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Costa Rica vs Norway statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a population of 5.13M (ranked 126/197), compared with 5.57M in Norway (ranked 118/197). Costa Rica's land area is 19,714 sq mi versus 140,645 sq mi for Norway (ranked 126th vs. 62nd).

By GDP, Costa Rica ranks 73/197 ($95.4B) and Norway ranks 32/197 ($484B). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 62/197 ($18,587), while Norway ranks 8/197 ($86,785).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica Norway
Population
5181862
5671119
Population rank 126/197 119/197
GDP
$95.4B
2024
$484B
2024
GDP rank 73/197 32/197
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$86,785
2024
GDP per capita rank 62/197 8/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$102,038
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$207B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
42.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$37,074
2024
Government debt per person rank 50/185 17/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$49,765
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 140,645 sq mi
Population density
262.6 ppl/mi²
2026
40.3 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.33
2023
1.4
2023
Median age
35.6 years
2024
40.7 years
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
83.8 years
2026

Costa Rica and Norway: Comparison Charts

Costa Rica and Norway economies compared

GDP
Costa Rica

Norway
1x
Year GDP
Costa Rica Norway
2024 $95,350,423,177 $483,592,648,313
2023 $86,497,941,439 $482,949,731,777
2022 $69,243,626,029 $596,297,651,036
2021 $64,960,725,734 $503,367,986,030
2020 $62,395,610,760 $367,633,418,887
2019 $64,417,670,521 $408,742,840,909
2018 $62,420,164,992 $439,788,625,884
2017 $60,516,044,657 $401,745,275,035
2016 $58,847,019,610 $370,956,547,619
2015 $56,441,920,821 $388,159,512,246
2014 $52,016,408,854 $501,736,471,833
2013 $50,949,668,842 $526,014,468,085
2012 $47,231,655,432 $512,777,309,841
2011 $42,762,613,699 $501,360,549,669
2010 $37,658,616,952 $431,052,143,940
2009 $30,745,714,313 $387,976,400,617
2008 $30,801,745,700 $464,917,553,191
2007 $26,884,700,709 $402,643,260,488
2006 $22,715,540,324 $346,915,160,682
2005 $20,040,642,477 $309,978,579,744
2004 $18,610,594,846 $265,268,662,473
2003 $17,271,760,507 $229,385,469,337
2002 $16,578,820,687 $195,914,852,576
2001 $15,976,174,337 $174,239,354,071
2000 $15,013,629,662 $171,457,201,936
1999 $14,254,866,285 $162,383,706,021
1998 $13,684,255,947 $154,230,295,158
1997 $12,614,602,382 $161,356,631,888
1996 $11,678,424,507 $163,520,109,151
1995 $11,578,594,260 $152,029,612,325
1994 $10,489,903,725 $127,131,319,429
1993 $9,564,815,975 $120,579,213,713
1992 $8,579,754,758 $130,838,040,068
1991 $7,215,725,487 $121,872,464,483
1990 $5,711,687,787 $119,791,843,060
1989 $5,251,025,767 $102,633,934,391
1988 $4,614,629,898 $101,900,260,856
1987 $4,532,952,047 $94,229,907,236
1986 $4,418,983,871 $78,693,118,044
1985 $3,919,203,960 $65,416,879,914
1984 $3,660,477,856 $62,057,955,033
1983 $3,146,772,631 $61,627,240,831
1982 $2,606,623,555 $62,647,195,538
1981 $2,623,803,096 $63,596,654,761
1980 $4,831,447,001 $64,439,382,896
1979 $4,035,519,323 $53,132,244,624
1978 $3,523,208,810 $46,522,900,254
1977 $3,072,427,013 $41,508,030,431
1976 $2,412,555,426 $35,942,270,686
1975 $1,960,863,466 $32,877,805,200
1974 $1,666,544,754 $27,145,693,810
1973 $1,528,925,846 $22,534,253,703
1972 $1,238,251,696 $17,358,610,850
1971 $1,077,147,538 $14,583,114,840
1970 $984,830,158 $12,814,123,115
1969 $853,630,204 $11,136,187,440
1968 $773,841,494 $10,227,087,165
1967 $699,456,619 $9,577,383,653
1966 $647,305,630 $8,753,940,267
1965 $592,981,162 $8,111,945,661
1964 $542,578,367 $7,206,522,122
1963 $511,902,137 $6,553,269,536
1962 $479,180,824 $6,107,076,929
1961 $490,325,182 $5,669,689,210
1960 $507,513,830 $5,197,398,721

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

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

Costa Rica and Norway economies compared

GDP per capita
Costa Rica

Norway
1x
Year GDP per capita
Costa Rica Norway
2024 $18,587 $86,785
2023 $16,942 $87,497
2022 $13,626 $109,270
2021 $12,838 $93,073
2020 $12,394 $68,340
2019 $12,885 $76,431
2018 $12,590 $82,793
2017 $12,317 $76,132
2016 $12,091 $70,867
2015 $11,715 $74,810
2014 $10,911 $97,667
2013 $10,803 $103,554
2012 $10,127 $102,176
2011 $9,276 $101,222
2010 $8,266 $88,163
2009 $6,833 $80,348
2008 $6,937 $97,504
2007 $6,138 $85,502
2006 $5,257 $74,434
2005 $4,703 $67,047
2004 $4,431 $57,769
2003 $4,173 $50,250
2002 $4,068 $43,171
2001 $3,985 $38,602
2000 $3,813 $38,178
1999 $3,691 $36,393
1998 $3,617 $34,803
1997 $3,408 $36,629
1996 $3,227 $37,322
1995 $3,275 $34,876
1994 $3,040 $29,316
1993 $2,840 $27,964
1992 $2,612 $30,524
1991 $2,253 $28,597
1990 $1,830 $28,243
1989 $1,725 $24,281
1988 $1,555 $24,207
1987 $1,567 $22,506
1986 $1,569 $18,883
1985 $1,429 $15,754
1984 $1,372 $14,989
1983 $1,213 $14,928
1982 $1,032 $15,225
1981 $1,068 $15,513
1980 $2,021 $15,772
1979 $1,735 $13,047
1978 $1,556 $11,463
1977 $1,393 $10,266
1976 $1,123 $8,927
1975 $937 $8,204
1974 $817 $6,812
1973 $769 $5,690
1972 $639 $4,414
1971 $570 $3,736
1970 $536 $3,306
1969 $477 $2,894
1968 $445 $2,680
1967 $414 $2,531
1966 $395 $2,333
1965 $374 $2,179
1964 $354 $1,951
1963 $346 $1,787
1962 $335 $1,678
1961 $356 $1,571
1960 $382 $1,451

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

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

Costa Rica vs. Norway life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Costa Rica

Norway
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Costa Rica Norway
2026 81.4 83.8
2025 81.2 83.6
2024 81 83.5
2023 80.8 83.3
2022 79.3 82.6
2021 78.1 83.2
2020 79.7 83.2
2019 80.3 83
2018 80.1 82.8
2017 80 82.6
2016 80 82.4
2015 80.4 82.3
2014 80.2 82.1
2013 80.2 81.7
2012 79.9 81.4
2011 79.6 81.2
2010 79.4 81
2009 79.4 80.9
2008 79.2 80.7
2007 79.1 80.5
2006 79 80.4
2005 78.9 80.2
2004 78.5 80
2003 78.2 79.5
2002 77.9 79
2001 77.6 78.9
2000 77.3 78.7
1999 77.1 78.4
1998 76.9 78.4
1997 76.6 78.2
1996 76.4 78.2
1995 76.4 77.8
1994 76.3 77.8
1993 76.3 77.2
1992 76.4 77.2
1991 76.2 77
1990 76.1 76.6
1989 75.9 76.5
1988 75.5 76.3
1987 75.2 76.1
1986 74.9 76.3
1985 74.8 75.9
1984 74.6 76.2
1983 74.2 76.1
1982 73.9 76
1981 73.4 75.9
1980 73 75.7
1979 72.5 75.4
1978 72 75.4
1977 71.5 75.4
1976 70.9 75
1975 70.3 74.8
1974 69.4 74.8
1973 68.7 74.4
1972 68 74.3
1971 67.4 74.2
1970 66.8 74.1
1969 66.4 73.7
1968 65.8 73.9
1967 65.6 74.1
1966 65.1 74
1965 64.8 73.7
1964 64.5 73.6
1963 64.3 73.1
1962 64.2 73.5
1961 63.9 73.6
1960 63.5 73.6
1959 62.9 73.6
1958 62.3 73.4
1957 61.6 73.4
1956 61.2 73.5
1955 60.5 73.4
1954 59.9 73.2
1953 59.1 73.1
1952 58.1 72.7
1951 57.8 72.5
1950 57.5 71.6

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

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

Costa Rica and Norway population clocks and comparison

Population
Costa Rica

Norway
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Norway
2024 5,129,910 5,572,279
2023 5,105,525 5,519,601
2022 5,081,765 5,457,127
2021 5,059,988 5,408,320
2020 5,034,320 5,379,475
2019 4,999,553 5,347,896
2018 4,957,818 5,311,916
2017 4,913,177 5,276,968
2016 4,866,998 5,234,519
2015 4,818,038 5,188,607
2014 4,767,119 5,137,232
2013 4,716,147 5,079,623
2012 4,663,934 5,018,573
2011 4,609,833 4,953,088
2010 4,555,962 4,889,252
2009 4,499,791 4,828,726
2008 4,440,056 4,768,212
2007 4,380,248 4,709,153
2006 4,321,340 4,660,677
2005 4,261,240 4,623,291
2004 4,200,078 4,591,910
2003 4,138,784 4,564,855
2002 4,075,705 4,538,159
2001 4,008,947 4,513,751
2000 3,937,739 4,490,967
1999 3,862,101 4,461,913
1998 3,782,838 4,431,464
1997 3,701,711 4,405,157
1996 3,619,013 4,381,336
1995 3,535,176 4,359,184
1994 3,451,122 4,336,613
1993 3,367,434 4,311,991
1992 3,284,258 4,286,401
1991 3,202,176 4,261,732
1990 3,121,706 4,241,473
1989 3,043,827 4,226,901
1988 2,968,103 4,209,488
1987 2,892,699 4,186,905
1986 2,817,216 4,167,354
1985 2,741,894 4,152,516
1984 2,667,595 4,140,099
1983 2,595,153 4,128,432
1982 2,524,806 4,114,787
1981 2,456,637 4,099,702
1980 2,390,633 4,085,620
1979 2,326,490 4,072,517
1978 2,264,510 4,058,671
1977 2,205,025 4,043,205
1976 2,147,774 4,026,152
1975 2,092,719 4,007,313
1974 2,039,643 3,985,258
1973 1,988,343 3,960,612
1972 1,938,248 3,933,004
1971 1,888,539 3,903,039
1970 1,838,949 3,875,763
1969 1,789,276 3,847,707
1968 1,739,731 3,816,486
1967 1,689,523 3,784,539
1966 1,638,116 3,753,012
1965 1,586,208 3,723,168
1964 1,533,960 3,694,339
1963 1,481,604 3,666,537
1962 1,429,445 3,638,918
1961 1,377,920 3,609,800
1960 1,327,496 3,581,239

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

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

Fertility rates in Costa Rica and Norway

Fertility rate
Costa Rica

Norway
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica Norway
2023 1.33 1.4
2022 1.34 1.41
2021 1.35 1.55
2020 1.45 1.48
2019 1.6 1.53
2018 1.71 1.56
2017 1.71 1.62
2016 1.75 1.71
2015 1.8 1.72
2014 1.8 1.75
2013 1.78 1.78
2012 1.85 1.85
2011 1.88 1.88
2010 1.83 1.95
2009 1.95 1.98
2008 1.98 1.96
2007 1.95 1.9
2006 1.94 1.9
2005 2.04 1.84
2004 2.03 1.83
2003 2.08 1.8
2002 2.16 1.75
2001 2.31 1.78
2000 2.41 1.85
1999 2.48 1.85
1998 2.53 1.81
1997 2.59 1.86
1996 2.68 1.89
1995 2.78 1.87
1994 2.86 1.87
1993 2.93 1.86
1992 3 1.88
1991 3.08 1.92
1990 3.17 1.93
1989 3.24 1.89
1988 3.31 1.84
1987 3.38 1.74
1986 3.45 1.71
1985 3.51 1.68
1984 3.52 1.66
1983 3.53 1.66
1982 3.54 1.71
1981 3.56 1.7
1980 3.58 1.72
1979 3.65 1.75
1978 3.66 1.77
1977 3.7 1.75
1976 3.75 1.86
1975 3.8 1.98
1974 3.89 2.13
1973 3.99 2.23
1972 4.16 2.38
1971 4.36 2.49
1970 4.59 2.5
1969 4.84 2.7
1968 5.03 2.75
1967 5.42 2.81
1966 5.7 2.9
1965 5.96 2.94
1964 6.19 2.98
1963 6.39 2.93
1962 6.54 2.91
1961 6.65 2.94
1960 6.71 2.85

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

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

Costa Rica and Norway demographics compared

Median age
Costa Rica

Norway
1x
Year Median age, years
Costa Rica Norway
2024 35.6 40.7
2023 35.1 40.5
2022 34.5 40.4
2021 34 40.3
2020 33.5 40
2019 33 39.8
2018 32.6 39.6
2017 32.1 39.4
2016 31.7 39.3
2015 31.2 39.2
2014 30.7 39
2013 30.3 38.9
2012 29.8 38.8
2011 29.4 38.7
2010 29 38.6
2009 28.6 38.5
2008 28.2 38.4
2007 27.8 38.3
2006 27.4 38.1
2005 27 37.9
2004 26.7 37.7
2003 26.3 37.5
2002 25.9 37.3
2001 25.5 37.1
2000 25.2 36.9
1999 24.9 36.7
1998 24.7 36.5
1997 24.4 36.4
1996 24.1 36.2
1995 23.9 36.1
1994 23.6 35.9
1993 23.4 35.8
1992 23.2 35.7
1991 22.9 35.5
1990 22.7 35.4
1989 22.5 35.2
1988 22.3 35.1
1987 22.1 34.9
1986 21.8 34.8
1985 21.6 34.6
1984 21.4 34.4
1983 21.2 34.1
1982 20.9 33.9
1981 20.6 33.6
1980 20.3 33.3
1979 20 33.1
1978 19.7 32.9
1977 19.5 32.7
1976 19.2 32.6
1975 18.9 32.5
1974 18.6 32.4
1973 18.4 32.4
1972 18.1 32.5
1971 17.8 32.7
1970 17.6 32.9
1969 17.3 33.2
1968 17.1 33.5
1967 16.9 33.7
1966 16.8 33.9
1965 16.7 34.1
1964 16.7 34.2
1963 16.7 34.3
1962 16.7 34.4
1961 16.8 34.4
1960 16.8 34.3

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica Norway
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$547B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
48.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.25%
2021
5.46%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2.09%
2024
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
25,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
+13.2%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
3.98%
2024
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
51.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
37%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
78.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
21.6%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
3.6%
2023
Number of millionaires n/a
348,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
8.03%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
17
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.0004%
2025
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
180
2017
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$296B
2019
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$81.2B
2024
Personal remittances received
$725M
2024
$947M
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,146,500
2020
1,397,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
7.41%
2020
1.86%
2020
Banked people share
71.4%
2024
98.6%
2024

Energy

Costa Rica Norway
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,025 kg
2023
4,885 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.2
2023
$21.2
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.38 megatons
2024
40 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.63 tons
2024
7.18 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.6%
2023
46.3%
2023
Renewable energy use share
34.2%
2021
61.4%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
37.7%
2023
48.2%
2023
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
-704%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,206 kWh
2023
23,520 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
99.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
69.3%
2023
89.1%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Costa Rica Norway
% of world population
0.06%
2024
0.07%
2024
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
+29,798
2025
Urban population
79.3%
2024
83.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
50.4:49.6
2024
Average male height
5.71 ft
2025
5.92 ft
2025
Average female height
5.26 ft
2025
5.46 ft
2025
Quality of life index
64.8
2026
94.8
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
81
2025
Higher education index
73
2026
93
2026
Homicides per 100K people
17.7
2023
0.73
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.8
2019
2.1
2019
Visa free countries
142
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
95%
2013
English speaking
8.15%
2023
87.6%
2023
People using the Internet
85.4%
2023
99%
2023

Health

Costa Rica Norway
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,163
2023
$8,296
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$280.7
2023
$1,136
2023
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
83.8 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.69
2022
4.97
2023
Age at first childbirth n/a
30.1 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
1
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.5
2023
2.4
2023
Obesity rate
32.3%
2022
19.5%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.8%
2024
4.8%
2024
Air quality index
80
2026
87
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
8.9%
2022
14.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.4 liters
2020
7.38 liters
2020

Territory

Costa Rica Norway
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.24%
2026
Land area per capita
3,843 sq mi
2024
25,240 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,534 sq mi
2026
3,792 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,907 sq mi
2026
47,118 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,129 mi
2017
60,737 mi
2025

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)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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