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Costa Rica vs New Zealand statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a population of 5.13M (ranked 126/197), compared with 5.29M in New Zealand (ranked 123/197). Costa Rica's land area is 19,714 sq mi versus 101,665 sq mi for New Zealand (ranked 126th vs. 74th).

By GDP, Costa Rica ranks 73/197 ($95.4B) and New Zealand ranks 52/197 ($260B). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 62/197 ($18,587), while New Zealand ranks 26/197 ($49,205).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica New Zealand
Population
5181862
5374272
Population rank 126/197 124/197
GDP
$95.4B
2024
$260B
2024
GDP rank 73/197 52/197
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$49,205
2024
GDP per capita rank 62/197 26/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$55,551
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$131B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
50.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$24,722
2024
Government debt per person rank 50/185 28/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$37,758
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 101,665 sq mi
Population density
262.6 ppl/mi²
2026
52.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.33
2023
1.56
2023
Median age
35.6 years
2024
38.6 years
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
82.5 years
2026

Costa Rica and New Zealand: Comparison Charts

Costa Rica and New Zealand economies compared

GDP
Costa Rica

New Zealand
1x
Year GDP
Costa Rica New Zealand
2024 $95,350,423,177 $260,172,385,098
2023 $86,497,941,439 $255,194,972,673
2022 $69,243,626,029 $249,509,991,440
2021 $64,960,725,734 $253,977,931,815
2020 $62,395,610,760 $213,029,554,654
2019 $64,417,670,521 $213,006,341,102
2018 $62,420,164,992 $211,985,631,173
2017 $60,516,044,657 $206,745,969,246
2016 $58,847,019,610 $189,100,085,275
2015 $56,441,920,821 $178,224,167,088
2014 $52,016,408,854 $201,518,402,787
2013 $50,949,668,842 $191,012,364,177
2012 $47,231,655,432 $176,560,711,239
2011 $42,762,613,699 $168,484,908,960
2010 $37,658,616,952 $146,887,902,524
2009 $30,745,714,313 $121,663,439,315
2008 $30,801,745,700 $133,437,126,590
2007 $26,884,700,709 $137,188,946,866
2006 $22,715,540,324 $111,538,810,713
2005 $20,040,642,477 $114,720,129,550
2004 $18,610,594,846 $103,905,210,084
2003 $17,271,760,507 $88,250,885,550
2002 $16,578,820,687 $66,627,729,311
2001 $15,976,174,337 $53,872,425,917
2000 $15,013,629,662 $52,623,281,957
1999 $14,254,866,285 $58,762,260,626
1998 $13,684,255,947 $56,227,169,851
1997 $12,614,602,382 $66,075,143,415
1996 $11,678,424,507 $70,140,835,299
1995 $11,578,594,260 $63,918,703,507
1994 $10,489,903,725 $55,314,732,279
1993 $9,564,815,975 $46,775,620,817
1992 $8,579,754,758 $41,649,829,860
1991 $7,215,725,487 $42,745,329,732
1990 $5,711,687,787 $45,495,129,385
1989 $5,251,025,767 $43,920,222,525
1988 $4,614,629,898 $45,176,811,594
1987 $4,532,952,047 $40,376,354,070
1986 $4,418,983,871 $30,604,668,357
1985 $3,919,203,960 $24,679,795,396
1984 $3,660,477,856 $21,665,975,319
1983 $3,146,772,631 $24,309,279,706
1982 $2,606,623,555 $24,164,603,059
1981 $2,623,803,096 $24,417,617,184
1980 $4,831,447,001 $23,244,547,385
1979 $4,035,519,323 $20,731,243,113
1978 $3,523,208,810 $18,530,518,395
1977 $3,072,427,013 $15,446,825,318
1976 $2,412,555,426 $13,604,832,424
1975 $1,960,863,466 $12,861,983,284
1974 $1,666,544,754 $13,940,981,798
1973 $1,528,925,846 $12,802,281,898
1972 $1,238,251,696 $9,567,331,065
1971 $1,077,147,538 $7,911,136,757
1970 $984,830,158 $6,495,605,331
1969 $853,630,204 $5,814,357,709
1968 $773,841,494 $5,228,045,415
1967 $699,456,619 $6,016,017,227
1966 $647,305,630 $5,917,437,693
1965 $592,981,162 $5,706,251,400
1964 $542,578,367 $7,340,766,415
1963 $511,902,137 $6,699,741,645
1962 $479,180,824 $6,133,158,532
1961 $490,325,182 $5,721,994,864
1960 $507,513,830 $5,536,098,360

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/new-zealand | CC BY

Costa Rica and New Zealand economies compared

GDP per capita
Costa Rica

New Zealand
1x
Year GDP per capita
Costa Rica New Zealand
2024 $18,587 $49,205
2023 $16,942 $49,076
2022 $13,626 $49,100
2021 $12,838 $49,950
2020 $12,394 $41,998
2019 $12,885 $42,856
2018 $12,590 $43,257
2017 $12,317 $42,950
2016 $12,091 $40,114
2015 $11,715 $38,665
2014 $10,911 $44,618
2013 $10,803 $43,000
2012 $10,127 $40,054
2011 $9,276 $38,432
2010 $8,266 $33,762
2009 $6,833 $28,277
2008 $6,937 $31,325
2007 $6,138 $32,480
2006 $5,257 $26,655
2005 $4,703 $27,751
2004 $4,431 $25,420
2003 $4,173 $21,914
2002 $4,068 $16,874
2001 $3,985 $13,883
2000 $3,813 $13,641
1999 $3,691 $15,322
1998 $3,617 $14,738
1997 $3,408 $17,474
1996 $3,227 $18,794
1995 $3,275 $17,400
1994 $3,040 $15,280
1993 $2,840 $13,094
1992 $2,612 $11,793
1991 $2,253 $12,230
1990 $1,830 $13,663
1989 $1,725 $13,312
1988 $1,555 $13,759
1987 $1,567 $12,331
1986 $1,569 $9,428
1985 $1,429 $7,601
1984 $1,372 $6,714
1983 $1,213 $7,598
1982 $1,032 $7,656
1981 $1,068 $7,814
1980 $2,021 $7,467
1979 $1,735 $6,668
1978 $1,556 $5,937
1977 $1,393 $4,951
1976 $1,123 $4,374
1975 $937 $4,172
1974 $817 $4,611
1973 $769 $4,323
1972 $639 $3,295
1971 $570 $2,773
1970 $536 $2,311
1969 $477 $2,097
1968 $445 $1,902
1967 $414 $2,208
1966 $395 $2,211
1965 $374 $2,171
1964 $354 $2,839
1963 $346 $2,646
1962 $335 $2,471
1961 $356 $2,365
1960 $382 $2,334

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/new-zealand | CC BY

Costa Rica vs. New Zealand life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Costa Rica

New Zealand
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Costa Rica New Zealand
2026 81.4 82.5
2025 81.2 82.4
2024 81 82.2
2023 80.8 82.1
2022 79.3 81
2021 78.1 82.3
2020 79.7 82.7
2019 80.3 81.8
2018 80.1 81.9
2017 80 81.6
2016 80 82
2015 80.4 81.6
2014 80.2 81.4
2013 80.2 81.6
2012 79.9 81.2
2011 79.6 80.8
2010 79.4 81.1
2009 79.4 80.5
2008 79.2 80.2
2007 79.1 80.1
2006 79 80
2005 78.9 80
2004 78.5 79.4
2003 78.2 79.1
2002 77.9 78.9
2001 77.6 78.7
2000 77.3 78.7
1999 77.1 77.9
1998 76.9 78.2
1997 76.6 77.3
1996 76.4 76.8
1995 76.4 76.8
1994 76.3 76.9
1993 76.3 76.5
1992 76.4 76.2
1991 76.2 76.1
1990 76.1 75.4
1989 75.9 74.9
1988 75.5 74.5
1987 75.2 74.2
1986 74.9 74.1
1985 74.8 73.9
1984 74.6 74.4
1983 74.2 73.8
1982 73.9 73.7
1981 73.4 73.6
1980 73 72.9
1979 72.5 73.1
1978 72 73
1977 71.5 72.1
1976 70.9 72.4
1975 70.3 72.2
1974 69.4 71.9
1973 68.7 71.7
1972 68 71.8
1971 67.4 71.7
1970 66.8 71.2
1969 66.4 71.5
1968 65.8 71.1
1967 65.6 71.4
1966 65.1 71.1
1965 64.8 71.2
1964 64.5 71.3
1963 64.3 71.3
1962 64.2 71.2
1961 63.9 70.9
1960 63.5 71.2
1959 62.9 70.8
1958 62.3 70.9
1957 61.6 70.3
1956 61.2 70.7
1955 60.5 70.5
1954 59.9 70.3
1953 59.1 70.2
1952 58.1 69.4
1951 57.8 69.1
1950 57.5 69.3

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/new-zealand | CC BY

Costa Rica and New Zealand population clocks and comparison

Population
Costa Rica

New Zealand
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica New Zealand
2024 5,129,910 5,287,500
2023 5,105,525 5,200,000
2022 5,081,765 5,081,700
2021 5,059,988 5,084,600
2020 5,034,320 5,072,400
2019 4,999,553 4,970,300
2018 4,957,818 4,900,600
2017 4,913,177 4,813,600
2016 4,866,998 4,714,100
2015 4,818,038 4,609,400
2014 4,767,119 4,516,500
2013 4,716,147 4,442,100
2012 4,663,934 4,408,100
2011 4,609,833 4,384,000
2010 4,555,962 4,350,700
2009 4,499,791 4,302,600
2008 4,440,056 4,259,800
2007 4,380,248 4,223,800
2006 4,321,340 4,184,600
2005 4,261,240 4,133,900
2004 4,200,078 4,087,500
2003 4,138,784 4,027,200
2002 4,075,705 3,948,500
2001 4,008,947 3,880,500
2000 3,937,739 3,857,700
1999 3,862,101 3,835,100
1998 3,782,838 3,815,000
1997 3,701,711 3,781,300
1996 3,619,013 3,732,000
1995 3,535,176 3,673,400
1994 3,451,122 3,620,000
1993 3,367,434 3,572,200
1992 3,284,258 3,531,700
1991 3,202,176 3,495,100
1990 3,121,706 3,329,800
1989 3,043,827 3,299,200
1988 2,968,103 3,283,400
1987 2,892,699 3,274,400
1986 2,817,216 3,246,300
1985 2,741,894 3,247,100
1984 2,667,595 3,227,100
1983 2,595,153 3,199,300
1982 2,524,806 3,156,100
1981 2,456,637 3,124,900
1980 2,390,633 3,112,900
1979 2,326,490 3,109,000
1978 2,264,510 3,121,200
1977 2,205,025 3,120,200
1976 2,147,774 3,110,500
1975 2,092,719 3,083,100
1974 2,039,643 3,023,700
1973 1,988,343 2,961,300
1972 1,938,248 2,903,900
1971 1,888,539 2,853,000
1970 1,838,949 2,810,700
1969 1,789,276 2,772,800
1968 1,739,731 2,748,100
1967 1,689,523 2,724,100
1966 1,638,116 2,675,900
1965 1,586,208 2,628,400
1964 1,533,960 2,585,400
1963 1,481,604 2,531,800
1962 1,429,445 2,482,000
1961 1,377,920 2,419,700
1960 1,327,496 2,371,800

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/new-zealand | CC BY

Fertility rates in Costa Rica and New Zealand

Fertility rate
Costa Rica

New Zealand
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica New Zealand
2023 1.33 1.56
2022 1.34 1.66
2021 1.35 1.64
2020 1.45 1.61
2019 1.6 1.72
2018 1.71 1.71
2017 1.71 1.81
2016 1.75 1.87
2015 1.8 1.99
2014 1.8 1.92
2013 1.78 2.01
2012 1.85 2.1
2011 1.88 2.09
2010 1.83 2.17
2009 1.95 2.13
2008 1.98 2.19
2007 1.95 2.18
2006 1.94 2.01
2005 2.04 1.97
2004 2.03 1.98
2003 2.08 1.93
2002 2.16 1.89
2001 2.31 1.97
2000 2.41 1.98
1999 2.48 1.97
1998 2.53 1.89
1997 2.59 1.96
1996 2.68 1.96
1995 2.78 1.98
1994 2.86 1.98
1993 2.93 2.04
1992 3 2.06
1991 3.08 2.09
1990 3.17 2.18
1989 3.24 2.12
1988 3.31 2.1
1987 3.38 2.03
1986 3.45 1.96
1985 3.51 1.93
1984 3.52 1.93
1983 3.53 1.92
1982 3.54 1.95
1981 3.56 2.01
1980 3.58 2.03
1979 3.65 2.12
1978 3.66 2.07
1977 3.7 2.21
1976 3.75 2.27
1975 3.8 2.37
1974 3.89 2.58
1973 3.99 2.76
1972 4.16 3
1971 4.36 3.18
1970 4.59 3.17
1969 4.84 3.28
1968 5.03 3.34
1967 5.42 3.35
1966 5.7 3.41
1965 5.96 3.54
1964 6.19 3.8
1963 6.39 4.05
1962 6.54 4.19
1961 6.65 4.31
1960 6.71 4.24

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/new-zealand | CC BY

Costa Rica and New Zealand demographics compared

Median age
Costa Rica

New Zealand
1x
Year Median age, years
Costa Rica New Zealand
2024 35.6 38.6
2023 35.1 38.3
2022 34.5 38.1
2021 34 37.8
2020 33.5 37.5
2019 33 37.3
2018 32.6 37.3
2017 32.1 37.2
2016 31.7 37.3
2015 31.2 37.4
2014 30.7 37.5
2013 30.3 37.4
2012 29.8 37.2
2011 29.4 37
2010 29 36.8
2009 28.6 36.6
2008 28.2 36.4
2007 27.8 36.1
2006 27.4 35.8
2005 27 35.5
2004 26.7 35.2
2003 26.3 35
2002 25.9 34.8
2001 25.5 34.6
2000 25.2 34.3
1999 24.9 34
1998 24.7 33.6
1997 24.4 33.2
1996 24.1 32.8
1995 23.9 32.6
1994 23.6 32.3
1993 23.4 32
1992 23.2 31.7
1991 22.9 31.4
1990 22.7 31.1
1989 22.5 30.8
1988 22.3 30.4
1987 22.1 30.1
1986 21.8 29.8
1985 21.6 29.4
1984 21.4 29.1
1983 21.2 28.8
1982 20.9 28.5
1981 20.6 28.2
1980 20.3 27.9
1979 20 27.5
1978 19.7 27.1
1977 19.5 26.8
1976 19.2 26.5
1975 18.9 26.3
1974 18.6 26.2
1973 18.4 26
1972 18.1 25.9
1971 17.8 25.7
1970 17.6 25.6
1969 17.3 25.7
1968 17.1 25.7
1967 16.9 25.8
1966 16.8 25.9
1965 16.7 26
1964 16.7 26.2
1963 16.7 26.4
1962 16.7 26.8
1961 16.8 27.1
1960 16.8 27.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/new-zealand | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica New Zealand
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$252B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
41.9%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.25%
2021
5.28%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
1.19%
2024
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
10,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
-3.61%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
4.76%
2024
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
67.4%
2022
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
19.6%
2022
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
77.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
n/a
Number of billionaires n/a
5
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.0001%
2025
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
112
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$92.9B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$22.1B
2024
Personal remittances received
$725M
2024
$598M
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,146,500
2020
996,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
7.41%
2020
18.8%
2018
Banked people share
71.4%
2024
97.9%
2024

Energy

Costa Rica New Zealand
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,025 kg
2023
3,661 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.2
2023
$14.9
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.38 megatons
2024
31.8 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.63 tons
2024
6.02 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.6%
2023
55.4%
2023
Renewable energy use share
34.2%
2021
28.9%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
37.7%
2023
39.7%
2023
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
31.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,206 kWh
2023
8,021 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
81.4%
2021
Hydroelectric share
69.3%
2023
59.5%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Costa Rica New Zealand
% of world population
0.06%
2024
0.07%
2024
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
+17,403
2025
Urban population
79.3%
2024
83.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
49.7:50.3
2024
Average male height
5.71 ft
2025
5.83 ft
2025
Average female height
5.26 ft
2025
5.4 ft
2025
Quality of life index
64.8
2026
89.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
81
2025
Higher education index
73
2026
91
2026
Homicides per 100K people
17.7
2023
1.11
2021
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.8
2019
9.6
2019
Visa free countries
142
2025
170
2025
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
99%
2003
English speaking
8.15%
2023
97.8%
2023
People using the Internet
85.4%
2023
96.2%
2023

Health

Costa Rica New Zealand
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,163
2023
$5,022
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$280.7
2023
$637
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
82.5 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.69
2022
3.61
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
27.8 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
7
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.5
2023
4.7
2023
Obesity rate
32.3%
2022
34.3%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.8%
2024
6.7%
2024
Air quality index
80
2026
90
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
8.9%
2022
12.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.4 liters
2020
10 liters
2020

Territory

Costa Rica New Zealand
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.18%
2026
Land area per capita
3,843 sq mi
2024
19,227 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,534 sq mi
2026
37,494 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,907 sq mi
2026
38,418 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,129 mi
2017
60,159 mi
2020

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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