Skip to content

Costa Rica vs Netherlands statistics compared

Updated on by Georank

Costa Rica has a population of 5.15M (ranked 126/197), compared with 18.1M in The Netherlands (ranked 72/197). Costa Rica's land area is 19,714 sq mi versus 13,000 sq mi for The Netherlands (ranked 126th vs. 134th).

By GDP, Costa Rica ranks 74/197 ($103B) and The Netherlands ranks 18/197 ($1.33T). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 59/197 ($19,970), while The Netherlands ranks 12/197 ($73,684).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica Netherlands
Population
5186356
18243998
Population rank 126/197 72/197
GDP
$103B
2025
$1.33T
2025
GDP rank 74/197 18/197
GDP per capita
$19,970
2025
$73,684
2025
GDP per capita rank 59/197 12/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$86,174
2024
Government debt
$62.2B
2025
$578B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
60.4%
2025
43.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$12,064
2025
$31,942
2025
Government debt per person rank 51/185 23/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,879
2026
$46,674
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 13,000 sq mi
Population density
262.5 ppl/mi²
2026
1,400 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.32
2024
1.43
2024
Median age
36.2 years
2025
42.5 years
2025
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
82.6 years
2026

Costa Rica and Netherlands: Comparison Charts

Costa Rica and Netherlands economies compared

GDP
Costa Rica

Netherlands
1x
Year GDP
Costa Rica Netherlands
2025 $102,904,921,157 $1,332,767,651,100
2024 $96,715,644,331 $1,213,936,238,063
2023 $87,512,637,056 $1,135,475,867,551
2022 $71,001,226,361 $1,046,540,797,549
2021 $65,588,938,787 $1,054,472,123,450
2020 $62,806,591,555 $932,560,861,701
2019 $64,753,504,730 $928,903,005,576
2018 $62,567,765,946 $929,733,599,797
2017 $60,516,044,661 $848,233,537,846
2016 $58,847,019,588 $797,163,949,290
2015 $56,441,920,888 $775,743,675,303
2014 $52,016,408,816 $901,556,501,756
2013 $50,949,668,763 $883,951,539,007
2012 $47,231,655,493 $845,689,017,066
2011 $42,762,613,785 $913,140,741,333
2010 $37,658,616,966 $852,464,982,433
2009 $30,745,714,234 $878,954,223,140
2008 $30,801,745,703 $957,901,566,041
2007 $26,884,700,688 $853,499,460,873
2006 $22,715,540,342 $737,593,995,289
2005 $20,040,642,421 $688,133,699,636
2004 $18,610,594,844 $661,224,886,143
2003 $17,271,760,397 $582,435,617,082
2002 $16,578,820,799 $475,529,972,123
2001 $15,976,174,476 $432,536,219,669
2000 $15,013,629,579 $417,649,282,154
1999 $14,254,866,284 $447,778,514,140
1998 $13,684,255,998 $438,612,530,549
1997 $12,614,602,322 $417,506,211,882
1996 $11,678,424,727 $451,372,549,020
1995 $11,578,594,333 $452,967,334,614
1994 $10,489,903,834 $379,688,232,232
1993 $9,564,816,063 $354,070,495,966
1992 $8,579,754,953 $363,497,050,125
1991 $7,215,725,635 $327,982,316,124
1990 $5,711,687,787 $318,799,003,994
1989 $5,251,025,767 $258,716,904,292
1988 $4,614,629,898 $262,295,966,105
1987 $4,532,952,047 $245,406,949,521
1986 $4,418,983,871 $201,157,708,221
1985 $3,919,203,960 $144,057,523,222
1984 $3,660,477,856 $144,124,462,912
1983 $3,146,772,631 $153,671,294,109
1982 $2,606,623,555 $158,712,765,536
1981 $2,623,803,096 $164,375,775,854
1980 $4,831,447,001 $195,439,301,707
1979 $4,035,519,323 $179,933,827,310
1978 $3,523,208,810 $156,089,077,205
1977 $3,072,427,013 $127,203,923,857
1976 $2,412,555,426 $109,329,386,564
1975 $1,960,863,466 $100,397,061,694
1974 $1,666,544,754 $87,371,810,804
1973 $1,528,925,846 $71,946,639,603
1972 $1,238,251,696 $54,787,070,173
1971 $1,077,147,538 $44,644,730,576
1970 $984,830,158 $38,220,884,519
1969 $853,630,204 $34,086,038,090
1968 $773,841,494 $30,097,635,751
1967 $699,456,619 $27,143,828,099
1966 $647,305,630 $24,741,480,717
1965 $592,981,162 $22,721,869,808
1964 $542,578,367 $20,232,048,553
1963 $511,902,137 $17,193,744,109
1962 $479,180,824 $15,847,582,341
1961 $490,325,182 $14,599,836,396
1960 $507,513,830 $13,282,979,015

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Costa Rica and Netherlands economies compared

GDP per capita
Costa Rica

Netherlands
1x
Year GDP per capita
Costa Rica Netherlands
2025 $19,970 $73,684
2024 $18,853 $67,465
2023 $17,141 $63,516
2022 $13,972 $59,123
2021 $12,962 $60,142
2020 $12,476 $53,468
2019 $12,952 $53,555
2018 $12,620 $53,955
2017 $12,317 $49,514
2016 $12,091 $46,809
2015 $11,715 $45,794
2014 $10,911 $53,457
2013 $10,803 $52,602
2012 $10,127 $50,474
2011 $9,276 $54,702
2010 $8,266 $51,306
2009 $6,833 $53,172
2008 $6,937 $58,247
2007 $6,138 $52,101
2006 $5,257 $45,124
2005 $4,703 $42,165
2004 $4,431 $40,611
2003 $4,173 $35,897
2002 $4,068 $29,447
2001 $3,985 $26,956
2000 $3,813 $26,225
1999 $3,691 $28,319
1998 $3,617 $27,924
1997 $3,408 $26,745
1996 $3,227 $29,064
1995 $3,275 $29,301
1994 $3,040 $24,683
1993 $2,840 $23,156
1992 $2,612 $23,939
1991 $2,253 $21,764
1990 $1,830 $21,322
1989 $1,725 $17,423
1988 $1,555 $17,771
1987 $1,567 $16,734
1986 $1,569 $13,804
1985 $1,429 $9,941
1984 $1,372 $9,992
1983 $1,213 $10,696
1982 $1,032 $11,089
1981 $1,068 $11,537
1980 $2,021 $13,812
1979 $1,735 $12,817
1978 $1,556 $11,196
1977 $1,393 $9,180
1976 $1,123 $7,937
1975 $937 $7,346
1974 $817 $6,450
1973 $769 $5,353
1972 $639 $4,110
1971 $570 $3,384
1970 $536 $2,931
1969 $477 $2,647
1968 $445 $2,364
1967 $414 $2,155
1966 $395 $1,986
1965 $374 $1,848
1964 $354 $1,668
1963 $346 $1,437
1962 $335 $1,342
1961 $356 $1,254
1960 $382 $1,156

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Costa Rica vs. Netherlands life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Costa Rica

Netherlands
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Costa Rica Netherlands
2026 81.4 82.6
2025 81.2 82.4
2024 81 82.3
2023 80.8 82.2
2022 79.3 81.9
2021 78.1 81.4
2020 79.7 81.4
2019 80.3 82.1
2018 80.1 81.8
2017 80 81.7
2016 80 81.6
2015 80.4 81.5
2014 80.2 81.7
2013 80.2 81.3
2012 79.9 81.1
2011 79.6 81.1
2010 79.4 80.8
2009 79.4 80.7
2008 79.2 80.4
2007 79.1 80.3
2006 79 79.8
2005 78.9 79.5
2004 78.5 79.2
2003 78.2 78.7
2002 77.9 78.4
2001 77.6 78.3
2000 77.3 78.1
1999 77.1 78
1998 76.9 78
1997 76.6 77.9
1996 76.4 77.6
1995 76.4 77.6
1994 76.3 77.5
1993 76.3 77
1992 76.4 77.4
1991 76.2 77.2
1990 76.1 77
1989 75.9 76.8
1988 75.5 77
1987 75.2 76.8
1986 74.9 76.4
1985 74.8 76.4
1984 74.6 76.3
1983 74.2 76.3
1982 73.9 76.1
1981 73.4 76
1980 73 75.8
1979 72.5 75.6
1978 72 75.2
1977 71.5 75.3
1976 70.9 74.7
1975 70.3 74.6
1974 69.4 74.6
1973 68.7 74.2
1972 68 73.8
1971 67.4 73.9
1970 66.8 73.6
1969 66.4 73.6
1968 65.8 73.6
1967 65.6 73.8
1966 65.1 73.6
1965 64.8 73.6
1964 64.5 73.7
1963 64.3 73.4
1962 64.2 73.2
1961 63.9 73.6
1960 63.5 73.4
1959 62.9 73.2
1958 62.3 73.1
1957 61.6 73
1956 61.2 72.5
1955 60.5 72.5
1954 59.9 72.4
1953 59.1 71.7
1952 58.1 72.1
1951 57.8 71.5
1950 57.5 71.4

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Costa Rica and Netherlands population clocks and comparison

Population
Costa Rica

Netherlands
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Netherlands
2025 5,152,950 18,087,633
2024 5,129,910 17,993,485
2023 5,105,525 17,877,117
2022 5,081,765 17,700,982
2021 5,059,988 17,533,044
2020 5,034,320 17,441,500
2019 4,999,553 17,344,874
2018 4,957,818 17,231,624
2017 4,913,177 17,131,296
2016 4,866,998 17,030,314
2015 4,818,038 16,939,923
2014 4,767,119 16,865,008
2013 4,716,147 16,804,432
2012 4,663,934 16,754,962
2011 4,609,833 16,693,074
2010 4,555,962 16,615,394
2009 4,499,791 16,530,388
2008 4,440,056 16,445,593
2007 4,380,248 16,381,696
2006 4,321,340 16,346,101
2005 4,261,240 16,319,868
2004 4,200,078 16,281,779
2003 4,138,784 16,225,302
2002 4,075,705 16,148,929
2001 4,008,947 16,046,180
2000 3,937,739 15,925,513
1999 3,862,101 15,812,088
1998 3,782,838 15,707,209
1997 3,701,711 15,610,650
1996 3,619,013 15,530,498
1995 3,535,176 15,459,006
1994 3,451,122 15,382,838
1993 3,367,434 15,290,368
1992 3,284,258 15,184,166
1991 3,202,176 15,069,798
1990 3,121,706 14,951,510
1989 3,043,827 14,848,907
1988 2,968,103 14,760,094
1987 2,892,699 14,665,037
1986 2,817,216 14,572,278
1985 2,741,894 14,491,632
1984 2,667,595 14,424,211
1983 2,595,153 14,367,070
1982 2,524,806 14,312,690
1981 2,456,637 14,247,208
1980 2,390,633 14,149,800
1979 2,326,490 14,038,270
1978 2,264,510 13,941,700
1977 2,205,025 13,856,185
1976 2,147,774 13,774,037
1975 2,092,719 13,666,335
1974 2,039,643 13,545,056
1973 1,988,343 13,439,322
1972 1,938,248 13,328,593
1971 1,888,539 13,194,497
1970 1,838,949 13,038,526
1969 1,789,276 12,877,984
1968 1,739,731 12,729,721
1967 1,689,523 12,598,201
1966 1,638,116 12,456,251
1965 1,586,208 12,294,732
1964 1,533,960 12,127,120
1963 1,481,604 11,965,966
1962 1,429,445 11,805,689
1961 1,377,920 11,638,712
1960 1,327,496 11,486,631

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Fertility rates in Costa Rica and Netherlands

Fertility rate
Costa Rica

Netherlands
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica Netherlands
2024 1.32 1.43
2023 1.33 1.43
2022 1.34 1.49
2021 1.35 1.62
2020 1.45 1.54
2019 1.6 1.57
2018 1.71 1.59
2017 1.71 1.62
2016 1.75 1.66
2015 1.8 1.66
2014 1.8 1.71
2013 1.78 1.68
2012 1.85 1.72
2011 1.88 1.76
2010 1.83 1.79
2009 1.95 1.79
2008 1.98 1.77
2007 1.95 1.72
2006 1.94 1.72
2005 2.04 1.71
2004 2.03 1.72
2003 2.08 1.75
2002 2.16 1.73
2001 2.31 1.71
2000 2.41 1.72
1999 2.48 1.65
1998 2.53 1.63
1997 2.59 1.56
1996 2.68 1.53
1995 2.78 1.53
1994 2.86 1.57
1993 2.93 1.57
1992 3 1.59
1991 3.08 1.61
1990 3.17 1.62
1989 3.24 1.55
1988 3.31 1.55
1987 3.38 1.56
1986 3.45 1.55
1985 3.51 1.51
1984 3.52 1.49
1983 3.53 1.47
1982 3.54 1.5
1981 3.56 1.56
1980 3.58 1.6
1979 3.65 1.56
1978 3.66 1.58
1977 3.7 1.58
1976 3.75 1.63
1975 3.8 1.66
1974 3.89 1.77
1973 3.99 1.9
1972 4.16 2.15
1971 4.36 2.36
1970 4.59 2.57
1969 4.84 2.75
1968 5.03 2.72
1967 5.42 2.81
1966 5.7 2.9
1965 5.96 3.04
1964 6.19 3.17
1963 6.39 3.19
1962 6.54 3.18
1961 6.65 3.22
1960 6.71 3.12

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Costa Rica and Netherlands demographics compared

Median age
Costa Rica

Netherlands
1x
Year Median age, years
Costa Rica Netherlands
2025 36.2 42.5
2024 35.6 42.4
2023 35.1 42.4
2022 34.5 42.5
2021 34 42.6
2020 33.5 42.5
2019 33 42.5
2018 32.6 42.4
2017 32.1 42.3
2016 31.7 42.2
2015 31.2 42
2014 30.7 41.8
2013 30.3 41.6
2012 29.8 41.3
2011 29.4 41
2010 29 40.7
2009 28.6 40.3
2008 28.2 40
2007 27.8 39.7
2006 27.4 39.3
2005 27 38.9
2004 26.7 38.5
2003 26.3 38.1
2002 25.9 37.8
2001 25.5 37.5
2000 25.2 37.3
1999 24.9 37
1998 24.7 36.7
1997 24.4 36.4
1996 24.1 36.1
1995 23.9 35.7
1994 23.6 35.4
1993 23.4 35.1
1992 23.2 34.8
1991 22.9 34.6
1990 22.7 34.3
1989 22.5 34.1
1988 22.3 33.8
1987 22.1 33.5
1986 21.8 33.2
1985 21.6 32.9
1984 21.4 32.6
1983 21.2 32.3
1982 20.9 31.9
1981 20.6 31.6
1980 20.3 31.3
1979 20 31
1978 19.7 30.7
1977 19.5 30.3
1976 19.2 29.8
1975 18.9 29.4
1974 18.6 29.3
1973 18.4 29
1972 18.1 28.9
1971 17.8 28.7
1970 17.6 28.6
1969 17.3 28.6
1968 17.1 28.6
1967 16.9 28.5
1966 16.8 28.6
1965 16.7 28.6
1964 16.7 28.6
1963 16.7 28.7
1962 16.7 28.7
1961 16.8 28.8
1960 16.8 28.8

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Costa Rica and the Netherlands.

1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x

National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica Netherlands
GNI, Atlas method
$92.4B
2025
$1.24T
2025
Government expenditure, % of GDP
17.8%
2025
45.1%
2025
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.31%
2023
5.18%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
1.92%
2024
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
41,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.35%
2025
-1.84%
2025
Unemployment rate
6.34%
2025
3.9%
2025
Services, % of GDP
69.2%
2025
70.4%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
19.9%
2025
17.7%
2025
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
78.5
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.3%
2025
21.4%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
1.8%
2025
3.6%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
1,294,000
2026
Percentage of millionaires n/a
8.99%
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
13
2026
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00009%
2026
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
103
2018
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$1.1T
2017
Total reserves including gold
$17.1B
2025
$118B
2025
Personal remittances received
$725M
2024
$4.72B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,146,500
2020
7,265,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
7.4%
2020
1.44%
2020
Banked people share
71.4%
2024
99.2%
2024

Energy

Costa Rica Netherlands
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,024 kg
2024
3,416 kg
2024
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$30.4
2024
$25.2
2024
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.38 megatons
2024
118.8 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.63 tons
2024
6.6 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.6%
2023
83.5%
2023
Renewable energy use share
34.2%
2021
12.2%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
37.4%
2024
9.61%
2024
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
87%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,282 kWh
2024
6,386 kWh
2024
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
33.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
66.6%
2024
0.07%
2024
Nuclear share
0%
2021
2.89%
2024
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Costa Rica Netherlands
% of world population
0.06%
2025
0.22%
2025
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
+104,681
2025
Urban population
79.7%
2025
95.9%
2025
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2025
49.7:50.3
2025
Average male height
5.56 ft
2026
6.03 ft
2026
Average female height
5.11 ft
2026
5.59 ft
2026
Quality of life index
65.9
2026
94.6
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
78
2025
Higher education index
73
2026
96
2026
Homicides per 100K people
17.7
2023
0.69
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.8
2019
4
2019
Visa free countries
143
2026
174
2026
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
99%
2003
English speaking
8.15%
2026
90.9%
2026
People using the Internet
87.2%
2024
97%
2024

Health

Costa Rica Netherlands
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,163
2023
$6,845
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$280.7
2023
$807
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
82.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0.01%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.69
2022
3.88
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
30.5 years
2024
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.4
2024
3.9
2024
Obesity rate
32.3%
2022
15%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.8%
2024
5%
2024
Air quality index
80
2026
76
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
7.9%
2024
20.5%
2024
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.4 liters
2020
8.71 liters
2020

Territory

Costa Rica Netherlands
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.02%
2026
Land area per capita
3,826 sq mi
2025
719 sq mi
2025
Agricultural land area
6,534 sq mi
2026
6,961 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,907 sq mi
2026
1,437 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,129 mi
2017
88,123 mi
2022

In-depth comparisons

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  10. Passport Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.