Costa Rica is a high-income country with a population of 5.13M people. The capital and largest city is San Jose, with 335K residents. Costa Rica shares land borders with Panama and Nicaragua.
Costa Rica ranks 73/197 by GDP ($95.4B) and 62/197 by GDP per capita ($18,587). The top category for both exports and imports is machinery & equipment.
Main facts and rankings
Costa Rica
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
5181862
|
126/197 |
| GDP |
$95.4B
2024 |
73/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$18,587
2024 |
62/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$31,107
2024 |
72/197 |
| Government debt |
$57B
2024 |
69/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
59.8%
2024 |
79/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$11,106
2024 |
50/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$12,150
2026 |
66/197 |
| Land area | 19,714 sq mi | 126/197 |
| Population density | 262.6 ppl/mi² | 93/197 |
| Fertility rate | 1.33 | 171/196 |
| Median age | 35.6 years | 72/196 |
| Life expectancy | 81.4 years | 39/197 |
Costa Rica trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $95,350,423,177 |
| 2023 | $86,497,941,439 |
| 2022 | $69,243,626,029 |
| 2021 | $64,960,725,734 |
| 2020 | $62,395,610,760 |
| 2019 | $64,417,670,521 |
| 2018 | $62,420,164,992 |
| 2017 | $60,516,044,657 |
| 2016 | $58,847,019,610 |
| 2015 | $56,441,920,821 |
| 2014 | $52,016,408,854 |
| 2013 | $50,949,668,842 |
| 2012 | $47,231,655,432 |
| 2011 | $42,762,613,699 |
| 2010 | $37,658,616,952 |
| 2009 | $30,745,714,313 |
| 2008 | $30,801,745,700 |
| 2007 | $26,884,700,709 |
| 2006 | $22,715,540,324 |
| 2005 | $20,040,642,477 |
| 2004 | $18,610,594,846 |
| 2003 | $17,271,760,507 |
| 2002 | $16,578,820,687 |
| 2001 | $15,976,174,337 |
| 2000 | $15,013,629,662 |
| 1999 | $14,254,866,285 |
| 1998 | $13,684,255,947 |
| 1997 | $12,614,602,382 |
| 1996 | $11,678,424,507 |
| 1995 | $11,578,594,260 |
| 1994 | $10,489,903,725 |
| 1993 | $9,564,815,975 |
| 1992 | $8,579,754,758 |
| 1991 | $7,215,725,487 |
| 1990 | $5,711,687,787 |
| 1989 | $5,251,025,767 |
| 1988 | $4,614,629,898 |
| 1987 | $4,532,952,047 |
| 1986 | $4,418,983,871 |
| 1985 | $3,919,203,960 |
| 1984 | $3,660,477,856 |
| 1983 | $3,146,772,631 |
| 1982 | $2,606,623,555 |
| 1981 | $2,623,803,096 |
| 1980 | $4,831,447,001 |
| 1979 | $4,035,519,323 |
| 1978 | $3,523,208,810 |
| 1977 | $3,072,427,013 |
| 1976 | $2,412,555,426 |
| 1975 | $1,960,863,466 |
| 1974 | $1,666,544,754 |
| 1973 | $1,528,925,846 |
| 1972 | $1,238,251,696 |
| 1971 | $1,077,147,538 |
| 1970 | $984,830,158 |
| 1969 | $853,630,204 |
| 1968 | $773,841,494 |
| 1967 | $699,456,619 |
| 1966 | $647,305,630 |
| 1965 | $592,981,162 |
| 1964 | $542,578,367 |
| 1963 | $511,902,137 |
| 1962 | $479,180,824 |
| 1961 | $490,325,182 |
| 1960 | $507,513,830 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica | CC BY 
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $18,587 |
| 2023 | $16,942 |
| 2022 | $13,626 |
| 2021 | $12,838 |
| 2020 | $12,394 |
| 2019 | $12,885 |
| 2018 | $12,590 |
| 2017 | $12,317 |
| 2016 | $12,091 |
| 2015 | $11,715 |
| 2014 | $10,911 |
| 2013 | $10,803 |
| 2012 | $10,127 |
| 2011 | $9,276 |
| 2010 | $8,266 |
| 2009 | $6,833 |
| 2008 | $6,937 |
| 2007 | $6,138 |
| 2006 | $5,257 |
| 2005 | $4,703 |
| 2004 | $4,431 |
| 2003 | $4,173 |
| 2002 | $4,068 |
| 2001 | $3,985 |
| 2000 | $3,813 |
| 1999 | $3,691 |
| 1998 | $3,617 |
| 1997 | $3,408 |
| 1996 | $3,227 |
| 1995 | $3,275 |
| 1994 | $3,040 |
| 1993 | $2,840 |
| 1992 | $2,612 |
| 1991 | $2,253 |
| 1990 | $1,830 |
| 1989 | $1,725 |
| 1988 | $1,555 |
| 1987 | $1,567 |
| 1986 | $1,569 |
| 1985 | $1,429 |
| 1984 | $1,372 |
| 1983 | $1,213 |
| 1982 | $1,032 |
| 1981 | $1,068 |
| 1980 | $2,021 |
| 1979 | $1,735 |
| 1978 | $1,556 |
| 1977 | $1,393 |
| 1976 | $1,123 |
| 1975 | $937 |
| 1974 | $817 |
| 1973 | $769 |
| 1972 | $639 |
| 1971 | $570 |
| 1970 | $536 |
| 1969 | $477 |
| 1968 | $445 |
| 1967 | $414 |
| 1966 | $395 |
| 1965 | $374 |
| 1964 | $354 |
| 1963 | $346 |
| 1962 | $335 |
| 1961 | $356 |
| 1960 | $382 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica | CC BY
Costa Rica's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 81.4 |
| 2025 | 81.2 |
| 2024 | 81 |
| 2023 | 80.8 |
| 2022 | 79.3 |
| 2021 | 78.1 |
| 2020 | 79.7 |
| 2019 | 80.3 |
| 2018 | 80.1 |
| 2017 | 80 |
| 2016 | 80 |
| 2015 | 80.4 |
| 2014 | 80.2 |
| 2013 | 80.2 |
| 2012 | 79.9 |
| 2011 | 79.6 |
| 2010 | 79.4 |
| 2009 | 79.4 |
| 2008 | 79.2 |
| 2007 | 79.1 |
| 2006 | 79 |
| 2005 | 78.9 |
| 2004 | 78.5 |
| 2003 | 78.2 |
| 2002 | 77.9 |
| 2001 | 77.6 |
| 2000 | 77.3 |
| 1999 | 77.1 |
| 1998 | 76.9 |
| 1997 | 76.6 |
| 1996 | 76.4 |
| 1995 | 76.4 |
| 1994 | 76.3 |
| 1993 | 76.3 |
| 1992 | 76.4 |
| 1991 | 76.2 |
| 1990 | 76.1 |
| 1989 | 75.9 |
| 1988 | 75.5 |
| 1987 | 75.2 |
| 1986 | 74.9 |
| 1985 | 74.8 |
| 1984 | 74.6 |
| 1983 | 74.2 |
| 1982 | 73.9 |
| 1981 | 73.4 |
| 1980 | 73 |
| 1979 | 72.5 |
| 1978 | 72 |
| 1977 | 71.5 |
| 1976 | 70.9 |
| 1975 | 70.3 |
| 1974 | 69.4 |
| 1973 | 68.7 |
| 1972 | 68 |
| 1971 | 67.4 |
| 1970 | 66.8 |
| 1969 | 66.4 |
| 1968 | 65.8 |
| 1967 | 65.6 |
| 1966 | 65.1 |
| 1965 | 64.8 |
| 1964 | 64.5 |
| 1963 | 64.3 |
| 1962 | 64.2 |
| 1961 | 63.9 |
| 1960 | 63.5 |
| 1959 | 62.9 |
| 1958 | 62.3 |
| 1957 | 61.6 |
| 1956 | 61.2 |
| 1955 | 60.5 |
| 1954 | 59.9 |
| 1953 | 59.1 |
| 1952 | 58.1 |
| 1951 | 57.8 |
| 1950 | 57.5 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica | CC BY
Costa Rica's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5,129,910 |
| 2023 | 5,105,525 |
| 2022 | 5,081,765 |
| 2021 | 5,059,988 |
| 2020 | 5,034,320 |
| 2019 | 4,999,553 |
| 2018 | 4,957,818 |
| 2017 | 4,913,177 |
| 2016 | 4,866,998 |
| 2015 | 4,818,038 |
| 2014 | 4,767,119 |
| 2013 | 4,716,147 |
| 2012 | 4,663,934 |
| 2011 | 4,609,833 |
| 2010 | 4,555,962 |
| 2009 | 4,499,791 |
| 2008 | 4,440,056 |
| 2007 | 4,380,248 |
| 2006 | 4,321,340 |
| 2005 | 4,261,240 |
| 2004 | 4,200,078 |
| 2003 | 4,138,784 |
| 2002 | 4,075,705 |
| 2001 | 4,008,947 |
| 2000 | 3,937,739 |
| 1999 | 3,862,101 |
| 1998 | 3,782,838 |
| 1997 | 3,701,711 |
| 1996 | 3,619,013 |
| 1995 | 3,535,176 |
| 1994 | 3,451,122 |
| 1993 | 3,367,434 |
| 1992 | 3,284,258 |
| 1991 | 3,202,176 |
| 1990 | 3,121,706 |
| 1989 | 3,043,827 |
| 1988 | 2,968,103 |
| 1987 | 2,892,699 |
| 1986 | 2,817,216 |
| 1985 | 2,741,894 |
| 1984 | 2,667,595 |
| 1983 | 2,595,153 |
| 1982 | 2,524,806 |
| 1981 | 2,456,637 |
| 1980 | 2,390,633 |
| 1979 | 2,326,490 |
| 1978 | 2,264,510 |
| 1977 | 2,205,025 |
| 1976 | 2,147,774 |
| 1975 | 2,092,719 |
| 1974 | 2,039,643 |
| 1973 | 1,988,343 |
| 1972 | 1,938,248 |
| 1971 | 1,888,539 |
| 1970 | 1,838,949 |
| 1969 | 1,789,276 |
| 1968 | 1,739,731 |
| 1967 | 1,689,523 |
| 1966 | 1,638,116 |
| 1965 | 1,586,208 |
| 1964 | 1,533,960 |
| 1963 | 1,481,604 |
| 1962 | 1,429,445 |
| 1961 | 1,377,920 |
| 1960 | 1,327,496 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica | CC BY
Costa Rica's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1.33 |
| 2022 | 1.34 |
| 2021 | 1.35 |
| 2020 | 1.45 |
| 2019 | 1.6 |
| 2018 | 1.71 |
| 2017 | 1.71 |
| 2016 | 1.75 |
| 2015 | 1.8 |
| 2014 | 1.8 |
| 2013 | 1.78 |
| 2012 | 1.85 |
| 2011 | 1.88 |
| 2010 | 1.83 |
| 2009 | 1.95 |
| 2008 | 1.98 |
| 2007 | 1.95 |
| 2006 | 1.94 |
| 2005 | 2.04 |
| 2004 | 2.03 |
| 2003 | 2.08 |
| 2002 | 2.16 |
| 2001 | 2.31 |
| 2000 | 2.41 |
| 1999 | 2.48 |
| 1998 | 2.53 |
| 1997 | 2.59 |
| 1996 | 2.68 |
| 1995 | 2.78 |
| 1994 | 2.86 |
| 1993 | 2.93 |
| 1992 | 3 |
| 1991 | 3.08 |
| 1990 | 3.17 |
| 1989 | 3.24 |
| 1988 | 3.31 |
| 1987 | 3.38 |
| 1986 | 3.45 |
| 1985 | 3.51 |
| 1984 | 3.52 |
| 1983 | 3.53 |
| 1982 | 3.54 |
| 1981 | 3.56 |
| 1980 | 3.58 |
| 1979 | 3.65 |
| 1978 | 3.66 |
| 1977 | 3.7 |
| 1976 | 3.75 |
| 1975 | 3.8 |
| 1974 | 3.89 |
| 1973 | 3.99 |
| 1972 | 4.16 |
| 1971 | 4.36 |
| 1970 | 4.59 |
| 1969 | 4.84 |
| 1968 | 5.03 |
| 1967 | 5.42 |
| 1966 | 5.7 |
| 1965 | 5.96 |
| 1964 | 6.19 |
| 1963 | 6.39 |
| 1962 | 6.54 |
| 1961 | 6.65 |
| 1960 | 6.71 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica | CC BY
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 35.6 |
| 2023 | 35.1 |
| 2022 | 34.5 |
| 2021 | 34 |
| 2020 | 33.5 |
| 2019 | 33 |
| 2018 | 32.6 |
| 2017 | 32.1 |
| 2016 | 31.7 |
| 2015 | 31.2 |
| 2014 | 30.7 |
| 2013 | 30.3 |
| 2012 | 29.8 |
| 2011 | 29.4 |
| 2010 | 29 |
| 2009 | 28.6 |
| 2008 | 28.2 |
| 2007 | 27.8 |
| 2006 | 27.4 |
| 2005 | 27 |
| 2004 | 26.7 |
| 2003 | 26.3 |
| 2002 | 25.9 |
| 2001 | 25.5 |
| 2000 | 25.2 |
| 1999 | 24.9 |
| 1998 | 24.7 |
| 1997 | 24.4 |
| 1996 | 24.1 |
| 1995 | 23.9 |
| 1994 | 23.6 |
| 1993 | 23.4 |
| 1992 | 23.2 |
| 1991 | 22.9 |
| 1990 | 22.7 |
| 1989 | 22.5 |
| 1988 | 22.3 |
| 1987 | 22.1 |
| 1986 | 21.8 |
| 1985 | 21.6 |
| 1984 | 21.4 |
| 1983 | 21.2 |
| 1982 | 20.9 |
| 1981 | 20.6 |
| 1980 | 20.3 |
| 1979 | 20 |
| 1978 | 19.7 |
| 1977 | 19.5 |
| 1976 | 19.2 |
| 1975 | 18.9 |
| 1974 | 18.6 |
| 1973 | 18.4 |
| 1972 | 18.1 |
| 1971 | 17.8 |
| 1970 | 17.6 |
| 1969 | 17.3 |
| 1968 | 17.1 |
| 1967 | 16.9 |
| 1966 | 16.8 |
| 1965 | 16.7 |
| 1964 | 16.7 |
| 1963 | 16.7 |
| 1962 | 16.7 |
| 1961 | 16.8 |
| 1960 | 16.8 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica | CC BY
Costa Rica vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Costa Rica with other countries.
Costa Rica: National Statistics
Finance
|
Costa Rica
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$80.2B
2024 |
77/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
18.9%
2024 |
165/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
6.25%
2021 |
21/193 |
| Armed forces personnel |
10,000
2020 |
132/174 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
-3.78%
2024 |
120/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
6.94%
2024 |
65/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
68.8%
2024 |
30/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
19.7%
2024 |
131/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
69.1
2026 |
43/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
34.2%
2024 |
21/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
1.7%
2024 |
150/169 |
| Listed domestic companies |
9
2022 |
99/103 |
| Market capitalization of domestic companies |
$2.23B
2022 |
90/100 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$14.2B
2024 |
70/177 |
| Personal remittances received |
$725M
2024 |
103/191 |
| International tourist arrivals |
1,146,500
2020 |
84/188 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
7.41%
2020 |
78/184 |
| Banked people share |
71.4%
2024 |
78/158 |
Energy
|
Costa Rica
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
1,025 kg
2023 |
93/177 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$28.2
2023 |
12/173 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
8.38 megatons
2024 |
115/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
1.63 tons
2024 |
112/187 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
51.6%
2023 |
106/176 |
| Renewable energy use share |
34.2%
2021 |
72/193 |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
37.7%
2023 |
10/147 |
| Net energy imports use share |
60.4%
2023 |
37/144 |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
2,206 kWh
2023 |
81/147 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
99.4%
2021 |
5/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
69.3%
2023 |
28/192 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
65/192 |
| Electricity access |
100%
2023 |
23/195 |
Society
|
Costa Rica
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.06%
2024 |
126/197 |
| Annual migration change |
+1,000
2025 |
63/196 |
| Urban population |
79.3%
2024 |
47/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
49.4:50.6
2024 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.71 ft
2025 |
85/190 |
| Average female height |
5.26 ft
2025 |
98/190 |
| Quality of life index |
64.8
2026 |
59/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
56
2025 |
56/197 |
| Higher education index |
73
2026 |
52/183 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
17.7
2023 |
20/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
14.8
2019 |
99/197 |
| Visa free countries |
142
2025 |
61/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
98%
2021 |
71/196 |
| English speaking |
8.15%
2023 |
134/197 |
| People using the Internet |
85.4%
2023 |
76/195 |
Health
|
Costa Rica
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$1,163
2023 |
60/192 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$280.7
2023 |
59/192 |
| Life expectancy |
81.4 years
2026 |
39/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
0.01%
2023 |
143/181 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
2.69
2022 |
71/193 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
24
2023 |
119/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
10.5
2023 |
118/192 |
| Obesity rate |
32.3%
2022 |
42/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
9.8%
2024 |
82/195 |
| Air quality index |
80
2026 |
42/197 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
8.9%
2022 |
140/164 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
3.4 liters
2020 |
112/186 |
Territory
|
Costa Rica
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.03%
2026 |
126/197 |
| Land area per capita |
3,843 sq mi
2024 |
107/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
6,534 sq mi
2026 |
125/194 |
| Forest area |
11,907 sq mi
2026 |
90/196 |
| Roads length |
3,129 mi
2017 |
130/176 |
Compare Costa Rica with other countries
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
- Wikidata (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
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