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Costa Rica vs Iran statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a population of 5.13M (ranked 126/197), compared with 91.6M in Iran (ranked 17/197). Costa Rica's land area is 19,714 sq mi versus 626,451 sq mi for Iran (ranked 126th vs. 17th).

By GDP, Costa Rica ranks 73/197 ($95.4B) and Iran ranks 34/197 ($475B). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 62/197 ($18,587), while Iran ranks 119/197 ($5,190).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica Iran
Population
5181862
93468444
Population rank 126/197 17/197
GDP
$95.4B
2024
$475B
2024
GDP rank 73/197 34/197
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$5,190
2024
GDP per capita rank 62/197 119/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$19,874
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$162B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
34%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$1,764
2024
Government debt per person rank 50/185 122/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$2,964
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 626,451 sq mi
Population density
262.6 ppl/mi²
2026
148.9 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.33
2023
1.7
2023
Median age
35.6 years
2024
34.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
78.2 years
2026

Costa Rica and Iran: Comparison Charts

Costa Rica and Iran economies compared

GDP
Costa Rica

Iran
1x
Year GDP
Costa Rica Iran
2024 $95,350,423,177 $475,252,089,215
2023 $86,497,941,439 $457,510,482,317
2022 $69,243,626,029 $422,662,261,526
2021 $64,960,725,734 $407,350,685,583
2020 $62,395,610,760 $280,934,329,280
2019 $64,417,670,521 $347,988,400,958
2018 $62,420,164,992 $411,903,303,606
2017 $60,516,044,657 $510,239,893,418
2016 $58,847,019,610 $478,618,064,871
2015 $56,441,920,821 $409,191,686,497
2014 $52,016,408,854 $462,284,793,281
2013 $50,949,668,842 $500,399,839,840
2012 $47,231,655,432 $644,019,315,004
2011 $42,762,613,699 $629,082,257,472
2010 $37,658,616,952 $487,069,570,464
2009 $30,745,714,313 $414,059,094,949
2008 $30,801,745,700 $406,070,949,554
2007 $26,884,700,709 $349,736,591,832
2006 $22,715,540,324 $265,602,187,404
2005 $20,040,642,477 $224,970,371,325
2004 $18,610,594,846 $187,754,571,248
2003 $17,271,760,507 $151,911,222,119
2002 $16,578,820,687 $128,626,917,504
2001 $15,976,174,337 $126,878,750,296
2000 $15,013,629,662 $109,591,707,802
1999 $14,254,866,285 $113,848,450,088
1998 $13,684,255,947 $110,276,913,363
1997 $12,614,602,382 $113,919,163,421
1996 $11,678,424,507 $120,403,931,885
1995 $11,578,594,260 $96,419,225,744
1994 $10,489,903,725 $71,841,461,173
1993 $9,564,815,975 $63,743,623,232
1992 $8,579,754,758 $119,768,691,217
1991 $7,215,725,487 $131,637,664,958
1990 $5,711,687,787 $124,813,263,926
1989 $5,251,025,767 $120,496,362,916
1988 $4,614,629,898 $123,057,861,334
1987 $4,532,952,047 $134,009,995,923
1986 $4,418,983,871 $209,094,561,833
1985 $3,919,203,960 $180,183,629,600
1984 $3,660,477,856 $162,276,728,620
1983 $3,146,772,631 $156,365,156,618
1982 $2,606,623,555 $125,948,756,439
1981 $2,623,803,096 $100,499,312,750
1980 $4,831,447,001 $94,362,275,580
1979 $4,035,519,323 $90,391,877,326
1978 $3,523,208,810 $77,994,316,621
1977 $3,072,427,013 $80,600,122,702
1976 $2,412,555,426 $68,055,295,081
1975 $1,960,863,466 $51,776,222,350
1974 $1,666,544,754 $46,209,092,072
1973 $1,528,925,846 $27,081,698,250
1972 $1,238,251,696 $17,153,463,263
1971 $1,077,147,538 $13,731,802,833
1970 $984,830,158 $10,976,245,154
1969 $853,630,204 $9,743,089,607
1968 $773,841,494 $8,623,172,960
1967 $699,456,619 $7,555,383,690
1966 $647,305,630 $6,789,938,672
1965 $592,981,162 $6,197,319,929
1964 $542,578,367 $5,379,845,648
1963 $511,902,137 $4,928,628,018
1962 $479,180,824 $4,693,566,416
1961 $490,325,182 $4,426,949,095
1960 $507,513,830 $4,199,134,390

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

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

Costa Rica and Iran economies compared

GDP per capita
Costa Rica

Iran
1x
Year GDP per capita
Costa Rica Iran
2024 $18,587 $5,190
2023 $16,942 $5,049
2022 $13,626 $4,721
2021 $12,838 $4,605
2020 $12,394 $3,203
2019 $12,885 $3,997
2018 $12,590 $4,783
2017 $12,317 $6,001
2016 $12,091 $5,711
2015 $11,715 $4,953
2014 $10,911 $5,672
2013 $10,803 $6,223
2012 $10,127 $8,114
2011 $9,276 $8,026
2010 $8,266 $6,291
2009 $6,833 $5,416
2008 $6,937 $5,377
2007 $6,138 $4,688
2006 $5,257 $3,619
2005 $4,703 $3,132
2004 $4,431 $2,672
2003 $4,173 $2,209
2002 $4,068 $1,891
2001 $3,985 $1,881
2000 $3,813 $1,650
1999 $3,691 $1,740
1998 $3,617 $1,709
1997 $3,408 $1,790
1996 $3,227 $1,915
1995 $3,275 $1,550
1994 $3,040 $1,168
1993 $2,840 $1,038
1992 $2,612 $1,957
1991 $2,253 $2,194
1990 $1,830 $2,138
1989 $1,725 $2,125
1988 $1,555 $2,234
1987 $1,567 $2,513
1986 $1,569 $4,064
1985 $1,429 $3,634
1984 $1,372 $3,395
1983 $1,213 $3,397
1982 $1,032 $2,845
1981 $1,068 $2,393
1980 $2,021 $2,368
1979 $1,735 $2,352
1978 $1,556 $2,101
1977 $1,393 $2,243
1976 $1,123 $1,954
1975 $937 $1,532
1974 $817 $1,409
1973 $769 $851
1972 $639 $555
1971 $570 $457
1970 $536 $377
1969 $477 $345
1968 $445 $314
1967 $414 $283.7
1966 $395 $262.9
1965 $374 $247.5
1964 $354 $221.7
1963 $346 $209.6
1962 $335 $205.8
1961 $356 $200.1
1960 $382 $195.6

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

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

Costa Rica vs. Iran life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Costa Rica

Iran
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Costa Rica Iran
2026 81.4 78.2
2025 81.2 78.1
2024 81 77.9
2023 80.8 77.7
2022 79.3 76.8
2021 78.1 73.8
2020 79.7 74.1
2019 80.3 76.9
2018 80.1 76.6
2017 80 76.4
2016 80 76.2
2015 80.4 75.9
2014 80.2 75.6
2013 80.2 75.3
2012 79.9 75
2011 79.6 74.7
2010 79.4 74.4
2009 79.4 74
2008 79.2 73.7
2007 79.1 73.3
2006 79 72.9
2005 78.9 72.4
2004 78.5 72
2003 78.2 70.5
2002 77.9 71.1
2001 77.6 70.6
2000 77.3 70.2
1999 77.1 69.7
1998 76.9 69.2
1997 76.6 68.6
1996 76.4 68.3
1995 76.4 67.9
1994 76.3 67.5
1993 76.3 67
1992 76.4 66.7
1991 76.2 66.2
1990 76.1 64.1
1989 75.9 65.3
1988 75.5 63.3
1987 75.2 62.7
1986 74.9 62.1
1985 74.8 61.5
1984 74.6 60.9
1983 74.2 58.5
1982 73.9 57.6
1981 73.4 56.6
1980 73 58.4
1979 72.5 58.5
1978 72 56
1977 71.5 56.7
1976 70.9 55.8
1975 70.3 54.8
1974 69.4 53.9
1973 68.7 52.9
1972 68 51.7
1971 67.4 51.1
1970 66.8 50.2
1969 66.4 49.4
1968 65.8 47.9
1967 65.6 47.8
1966 65.1 47.1
1965 64.8 46.4
1964 64.5 45.7
1963 64.3 45.1
1962 64.2 43.8
1961 63.9 43.9
1960 63.5 43.3
1959 62.9 42.8
1958 62.3 42.2
1957 61.6 41.3
1956 61.2 41.1
1955 60.5 40.6
1954 59.9 40
1953 59.1 39.5
1952 58.1 39.2
1951 57.8 38.7
1950 57.5 38.2

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

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

Costa Rica and Iran population clocks and comparison

Population
Costa Rica

Iran
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Iran
2024 5,129,910 91,567,738
2023 5,105,525 90,608,707
2022 5,081,765 89,524,246
2021 5,059,988 88,455,488
2020 5,034,320 87,723,443
2019 4,999,553 87,051,648
2018 4,957,818 86,117,998
2017 4,913,177 85,026,754
2016 4,866,998 83,812,228
2015 4,818,038 82,619,362
2014 4,767,119 81,502,045
2013 4,716,147 80,414,686
2012 4,663,934 79,370,580
2011 4,609,833 78,383,598
2010 4,555,962 77,420,842
2009 4,499,791 76,457,825
2008 4,440,056 75,514,204
2007 4,380,248 74,602,648
2006 4,321,340 73,392,747
2005 4,261,240 71,828,455
2004 4,200,078 70,256,316
2003 4,138,784 68,769,340
2002 4,075,705 68,011,317
2001 4,008,947 67,452,005
2000 3,937,739 66,418,659
1999 3,862,101 65,445,391
1998 3,782,838 64,519,859
1997 3,701,711 63,639,638
1996 3,619,013 62,881,300
1995 3,535,176 62,205,567
1994 3,451,122 61,520,598
1993 3,367,434 61,403,543
1992 3,284,258 61,184,983
1991 3,202,176 59,986,931
1990 3,121,706 58,380,092
1989 3,043,827 56,704,914
1988 2,968,103 55,072,694
1987 2,892,699 53,323,493
1986 2,817,216 51,446,045
1985 2,741,894 49,582,289
1984 2,667,595 47,793,998
1983 2,595,153 46,029,535
1982 2,524,806 44,272,141
1981 2,456,637 41,989,312
1980 2,390,633 39,842,324
1979 2,326,490 38,424,952
1978 2,264,510 37,126,535
1977 2,205,025 35,933,181
1976 2,147,774 34,837,271
1975 2,092,719 33,802,973
1974 2,039,643 32,796,463
1973 1,988,343 31,839,838
1972 1,938,248 30,921,179
1971 1,888,539 30,029,071
1970 1,838,949 29,145,100
1969 1,789,276 28,273,482
1968 1,739,731 27,437,391
1967 1,689,523 26,628,432
1966 1,638,116 25,829,270
1965 1,586,208 25,036,978
1964 1,533,960 24,262,859
1963 1,481,604 23,519,005
1962 1,429,445 22,807,907
1961 1,377,920 22,125,726
1960 1,327,496 21,470,434

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

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

Fertility rates in Costa Rica and Iran

Fertility rate
Costa Rica

Iran
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica Iran
2023 1.33 1.7
2022 1.34 1.7
2021 1.35 1.71
2020 1.45 1.7
2019 1.6 1.77
2018 1.71 1.92
2017 1.71 2.02
2016 1.75 2.05
2015 1.8 2.02
2014 1.8 1.98
2013 1.78 1.91
2012 1.85 1.85
2011 1.88 1.79
2010 1.83 1.75
2009 1.95 1.74
2008 1.98 1.74
2007 1.95 1.75
2006 1.94 1.76
2005 2.04 1.76
2004 2.03 1.78
2003 2.08 1.8
2002 2.16 1.84
2001 2.31 1.92
2000 2.41 2
1999 2.48 2.09
1998 2.53 2.19
1997 2.59 2.32
1996 2.68 2.54
1995 2.78 2.85
1994 2.86 3.24
1993 2.93 3.67
1992 3 4.1
1991 3.08 4.57
1990 3.17 4.93
1989 3.24 5.17
1988 3.31 5.43
1987 3.38 5.72
1986 3.45 6.01
1985 3.51 6.24
1984 3.52 6.43
1983 3.53 6.53
1982 3.54 6.59
1981 3.56 6.62
1980 3.58 6.63
1979 3.65 6.55
1978 3.66 6.34
1977 3.7 6.18
1976 3.75 6.07
1975 3.8 5.95
1974 3.89 5.97
1973 3.99 6.06
1972 4.16 6.26
1971 4.36 6.55
1970 4.59 6.8
1969 4.84 7.01
1968 5.03 7.12
1967 5.42 7.19
1966 5.7 7.21
1965 5.96 7.22
1964 6.19 7.24
1963 6.39 7.32
1962 6.54 7.4
1961 6.65 7.46
1960 6.71 7.52

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

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

Costa Rica and Iran demographics compared

Median age
Costa Rica

Iran
1x
Year Median age, years
Costa Rica Iran
2024 35.6 34.3
2023 35.1 33.8
2022 34.5 33.3
2021 34 32.8
2020 33.5 32.3
2019 33 31.7
2018 32.6 31.2
2017 32.1 30.7
2016 31.7 30.2
2015 31.2 29.7
2014 30.7 29.2
2013 30.3 28.7
2012 29.8 28.2
2011 29.4 27.7
2010 29 27.2
2009 28.6 26.6
2008 28.2 26.1
2007 27.8 25.5
2006 27.4 24.8
2005 27 24.3
2004 26.7 23.7
2003 26.3 23.1
2002 25.9 22.6
2001 25.5 22
2000 25.2 21.4
1999 24.9 20.7
1998 24.7 20
1997 24.4 19.5
1996 24.1 19.1
1995 23.9 18.7
1994 23.6 18.4
1993 23.4 18.3
1992 23.2 18.4
1991 22.9 18.3
1990 22.7 18.2
1989 22.5 18.1
1988 22.3 18.2
1987 22.1 18.2
1986 21.8 18.2
1985 21.6 18.3
1984 21.4 18.4
1983 21.2 18.5
1982 20.9 18.6
1981 20.6 18.4
1980 20.3 18.2
1979 20 18.3
1978 19.7 18.3
1977 19.5 18.3
1976 19.2 18.2
1975 18.9 18.1
1974 18.6 18
1973 18.4 17.9
1972 18.1 17.8
1971 17.8 17.7
1970 17.6 17.6
1969 17.3 17.6
1968 17.1 17.6
1967 16.9 17.7
1966 16.8 17.7
1965 16.7 17.8
1964 16.7 17.9
1963 16.7 18.1
1962 16.7 18.4
1961 16.8 18.7
1960 16.8 19.1

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica Iran
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$469B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
14.2%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.25%
2021
2.82%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2.01%
2024
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
650,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
-3.83%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
7.63%
2024
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
49.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
36.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
41.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
28.2%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
2.8%
2023
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
594
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$172B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$7.69B
1982
Personal remittances received
$725M
2024
$1.03B
2004
International tourist arrivals
1,146,500
2020
1,550,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
7.41%
2020
2.28%
2000
Banked people share
71.4%
2024
91.1%
2024

Energy

Costa Rica Iran
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,025 kg
2023
3,266 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.2
2023
$5.37
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.38 megatons
2024
829 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.63 tons
2024
9.05 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.6%
2023
98.8%
2022
Renewable energy use share
34.2%
2021
0.9%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
37.7%
2023
1.14%
2022
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
-32.5%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
2,206 kWh
2023
3,664 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
4.24%
2021
Hydroelectric share
69.3%
2023
3.43%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
2.2%
2022
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Costa Rica Iran
% of world population
0.06%
2024
1.13%
2024
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
+116,786
2025
Urban population
79.3%
2024
77%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
50.8:49.2
2024
Average male height
5.71 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.26 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
64.8
2026
40.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
23
2025
Higher education index
73
2026
78
2026
Homicides per 100K people
17.7
2023
2.42
2014
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.8
2019
21.5
2019
Visa free countries
142
2025
52
2025
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
88.9%
2023
English speaking
8.15%
2023
12%
2025
People using the Internet
85.4%
2023
79.6%
2023

Health

Costa Rica Iran
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,163
2023
$267.1
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$280.7
2023
$115.2
2023
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
78.2 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0.71%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.69
2022
1.81
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
16
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.5
2023
11.8
2023
Obesity rate
32.3%
2022
25.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.8%
2024
9%
2024
Air quality index
80
2026
27
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
8.9%
2022
13.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.4 liters
2020
0.51 liters
2020

Territory

Costa Rica Iran
% of world land
0.03%
2026
1.09%
2026
Land area per capita
3,843 sq mi
2024
6,841 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,534 sq mi
2026
181,727 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,907 sq mi
2026
41,654 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,129 mi
2017
138,867 mi
2018

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)

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