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Costa Rica vs Malaysia statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a population of 5.13M (ranked 126/197), compared with 35.6M in Malaysia (ranked 44/197). Costa Rica's land area is 19,714 sq mi versus 126,854 sq mi for Malaysia (ranked 126th vs. 65th).

By GDP, Costa Rica ranks 73/197 ($95.4B) and Malaysia ranks 38/197 ($422B). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 62/197 ($18,587), while Malaysia ranks 79/197 ($11,874).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica Malaysia
Population
5181862
36512221
Population rank 126/197 45/197
GDP
$95.4B
2024
$422B
2024
GDP rank 73/197 38/197
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$11,874
2024
GDP per capita rank 62/197 79/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$38,779
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$296B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
70.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$8,322
2024
Government debt per person rank 50/185 62/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$11,005
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 126,854 sq mi
Population density
262.6 ppl/mi²
2026
287 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.33
2023
1.55
2023
Median age
35.6 years
2024
31.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
77.2 years
2026

Costa Rica and Malaysia: Comparison Charts

Costa Rica and Malaysia economies compared

GDP
Costa Rica

Malaysia
1x
Year GDP
Costa Rica Malaysia
2024 $95,350,423,177 $422,227,005,429
2023 $86,497,941,439 $399,949,418,753
2022 $69,243,626,029 $407,830,525,990
2021 $64,960,725,734 $373,784,553,030
2020 $62,395,610,760 $337,456,163,961
2019 $64,417,670,521 $365,177,721,022
2018 $62,420,164,992 $358,788,845,713
2017 $60,516,044,657 $319,109,094,160
2016 $58,847,019,610 $301,256,033,870
2015 $56,441,920,821 $301,355,266,965
2014 $52,016,408,854 $338,066,095,097
2013 $50,949,668,842 $323,276,235,524
2012 $47,231,655,432 $314,443,047,642
2011 $42,762,613,699 $297,951,668,675
2010 $37,658,616,952 $255,017,638,456
2009 $30,745,714,313 $202,257,453,037
2008 $30,801,745,700 $230,811,614,370
2007 $26,884,700,709 $193,549,569,478
2006 $22,715,540,324 $162,692,258,307
2005 $20,040,642,477 $143,534,405,819
2004 $18,610,594,846 $124,749,473,684
2003 $17,271,760,507 $110,202,368,421
2002 $16,578,820,687 $100,845,526,316
2001 $15,976,174,337 $92,783,947,368
2000 $15,013,629,662 $93,789,736,842
1999 $14,254,866,285 $79,148,421,053
1998 $13,684,255,947 $72,167,498,981
1997 $12,614,602,382 $100,005,323,302
1996 $11,678,424,507 $100,855,393,910
1995 $11,578,594,260 $88,705,342,903
1994 $10,489,903,725 $74,478,356,958
1993 $9,564,815,975 $66,894,966,969
1992 $8,579,754,758 $59,167,550,163
1991 $7,215,725,487 $49,143,148,094
1990 $5,711,687,787 $44,024,585,240
1989 $5,251,025,767 $38,847,965,293
1988 $4,614,629,898 $35,272,109,220
1987 $4,532,952,047 $32,181,210,158
1986 $4,418,983,871 $27,734,111,400
1985 $3,919,203,960 $31,199,633,353
1984 $3,660,477,856 $33,942,897,422
1983 $3,146,772,631 $30,347,442,111
1982 $2,606,623,555 $26,804,493,635
1981 $2,623,803,096 $25,004,285,792
1980 $4,831,447,001 $24,488,224,677
1979 $4,035,519,323 $21,213,264,962
1978 $3,523,208,810 $16,358,079,862
1977 $3,072,427,013 $13,139,488,633
1976 $2,412,555,426 $11,050,234,599
1975 $1,960,863,466 $9,298,800,799
1974 $1,666,544,754 $9,496,204,302
1973 $1,528,925,846 $7,662,902,678
1972 $1,238,251,696 $5,043,347,250
1971 $1,077,147,538 $4,244,395,956
1970 $984,830,158 $3,864,145,667
1969 $853,630,204 $3,664,552,041
1968 $773,841,494 $3,330,371,551
1967 $699,456,619 $3,188,924,677
1966 $647,305,630 $3,143,517,944
1965 $592,981,162 $2,956,337,669
1964 $542,578,367 $2,674,423,922
1963 $511,902,137 $2,510,110,348
1962 $479,180,824 $2,001,489,602
1961 $490,325,182 $1,901,856,123
1960 $507,513,830 $1,916,229,477

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

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

Costa Rica and Malaysia economies compared

GDP per capita
Costa Rica

Malaysia
1x
Year GDP per capita
Costa Rica Malaysia
2024 $18,587 $11,874
2023 $16,942 $11,386
2022 $13,626 $11,755
2021 $12,838 $10,903
2020 $12,394 $9,958
2019 $12,885 $10,920
2018 $12,590 $10,902
2017 $12,317 $9,863
2016 $12,091 $9,477
2015 $11,715 $9,649
2014 $10,911 $11,013
2013 $10,803 $10,714
2012 $10,127 $10,601
2011 $9,276 $10,217
2010 $8,266 $8,899
2009 $6,833 $7,191
2008 $6,937 $8,372
2007 $6,138 $7,169
2006 $5,257 $6,158
2005 $4,703 $5,556
2004 $4,431 $4,939
2003 $4,173 $4,465
2002 $4,068 $4,184
2001 $3,985 $3,944
2000 $3,813 $4,084
1999 $3,691 $3,528
1998 $3,617 $3,294
1997 $3,408 $4,679
1996 $3,227 $4,837
1995 $3,275 $4,363
1994 $3,040 $3,758
1993 $2,840 $3,462
1992 $2,612 $3,141
1991 $2,253 $2,679
1990 $1,830 $2,469
1989 $1,725 $2,244
1988 $1,555 $2,100
1987 $1,567 $1,977
1986 $1,569 $1,760
1985 $1,429 $2,046
1984 $1,372 $2,300
1983 $1,213 $2,124
1982 $1,032 $1,938
1981 $1,068 $1,866
1980 $2,021 $1,886
1979 $1,735 $1,680
1978 $1,556 $1,327
1977 $1,393 $1,092
1976 $1,123 $940
1975 $937 $811
1974 $817 $848
1973 $769 $701
1972 $639 $472
1971 $570 $407
1970 $536 $380
1969 $477 $368
1968 $445 $342
1967 $414 $335
1966 $395 $339
1965 $374 $326
1964 $354 $303
1963 $346 $291.8
1962 $335 $238.8
1961 $356 $232.9
1960 $382 $240.8

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

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

Costa Rica vs. Malaysia life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Costa Rica

Malaysia
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Costa Rica Malaysia
2026 81.4 77.2
2025 81.2 77
2024 81 76.8
2023 80.8 76.7
2022 79.3 75.4
2021 78.1 73.9
2020 79.7 76.1
2019 80.3 75.9
2018 80.1 75.7
2017 80 75.5
2016 80 75.4
2015 80.4 75.3
2014 80.2 75.3
2013 80.2 75.5
2012 79.9 75.6
2011 79.6 75.5
2010 79.4 75.4
2009 79.4 75.3
2008 79.2 75.2
2007 79.1 75
2006 79 74.7
2005 78.9 74.4
2004 78.5 74
2003 78.2 73.7
2002 77.9 73.5
2001 77.6 73.1
2000 77.3 72.7
1999 77.1 72.4
1998 76.9 72.4
1997 76.6 72.3
1996 76.4 72.1
1995 76.4 72
1994 76.3 71.9
1993 76.3 71.7
1992 76.4 71.5
1991 76.2 71.2
1990 76.1 71
1989 75.9 70.8
1988 75.5 70.6
1987 75.2 70.4
1986 74.9 70.1
1985 74.8 69.9
1984 74.6 69.6
1983 74.2 69.2
1982 73.9 68.9
1981 73.4 68.5
1980 73 68.1
1979 72.5 67.6
1978 72 67.2
1977 71.5 66.7
1976 70.9 66.2
1975 70.3 65.7
1974 69.4 65.2
1973 68.7 64.7
1972 68 64.2
1971 67.4 63.8
1970 66.8 63.3
1969 66.4 62.9
1968 65.8 62.4
1967 65.6 62
1966 65.1 61.7
1965 64.8 61.1
1964 64.5 60.4
1963 64.3 59.7
1962 64.2 58.9
1961 63.9 58
1960 63.5 57.2
1959 62.9 56.3
1958 62.3 55.4
1957 61.6 54.5
1956 61.2 53.7
1955 60.5 52.8
1954 59.9 52
1953 59.1 51.1
1952 58.1 50.1
1951 57.8 49.2
1950 57.5 48.5

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

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

Costa Rica and Malaysia population clocks and comparison

Population
Costa Rica

Malaysia
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Malaysia
2024 5,129,910 35,557,673
2023 5,105,525 35,126,298
2022 5,081,765 34,695,493
2021 5,059,988 34,282,399
2020 5,034,320 33,889,558
2019 4,999,553 33,440,596
2018 4,957,818 32,910,967
2017 4,913,177 32,355,644
2016 4,866,998 31,789,685
2015 4,818,038 31,232,798
2014 4,767,119 30,696,137
2013 4,716,147 30,174,265
2012 4,663,934 29,662,831
2011 4,609,833 29,162,039
2010 4,555,962 28,655,776
2009 4,499,791 28,124,778
2008 4,440,056 27,570,059
2007 4,380,248 26,998,389
2006 4,321,340 26,417,909
2005 4,261,240 25,836,071
2004 4,200,078 25,256,772
2003 4,138,784 24,679,602
2002 4,075,705 24,102,477
2001 4,008,947 23,526,538
2000 3,937,739 22,967,816
1999 3,862,101 22,435,531
1998 3,782,838 21,906,713
1997 3,701,711 21,375,218
1996 3,619,013 20,850,087
1995 3,535,176 20,330,599
1994 3,451,122 19,820,446
1993 3,367,434 19,322,664
1992 3,284,258 18,834,572
1991 3,202,176 18,342,464
1990 3,121,706 17,833,171
1989 3,043,827 17,314,997
1988 2,968,103 16,796,605
1987 2,892,699 16,276,737
1986 2,817,216 15,760,419
1985 2,741,894 15,252,258
1984 2,667,595 14,759,009
1983 2,595,153 14,285,907
1982 2,524,806 13,832,798
1981 2,456,637 13,399,203
1980 2,390,633 12,983,363
1979 2,326,490 12,627,862
1978 2,264,510 12,328,157
1977 2,205,025 12,035,713
1976 2,147,774 11,750,097
1975 2,092,719 11,471,914
1974 2,039,643 11,200,906
1973 1,988,343 10,935,621
1972 1,938,248 10,676,835
1971 1,888,539 10,423,453
1970 1,838,949 10,178,802
1969 1,789,276 9,947,597
1968 1,739,731 9,725,281
1967 1,689,523 9,507,099
1966 1,638,116 9,284,688
1965 1,586,208 9,056,408
1964 1,533,960 8,828,406
1963 1,481,604 8,602,160
1962 1,429,445 8,380,172
1961 1,377,920 8,164,443
1960 1,327,496 7,956,197

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

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

Fertility rates in Costa Rica and Malaysia

Fertility rate
Costa Rica

Malaysia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica Malaysia
2023 1.33 1.55
2022 1.34 1.55
2021 1.35 1.56
2020 1.45 1.68
2019 1.6 1.78
2018 1.71 1.84
2017 1.71 1.89
2016 1.75 1.94
2015 1.8 2.01
2014 1.8 2.06
2013 1.78 2.07
2012 1.85 2.12
2011 1.88 2.15
2010 1.83 2.14
2009 1.95 2.22
2008 1.98 2.26
2007 1.95 2.25
2006 1.94 2.31
2005 2.04 2.39
2004 2.03 2.49
2003 2.08 2.6
2002 2.16 2.66
2001 2.31 2.81
2000 2.41 2.94
1999 2.48 3.07
1998 2.53 3.12
1997 2.59 3.23
1996 2.68 3.3
1995 2.78 3.32
1994 2.86 3.35
1993 2.93 3.36
1992 3 3.37
1991 3.08 3.34
1990 3.17 3.3
1989 3.24 3.31
1988 3.31 3.5
1987 3.38 3.57
1986 3.45 3.7
1985 3.51 3.8
1984 3.52 3.89
1983 3.53 3.93
1982 3.54 3.97
1981 3.56 4
1980 3.58 4.04
1979 3.65 4.09
1978 3.66 4.18
1977 3.7 4.28
1976 3.75 4.4
1975 3.8 4.5
1974 3.89 4.62
1973 3.99 4.73
1972 4.16 4.82
1971 4.36 4.92
1970 4.59 5.04
1969 4.84 5.16
1968 5.03 5.29
1967 5.42 5.43
1966 5.7 5.64
1965 5.96 5.84
1964 6.19 6.03
1963 6.39 6.19
1962 6.54 6.3
1961 6.65 6.37
1960 6.71 6.41

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

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

Costa Rica and Malaysia demographics compared

Median age
Costa Rica

Malaysia
1x
Year Median age, years
Costa Rica Malaysia
2024 35.6 31.5
2023 35.1 31.1
2022 34.5 30.6
2021 34 30.1
2020 33.5 29.6
2019 33 29.2
2018 32.6 28.8
2017 32.1 28.5
2016 31.7 28.1
2015 31.2 27.8
2014 30.7 27.5
2013 30.3 27.1
2012 29.8 26.8
2011 29.4 26.4
2010 29 26
2009 28.6 25.6
2008 28.2 25.1
2007 27.8 24.8
2006 27.4 24.5
2005 27 24.2
2004 26.7 24
2003 26.3 23.9
2002 25.9 23.7
2001 25.5 23.6
2000 25.2 23.5
1999 24.9 23.4
1998 24.7 23.1
1997 24.4 22.9
1996 24.1 22.7
1995 23.9 22.5
1994 23.6 22.3
1993 23.4 22.1
1992 23.2 21.9
1991 22.9 21.7
1990 22.7 21.5
1989 22.5 21.3
1988 22.3 21.1
1987 22.1 21
1986 21.8 20.9
1985 21.6 20.7
1984 21.4 20.5
1983 21.2 20.4
1982 20.9 20.1
1981 20.6 19.9
1980 20.3 19.7
1979 20 19.5
1978 19.7 19.3
1977 19.5 19
1976 19.2 18.8
1975 18.9 18.6
1974 18.6 18.3
1973 18.4 18.1
1972 18.1 17.9
1971 17.8 17.6
1970 17.6 17.4
1969 17.3 17.3
1968 17.1 17.1
1967 16.9 17
1966 16.8 16.9
1965 16.7 16.8
1964 16.7 16.9
1963 16.7 17
1962 16.7 17.1
1961 16.8 17.3
1960 16.8 17.5

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica Malaysia
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$414B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
23.9%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.25%
2021
3.51%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
0.99%
2024
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
136,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
-3.95%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
3.93%
2022
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
53.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
37%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
68
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
30.9%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
2.3%
2021
Number of billionaires n/a
19
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00008%
2025
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
1,031
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$449B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$116B
2024
Personal remittances received
$725M
2024
$1.61B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,146,500
2020
4,333,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
7.41%
2020
1.63%
2020
Banked people share
71.4%
2024
88.7%
2024

Energy

Costa Rica Malaysia
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,025 kg
2023
2,867 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.2
2023
$12
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.38 megatons
2024
296 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.63 tons
2024
8.32 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.6%
2023
96%
2022
Renewable energy use share
34.2%
2021
7.5%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
37.7%
2023
2.88%
2022
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
-0.58%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
2,206 kWh
2023
4,986 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
17%
2021
Hydroelectric share
69.3%
2023
16.6%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Costa Rica Malaysia
% of world population
0.06%
2024
0.44%
2024
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
+166,615
2025
Urban population
79.3%
2024
76.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
52.4:47.6
2024
Average male height
5.71 ft
2025
5.55 ft
2025
Average female height
5.26 ft
2025
5.15 ft
2025
Quality of life index
64.8
2026
68.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
52
2025
Higher education index
73
2026
76
2026
Homicides per 100K people
17.7
2023
0.72
2021
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.8
2019
22.5
2019
Visa free countries
142
2025
174
2025
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
95.8%
2022
English speaking
8.15%
2023
57.3%
2023
People using the Internet
85.4%
2023
98%
2024

Health

Costa Rica Malaysia
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,163
2023
$450
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$280.7
2023
$167
2023
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
77.2 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0.001%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.69
2022
2.34
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
26
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.5
2023
8.1
2023
Obesity rate
32.3%
2022
22.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.8%
2024
21.1%
2024
Air quality index
80
2026
41
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
8.9%
2022
22%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.4 liters
2020
0.74 liters
2020

Territory

Costa Rica Malaysia
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.22%
2026
Land area per capita
3,843 sq mi
2024
3,568 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,534 sq mi
2026
33,093 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,907 sq mi
2026
73,219 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,129 mi
2017
173,898 mi
2022

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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