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Costa Rica vs North Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a population of 5.13M (ranked 126/197), compared with 26.5M in North Korea (ranked 56/197). Costa Rica's land area is 19,714 sq mi versus 46,491 sq mi for North Korea (ranked 126th vs. 97th).

By GDP, Costa Rica ranks 73/197 ($95.4B) and North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 62/197 ($18,587), while North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica North Korea
Population
5181862
26659144
Population rank 126/197 57/197
GDP
$95.4B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank 73/197 106/197
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank 62/197 168/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$1,700
2015
Government debt
$57B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank 50/185 n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$1,426
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 46,491 sq mi
Population density
262.6 ppl/mi²
2026
573 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.33
2023
1.78
2023
Median age
35.6 years
2024
37.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
74 years
2026

Costa Rica and North Korea: Comparison Charts

Costa Rica and North Korea economies compared

GDP
Costa Rica

North Korea
1x
Year GDP
Costa Rica North Korea
2024 $95,350,423,177 $34,943,120,000
2023 $86,497,941,439 $32,155,360,000
2022 $69,243,626,029 $28,971,360,000
2021 $64,960,725,734 $32,301,720,000
2020 $62,395,610,760 $27,728,240,000
2019 $64,417,670,521 $28,222,880,000
2018 $62,420,164,992 $28,536,400,000
2017 $60,516,044,657 $29,105,440,000
2016 $58,847,019,610 $28,882,640,000
2015 $56,441,920,821 $30,723,030,000
2014 $52,016,408,854 $30,554,460,000
2013 $50,949,668,842 $30,588,922,000
2012 $47,231,655,432 $29,890,710,000
2011 $42,762,613,699 $29,005,020,000
2010 $37,658,616,952 $25,995,513,000
2009 $30,745,714,313 $23,356,470,000
2008 $30,801,745,700 -
2007 $26,884,700,709 -
2006 $22,715,540,324 -
2005 $20,040,642,477 -
2004 $18,610,594,846 -
2003 $17,271,760,507 -
2002 $16,578,820,687 -
2001 $15,976,174,337 -
2000 $15,013,629,662 -
1999 $14,254,866,285 -
1998 $13,684,255,947 -
1997 $12,614,602,382 -
1996 $11,678,424,507 -
1995 $11,578,594,260 -
1994 $10,489,903,725 -
1993 $9,564,815,975 -
1992 $8,579,754,758 -
1991 $7,215,725,487 -
1990 $5,711,687,787 -
1989 $5,251,025,767 -
1988 $4,614,629,898 -
1987 $4,532,952,047 -
1986 $4,418,983,871 -
1985 $3,919,203,960 -
1984 $3,660,477,856 -
1983 $3,146,772,631 -
1982 $2,606,623,555 -
1981 $2,623,803,096 -
1980 $4,831,447,001 -
1979 $4,035,519,323 -
1978 $3,523,208,810 -
1977 $3,072,427,013 -
1976 $2,412,555,426 -
1975 $1,960,863,466 -
1974 $1,666,544,754 -
1973 $1,528,925,846 -
1972 $1,238,251,696 -
1971 $1,077,147,538 -
1970 $984,830,158 -
1969 $853,630,204 -
1968 $773,841,494 -
1967 $699,456,619 -
1966 $647,305,630 -
1965 $592,981,162 -
1964 $542,578,367 -
1963 $511,902,137 -
1962 $479,180,824 -
1961 $490,325,182 -
1960 $507,513,830 -

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/north-korea | CC BY

Costa Rica and North Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Costa Rica

North Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Costa Rica North Korea
2024 $18,587 $1,319
2023 $16,942 $1,217
2022 $13,626 $1,100
2021 $12,838 $1,231
2020 $12,394 $1,061
2019 $12,885 $1,084
2018 $12,590 $1,100
2017 $12,317 $1,127
2016 $12,091 $1,124
2015 $11,715 $1,201
2014 $10,911 $1,201
2013 $10,803 $1,208
2012 $10,127 $1,186
2011 $9,276 $1,156
2010 $8,266 $1,040
2009 $6,833 $939
2008 $6,937 -
2007 $6,138 -
2006 $5,257 -
2005 $4,703 -
2004 $4,431 -
2003 $4,173 -
2002 $4,068 -
2001 $3,985 -
2000 $3,813 -
1999 $3,691 -
1998 $3,617 -
1997 $3,408 -
1996 $3,227 -
1995 $3,275 -
1994 $3,040 -
1993 $2,840 -
1992 $2,612 -
1991 $2,253 -
1990 $1,830 -
1989 $1,725 -
1988 $1,555 -
1987 $1,567 -
1986 $1,569 -
1985 $1,429 -
1984 $1,372 -
1983 $1,213 -
1982 $1,032 -
1981 $1,068 -
1980 $2,021 -
1979 $1,735 -
1978 $1,556 -
1977 $1,393 -
1976 $1,123 -
1975 $937 -
1974 $817 -
1973 $769 -
1972 $639 -
1971 $570 -
1970 $536 -
1969 $477 -
1968 $445 -
1967 $414 -
1966 $395 -
1965 $374 -
1964 $354 -
1963 $346 -
1962 $335 -
1961 $356 -
1960 $382 -

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/north-korea | CC BY

Costa Rica vs. North Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Costa Rica

North Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Costa Rica North Korea
2026 81.4 74
2025 81.2 73.9
2024 81 73.7
2023 80.8 73.6
2022 79.3 73.6
2021 78.1 73.4
2020 79.7 72.8
2019 80.3 72.9
2018 80.1 73
2017 80 73
2016 80 73
2015 80.4 72.8
2014 80.2 72.5
2013 80.2 71.9
2012 79.9 71.3
2011 79.6 70.8
2010 79.4 70.2
2009 79.4 69.7
2008 79.2 69.3
2007 79.1 69
2006 79 69.1
2005 78.9 69.2
2004 78.5 69.3
2003 78.2 69.4
2002 77.9 60.9
2001 77.6 60.9
2000 77.3 60.9
1999 77.1 60.9
1998 76.9 60.9
1997 76.6 60.9
1996 76.4 60.8
1995 76.4 60.8
1994 76.3 70.5
1993 76.3 70.8
1992 76.4 71
1991 76.2 70.7
1990 76.1 70.5
1989 75.9 70.3
1988 75.5 70.1
1987 75.2 69.8
1986 74.9 69.5
1985 74.8 69.2
1984 74.6 68.9
1983 74.2 68.5
1982 73.9 68.1
1981 73.4 67.7
1980 73 67.2
1979 72.5 66.7
1978 72 66.3
1977 71.5 65.8
1976 70.9 65.3
1975 70.3 64.8
1974 69.4 64.3
1973 68.7 63.8
1972 68 63.3
1971 67.4 62.7
1970 66.8 62
1969 66.4 61.4
1968 65.8 60.8
1967 65.6 60.1
1966 65.1 59.4
1965 64.8 58.8
1964 64.5 58.2
1963 64.3 57.6
1962 64.2 57
1961 63.9 56.4
1960 63.5 55.8
1959 62.9 55.2
1958 62.3 54.5
1957 61.6 53.7
1956 61.2 52.8
1955 60.5 51.8
1954 59.9 50.6
1953 59.1 40.3
1952 58.1 32.8
1951 57.8 17.7
1950 57.5 14.2

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/north-korea | CC BY

Costa Rica and North Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Costa Rica

North Korea
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica North Korea
2024 5,129,910 26,498,823
2023 5,105,525 26,418,204
2022 5,081,765 26,328,845
2021 5,059,988 26,232,534
2020 5,034,320 26,136,312
2019 4,999,553 26,037,632
2018 4,957,818 25,931,147
2017 4,913,177 25,817,709
2016 4,866,998 25,698,326
2015 4,818,038 25,575,350
2014 4,767,119 25,451,262
2013 4,716,147 25,329,451
2012 4,663,934 25,211,728
2011 4,609,833 25,097,874
2010 4,555,962 24,987,258
2009 4,499,791 24,878,332
2008 4,440,056 24,764,618
2007 4,380,248 24,646,383
2006 4,321,340 24,524,507
2005 4,261,240 24,396,433
2004 4,200,078 24,254,943
2003 4,138,784 24,090,380
2002 4,075,705 23,943,973
2001 4,008,947 23,815,358
2000 3,937,739 23,665,910
1999 3,862,101 23,497,599
1998 3,782,838 23,311,564
1997 3,701,711 23,110,830
1996 3,619,013 22,895,746
1995 3,535,176 22,669,304
1994 3,451,122 22,393,975
1993 3,367,434 22,073,352
1992 3,284,258 21,750,911
1991 3,202,176 21,428,638
1990 3,121,706 21,112,137
1989 3,043,827 20,804,367
1988 2,968,103 20,503,161
1987 2,892,699 20,205,483
1986 2,817,216 19,910,855
1985 2,741,894 19,620,388
1984 2,667,595 19,335,043
1983 2,595,153 19,054,034
1982 2,524,806 18,776,357
1981 2,456,637 18,501,295
1980 2,390,633 18,236,786
1979 2,326,490 17,983,470
1978 2,264,510 17,735,995
1977 2,205,025 17,492,798
1976 2,147,774 17,243,450
1975 2,092,719 16,971,055
1974 2,039,643 16,673,121
1973 1,988,343 16,350,367
1972 1,938,248 15,975,069
1971 1,888,539 15,572,457
1970 1,838,949 15,172,775
1969 1,789,276 14,767,615
1968 1,739,731 14,365,596
1967 1,689,523 13,958,350
1966 1,638,116 13,569,094
1965 1,586,208 13,219,369
1964 1,533,960 12,889,770
1963 1,481,604 12,567,057
1962 1,429,445 12,262,882
1961 1,377,920 11,990,713
1960 1,327,496 11,722,953

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/north-korea | CC BY

Fertility rates in Costa Rica and North Korea

Fertility rate
Costa Rica

North Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica North Korea
2023 1.33 1.78
2022 1.34 1.8
2021 1.35 1.81
2020 1.45 1.82
2019 1.6 1.83
2018 1.71 1.83
2017 1.71 1.85
2016 1.75 1.86
2015 1.8 1.86
2014 1.8 1.87
2013 1.78 1.88
2012 1.85 1.88
2011 1.88 1.88
2010 1.83 1.89
2009 1.95 1.91
2008 1.98 1.97
2007 1.95 1.94
2006 1.94 1.94
2005 2.04 1.87
2004 2.03 1.9
2003 2.08 1.91
2002 2.16 1.92
2001 2.31 1.94
2000 2.41 1.94
1999 2.48 1.97
1998 2.53 1.99
1997 2.59 2.03
1996 2.68 2.09
1995 2.78 2.15
1994 2.86 2.18
1993 2.93 2.22
1992 3 2.29
1991 3.08 2.35
1990 3.17 2.39
1989 3.24 2.41
1988 3.31 2.47
1987 3.38 2.53
1986 3.45 2.59
1985 3.51 2.65
1984 3.52 2.71
1983 3.53 2.78
1982 3.54 2.85
1981 3.56 2.92
1980 3.58 2.84
1979 3.65 2.85
1978 3.66 2.79
1977 3.7 2.77
1976 3.75 2.84
1975 3.8 3.05
1974 3.89 3.14
1973 3.99 3.35
1972 4.16 3.89
1971 4.36 3.74
1970 4.59 3.85
1969 4.84 3.86
1968 5.03 3.87
1967 5.42 4.05
1966 5.7 3.71
1965 5.96 3.56
1964 6.19 3.55
1963 6.39 3.63
1962 6.54 3.41
1961 6.65 3.26
1960 6.71 3.57

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/north-korea | CC BY

Costa Rica and North Korea demographics compared

Median age
Costa Rica

North Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Costa Rica North Korea
2024 35.6 37.3
2023 35.1 37.1
2022 34.5 36.8
2021 34 36.6
2020 33.5 36.4
2019 33 36.2
2018 32.6 35.9
2017 32.1 35.7
2016 31.7 35.4
2015 31.2 35.2
2014 30.7 35
2013 30.3 34.7
2012 29.8 34.5
2011 29.4 34.3
2010 29 34
2009 28.6 33.7
2008 28.2 33.3
2007 27.8 32.9
2006 27.4 32.5
2005 27 32.1
2004 26.7 31.8
2003 26.3 31.4
2002 25.9 31
2001 25.5 30.5
2000 25.2 30.1
1999 24.9 29.6
1998 24.7 29.2
1997 24.4 28.8
1996 24.1 28.3
1995 23.9 28
1994 23.6 27.6
1993 23.4 27.2
1992 23.2 26.8
1991 22.9 26.4
1990 22.7 26
1989 22.5 25.6
1988 22.3 25.1
1987 22.1 24.8
1986 21.8 24.5
1985 21.6 24.2
1984 21.4 23.9
1983 21.2 23.5
1982 20.9 23.1
1981 20.6 22.8
1980 20.3 22.5
1979 20 22.2
1978 19.7 21.8
1977 19.5 21.4
1976 19.2 21.1
1975 18.9 20.9
1974 18.6 20.7
1973 18.4 20.7
1972 18.1 20.9
1971 17.8 21.2
1970 17.6 21.4
1969 17.3 21.4
1968 17.1 21.4
1967 16.9 21.4
1966 16.8 21.3
1965 16.7 21.2
1964 16.7 21
1963 16.7 20.8
1962 16.7 20.6
1961 16.8 20.2
1960 16.8 19.9

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/north-korea | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica North Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
n/a
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.25%
2021
n/a
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
1,469,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
25.6%
2013
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
n/a
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
3.1
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
n/a
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
n/a
Personal remittances received
$725M
2024
n/a
International tourist arrivals
1,146,500
2020
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
7.41%
2020
n/a
Banked people share
71.4%
2024
n/a

Energy

Costa Rica North Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,025 kg
2023
641 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.2
2023
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.38 megatons
2024
66.2 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.63 tons
2024
2.5 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.6%
2023
85.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
34.2%
2021
14.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
37.7%
2023
8.5%
2022
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
4.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
2,206 kWh
2023
830 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
63.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
69.3%
2023
62.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
57.5%
2023

Society

Costa Rica North Korea
% of world population
0.06%
2024
0.33%
2024
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
-2,787
2025
Urban population
79.3%
2024
63.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.71 ft
2025
5.73 ft
2025
Average female height
5.26 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
64.8
2026
10.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
73
2026
10
2026
Homicides per 100K people
17.7
2023
4.4
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.8
2019
24.2
2019
Visa free countries
142
2025
48
2025
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
100%
2018
English speaking
8.15%
2023
0%
2025
People using the Internet
85.4%
2023
0%
2012

Health

Costa Rica North Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,163
2023
n/a
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$280.7
2023
n/a
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
74 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.69
2022
3.63
2017
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
67
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.5
2023
18
2023
Obesity rate
32.3%
2022
11.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.8%
2024
9.9%
2024
Air quality index
80
2026
42
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
8.9%
2022
16.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.4 liters
2020
3.87 liters
2020

Territory

Costa Rica North Korea
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.08%
2026
Land area per capita
3,843 sq mi
2024
1,754 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,534 sq mi
2026
10,021 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,907 sq mi
2026
23,036 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,129 mi
2017
15,879 mi
2006

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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