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Costa Rica vs Ghana statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a population of 5.13M (ranked 126/197), compared with 34.4M in Ghana (ranked 47/197). Costa Rica's land area is 19,714 sq mi versus 87,851 sq mi for Ghana (ranked 126th vs. 81st).

By GDP, Costa Rica ranks 73/197 ($95.4B) and Ghana ranks 80/197 ($82.3B). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 62/197 ($18,587), while Ghana ranks 151/197 ($2,391).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica Ghana
Population
5181862
35885254
Population rank 126/197 46/197
GDP
$95.4B
2024
$82.3B
2024
GDP rank 73/197 80/197
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$2,391
2024
GDP per capita rank 62/197 151/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$8,020
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$57.9B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
70.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$1,682
2024
Government debt per person rank 50/185 123/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$2,110
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 87,851 sq mi
Population density
262.6 ppl/mi²
2026
407 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.33
2023
3.4
2023
Median age
35.6 years
2024
22.2 years
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
66.1 years
2026

Costa Rica and Ghana: Comparison Charts

Costa Rica and Ghana economies compared

GDP
Costa Rica

Ghana
1x
Year GDP
Costa Rica Ghana
2024 $95,350,423,177 $82,308,110,386
2023 $86,497,941,439 $80,547,146,878
2022 $69,243,626,029 $73,919,003,210
2021 $64,960,725,734 $79,514,204,730
2020 $62,395,610,760 $70,008,243,860
2019 $64,417,670,521 $68,352,629,246
2018 $62,420,164,992 $67,259,353,966
2017 $60,516,044,657 $60,385,409,435
2016 $58,847,019,610 $56,144,179,398
2015 $56,441,920,821 $49,436,806,230
2014 $52,016,408,854 $54,678,533,806
2013 $50,949,668,842 $62,845,721,960
2012 $47,231,655,432 $41,271,701,061
2011 $42,762,613,699 $39,336,668,081
2010 $37,658,616,952 $32,197,655,567
2009 $30,745,714,313 $26,048,720,006
2008 $30,801,745,700 $28,679,383,241
2007 $26,884,700,709 $24,827,339,138
2006 $22,715,540,324 $20,885,037,597
2005 $20,040,642,477 $10,744,568,381
2004 $18,610,594,846 $8,881,417,907
2003 $17,271,760,507 $7,632,723,556
2002 $16,578,820,687 $6,166,197,848
2001 $15,976,174,337 $5,314,872,854
2000 $15,013,629,662 $4,982,850,662
1999 $14,254,866,285 $7,718,109,982
1998 $13,684,255,947 $7,482,069,162
1997 $12,614,602,382 $6,891,443,192
1996 $11,678,424,507 $6,932,991,739
1995 $11,578,594,260 $6,464,382,808
1994 $10,489,903,725 $5,446,383,727
1993 $9,564,815,975 $5,968,922,939
1992 $8,579,754,758 $6,416,103,926
1991 $7,215,725,487 $6,603,185,268
1990 $5,711,687,787 $5,889,106,573
1989 $5,251,025,767 $5,251,858,440
1988 $4,614,629,898 $5,197,765,032
1987 $4,532,952,047 $5,074,829,932
1986 $4,418,983,871 $5,735,677,434
1985 $3,919,203,960 $4,504,306,723
1984 $3,660,477,856 $4,412,279,843
1983 $3,146,772,631 $4,057,275,132
1982 $2,606,623,555 $4,035,994,398
1981 $2,623,803,096 $4,222,441,860
1980 $4,831,447,001 $4,445,228,216
1979 $4,035,519,323 $4,020,227,920
1978 $3,523,208,810 $3,662,478,185
1977 $3,072,427,013 $3,189,428,571
1976 $2,412,555,426 $2,765,254,237
1975 $1,960,863,466 $2,810,106,383
1974 $1,666,544,754 $2,894,409,938
1973 $1,528,925,846 $3,006,766,758
1972 $1,238,251,696 $2,112,293,280
1971 $1,077,147,538 $2,417,108,578
1970 $984,830,158 $2,215,028,588
1969 $853,630,204 $1,962,050,556
1968 $773,841,494 $1,666,909,518
1967 $699,456,619 $1,747,187,645
1966 $647,305,630 $2,126,300,672
1965 $592,981,162 $2,053,462,968
1964 $542,578,367 $1,731,296,200
1963 $511,902,137 $1,540,797,589
1962 $479,180,824 $1,382,515,654
1961 $490,325,182 $1,302,674,325
1960 $507,513,830 $1,217,230,095

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

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

Costa Rica and Ghana economies compared

GDP per capita
Costa Rica

Ghana
1x
Year GDP per capita
Costa Rica Ghana
2024 $18,587 $2,391
2023 $16,942 $2,384
2022 $13,626 $2,230
2021 $12,838 $2,445
2020 $12,394 $2,195
2019 $12,885 $2,187
2018 $12,590 $2,195
2017 $12,317 $2,012
2016 $12,091 $1,912
2015 $11,715 $1,723
2014 $10,911 $1,950
2013 $10,803 $2,295
2012 $10,127 $1,544
2011 $9,276 $1,507
2010 $8,266 $1,264
2009 $6,833 $1,048
2008 $6,937 $1,183
2007 $6,138 $1,050
2006 $5,257 $906
2005 $4,703 $479
2004 $4,431 $406
2003 $4,173 $358
2002 $4,068 $297.5
2001 $3,985 $263.5
2000 $3,813 $253.7
1999 $3,691 $403
1998 $3,617 $400
1997 $3,408 $378
1996 $3,227 $389
1995 $3,275 $372
1994 $3,040 $321
1993 $2,840 $360
1992 $2,612 $396
1991 $2,253 $418
1990 $1,830 $383
1989 $1,725 $350
1988 $1,555 $355
1987 $1,567 $355
1986 $1,569 $411
1985 $1,429 $330
1984 $1,372 $330
1983 $1,213 $311
1982 $1,032 $319
1981 $1,068 $344
1980 $2,021 $372
1979 $1,735 $347
1978 $1,556 $326
1977 $1,393 $292.3
1976 $1,123 $261
1975 $937 $273
1974 $817 $289.4
1973 $769 $310
1972 $639 $223.8
1971 $570 $263.4
1970 $536 $248.2
1969 $477 $225.8
1968 $445 $196.7
1967 $414 $211.2
1966 $395 $263.3
1965 $374 $260.5
1964 $354 $225
1963 $346 $205
1962 $335 $188.4
1961 $356 $181.9
1960 $382 $174.9

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

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

Costa Rica vs. Ghana life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Costa Rica

Ghana
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Costa Rica Ghana
2026 81.4 66.1
2025 81.2 65.9
2024 81 65.7
2023 80.8 65.5
2022 79.3 65.2
2021 78.1 64.3
2020 79.7 64.3
2019 80.3 64.5
2018 80.1 64.1
2017 80 63.8
2016 80 63.5
2015 80.4 63.2
2014 80.2 62.8
2013 80.2 62.4
2012 79.9 62
2011 79.6 61.6
2010 79.4 61.3
2009 79.4 60.9
2008 79.2 60.6
2007 79.1 60.3
2006 79 60
2005 78.9 59.6
2004 78.5 59.3
2003 78.2 59
2002 77.9 58.7
2001 77.6 58.4
2000 77.3 58.1
1999 77.1 57.8
1998 76.9 57.5
1997 76.6 57.2
1996 76.4 57
1995 76.4 56.7
1994 76.3 56.2
1993 76.3 56.3
1992 76.4 56.1
1991 76.2 55.7
1990 76.1 55.4
1989 75.9 54.9
1988 75.5 54.4
1987 75.2 53.8
1986 74.9 53.3
1985 74.8 52.7
1984 74.6 52.2
1983 74.2 51.8
1982 73.9 51.4
1981 73.4 51.3
1980 73 51.1
1979 72.5 50.8
1978 72 50.5
1977 71.5 50.1
1976 70.9 49.7
1975 70.3 49.3
1974 69.4 48.9
1973 68.7 48.6
1972 68 48.3
1971 67.4 47.9
1970 66.8 47.9
1969 66.4 47.9
1968 65.8 47.8
1967 65.6 47.7
1966 65.1 47.7
1965 64.8 47.7
1964 64.5 47.6
1963 64.3 47.5
1962 64.2 47.3
1961 63.9 47.1
1960 63.5 46.9
1959 62.9 46.7
1958 62.3 46.4
1957 61.6 46.1
1956 61.2 45.7
1955 60.5 45.4
1954 59.9 45
1953 59.1 44.5
1952 58.1 44
1951 57.8 43.6
1950 57.5 43.1

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

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

Costa Rica and Ghana population clocks and comparison

Population
Costa Rica

Ghana
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Ghana
2024 5,129,910 34,427,414
2023 5,105,525 33,787,914
2022 5,081,765 33,149,152
2021 5,059,988 32,518,665
2020 5,034,320 31,887,809
2019 4,999,553 31,258,945
2018 4,957,818 30,637,585
2017 4,913,177 30,008,354
2016 4,866,998 29,356,742
2015 4,818,038 28,696,068
2014 4,767,119 28,041,592
2013 4,716,147 27,386,193
2012 4,663,934 26,734,268
2011 4,609,833 26,095,088
2010 4,555,962 25,474,995
2009 4,499,791 24,862,664
2008 4,440,056 24,249,946
2007 4,380,248 23,642,279
2006 4,321,340 23,040,702
2005 4,261,240 22,449,438
2004 4,200,078 21,868,298
2003 4,138,784 21,296,705
2002 4,075,705 20,729,388
2001 4,008,947 20,167,069
2000 3,937,739 19,637,087
1999 3,862,101 19,149,864
1998 3,782,838 18,688,036
1997 3,701,711 18,238,958
1996 3,619,013 17,810,181
1995 3,535,176 17,399,017
1994 3,451,122 16,993,190
1993 3,367,434 16,589,519
1992 3,284,258 16,184,855
1991 3,202,176 15,787,496
1990 3,121,706 15,394,648
1989 3,043,827 15,006,813
1988 2,968,103 14,636,568
1987 2,892,699 14,289,108
1986 2,817,216 13,965,217
1985 2,741,894 13,661,229
1984 2,667,595 13,370,590
1983 2,595,153 13,029,836
1982 2,524,806 12,643,819
1981 2,456,637 12,281,712
1980 2,390,633 11,941,448
1979 2,326,490 11,597,255
1978 2,264,510 11,248,450
1977 2,205,025 10,911,871
1976 2,147,774 10,594,913
1975 2,092,719 10,294,308
1974 2,039,643 10,000,523
1973 1,988,343 9,714,617
1972 1,938,248 9,438,187
1971 1,888,539 9,176,264
1970 1,838,949 8,925,813
1969 1,789,276 8,690,383
1968 1,739,731 8,475,729
1967 1,689,523 8,271,913
1966 1,638,116 8,074,521
1965 1,586,208 7,882,606
1964 1,533,960 7,695,739
1963 1,481,604 7,514,714
1962 1,429,445 7,337,375
1961 1,377,920 7,162,667
1960 1,327,496 6,961,215

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

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

Fertility rates in Costa Rica and Ghana

Fertility rate
Costa Rica

Ghana
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica Ghana
2023 1.33 3.4
2022 1.34 3.43
2021 1.35 3.49
2020 1.45 3.54
2019 1.6 3.59
2018 1.71 3.65
2017 1.71 3.72
2016 1.75 3.87
2015 1.8 3.98
2014 1.8 4.03
2013 1.78 4.11
2012 1.85 4.15
2011 1.88 4.18
2010 1.83 4.18
2009 1.95 4.18
2008 1.98 4.22
2007 1.95 4.29
2006 1.94 4.4
2005 2.04 4.5
2004 2.03 4.5
2003 2.08 4.6
2002 2.16 4.69
2001 2.31 4.77
2000 2.41 4.83
1999 2.48 4.82
1998 2.53 4.83
1997 2.59 4.88
1996 2.68 4.96
1995 2.78 5.11
1994 2.86 5.25
1993 2.93 5.41
1992 3 5.52
1991 3.08 5.63
1990 3.17 5.74
1989 3.24 5.82
1988 3.31 5.92
1987 3.38 6.02
1986 3.45 6.08
1985 3.51 6.12
1984 3.52 6.15
1983 3.53 6.23
1982 3.54 6.31
1981 3.56 6.42
1980 3.58 6.47
1979 3.65 6.51
1978 3.66 6.56
1977 3.7 6.64
1976 3.75 6.7
1975 3.8 6.76
1974 3.89 6.82
1973 3.99 6.87
1972 4.16 6.92
1971 4.36 6.95
1970 4.59 6.95
1969 4.84 6.95
1968 5.03 6.89
1967 5.42 6.89
1966 5.7 6.86
1965 5.96 6.88
1964 6.19 6.9
1963 6.39 6.94
1962 6.54 6.94
1961 6.65 6.91
1960 6.71 6.89

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

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

Costa Rica and Ghana demographics compared

Median age
Costa Rica

Ghana
1x
Year Median age, years
Costa Rica Ghana
2024 35.6 22.2
2023 35.1 22
2022 34.5 21.8
2021 34 21.7
2020 33.5 21.5
2019 33 21.3
2018 32.6 21.2
2017 32.1 21
2016 31.7 20.9
2015 31.2 20.8
2014 30.7 20.7
2013 30.3 20.6
2012 29.8 20.5
2011 29.4 20.3
2010 29 20.2
2009 28.6 20
2008 28.2 19.9
2007 27.8 19.7
2006 27.4 19.5
2005 27 19.3
2004 26.7 19.1
2003 26.3 19
2002 25.9 18.8
2001 25.5 18.6
2000 25.2 18.4
1999 24.9 18.3
1998 24.7 18.1
1997 24.4 17.9
1996 24.1 17.7
1995 23.9 17.6
1994 23.6 17.5
1993 23.4 17.4
1992 23.2 17.3
1991 22.9 17.2
1990 22.7 17.2
1989 22.5 17.1
1988 22.3 17.1
1987 22.1 17.1
1986 21.8 17.1
1985 21.6 17.1
1984 21.4 17.1
1983 21.2 17
1982 20.9 16.9
1981 20.6 16.7
1980 20.3 16.7
1979 20 16.5
1978 19.7 16.4
1977 19.5 16.2
1976 19.2 16
1975 18.9 15.9
1974 18.6 15.8
1973 18.4 15.8
1972 18.1 15.8
1971 17.8 15.9
1970 17.6 15.9
1969 17.3 16
1968 17.1 16.1
1967 16.9 16.2
1966 16.8 16.4
1965 16.7 16.5
1964 16.7 16.7
1963 16.7 16.9
1962 16.7 17.2
1961 16.8 17.4
1960 16.8 17.7

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica Ghana
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$79.5B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
23.2%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.25%
2021
2.91%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
0.38%
2024
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
16,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
-7.31%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
2.87%
2022
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
40.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
31.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
57.3
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
32.2%
2016
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
1.6%
2016
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
30
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$7.58B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$3.62B
2023
Personal remittances received
$725M
2024
$3.03B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,146,500
2020
897,000
2015
International tourism as share of exports
7.41%
2020
0.87%
2020
Banked people share
71.4%
2024
81.2%
2024

Energy

Costa Rica Ghana
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,025 kg
2023
359 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.2
2023
$20.1
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.38 megatons
2024
24.2 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.63 tons
2024
0.7 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.6%
2023
62%
2022
Renewable energy use share
34.2%
2021
39%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
37.7%
2023
6.03%
2022
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
-22.4%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
2,206 kWh
2023
553 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
34.9%
2021
Hydroelectric share
69.3%
2023
35.4%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
89.5%
2023

Society

Costa Rica Ghana
% of world population
0.06%
2024
0.42%
2024
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
-17,079
2025
Urban population
79.3%
2024
58.4%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.71 ft
2025
5.59 ft
2025
Average female height
5.26 ft
2025
5.21 ft
2025
Quality of life index
64.8
2026
41.8
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
43
2025
Higher education index
73
2026
65
2026
Homicides per 100K people
17.7
2023
1.81
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.8
2019
25.7
2019
Visa free countries
142
2025
75
2025
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
76.5%
2021
English speaking
8.15%
2023
66.7%
2023
People using the Internet
85.4%
2023
69.9%
2023

Health

Costa Rica Ghana
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,163
2023
$70.3
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$280.7
2023
$18.7
2023
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
66.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
8.53%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.69
2022
0.27
2023
Age at first childbirth n/a
22.1 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
234
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.5
2023
37.1
2023
Obesity rate
32.3%
2022
13.3%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.8%
2024
2.7%
2024
Air quality index
80
2026
21
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
8.9%
2022
3.4%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.4 liters
2020
4.26 liters
2020

Territory

Costa Rica Ghana
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.15%
2026
Land area per capita
3,843 sq mi
2024
2,552 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,534 sq mi
2026
48,663 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,907 sq mi
2026
30,917 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,129 mi
2017
68,049 mi
2009

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) (2000–2025, 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)

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