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Costa Rica vs Nigeria statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a population of 5.13M (ranked 126/197), compared with 233M in Nigeria (ranked 6/197). Costa Rica's land area is 19,714 sq mi versus 351,650 sq mi for Nigeria (ranked 126th vs. 30th).

By GDP, Costa Rica ranks 73/197 ($95.4B) and Nigeria ranks 54/197 ($252B). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 62/197 ($18,587), while Nigeria ranks 174/197 ($1,084).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica Nigeria
Population
5181862
243824469
Population rank 126/197 6/197
GDP
$95.4B
2024
$252B
2024
GDP rank 73/197 54/197
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$1,084
2024
GDP per capita rank 62/197 174/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$9,087
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$99.2B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
39.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$426
2024
Government debt per person rank 50/185 170/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$1,104
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 351,650 sq mi
Population density
262.6 ppl/mi²
2026
690 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.33
2023
4.48
2023
Median age
35.6 years
2024
19 years
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
55 years
2026

Costa Rica and Nigeria: Comparison Charts

Costa Rica and Nigeria economies compared

GDP
Costa Rica

Nigeria
1x
Year GDP
Costa Rica Nigeria
2024 $95,350,423,177 $252,261,880,141
2023 $86,497,941,439 $487,387,801,881
2022 $69,243,626,029 $646,950,257,578
2021 $64,960,725,734 $609,147,716,973
2020 $62,395,610,760 $598,586,817,819
2019 $64,417,670,521 $668,219,992,691
2018 $62,420,164,992 $421,739,251,509
2017 $60,516,044,657 $375,745,731,053
2016 $58,847,019,610 $404,649,125,252
2015 $56,441,920,821 $493,026,682,801
2014 $52,016,408,854 $574,183,763,412
2013 $50,949,668,842 $520,117,180,314
2012 $47,231,655,432 $463,971,018,239
2011 $42,762,613,699 $414,466,676,831
2010 $37,658,616,952 $366,990,417,129
2009 $30,745,714,313 $295,008,835,381
2008 $30,801,745,700 $339,476,276,258
2007 $26,884,700,709 $278,260,846,800
2006 $22,715,540,324 $238,454,997,161
2005 $20,040,642,477 $175,670,569,969
2004 $18,610,594,846 $135,764,731,646
2003 $17,271,760,507 $104,738,954,264
2002 $16,578,820,687 $95,054,059,303
2001 $15,976,174,337 $73,557,840,064
2000 $15,013,629,662 $69,171,451,627
1999 $14,254,866,285 $59,145,077,039
1998 $13,684,255,947 $218,416,200,673
1997 $12,614,602,382 $200,850,397,618
1996 $11,678,424,507 $185,730,236,700
1995 $11,578,594,260 $140,919,776,986
1994 $10,489,903,725 $80,399,613,064
1993 $9,564,815,975 $56,721,051,402
1992 $8,579,754,758 $52,058,181,854
1991 $7,215,725,487 $59,526,833,412
1990 $5,711,687,787 $54,035,795,388
1989 $5,251,025,767 $44,003,061,108
1988 $4,614,629,898 $49,648,470,440
1987 $4,532,952,047 $52,676,041,931
1986 $4,418,983,871 $54,805,852,581
1985 $3,919,203,960 $73,745,821,158
1984 $3,660,477,856 $73,484,359,521
1983 $3,146,772,631 $97,094,911,792
1982 $2,606,623,555 $142,769,363,314
1981 $2,623,803,096 $164,475,209,516
1980 $4,831,447,001 $64,201,788,123
1979 $4,035,519,323 $47,259,911,894
1978 $3,523,208,810 $36,527,862,209
1977 $3,072,427,013 $36,035,407,725
1976 $2,412,555,426 $36,308,883,249
1975 $1,960,863,466 $27,778,934,625
1974 $1,666,544,754 $24,846,641,318
1973 $1,528,925,846 $15,162,871,287
1972 $1,238,251,696 $12,274,416,018
1971 $1,077,147,538 $9,181,769,912
1970 $984,830,158 $12,546,094,982
1969 $853,630,204 $6,634,317,346
1968 $773,841,494 $5,200,997,920
1967 $699,456,619 $5,203,237,919
1966 $647,305,630 $6,366,917,453
1965 $592,981,162 $5,874,537,650
1964 $542,578,367 $5,552,931,319
1963 $511,902,137 $5,165,590,254
1962 $479,180,824 $4,909,399,176
1961 $490,325,182 $4,467,287,893
1960 $507,513,830 $4,196,174,502

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

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

Costa Rica and Nigeria economies compared

GDP per capita
Costa Rica

Nigeria
1x
Year GDP per capita
Costa Rica Nigeria
2024 $18,587 $1,084
2023 $16,942 $2,139
2022 $13,626 $2,899
2021 $12,838 $2,787
2020 $12,394 $2,797
2019 $12,885 $3,190
2018 $12,590 $2,058
2017 $12,317 $1,876
2016 $12,091 $2,070
2015 $11,715 $2,586
2014 $10,911 $3,089
2013 $10,803 $2,873
2012 $10,127 $2,633
2011 $9,276 $2,418
2010 $8,266 $2,202
2009 $6,833 $1,820
2008 $6,937 $2,154
2007 $6,138 $1,816
2006 $5,257 $1,600
2005 $4,703 $1,211
2004 $4,431 $962
2003 $4,173 $763
2002 $4,068 $712
2001 $3,985 $566
2000 $3,813 $547
1999 $3,691 $481
1998 $3,617 $1,822
1997 $3,408 $1,720
1996 $3,227 $1,633
1995 $3,275 $1,272
1994 $3,040 $745
1993 $2,840 $540
1992 $2,612 $509
1991 $2,253 $597
1990 $1,830 $556
1989 $1,725 $465
1988 $1,555 $540
1987 $1,567 $588
1986 $1,569 $628
1985 $1,429 $869
1984 $1,372 $890
1983 $1,213 $1,207
1982 $1,032 $1,822
1981 $1,068 $2,162
1980 $2,021 $870
1979 $1,735 $661
1978 $1,556 $527
1977 $1,393 $536
1976 $1,123 $556
1975 $937 $438
1974 $817 $403
1973 $769 $252.4
1972 $639 $209.5
1971 $570 $160.5
1970 $536 $224.5
1969 $477 $121.4
1968 $445 $97.3
1967 $414 $99.5
1966 $395 $124.4
1965 $374 $117.3
1964 $354 $113.3
1963 $346 $107.7
1962 $335 $104.5
1961 $356 $97.1
1960 $382 $93.1

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

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

Costa Rica vs. Nigeria life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Costa Rica

Nigeria
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Costa Rica Nigeria
2026 81.4 55
2025 81.2 54.8
2024 81 54.6
2023 80.8 54.5
2022 79.3 54.1
2021 78.1 53.5
2020 79.7 53.1
2019 80.3 53
2018 80.1 52.7
2017 80 52.4
2016 80 52.2
2015 80.4 51.9
2014 80.2 51.9
2013 80.2 51.8
2012 79.9 51.7
2011 79.6 51.5
2010 79.4 51.3
2009 79.4 51.1
2008 79.2 50.7
2007 79.1 50.4
2006 79 49.9
2005 78.9 49.5
2004 78.5 49.1
2003 78.2 48.6
2002 77.9 48
2001 77.6 47.5
2000 77.3 47.1
1999 77.1 46.6
1998 76.9 46.1
1997 76.6 46
1996 76.4 45.8
1995 76.4 45.9
1994 76.3 45.7
1993 76.3 45.8
1992 76.4 45.6
1991 76.2 45.5
1990 76.1 45.7
1989 75.9 45.8
1988 75.5 45.8
1987 75.2 45.9
1986 74.9 46
1985 74.8 46.2
1984 74.6 46.3
1983 74.2 46.4
1982 73.9 46.4
1981 73.4 46.3
1980 73 46
1979 72.5 45.7
1978 72 45.3
1977 71.5 44.8
1976 70.9 44.2
1975 70.3 43.1
1974 69.4 42.5
1973 68.7 41.8
1972 68 41.3
1971 67.4 40.6
1970 66.8 40
1969 66.4 38.9
1968 65.8 38.6
1967 65.6 37.5
1966 65.1 38.4
1965 64.8 38.2
1964 64.5 38
1963 64.3 37.8
1962 64.2 37.6
1961 63.9 37.4
1960 63.5 37.2
1959 62.9 37
1958 62.3 36.8
1957 61.6 36.6
1956 61.2 36.5
1955 60.5 36.3
1954 59.9 36.2
1953 59.1 36
1952 58.1 35.9
1951 57.8 35.7
1950 57.5 35.5

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

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

Costa Rica and Nigeria population clocks and comparison

Population
Costa Rica

Nigeria
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Nigeria
2024 5,129,910 232,679,478
2023 5,105,525 227,882,945
2022 5,081,765 223,150,896
2021 5,059,988 218,529,286
2020 5,034,320 213,996,181
2019 4,999,553 209,485,641
2018 4,957,818 204,938,755
2017 4,913,177 200,254,579
2016 4,866,998 195,443,700
2015 4,818,038 190,671,878
2014 4,767,119 185,896,915
2013 4,716,147 181,049,443
2012 4,663,934 176,200,625
2011 4,609,833 171,379,598
2010 4,555,962 166,642,886
2009 4,499,791 162,049,464
2008 4,440,056 157,595,014
2007 4,380,248 153,267,261
2006 4,321,340 149,077,334
2005 4,261,240 145,017,253
2004 4,200,078 141,057,045
2003 4,138,784 137,202,644
2002 4,075,705 133,471,989
2001 4,008,947 129,862,595
2000 3,937,739 126,382,494
1999 3,862,101 123,047,320
1998 3,782,838 119,846,254
1997 3,701,711 116,754,792
1996 3,619,013 113,754,779
1995 3,535,176 110,819,428
1994 3,451,122 107,935,714
1993 3,367,434 105,122,069
1992 3,284,258 102,372,770
1991 3,202,176 99,720,162
1990 3,121,706 97,120,925
1989 3,043,827 94,531,014
1988 2,968,103 92,020,090
1987 2,892,699 89,591,716
1986 2,817,216 87,235,953
1985 2,741,894 84,897,973
1984 2,667,595 82,526,443
1983 2,595,153 80,438,260
1982 2,524,806 78,378,701
1981 2,456,637 76,068,103
1980 2,390,633 73,764,641
1979 2,326,490 71,498,242
1978 2,264,510 69,326,532
1977 2,205,025 67,234,590
1976 2,147,774 65,258,009
1975 2,092,719 63,410,815
1974 2,039,643 61,679,144
1973 1,988,343 60,082,139
1972 1,938,248 58,601,748
1971 1,888,539 57,214,684
1970 1,838,949 55,893,838
1969 1,789,276 54,631,914
1968 1,739,731 53,432,783
1967 1,689,523 52,293,065
1966 1,638,116 51,188,234
1965 1,586,208 50,086,764
1964 1,533,960 49,012,016
1963 1,481,604 47,973,575
1962 1,429,445 46,965,292
1961 1,377,920 45,989,310
1960 1,327,496 45,053,782

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

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

Fertility rates in Costa Rica and Nigeria

Fertility rate
Costa Rica

Nigeria
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica Nigeria
2023 1.33 4.48
2022 1.34 4.55
2021 1.35 4.64
2020 1.45 4.7
2019 1.6 4.86
2018 1.71 5.02
2017 1.71 5.18
2016 1.75 5.34
2015 1.8 5.5
2014 1.8 5.62
2013 1.78 5.69
2012 1.85 5.8
2011 1.88 5.89
2010 1.83 5.95
2009 1.95 5.99
2008 1.98 6.02
2007 1.95 6.03
2006 1.94 6.05
2005 2.04 6.06
2004 2.03 6.09
2003 2.08 6.1
2002 2.16 6.12
2001 2.31 6.13
2000 2.41 6.12
1999 2.48 6.08
1998 2.53 6.07
1997 2.59 6.14
1996 2.68 6.22
1995 2.78 6.27
1994 2.86 6.32
1993 2.93 6.35
1992 3 6.39
1991 3.08 6.43
1990 3.17 6.46
1989 3.24 6.49
1988 3.31 6.5
1987 3.38 6.5
1986 3.45 6.56
1985 3.51 6.62
1984 3.52 6.7
1983 3.53 6.78
1982 3.54 6.8
1981 3.56 6.82
1980 3.58 6.85
1979 3.65 6.89
1978 3.66 6.92
1977 3.7 6.86
1976 3.75 6.81
1975 3.8 6.77
1974 3.89 6.7
1973 3.99 6.63
1972 4.16 6.58
1971 4.36 6.53
1970 4.59 6.47
1969 4.84 6.44
1968 5.03 6.42
1967 5.42 6.4
1966 5.7 6.39
1965 5.96 6.37
1964 6.19 6.36
1963 6.39 6.35
1962 6.54 6.36
1961 6.65 6.35
1960 6.71 6.36

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

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

Costa Rica and Nigeria demographics compared

Median age
Costa Rica

Nigeria
1x
Year Median age, years
Costa Rica Nigeria
2024 35.6 19
2023 35.1 18.8
2022 34.5 18.7
2021 34 18.5
2020 33.5 18.3
2019 33 18.2
2018 32.6 18
2017 32.1 17.9
2016 31.7 17.8
2015 31.2 17.8
2014 30.7 17.7
2013 30.3 17.7
2012 29.8 17.7
2011 29.4 17.7
2010 29 17.8
2009 28.6 17.8
2008 28.2 17.8
2007 27.8 17.9
2006 27.4 17.9
2005 27 17.9
2004 26.7 17.9
2003 26.3 17.9
2002 25.9 17.9
2001 25.5 17.9
2000 25.2 17.9
1999 24.9 17.9
1998 24.7 17.8
1997 24.4 17.7
1996 24.1 17.6
1995 23.9 17.6
1994 23.6 17.5
1993 23.4 17.4
1992 23.2 17.4
1991 22.9 17.3
1990 22.7 17.3
1989 22.5 17.3
1988 22.3 17.3
1987 22.1 17.3
1986 21.8 17.3
1985 21.6 17.3
1984 21.4 17.4
1983 21.2 17.5
1982 20.9 17.6
1981 20.6 17.7
1980 20.3 17.8
1979 20 17.9
1978 19.7 18
1977 19.5 18.2
1976 19.2 18.3
1975 18.9 18.4
1974 18.6 18.5
1973 18.4 18.6
1972 18.1 18.7
1971 17.8 18.8
1970 17.6 18.9
1969 17.3 19.1
1968 17.1 19.2
1967 16.9 19.2
1966 16.8 19.3
1965 16.7 19.3
1964 16.7 19.3
1963 16.7 19.3
1962 16.7 19.3
1961 16.8 19.3
1960 16.8 19.3

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica Nigeria
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$396B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
12.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.25%
2021
0.32%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
0.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
223,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
-1.57%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
3.45%
2024
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
53.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
18.2%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
54.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
26.3%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
3%
2022
Number of billionaires n/a
4
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.000004%
2025
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
169
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$54.4B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$38.6B
2024
Personal remittances received
$725M
2024
$21.3B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,146,500
2020
5,265,000
2016
International tourism as share of exports
7.41%
2020
0.8%
2020
Banked people share
71.4%
2024
63.3%
2024

Energy

Costa Rica Nigeria
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,025 kg
2023
333 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.2
2023
$24.9
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.38 megatons
2024
131.9 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.63 tons
2024
0.57 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.6%
2023
55.7%
2022
Renewable energy use share
34.2%
2021
80.3%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
37.7%
2023
1.08%
2022
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
-66.3%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
2,206 kWh
2023
135.6 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
23.8%
2021
Hydroelectric share
69.3%
2023
24.3%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
61.2%
2023

Society

Costa Rica Nigeria
% of world population
0.06%
2024
2.86%
2024
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
-15,258
2025
Urban population
79.3%
2024
63%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
50.6:49.4
2024
Average male height
5.71 ft
2025
5.63 ft
2025
Average female height
5.26 ft
2025
5.19 ft
2025
Quality of life index
64.8
2026
15.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
26
2025
Higher education index
73
2026
57
2026
Homicides per 100K people
17.7
2023
21.7
2019
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.8
2019
20.7
2019
Visa free countries
142
2025
52
2025
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
70.4%
2024
English speaking
8.15%
2023
60.6%
2023
People using the Internet
85.4%
2023
39.2%
2023

Health

Costa Rica Nigeria
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,163
2023
$66.8
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$280.7
2023
$48
2023
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
55 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
11.3%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.69
2022
0.38
2023
Age at first childbirth n/a
20.4 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
993
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.5
2023
104.9
2023
Obesity rate
32.3%
2022
12.8%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.8%
2024
3%
2024
Air quality index
80
2026
8
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
8.9%
2022
3.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.4 liters
2020
3.78 liters
2020

Territory

Costa Rica Nigeria
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.61%
2026
Land area per capita
3,843 sq mi
2024
1,511 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,534 sq mi
2026
267,948 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,907 sq mi
2026
81,611 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,129 mi
2017
121,167 mi
2017

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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