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Costa Rica vs Iceland statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a population of 5.13M (ranked 126/197), compared with 387K in Iceland (ranked 173/197). Costa Rica's land area is 19,714 sq mi versus 38,931 sq mi for Iceland (ranked 126th vs. 104th).

By GDP, Costa Rica ranks 73/197 ($95.4B) and Iceland ranks 108/197 ($33.3B). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 62/197 ($18,587), while Iceland ranks 9/197 ($86,041).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica Iceland
Population
5181862
397129
Population rank 126/197 173/197
GDP
$95.4B
2024
$33.3B
2024
GDP rank 73/197 108/197
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$86,041
2024
GDP per capita rank 62/197 9/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$84,257
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$19.8B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
59.4%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$51,148
2024
Government debt per person rank 50/185 9/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$55,565
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 38,931 sq mi
Population density
262.6 ppl/mi²
2026
10.2 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.33
2023
1.59
2023
Median age
35.6 years
2024
37.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
83.3 years
2026

Costa Rica and Iceland: Comparison Charts

Costa Rica and Iceland economies compared

GDP
Costa Rica

Iceland
1x
Year GDP
Costa Rica Iceland
2024 $95,350,423,177 $33,255,181,469
2023 $86,497,941,439 $31,677,891,897
2022 $69,243,626,029 $29,166,102,877
2021 $64,960,725,734 $26,234,872,402
2020 $62,395,610,760 $22,034,665,041
2019 $64,417,670,521 $24,985,687,022
2018 $62,420,164,992 $26,677,652,544
2017 $60,516,044,657 $25,060,086,488
2016 $58,847,019,610 $21,083,713,310
2015 $56,441,920,821 $17,700,486,957
2014 $52,016,408,854 $18,052,183,515
2013 $50,949,668,842 $16,244,319,959
2012 $47,231,655,432 $14,943,757,823
2011 $42,762,613,699 $15,394,005,872
2010 $37,658,616,952 $13,922,711,577
2009 $30,745,714,313 $13,212,543,838
2008 $30,801,745,700 $18,247,921,360
2007 $26,884,700,709 $21,960,110,030
2006 $22,715,540,324 $17,671,649,843
2005 $20,040,642,477 $17,146,410,561
2004 $18,610,594,846 $13,963,943,244
2003 $17,271,760,507 $11,564,687,742
2002 $16,578,820,687 $9,416,199,700
2001 $15,976,174,337 $8,323,401,820
2000 $15,013,629,662 $9,140,168,922
1999 $14,254,866,285 $9,107,644,691
1998 $13,684,255,947 $8,637,732,542
1997 $12,614,602,382 $7,716,781,803
1996 $11,678,424,507 $7,686,566,105
1995 $11,578,594,260 $7,372,640,169
1994 $10,489,903,725 $6,612,804,056
1993 $9,564,815,975 $6,435,952,174
1992 $8,579,754,758 $7,328,497,599
1991 $7,215,725,487 $7,151,260,062
1990 $5,711,687,787 $6,694,851,159
1989 $5,251,025,767 $5,870,854,233
1988 $4,614,629,898 $6,320,093,411
1987 $4,532,952,047 $5,713,281,235
1986 $4,418,983,871 $4,129,080,094
1985 $3,919,203,960 $3,088,359,967
1984 $3,660,477,856 $2,964,568,006
1983 $3,146,772,631 $2,862,634,164
1982 $2,606,623,555 $3,318,714,326
1981 $2,623,803,096 $3,615,094,820
1980 $4,831,447,001 $3,499,616,683
1979 $4,035,519,323 $2,953,176,971
1978 $3,523,208,810 $2,599,627,089
1977 $3,072,427,013 $2,285,707,749
1976 $2,412,555,426 $1,727,845,419
1975 $1,960,863,466 $1,456,052,700
1974 $1,666,544,754 $1,568,154,077
1973 $1,528,925,846 $1,194,794,186
1972 $1,238,251,696 $869,002,946
1971 $1,077,147,538 $693,679,545
1970 $984,830,158 $545,115,909
1969 $853,630,204 $435,659,610
1968 $773,841,494 $498,365,200
1967 $699,456,619 $652,609,076
1966 $647,305,630 $660,663,763
1965 $592,981,162 $550,150,988
1964 $542,578,367 $456,206,299
1963 $511,902,137 $357,240,896
1962 $479,180,824 $299,309,938
1961 $490,325,182 $266,711,460
1960 $507,513,830 $260,984,499

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

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

Costa Rica and Iceland economies compared

GDP per capita
Costa Rica

Iceland
1x
Year GDP per capita
Costa Rica Iceland
2024 $18,587 $86,041
2023 $16,942 $82,139
2022 $13,626 $76,350
2021 $12,838 $70,425
2020 $12,394 $60,128
2019 $12,885 $69,296
2018 $12,590 $75,634
2017 $12,317 $72,976
2016 $12,091 $62,854
2015 $11,715 $53,506
2014 $10,911 $55,140
2013 $10,803 $50,173
2012 $10,127 $46,595
2011 $9,276 $48,255
2010 $8,266 $43,776
2009 $6,833 $41,484
2008 $6,937 $57,489
2007 $6,138 $70,483
2006 $5,257 $58,172
2005 $4,703 $57,784
2004 $4,431 $47,810
2003 $4,173 $39,944
2002 $4,068 $32,749
2001 $3,985 $29,208
2000 $3,813 $32,504
1999 $3,691 $32,834
1998 $3,617 $31,519
1997 $3,408 $28,462
1996 $3,227 $28,584
1995 $3,275 $27,565
1994 $3,040 $24,858
1993 $2,840 $24,404
1992 $2,612 $28,072
1991 $2,253 $27,740
1990 $1,830 $26,272
1989 $1,725 $23,219
1988 $1,555 $25,307
1987 $1,567 $23,238
1986 $1,569 $16,980
1985 $1,429 $12,793
1984 $1,372 $12,378
1983 $1,213 $12,080
1982 $1,032 $14,191
1981 $1,068 $15,666
1980 $2,021 $15,340
1979 $1,735 $13,082
1978 $1,556 $11,630
1977 $1,393 $10,305
1976 $1,123 $7,848
1975 $937 $6,680
1974 $817 $7,287
1973 $769 $5,627
1972 $639 $4,155
1971 $570 $3,366
1970 $536 $2,666
1969 $477 $2,142
1968 $445 $2,473
1967 $414 $3,284
1966 $395 $3,378
1965 $374 $2,861
1964 $354 $2,414
1963 $346 $1,924
1962 $335 $1,641
1961 $356 $1,490
1960 $382 $1,486

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

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

Costa Rica vs. Iceland life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Costa Rica

Iceland
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Costa Rica Iceland
2026 81.4 83.3
2025 81.2 83.2
2024 81 83
2023 80.8 82.7
2022 79.3 81.6
2021 78.1 82.8
2020 79.7 82.7
2019 80.3 82.8
2018 80.1 82.5
2017 80 82.2
2016 80 81.8
2015 80.4 82.2
2014 80.2 82.4
2013 80.2 81.7
2012 79.9 82.3
2011 79.6 82
2010 79.4 81.6
2009 79.4 81.4
2008 79.2 81.2
2007 79.1 81.1
2006 79 80.9
2005 78.9 81.2
2004 78.5 80.7
2003 78.2 80.8
2002 77.9 80.3
2001 77.6 80.4
2000 77.3 79.5
1999 77.1 79.2
1998 76.9 79.4
1997 76.6 78.7
1996 76.4 78.6
1995 76.4 77.5
1994 76.3 79
1993 76.3 78.8
1992 76.4 78.6
1991 76.2 77.8
1990 76.1 77.7
1989 75.9 77.9
1988 75.5 76.9
1987 75.2 77.1
1986 74.9 77.9
1985 74.8 77.4
1984 74.6 77.3
1983 74.2 76.4
1982 73.9 76.8
1981 73.4 76.2
1980 73 76.6
1979 72.5 76.5
1978 72 76.4
1977 71.5 76.1
1976 70.9 76.6
1975 70.3 75.3
1974 69.4 74.1
1973 68.7 74.3
1972 68 74.4
1971 67.4 73.5
1970 66.8 73.8
1969 66.4 73.7
1968 65.8 73.9
1967 65.6 73.7
1966 65.1 73.1
1965 64.8 73.8
1964 64.5 73.5
1963 64.3 72.9
1962 64.2 73.6
1961 63.9 73.4
1960 63.5 74
1959 62.9 72.6
1958 62.3 73.3
1957 61.6 73.4
1956 61.2 72.9
1955 60.5 73.3
1954 59.9 73.3
1953 59.1 72.3
1952 58.1 72.4
1951 57.8 71
1950 57.5 71

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

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

Costa Rica and Iceland population clocks and comparison

Population
Costa Rica

Iceland
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Iceland
2024 5,129,910 386,506
2023 5,105,525 385,663
2022 5,081,765 382,003
2021 5,059,988 372,520
2020 5,034,320 366,463
2019 4,999,553 360,563
2018 4,957,818 352,721
2017 4,913,177 343,400
2016 4,866,998 335,439
2015 4,818,038 330,815
2014 4,767,119 327,386
2013 4,716,147 323,764
2012 4,663,934 320,716
2011 4,609,833 319,014
2010 4,555,962 318,041
2009 4,499,791 318,499
2008 4,440,056 317,414
2007 4,380,248 311,566
2006 4,321,340 303,782
2005 4,261,240 296,734
2004 4,200,078 292,074
2003 4,138,784 289,521
2002 4,075,705 287,523
2001 4,008,947 284,968
2000 3,937,739 281,205
1999 3,862,101 277,381
1998 3,782,838 274,047
1997 3,701,711 271,128
1996 3,619,013 268,916
1995 3,535,176 267,468
1994 3,451,122 266,021
1993 3,367,434 263,725
1992 3,284,258 261,057
1991 3,202,176 257,797
1990 3,121,706 254,826
1989 3,043,827 252,852
1988 2,968,103 249,740
1987 2,892,699 245,859
1986 2,817,216 243,180
1985 2,741,894 241,405
1984 2,667,595 239,511
1983 2,595,153 236,977
1982 2,524,806 233,860
1981 2,456,637 230,755
1980 2,390,633 228,138
1979 2,326,490 225,735
1978 2,264,510 223,537
1977 2,205,025 221,799
1976 2,147,774 220,154
1975 2,092,719 217,979
1974 2,039,643 215,209
1973 1,988,343 212,317
1972 1,938,248 209,137
1971 1,888,539 206,098
1970 1,838,949 204,438
1969 1,789,276 203,369
1968 1,739,731 201,488
1967 1,689,523 198,751
1966 1,638,116 195,570
1965 1,586,208 192,286
1964 1,533,960 188,983
1963 1,481,604 185,653
1962 1,429,445 182,378
1961 1,377,920 179,029
1960 1,327,496 175,574

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

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

Fertility rates in Costa Rica and Iceland

Fertility rate
Costa Rica

Iceland
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica Iceland
2023 1.33 1.59
2022 1.34 1.59
2021 1.35 1.82
2020 1.45 1.72
2019 1.6 1.74
2018 1.71 1.71
2017 1.71 1.71
2016 1.75 1.74
2015 1.8 1.8
2014 1.8 1.93
2013 1.78 1.93
2012 1.85 2.04
2011 1.88 2.02
2010 1.83 2.2
2009 1.95 2.23
2008 1.98 2.15
2007 1.95 2.09
2006 1.94 2.08
2005 2.04 2.05
2004 2.03 2.04
2003 2.08 1.99
2002 2.16 1.93
2001 2.31 1.95
2000 2.41 2.08
1999 2.48 1.99
1998 2.53 2.05
1997 2.59 2.04
1996 2.68 2.12
1995 2.78 2.08
1994 2.86 2.14
1993 2.93 2.22
1992 3 2.21
1991 3.08 2.18
1990 3.17 2.3
1989 3.24 2.19
1988 3.31 2.26
1987 3.38 2.06
1986 3.45 1.92
1985 3.51 1.93
1984 3.52 2.08
1983 3.53 2.24
1982 3.54 2.27
1981 3.56 2.33
1980 3.58 2.48
1979 3.65 2.49
1978 3.66 2.35
1977 3.7 2.31
1976 3.75 2.52
1975 3.8 2.65
1974 3.89 2.66
1973 3.99 2.94
1972 4.16 3.09
1971 4.36 2.92
1970 4.59 2.81
1969 4.84 2.99
1968 5.03 3.06
1967 5.42 3.28
1966 5.7 3.59
1965 5.96 3.73
1964 6.19 3.88
1963 6.39 3.99
1962 6.54 3.98
1961 6.65 3.88
1960 6.71 4.29

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

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

Costa Rica and Iceland demographics compared

Median age
Costa Rica

Iceland
1x
Year Median age, years
Costa Rica Iceland
2024 35.6 37.1
2023 35.1 36.9
2022 34.5 36.7
2021 34 36.7
2020 33.5 36.6
2019 33 36.5
2018 32.6 36.4
2017 32.1 36.3
2016 31.7 36.2
2015 31.2 36
2014 30.7 35.7
2013 30.3 35.5
2012 29.8 35.4
2011 29.4 35.1
2010 29 34.9
2009 28.6 34.6
2008 28.2 34.5
2007 27.8 34.6
2006 27.4 34.5
2005 27 34.2
2004 26.7 34
2003 26.3 33.7
2002 25.9 33.4
2001 25.5 33
2000 25.2 32.8
1999 24.9 32.6
1998 24.7 32.4
1997 24.4 32.1
1996 24.1 31.8
1995 23.9 31.5
1994 23.6 31.1
1993 23.4 30.8
1992 23.2 30.5
1991 22.9 30.2
1990 22.7 30
1989 22.5 29.6
1988 22.3 29.3
1987 22.1 29.1
1986 21.8 28.8
1985 21.6 28.4
1984 21.4 28
1983 21.2 27.7
1982 20.9 27.5
1981 20.6 27.2
1980 20.3 26.9
1979 20 26.7
1978 19.7 26.4
1977 19.5 26
1976 19.2 25.7
1975 18.9 25.4
1974 18.6 25.1
1973 18.4 24.9
1972 18.1 24.8
1971 17.8 24.7
1970 17.6 24.5
1969 17.3 24.3
1968 17.1 24.2
1967 16.9 24.1
1966 16.8 24.1
1965 16.7 24.2
1964 16.7 24.4
1963 16.7 24.7
1962 16.7 24.9
1961 16.8 25.2
1960 16.8 25.4

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica Iceland
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$31.8B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
46.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.25%
2021
7.29%
2022
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
0
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
-3.51%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
3.56%
2024
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
64.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
20.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
75
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
22.4%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
3.7%
2019
Number of billionaires n/a
1
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.0003%
2025
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
34
2004
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$6.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$725M
2024
$246M
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,146,500
2020
488,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
7.41%
2020
11.9%
2008
Banked people share
71.4%
2024
99.9%
2024

Energy

Costa Rica Iceland
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,025 kg
2023
15,686 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.2
2023
$5.2
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.38 megatons
2024
3.29 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.63 tons
2024
8.52 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.6%
2023
10.3%
2023
Renewable energy use share
34.2%
2021
82.4%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
37.7%
2023
88.8%
2023
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
20.5%
2009
Electric power consumption per capita
2,206 kWh
2023
50,951 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
100%
2016
Hydroelectric share
69.3%
2023
70.3%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Costa Rica Iceland
% of world population
0.06%
2024
0.005%
2024
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
+2,709
2025
Urban population
79.3%
2024
94.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
51.2:48.8
2024
Average male height
5.71 ft
2025
5.97 ft
2025
Average female height
5.26 ft
2025
5.54 ft
2025
Quality of life index
64.8
2026
93.6
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
77
2025
Higher education index
73
2026
79
2026
Homicides per 100K people
17.7
2023
1.07
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.8
2019
2
2019
Visa free countries
142
2025
168
2025
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
99%
2003
English speaking
8.15%
2023
98%
2023
People using the Internet
85.4%
2023
99.8%
2023

Health

Costa Rica Iceland
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,163
2023
$7,642
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$280.7
2023
$1,137
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
83.3 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.69
2022
4.37
2023
Age at first childbirth n/a
28.8 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
3
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.5
2023
2.6
2023
Obesity rate
32.3%
2022
21.8%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.8%
2024
6.9%
2024
Air quality index
80
2026
98
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
8.9%
2022
9.4%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.4 liters
2020
7.94 liters
2020

Territory

Costa Rica Iceland
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.07%
2026
Land area per capita
3,843 sq mi
2024
100,725 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,534 sq mi
2026
6,324 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,907 sq mi
2026
205.8 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,129 mi
2017
8,014 mi
2012

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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