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Costa Rica vs Japan statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a population of 5.13M (ranked 126/197), compared with 124M in Japan (ranked 12/197). Costa Rica's land area is 19,714 sq mi versus 140,761 sq mi for Japan (ranked 126th vs. 61st).

By GDP, Costa Rica ranks 73/197 ($95.4B) and Japan ranks 4/197 ($4.03T). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 62/197 ($18,587), while Japan ranks 38/197 ($32,487).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica Japan
Population
5181862
122677250
Population rank 126/197 12/197
GDP
$95.4B
2024
$4.03T
2024
GDP rank 73/197 4/197
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$32,487
2024
GDP per capita rank 62/197 38/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$52,039
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$9.51T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
236.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$76,704
2024
Government debt per person rank 50/185 3/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$23,653
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 140,761 sq mi
Population density
262.6 ppl/mi²
2026
872 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.33
2023
1.2
2023
Median age
35.6 years
2024
50.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
85.1 years
2026

Costa Rica and Japan: Comparison Charts

Costa Rica and Japan economies compared

GDP
Costa Rica

Japan
1x
Year GDP
Costa Rica Japan
2024 $95,350,423,177 $4,027,597,523,551
2023 $86,497,941,439 $4,213,167,237,906
2022 $69,243,626,029 $4,262,463,317,797
2021 $64,960,725,734 $5,039,148,168,861
2020 $62,395,610,760 $5,054,068,005,376
2019 $64,417,670,521 $5,117,993,853,017
2018 $62,420,164,992 $5,040,880,939,325
2017 $60,516,044,657 $4,930,837,369,151
2016 $58,847,019,610 $5,003,677,627,544
2015 $56,441,920,821 $4,444,930,651,964
2014 $52,016,408,854 $4,896,994,405,353
2013 $50,949,668,842 $5,212,328,181,166
2012 $47,231,655,432 $6,272,362,996,105
2011 $42,762,613,699 $6,233,147,172,341
2010 $37,658,616,952 $5,759,071,769,013
2009 $30,745,714,313 $5,289,493,117,994
2008 $30,801,745,700 $5,106,679,115,127
2007 $26,884,700,709 $4,579,750,920,355
2006 $22,715,540,324 $4,601,663,122,650
2005 $20,040,642,477 $4,831,467,035,390
2004 $18,610,594,846 $4,893,116,005,657
2003 $17,271,760,507 $4,519,561,645,254
2002 $16,578,820,687 $4,182,846,045,874
2001 $15,976,174,337 $4,374,711,694,091
2000 $15,013,629,662 $4,968,359,075,957
1999 $14,254,866,285 $4,635,982,224,064
1998 $13,684,255,947 $4,098,362,709,531
1997 $12,614,602,382 $4,492,448,605,639
1996 $11,678,424,507 $4,923,391,533,852
1995 $11,578,594,260 $5,545,563,663,890
1994 $10,489,903,725 $4,998,797,547,741
1993 $9,564,815,975 $4,536,940,479,038
1992 $8,579,754,758 $3,980,702,922,118
1991 $7,215,725,487 $3,648,065,760,649
1990 $5,711,687,787 $3,185,904,656,664
1989 $5,251,025,767 $3,109,455,047,824
1988 $4,614,629,898 $3,125,724,434,401
1987 $4,532,952,047 $2,580,748,422,781
1986 $4,418,983,871 $2,120,083,812,110
1985 $3,919,203,960 $1,427,019,759,717
1984 $3,660,477,856 $1,345,824,500,837
1983 $3,146,772,631 $1,270,859,919,743
1982 $2,606,623,555 $1,158,731,426,906
1981 $2,623,803,096 $1,245,221,410,764
1980 $4,831,447,001 $1,129,377,244,854
1979 $4,035,519,323 $1,077,910,077,676
1978 $3,523,208,810 $1,035,611,588,217
1977 $3,072,427,013 $737,069,290,928
1976 $2,412,555,426 $598,883,902,156
1975 $1,960,863,466 $532,861,438,885
1974 $1,666,544,754 $490,035,789,970
1973 $1,528,925,846 $441,460,582,536
1972 $1,238,251,696 $324,933,841,269
1971 $1,077,147,538 $245,364,056,622
1970 $984,830,158 $217,223,652,719
1969 $853,630,204 $184,298,841,305
1968 $773,841,494 $156,897,496,759
1967 $699,456,619 $132,475,614,227
1966 $647,305,630 $113,046,784,179
1965 $592,981,162 $97,338,107,606
1964 $542,578,367 $87,490,590,818
1963 $511,902,137 $74,379,284,603
1962 $479,180,824 $64,987,857,542
1961 $490,325,182 $57,266,758,180
1960 $507,513,830 $47,419,238,274

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

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

Costa Rica and Japan economies compared

GDP per capita
Costa Rica

Japan
1x
Year GDP per capita
Costa Rica Japan
2024 $18,587 $32,487
2023 $16,942 $33,836
2022 $13,626 $34,066
2021 $12,838 $40,095
2020 $12,394 $40,029
2019 $12,885 $40,416
2018 $12,590 $39,751
2017 $12,317 $38,834
2016 $12,091 $39,375
2015 $11,715 $34,961
2014 $10,911 $38,475
2013 $10,803 $40,899
2012 $10,127 $49,145
2011 $9,276 $48,760
2010 $8,266 $44,968
2009 $6,833 $41,309
2008 $6,937 $39,876
2007 $6,138 $35,779
2006 $5,257 $35,992
2005 $4,703 $37,813
2004 $4,431 $38,299
2003 $4,173 $35,387
2002 $4,068 $32,821
2001 $3,985 $34,406
2000 $3,813 $39,169
1999 $3,691 $36,610
1998 $3,617 $32,424
1997 $3,408 $35,638
1996 $3,227 $39,150
1995 $3,275 $44,198
1994 $3,040 $39,934
1993 $2,840 $36,345
1992 $2,612 $31,993
1991 $2,253 $29,428
1990 $1,830 $25,801
1989 $1,725 $25,266
1988 $1,555 $25,500
1987 $1,567 $21,142
1986 $1,569 $17,452
1985 $1,429 $11,809
1984 $1,372 $11,207
1983 $1,213 $10,652
1982 $1,032 $9,780
1981 $1,068 $10,583
1980 $2,021 $9,669
1979 $1,735 $9,301
1978 $1,556 $9,012
1977 $1,393 $6,473
1976 $1,123 $5,310
1975 $937 $4,776
1974 $817 $4,448
1973 $769 $4,061
1972 $639 $3,031
1971 $570 $2,321
1970 $536 $2,101
1969 $477 $1,803
1968 $445 $1,553
1967 $414 $1,326
1966 $395 $1,144
1965 $374 $994
1964 $354 $903
1963 $346 $776
1962 $335 $685
1961 $356 $609
1960 $382 $509

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

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

Costa Rica vs. Japan life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Costa Rica

Japan
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Costa Rica Japan
2026 81.4 85.1
2025 81.2 85
2024 81 84.9
2023 80.8 84.7
2022 79.3 84.1
2021 78.1 84.6
2020 79.7 84.7
2019 80.3 84.4
2018 80.1 84.3
2017 80 84.2
2016 80 84.1
2015 80.4 83.9
2014 80.2 83.6
2013 80.2 83.4
2012 79.9 83.2
2011 79.6 82.7
2010 79.4 82.9
2009 79.4 83
2008 79.2 82.6
2007 79.1 82.5
2006 79 82.4
2005 78.9 82
2004 78.5 82.1
2003 78.2 81.9
2002 77.9 81.8
2001 77.6 81.5
2000 77.3 81.2
1999 77.1 80.6
1998 76.9 80.6
1997 76.6 80.6
1996 76.4 80.4
1995 76.4 79.7
1994 76.3 79.8
1993 76.3 79.4
1992 76.4 79.3
1991 76.2 79.3
1990 76.1 79
1989 75.9 79
1988 75.5 78.5
1987 75.2 78.6
1986 74.9 78.2
1985 74.8 77.8
1984 74.6 77.5
1983 74.2 77.1
1982 73.9 77.1
1981 73.4 76.6
1980 73 76.1
1979 72.5 76.2
1978 72 75.7
1977 71.5 75.3
1976 70.9 74.8
1975 70.3 74.4
1974 69.4 73.8
1973 68.7 73.4
1972 68 73.3
1971 67.4 72.8
1970 66.8 72
1969 66.4 71.9
1968 65.8 71.7
1967 65.6 71.4
1966 65.1 71.1
1965 64.8 70.3
1964 64.5 70.2
1963 64.3 69.7
1962 64.2 68.7
1961 63.9 68.4
1960 63.5 67.7
1959 62.9 67.5
1958 62.3 67
1957 61.6 65.4
1956 61.2 65.6
1955 60.5 65.7
1954 59.9 64.5
1953 59.1 63.3
1952 58.1 63
1951 57.8 61
1950 57.5 59.3

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

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

Costa Rica and Japan population clocks and comparison

Population
Costa Rica

Japan
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Japan
2024 5,129,910 123,975,371
2023 5,105,525 124,516,650
2022 5,081,765 125,124,989
2021 5,059,988 125,681,593
2020 5,034,320 126,261,000
2019 4,999,553 126,633,000
2018 4,957,818 126,811,000
2017 4,913,177 126,972,000
2016 4,866,998 127,076,000
2015 4,818,038 127,141,000
2014 4,767,119 127,276,000
2013 4,716,147 127,445,000
2012 4,663,934 127,629,000
2011 4,609,833 127,833,000
2010 4,555,962 128,070,000
2009 4,499,791 128,047,000
2008 4,440,056 128,063,000
2007 4,380,248 128,001,000
2006 4,321,340 127,854,000
2005 4,261,240 127,773,000
2004 4,200,078 127,761,000
2003 4,138,784 127,718,000
2002 4,075,705 127,445,000
2001 4,008,947 127,149,000
2000 3,937,739 126,843,000
1999 3,862,101 126,631,000
1998 3,782,838 126,400,000
1997 3,701,711 126,057,000
1996 3,619,013 125,757,000
1995 3,535,176 125,472,000
1994 3,451,122 125,178,000
1993 3,367,434 124,829,000
1992 3,284,258 124,425,000
1991 3,202,176 123,964,000
1990 3,121,706 123,478,000
1989 3,043,827 123,069,000
1988 2,968,103 122,578,000
1987 2,892,699 122,069,000
1986 2,817,216 121,482,000
1985 2,741,894 120,837,000
1984 2,667,595 120,083,000
1983 2,595,153 119,307,000
1982 2,524,806 118,480,000
1981 2,456,637 117,661,000
1980 2,390,633 116,807,000
1979 2,326,490 115,890,000
1978 2,264,510 114,913,000
1977 2,205,025 113,872,000
1976 2,147,774 112,775,000
1975 2,092,719 111,573,000
1974 2,039,643 110,162,000
1973 1,988,343 108,707,000
1972 1,938,248 107,188,000
1971 1,888,539 105,697,000
1970 1,838,949 103,403,000
1969 1,789,276 102,219,000
1968 1,739,731 101,011,000
1967 1,689,523 99,879,000
1966 1,638,116 98,851,000
1965 1,586,208 97,952,000
1964 1,533,960 96,903,000
1963 1,481,604 95,900,000
1962 1,429,445 94,933,000
1961 1,377,920 94,055,000
1960 1,327,496 93,216,000

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

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

Fertility rates in Costa Rica and Japan

Fertility rate
Costa Rica

Japan
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica Japan
2023 1.33 1.2
2022 1.34 1.26
2021 1.35 1.3
2020 1.45 1.33
2019 1.6 1.36
2018 1.71 1.42
2017 1.71 1.43
2016 1.75 1.44
2015 1.8 1.45
2014 1.8 1.42
2013 1.78 1.43
2012 1.85 1.41
2011 1.88 1.39
2010 1.83 1.39
2009 1.95 1.37
2008 1.98 1.37
2007 1.95 1.34
2006 1.94 1.32
2005 2.04 1.26
2004 2.03 1.29
2003 2.08 1.29
2002 2.16 1.32
2001 2.31 1.33
2000 2.41 1.36
1999 2.48 1.34
1998 2.53 1.38
1997 2.59 1.39
1996 2.68 1.43
1995 2.78 1.42
1994 2.86 1.5
1993 2.93 1.46
1992 3 1.5
1991 3.08 1.53
1990 3.17 1.54
1989 3.24 1.57
1988 3.31 1.66
1987 3.38 1.69
1986 3.45 1.72
1985 3.51 1.76
1984 3.52 1.81
1983 3.53 1.8
1982 3.54 1.77
1981 3.56 1.74
1980 3.58 1.75
1979 3.65 1.77
1978 3.66 1.79
1977 3.7 1.8
1976 3.75 1.85
1975 3.8 1.91
1974 3.89 2.05
1973 3.99 2.14
1972 4.16 2.14
1971 4.36 2.16
1970 4.59 2.13
1969 4.84 2.13
1968 5.03 2.13
1967 5.42 2.23
1966 5.7 1.58
1965 5.96 2.14
1964 6.19 2.05
1963 6.39 2
1962 6.54 1.98
1961 6.65 1.96
1960 6.71 2

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

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

Costa Rica and Japan demographics compared

Median age
Costa Rica

Japan
1x
Year Median age, years
Costa Rica Japan
2024 35.6 50.4
2023 35.1 50
2022 34.5 49.5
2021 34 49.1
2020 33.5 48.7
2019 33 48.3
2018 32.6 48
2017 32.1 47.6
2016 31.7 47.3
2015 31.2 47
2014 30.7 46.6
2013 30.3 46.2
2012 29.8 45.8
2011 29.4 45.5
2010 29 45.2
2009 28.6 44.9
2008 28.2 44.6
2007 27.8 44.2
2006 27.4 43.9
2005 27 43.6
2004 26.7 43.2
2003 26.3 42.8
2002 25.9 42.5
2001 25.5 42.1
2000 25.2 41.8
1999 24.9 41.4
1998 24.7 41
1997 24.4 40.7
1996 24.1 40.3
1995 23.9 40
1994 23.6 39.6
1993 23.4 39.2
1992 23.2 38.7
1991 22.9 38.2
1990 22.7 37.7
1989 22.5 37.2
1988 22.3 36.8
1987 22.1 36.3
1986 21.8 35.9
1985 21.6 35.4
1984 21.4 34.9
1983 21.2 34.3
1982 20.9 33.7
1981 20.6 33.1
1980 20.3 32.8
1979 20 32.4
1978 19.7 32
1977 19.5 31.5
1976 19.2 30.9
1975 18.9 30.6
1974 18.6 30.4
1973 18.4 30.2
1972 18.1 29.9
1971 17.8 29.6
1970 17.6 29.2
1969 17.3 28.9
1968 17.1 28.6
1967 16.9 28.4
1966 16.8 28
1965 16.7 27.6
1964 16.7 27.2
1963 16.7 26.9
1962 16.7 26.5
1961 16.8 26.2
1960 16.8 25.8

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica Japan
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$4.46T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
39.1%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.25%
2021
3.24%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
1.37%
2024
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
261,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
-1.53%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
2.54%
2024
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
69.8%
2023
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
28.6%
2023
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
70.3
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
23.9%
2020
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
2.4%
2020
Number of millionaires n/a
2,732,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
2.62%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
42
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00004%
2025
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
3,971
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$6.31T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$1.23T
2024
Personal remittances received
$725M
2024
$4.64B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,146,500
2020
4,115,799
2020
International tourism as share of exports
7.41%
2020
1.43%
2020
Banked people share
71.4%
2024
98.5%
2024

Energy

Costa Rica Japan
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,025 kg
2023
3,039 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.2
2023
$16.7
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.38 megatons
2024
972 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.63 tons
2024
7.84 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.6%
2023
84.8%
2023
Renewable energy use share
34.2%
2021
8.8%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
37.7%
2023
10.8%
2023
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
87.3%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,206 kWh
2023
7,655 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
21.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
69.3%
2023
8.48%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
8.38%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Costa Rica Japan
% of world population
0.06%
2024
1.53%
2024
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
+140,579
2025
Urban population
79.3%
2024
92.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
48.8:51.2
2024
Average male height
5.71 ft
2025
5.65 ft
2025
Average female height
5.26 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
64.8
2026
89.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
71
2025
Higher education index
73
2026
98
2026
Homicides per 100K people
17.7
2023
0.23
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.8
2019
3.6
2019
Visa free countries
142
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
99%
2002
English speaking
8.15%
2023
15%
2025
People using the Internet
85.4%
2023
87%
2023

Health

Costa Rica Japan
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,163
2023
$3,638
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$280.7
2023
$445
2023
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
85.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.69
2022
2.65
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
30.7 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
3
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.5
2023
2.4
2023
Obesity rate
32.3%
2022
5.57%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.8%
2024
8.1%
2024
Air quality index
80
2026
78
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
8.9%
2022
19.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.4 liters
2020
6.38 liters
2020

Territory

Costa Rica Japan
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.24%
2026
Land area per capita
3,843 sq mi
2024
1,135 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,534 sq mi
2026
17,788 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,907 sq mi
2026
96,275 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,129 mi
2017
757,310 mi
2021

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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