,156,309 $26,884,700,709
2006 $408,259,840,869 $22,715,540,324
2005 $385,714,762,230 $20,040,642,477
2004 $369,214,712,443 $18,610,594,846
2003 $318,082,528,507 $17,271,760,507
2002 $258,383,599,375 $16,578,820,687
2001 $236,746,141,604 $15,976,174,337
2000 $236,792,460,312 $15,013,629,662
1999 $258,245,733,221 $14,254,866,285
1998 $258,528,339,631 $13,684,255,947
1997 $252,708,051,421 $12,614,602,382
1996 $279,201,433,225 $11,678,424,507
1995 $288,025,588,396 $11,578,594,260
1994 $244,884,129,491 $10,489,903,725
1993 $224,721,795,709 $9,564,815,975
1992 $234,781,652,447 $8,579,754,758
1991 $210,510,999,409 $7,215,725,487
1990 $205,331,747,948 $5,711,687,787
1989 $164,221,056,511 $5,251,025,767
1988 $162,299,103,675 $4,614,629,898
1987 $149,394,404,106 $4,532,952,047
1986 $120,018,787,249 $4,418,983,871
1985 $86,268,264,148 $3,919,203,960
1984 $83,349,530,159 $3,660,477,856
1983 $87,184,239,053 $3,146,772,631
1982 $92,095,926,188 $2,606,623,555
1981 $104,730,018,470 $2,623,803,096
1980 $126,829,314,388 $4,831,447,001
1979 $116,315,456,797 $4,035,519,323
1978 $101,246,526,194 $3,523,208,810
1977 $82,839,905,459 $3,072,427,013
1976 $71,113,882,968 $2,412,555,426
1975 $65,678,189,097 $1,960,863,466
1974 $56,033,077,879 $1,666,544,754
1973 $47,743,801,490 $1,528,925,846
1972 $37,209,418,019 $1,238,251,696
1971 $29,821,661,870 $1,077,147,538
1970 $26,706,196,047 $984,830,158
1969 $24,019,653,475 $853,630,204
1968 $21,654,856,965 $773,841,494
1967 $20,252,508,995 $699,456,619
1966 $18,894,891,312 $647,305,630
1965 $17,597,783,297 $592,981,162
1964 $16,168,044,450 $542,578,367
1963 $14,445,805,381 $511,902,137
1962 $13,436,827,167 $479,180,824
1961 $12,561,701,694 $490,325,182
1960 $11,810,619,368 $507,513,830

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/costa-rica | CC BY

Belgium and Costa Rica economies compared

GDP per capita
Belgium

Costa Rica
1x
Year GDP per capita
Belgium Costa Rica
2024 $56,615 $18,587
2023 $55,291 $16,942
2022 $50,606 $13,626
2021 $51,658 $12,838
2020 $45,906 $12,394
2019 $46,717 $12,885
2018 $47,487 $12,590
2017 $44,035 $12,317
2016 $41,855 $12,091
2015 $40,894 $11,715
2014 $47,996 $10,911
2013 $46,965 $10,803
2012 $44,874 $10,127
2011 $47,761 $9,276
2010 $44,197 $8,266
2009 $44,923 $6,833
2008 $48,303 $6,937
2007 $44,319 $6,138
2006 $38,705 $5,257
2005 $36,810 $4,703
2004 $35,429 $4,431
2003 $30,655 $4,173
2002 $25,006 $4,068
2001 $23,015 $3,985
2000 $23,099 $3,813
1999 $25,253 $3,691
1998 $25,338 $3,617
1997 $24,821 $3,408
1996 $27,490 $3,227
1995 $28,414 $3,275
1994 $24,209 $3,040
1993 $22,284 $2,840
1992 $23,373 $2,612
1991 $21,042 $2,253
1990 $20,600 $1,830
1989 $16,525 $1,725
1988 $16,391 $1,555
1987 $15,136 $1,567
1986 $12,170 $1,569
1985 $8,751 $1,429
1984 $8,457 $1,372
1983 $8,846 $1,213
1982 $9,344 $1,032
1981 $10,623 $1,068
1980 $12,864 $2,021
1979 $11,811 $1,735
1978 $10,290 $1,556
1977 $8,427 $1,393
1976 $7,243 $1,123
1975 $6,701 $937
1974 $5,734 $817
1973 $4,901 $769
1972 $3,832 $639
1971 $3,083 $570
1970 $2,766 $536
1969 $2,490 $477
1968 $2,251 $445
1967 $2,114 $414
1966 $1,983 $395
1965 $1,860 $374
1964 $1,724 $354
1963 $1,555 $346
1962 $1,457 $335
1961 $1,368 $356
1960 $1,290 $382

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/costa-rica | CC BY

Belgium vs. Costa Rica life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Belgium

Costa Rica
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Belgium Costa Rica
2026 82.6 81.4
2025 82.4 81.2
2024 82.3 81
2023 82.1 80.8
2022 81.2 79.3
2021 81.7 78.1
2020 80.8 79.7
2019 81.8 80.3
2018 81.5 80.1
2017 81.4 80
2016 81.3 80
2015 80.9 80.4
2014 81.1 80.2
2013 80.5 80.2
2012 80.3 79.9
2011 80.4 79.6
2010 80 79.4
2009 79.8 79.4
2008 79.6 79.2
2007 79.5 79.1
2006 79.4 79
2005 79.1 78.9
2004 79 78.5
2003 78.3 78.2
2002 78.2 77.9
2001 78.1 77.6
2000 77.8 77.3
1999 77.6 77.1
1998 77.5 76.9
1997 77.4 76.6
1996 77.2 76.4
1995 76.8 76.4
1994 76.7 76.3
1993 76.4 76.3
1992 76.4 76.4
1991 76.2 76.2
1990 76.1 76.1
1989 75.6 75.9
1988 75.6 75.5
1987 75.3 75.2
1986 74.7 74.9
1985 74.5 74.8
1984 74.4 74.6
1983 73.9 74.2
1982 73.9 73.9
1981 73.7 73.4
1980 73.2 73
1979 73.2 72.5
1978 72.7 72
1977 72.8 71.5
1976 72.1 70.9
1975 72 70.3
1974 72 69.4
1973 71.6 68.7
1972 71.4 68
1971 71.1 67.4
1970 70.9 66.8
1969 70.7 66.4
1968 70.6 65.8
1967 70.9 65.6
1966 70.6 65.1
1965 70.6 64.8
1964 70.7 64.5
1963 70 64.3
1962 70.2 64.2
1961 70.5 63.9
1960 69.6 63.5
1959 70.3 62.9
1958 69.9 62.3
1957 69.2 61.6
1956 68.8 61.2
1955 68.5 60.5
1954 68.6 59.9
1953 68.4 59.1
1952 68 58.1
1951 66.7 57.8
1950 66.3 57.5

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/costa-rica | CC BY

Belgium and Costa Rica population clocks and comparison

Population
Belgium

Costa Rica
1x
Year Population
Belgium Costa Rica
2024 11,858,610 5,129,910
2023 11,779,946 5,105,525
2022 11,680,210 5,081,765
2021 11,586,195 5,059,988
2020 11,538,604 5,034,320
2019 11,488,980 4,999,553
2018 11,427,054 4,957,818
2017 11,375,158 4,913,177
2016 11,331,422 4,866,998
2015 11,274,196 4,818,038
2014 11,209,057 4,767,119
2013 11,159,407 4,716,147
2012 11,106,932 4,663,934
2011 11,038,264 4,609,833
2010 10,895,586 4,555,962
2009 10,796,493 4,499,791
2008 10,709,973 4,440,056
2007 10,625,700 4,380,248
2006 10,547,958 4,321,340
2005 10,478,617 4,261,240
2004 10,421,137 4,200,078
2003 10,376,133 4,138,784
2002 10,332,785 4,075,705
2001 10,286,570 4,008,947
2000 10,251,250 3,937,739
1999 10,226,419 3,862,101
1998 10,203,008 3,782,838
1997 10,181,245 3,701,711
1996 10,156,637 3,619,013
1995 10,136,811 3,535,176
1994 10,115,603 3,451,122
1993 10,084,475 3,367,434
1992 10,045,158 3,284,258
1991 10,004,486 3,202,176
1990 9,967,379 3,121,706
1989 9,937,697 3,043,827
1988 9,901,664 2,968,103
1987 9,870,234 2,892,699
1986 9,861,823 2,817,216
1985 9,858,308 2,741,894
1984 9,855,372 2,667,595
1983 9,855,520 2,595,153
1982 9,856,303 2,524,806
1981 9,858,982 2,456,637
1980 9,859,242 2,390,633
1979 9,848,382 2,326,490
1978 9,839,534 2,264,510
1977 9,830,358 2,205,025
1976 9,818,227 2,147,774
1975 9,800,700 2,092,719
1974 9,772,419 2,039,643
1973 9,741,720 1,988,343
1972 9,711,115 1,938,248
1971 9,673,162 1,888,539
1970 9,655,549 1,838,949
1969 9,646,032 1,789,276
1968 9,618,756 1,739,731
1967 9,580,991 1,689,523
1966 9,527,807 1,638,116
1965 9,463,667 1,586,208
1964 9,378,113 1,533,960
1963 9,289,770 1,481,604
1962 9,220,578 1,429,445
1961 9,183,948 1,377,920
1960 9,153,489 1,327,496

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/costa-rica | CC BY

Fertility rates in Belgium and Costa Rica

Fertility rate
Belgium

Costa Rica
1x
Year Fertility rate
Belgium Costa Rica
2023 1.47 1.33
2022 1.53 1.34
2021 1.6 1.35
2020 1.55 1.45
2019 1.6 1.6
2018 1.62 1.71
2017 1.65 1.71
2016 1.68 1.75
2015 1.7 1.8
2014 1.74 1.8
2013 1.76 1.78
2012 1.8 1.85
2011 1.81 1.88
2010 1.86 1.83
2009 1.84 1.95
2008 1.85 1.98
2007 1.82 1.95
2006 1.8 1.94
2005 1.76 2.04
2004 1.72 2.03
2003 1.67 2.08
2002 1.65 2.16
2001 1.67 2.31
2000 1.67 2.41
1999 1.62 2.48
1998 1.6 2.53
1997 1.6 2.59
1996 1.59 2.68
1995 1.56 2.78
1994 1.56 2.86
1993 1.61 2.93
1992 1.65 3
1991 1.66 3.08
1990 1.62 3.17
1989 1.58 3.24
1988 1.57 3.31
1987 1.54 3.38
1986 1.54 3.45
1985 1.51 3.51
1984 1.54 3.52
1983 1.57 3.53
1982 1.61 3.54
1981 1.66 3.56
1980 1.68 3.58
1979 1.69 3.65
1978 1.69 3.66
1977 1.71 3.7
1976 1.73 3.75
1975 1.74 3.8
1974 1.83 3.89
1973 1.95 3.99
1972 2.09 4.16
1971 2.21 4.36
1970 2.25 4.59
1969 2.27 4.84
1968 2.31 5.03
1967 2.41 5.42
1966 2.52 5.7
1965 2.61 5.96
1964 2.71 6.19
1963 2.68 6.39
1962 2.59 6.54
1961 2.63 6.65
1960 2.54 6.71

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/costa-rica | CC BY

Belgium and Costa Rica demographics compared

Median age
Belgium

Costa Rica
1x
Year Median age, years
Belgium Costa Rica
2024 42.7 35.6
2023 42.4 35.1
2022 42.2 34.5
2021 42 34
2020 41.9 33.5
2019 41.8 33
2018 41.7 32.6
2017 41.6 32.1
2016 41.4 31.7
2015 41.4 31.2
2014 41.3 30.7
2013 41.2 30.3
2012 41.1 29.8
2011 40.9 29.4
2010 40.8 29
2009 40.8 28.6
2008 40.7 28.2
2007 40.6 27.8
2006 40.4 27.4
2005 40.2 27
2004 40 26.7
2003 39.7 26.3
2002 39.4 25.9
2001 39.2 25.5
2000 38.9 25.2
1999 38.6 24.9
1998 38.3 24.7
1997 38.1 24.4
1996 37.8 24.1
1995 37.5 23.9
1994 37.2 23.6
1993 37 23.4
1992 36.7 23.2
1991 36.5 22.9
1990 36.3 22.7
1989 36.1 22.5
1988 35.9 22.3
1987 35.6 22.1
1986 35.4 21.8
1985 35.2 21.6
1984 35 21.4
1983 34.8 21.2
1982 34.5 20.9
1981 34.3 20.6
1980 34.2 20.3
1979 34.1 20
1978 34.1 19.7
1977 34.1 19.5
1976 34.1 19.2
1975 34.2 18.9
1974 34.3 18.6
1973 34.3 18.4
1972 34.3 18.1
1971 34.4 17.8
1970 34.5 17.6
1969 34.6 17.3
1968 34.7 17.1
1967 34.7 16.9
1966 34.7 16.8
1965 34.8 16.7
1964 34.8 16.7
1963 34.9 16.7
1962 34.9 16.7
1961 34.9 16.8
1960 34.9 16.8

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/costa-rica | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Belgium Costa Rica
GNI, Atlas method
$656B
2024
$80.2B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
54.5%
2024
18.9%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.28%
2022
6.25%
2021
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.28%
2024
n/a
Armed forces personnel
24,000
2020
10,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-4.52%
2024
-3.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.7%
2024
6.94%
2024
Services, % of GDP
71%
2024
68.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
18.7%
2024
19.7%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.2
2026
69.1
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.2%
2023
34.2%
2024
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
1.7%
2024
Number of millionaires
549,000
2025
n/a
Percentage of millionaires
5.92%
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
11
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.0001%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
117
2015
9
2022
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$321B
2018
$2.23B
2022
Total reserves including gold
$41.4B
2024
$14.2B
2024
Personal remittances received
$15.5B
2024
$725M
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,584,000
2020
1,146,500
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.77%
2020
7.41%
2020
Banked people share
98.2%
2024
71.4%
2024

Energy

Belgium Costa Rica
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
4,051 kg
2023
1,025 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$17.8
2023
$28.2
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
86.6 megatons
2024
8.38 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
7.31 tons
2024
1.63 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
69.3%
2023
51.6%
2023
Renewable energy use share
11.7%
2021
34.2%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
22.3%
2023
37.7%
2023
Net energy imports use share
89.2%
2023
60.4%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
6,932 kWh
2023
2,206 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
23.5%
2021
99.4%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.98%
2023
69.3%
2023
Nuclear share
39.4%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Belgium Costa Rica
% of world population
0.15%
2024
0.06%
2024
Annual migration change
+31,989
2025
+1,000
2025
Urban population
87.6%
2024
79.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.3:50.7
2024
49.4:50.6
2024
Average male height
5.88 ft
2025
5.71 ft
2025
Average female height
5.36 ft
2025
5.26 ft
2025
Quality of life index
90.4
2026
64.8
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
69
2025
56
2025
Higher education index
97
2026
73
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.08
2021
17.7
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
5.8
2019
14.8
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
142
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
98%
2021
English speaking
59%
2023
8.15%
2023
People using the Internet
95.8%
2024
85.4%
2023

Health

Belgium Costa Rica
Government health expenditure per capita
$5,931
2023
$1,163
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,276
2023
$280.7
2023
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
81.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0.01%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.57
2022
2.69
2022
Age at first childbirth
29.5 years
2023
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
24
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
3.6
2023
10.5
2023
Obesity rate
20.5%
2022
32.3%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
5.9%
2024
9.8%
2024
Air quality index
74
2026
80
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
26.7%
2022
8.9%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
9.43 liters
2020
3.4 liters
2020

Territory

Belgium Costa Rica
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.03%
2026
Land area per capita
993 sq mi
2024
3,843 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
5,225 sq mi
2026
6,534 sq mi
2026
Forest area
2,661 sq mi
2026
11,907 sq mi
2026
Roads length
73,579 mi
2015
3,129 mi
2017

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, 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. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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