Skip to content

Costa Rica vs South Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a population of 5.13M (ranked 126/197), compared with 51.8M in South Korea (ranked 29/197). Costa Rica's land area is 19,714 sq mi versus 37,684 sq mi for South Korea (ranked 126th vs. 105th).

By GDP, Costa Rica ranks 73/197 ($95.4B) and South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 62/197 ($18,587), while South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica South Korea
Population
5181862
51649918
Population rank 126/197 31/197
GDP
$95.4B
2024
$1.88T
2024
GDP rank 73/197 12/197
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$36,239
2024
GDP per capita rank 62/197 31/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$61,051
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$934B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
49.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$18,052
2024
Government debt per person rank 50/185 33/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$27,215
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 37,684 sq mi
Population density
262.6 ppl/mi²
2026
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.33
2023
0.72
2023
Median age
35.6 years
2024
46.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
84.6 years
2026

Costa Rica and South Korea: Comparison Charts

Costa Rica and South Korea economies compared

GDP
Costa Rica

South Korea
1x
Year GDP
Costa Rica South Korea
2024 $95,350,423,177 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $86,497,941,439 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $69,243,626,029 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $64,960,725,734 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $62,395,610,760 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $64,417,670,521 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $62,420,164,992 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $60,516,044,657 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $58,847,019,610 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $56,441,920,821 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $52,016,408,854 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $50,949,668,842 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $47,231,655,432 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $42,762,613,699 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $37,658,616,952 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $30,745,714,313 $983,065,242,417
2008 $30,801,745,700 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $26,884,700,709 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $22,715,540,324 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $20,040,642,477 $971,740,329,984
2004 $18,610,594,846 $823,251,107,639
2003 $17,271,760,507 $728,516,494,684
2002 $16,578,820,687 $650,014,391,470
2001 $15,976,174,337 $567,564,806,235
2000 $15,013,629,662 $597,487,173,479
1999 $14,254,866,285 $515,697,079,289
1998 $13,684,255,947 $397,297,216,492
1997 $12,614,602,382 $589,202,526,424
1996 $11,678,424,507 $631,196,863,758
1995 $11,578,594,260 $586,286,469,401
1994 $10,489,903,725 $479,181,794,217
1993 $9,564,815,975 $405,705,302,846
1992 $8,579,754,758 $366,921,291,825
1991 $7,215,725,487 $340,851,946,804
1990 $5,711,687,787 $292,064,221,389
1989 $5,251,025,767 $254,236,243,100
1988 $4,614,629,898 $205,477,530,605
1987 $4,532,952,047 $152,240,393,646
1986 $4,418,983,871 $119,965,960,795
1985 $3,919,203,960 $103,764,281,281
1984 $3,660,477,856 $99,749,645,089
1983 $3,146,772,631 $89,621,208,322
1982 $2,606,623,555 $79,921,300,447
1981 $2,623,803,096 $74,287,368,087
1980 $4,831,447,001 $66,547,970,351
1979 $4,035,519,323 $68,083,884,298
1978 $3,523,208,810 $52,824,793,388
1977 $3,072,427,013 $39,064,462,810
1976 $2,412,555,426 $30,371,074,380
1975 $1,960,863,466 $22,126,033,058
1974 $1,666,544,754 $19,860,929,977
1973 $1,528,925,846 $14,067,523,813
1972 $1,238,251,696 $10,990,490,570
1971 $1,077,147,538 $10,005,257,131
1970 $984,830,158 $9,085,001,794
1969 $853,630,204 $7,743,940,189
1968 $773,841,494 $6,167,109,472
1967 $699,456,619 $4,895,076,718
1966 $647,305,630 $3,957,064,541
1965 $592,981,162 $3,141,131,708
1964 $542,578,367 $3,476,789,682
1963 $511,902,137 $4,007,692,308
1962 $479,180,824 $2,826,923,077
1961 $490,325,182 $2,427,244,761
1960 $507,513,830 $3,973,069,307

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

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

Costa Rica and South Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Costa Rica

South Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Costa Rica South Korea
2024 $18,587 $36,239
2023 $16,942 $35,674
2022 $13,626 $34,822
2021 $12,838 $37,518
2020 $12,394 $33,646
2019 $12,885 $33,827
2018 $12,590 $35,364
2017 $12,317 $33,297
2016 $12,091 $30,832
2015 $11,715 $30,172
2014 $10,911 $30,667
2013 $10,803 $28,449
2012 $10,127 $26,601
2011 $9,276 $26,175
2010 $8,266 $24,071
2009 $6,833 $19,937
2008 $6,937 $22,252
2007 $6,138 $25,078
2006 $5,257 $22,610
2005 $4,703 $20,167
2004 $4,431 $17,122
2003 $4,173 $15,212
2002 $4,068 $13,643
2001 $3,985 $11,981
2000 $3,813 $12,710
1999 $3,691 $11,063
1998 $3,617 $8,583
1997 $3,408 $12,822
1996 $3,227 $13,865
1995 $3,275 $13,002
1994 $3,040 $10,734
1993 $2,840 $9,180
1992 $2,612 $8,387
1991 $2,253 $7,873
1990 $1,830 $6,813
1989 $1,725 $5,989
1988 $1,555 $4,889
1987 $1,567 $3,658
1986 $1,569 $2,911
1985 $1,429 $2,543
1984 $1,372 $2,469
1983 $1,213 $2,246
1982 $1,032 $2,032
1981 $1,068 $1,918
1980 $2,021 $1,746
1979 $1,735 $1,814
1978 $1,556 $1,429
1977 $1,393 $1,073
1976 $1,123 $847
1975 $937 $627
1974 $817 $572
1973 $769 $412
1972 $639 $328
1971 $570 $304
1970 $536 $281.8
1969 $477 $245.5
1968 $445 $200
1967 $414 $162.5
1966 $395 $134.4
1965 $374 $109.4
1964 $354 $124.2
1963 $346 $147
1962 $335 $106.6
1961 $356 $94.2
1960 $382 $158.8

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

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

Costa Rica vs. South Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Costa Rica

South Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Costa Rica South Korea
2026 81.4 84.6
2025 81.2 84.5
2024 81 84.4
2023 80.8 84.3
2022 79.3 82.7
2021 78.1 83.9
2020 79.7 83.7
2019 80.3 83.7
2018 80.1 83.3
2017 80 83.3
2016 80 82.9
2015 80.4 82.5
2014 80.2 82.4
2013 80.2 81.8
2012 79.9 81.3
2011 79.6 81.2
2010 79.4 80.7
2009 79.4 80.6
2008 79.2 80
2007 79.1 79.4
2006 79 79
2005 78.9 78.4
2004 78.5 78
2003 78.2 77.5
2002 77.9 77.2
2001 77.6 76.9
2000 77.3 76.2
1999 77.1 75.6
1998 76.9 75
1997 76.6 74.5
1996 76.4 74
1995 76.4 73.4
1994 76.3 72.9
1993 76.3 72.7
1992 76.4 72.2
1991 76.2 71.4
1990 76.1 71
1989 75.9 70.7
1988 75.5 70.2
1987 75.2 69.3
1986 74.9 69
1985 74.8 68.4
1984 74.6 68.1
1983 74.2 66.7
1982 73.9 67.1
1981 73.4 67.1
1980 73 64.8
1979 72.5 66.1
1978 72 65
1977 71.5 64.6
1976 70.9 65
1975 70.3 64.7
1974 69.4 64.2
1973 68.7 63.8
1972 68 63.2
1971 67.4 62.7
1970 66.8 62.2
1969 66.4 61.4
1968 65.8 60.9
1967 65.6 60.9
1966 65.1 55.4
1965 64.8 55.8
1964 64.5 55.3
1963 64.3 55
1962 64.2 55
1961 63.9 54.4
1960 63.5 53.8
1959 62.9 52.9
1958 62.3 51.8
1957 61.6 51.6
1956 61.2 50.2
1955 60.5 48.4
1954 59.9 46.1
1953 59.1 40.5
1952 58.1 36.6
1951 57.8 26.6
1950 57.5 22.2

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

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

Costa Rica and South Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Costa Rica

South Korea
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica South Korea
2024 5,129,910 51,751,065
2023 5,105,525 51,712,619
2022 5,081,765 51,672,569
2021 5,059,988 51,769,539
2020 5,034,320 51,836,239
2019 4,999,553 51,764,822
2018 4,957,818 51,585,058
2017 4,913,177 51,361,911
2016 4,866,998 51,217,803
2015 4,818,038 51,014,947
2014 4,767,119 50,746,659
2013 4,716,147 50,428,893
2012 4,663,934 50,199,853
2011 4,609,833 49,936,638
2010 4,555,962 49,554,112
2009 4,499,791 49,307,835
2008 4,440,056 49,054,708
2007 4,380,248 48,683,638
2006 4,321,340 48,438,292
2005 4,261,240 48,184,561
2004 4,200,078 48,082,519
2003 4,138,784 47,892,330
2002 4,075,705 47,644,736
2001 4,008,947 47,370,164
2000 3,937,739 47,008,111
1999 3,862,101 46,616,677
1998 3,782,838 46,286,503
1997 3,701,711 45,953,580
1996 3,619,013 45,524,681
1995 3,535,176 45,092,991
1994 3,451,122 44,641,540
1993 3,367,434 44,194,628
1992 3,284,258 43,747,962
1991 3,202,176 43,295,704
1990 3,121,706 42,869,283
1989 3,043,827 42,449,038
1988 2,968,103 42,031,247
1987 2,892,699 41,621,690
1986 2,817,216 41,213,674
1985 2,741,894 40,805,744
1984 2,667,595 40,405,956
1983 2,595,153 39,910,403
1982 2,524,806 39,326,352
1981 2,456,637 38,723,248
1980 2,390,633 38,123,775
1979 2,326,490 37,534,236
1978 2,264,510 36,969,185
1977 2,205,025 36,411,795
1976 2,147,774 35,848,523
1975 2,092,719 35,280,725
1974 2,039,643 34,692,266
1973 1,988,343 34,103,149
1972 1,938,248 33,505,406
1971 1,888,539 32,882,704
1970 1,838,949 32,240,827
1969 1,789,276 31,544,266
1968 1,739,731 30,838,302
1967 1,689,523 30,130,983
1966 1,638,116 29,435,571
1965 1,586,208 28,704,674
1964 1,533,960 27,984,155
1963 1,481,604 27,261,747
1962 1,429,445 26,513,030
1961 1,377,920 25,765,673
1960 1,327,496 25,012,374

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

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

Fertility rates in Costa Rica and South Korea

Fertility rate
Costa Rica

South Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica South Korea
2023 1.33 0.72
2022 1.34 0.78
2021 1.35 0.81
2020 1.45 0.84
2019 1.6 0.92
2018 1.71 0.98
2017 1.71 1.05
2016 1.75 1.17
2015 1.8 1.24
2014 1.8 1.21
2013 1.78 1.19
2012 1.85 1.3
2011 1.88 1.24
2010 1.83 1.23
2009 1.95 1.15
2008 1.98 1.19
2007 1.95 1.26
2006 1.94 1.13
2005 2.04 1.09
2004 2.03 1.16
2003 2.08 1.19
2002 2.16 1.18
2001 2.31 1.31
2000 2.41 1.48
1999 2.48 1.43
1998 2.53 1.46
1997 2.59 1.54
1996 2.68 1.57
1995 2.78 1.63
1994 2.86 1.66
1993 2.93 1.65
1992 3 1.76
1991 3.08 1.71
1990 3.17 1.57
1989 3.24 1.56
1988 3.31 1.55
1987 3.38 1.53
1986 3.45 1.58
1985 3.51 1.66
1984 3.52 1.74
1983 3.53 2.06
1982 3.54 2.39
1981 3.56 2.57
1980 3.58 2.82
1979 3.65 2.9
1978 3.66 2.64
1977 3.7 2.99
1976 3.75 3
1975 3.8 3.43
1974 3.89 3.77
1973 3.99 4.07
1972 4.16 4.12
1971 4.36 4.54
1970 4.59 4.53
1969 4.84 4.45
1968 5.03 4.51
1967 5.42 4.62
1966 5.7 4.78
1965 5.96 4.89
1964 6.19 5.07
1963 6.39 5.33
1962 6.54 5.56
1961 6.65 5.8
1960 6.71 5.99

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

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

Costa Rica and South Korea demographics compared

Median age
Costa Rica

South Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Costa Rica South Korea
2024 35.6 46.1
2023 35.1 45.5
2022 34.5 44.9
2021 34 44.4
2020 33.5 43.8
2019 33 43.1
2018 32.6 42.5
2017 32.1 41.9
2016 31.7 41.4
2015 31.2 40.8
2014 30.7 40.2
2013 30.3 39.5
2012 29.8 38.8
2011 29.4 38.2
2010 29 37.6
2009 28.6 37
2008 28.2 36.4
2007 27.8 35.8
2006 27.4 35.2
2005 27 34.5
2004 26.7 33.9
2003 26.3 33.4
2002 25.9 32.8
2001 25.5 32.3
2000 25.2 31.7
1999 24.9 31.2
1998 24.7 30.7
1997 24.4 30.2
1996 24.1 29.8
1995 23.9 29.4
1994 23.6 28.9
1993 23.4 28.3
1992 23.2 27.8
1991 22.9 27.2
1990 22.7 26.7
1989 22.5 26.3
1988 22.3 25.8
1987 22.1 25.3
1986 21.8 24.8
1985 21.6 24.2
1984 21.4 23.7
1983 21.2 23.3
1982 20.9 22.8
1981 20.6 22.5
1980 20.3 22.1
1979 20 21.6
1978 19.7 21.1
1977 19.5 20.7
1976 19.2 20.2
1975 18.9 19.9
1974 18.6 19.6
1973 18.4 19.3
1972 18.1 19.1
1971 17.8 19
1970 17.6 18.9
1969 17.3 18.8
1968 17.1 18.7
1967 16.9 18.6
1966 16.8 18.5
1965 16.7 18.6
1964 16.7 18.8
1963 16.7 19
1962 16.7 19.1
1961 16.8 19.2
1960 16.8 19.3

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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

National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica South Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$1.9T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
22.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.25%
2021
5.81%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
569,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
-0.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
2.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
33.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
73.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
2.9%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
1,301,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
2.96%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
30
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
2,599
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$1.56T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$418B
2024
Personal remittances received
$725M
2024
$7.45B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,146,500
2020
2,519,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
7.41%
2020
1.94%
2020
Banked people share
71.4%
2024
96.9%
2024

Energy

Costa Rica South Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,025 kg
2023
5,337 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.2
2023
$10.8
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.38 megatons
2024
588 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.63 tons
2024
11.4 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.6%
2023
79.1%
2023
Renewable energy use share
34.2%
2021
3.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
37.7%
2023
18.5%
2023
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
84.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,206 kWh
2023
11,426 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
6.59%
2021
Hydroelectric share
69.3%
2023
1.23%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
29.6%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Costa Rica South Korea
% of world population
0.06%
2024
0.64%
2024
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
+65,731
2025
Urban population
79.3%
2024
81.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.71 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.26 ft
2025
5.35 ft
2025
Quality of life index
64.8
2026
87.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
63
2025
Higher education index
73
2026
86
2026
Homicides per 100K people
17.7
2023
0.48
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.8
2019
8.6
2019
Visa free countries
142
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
98.8%
2018
English speaking
8.15%
2023
20%
2025
People using the Internet
85.4%
2023
97.9%
2024

Health

Costa Rica South Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,163
2023
$3,137
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$280.7
2023
$1,058
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
84.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.69
2022
2.61
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
32.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.5
2023
2.8
2023
Obesity rate
32.3%
2022
7.24%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.8%
2024
9.6%
2024
Air quality index
80
2026
46
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
8.9%
2022
20%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.4 liters
2020
7.79 liters
2020

Territory

Costa Rica South Korea
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.07%
2026
Land area per capita
3,843 sq mi
2024
728 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,534 sq mi
2026
6,054 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,907 sq mi
2026
24,158 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,129 mi
2017
68,794 mi
2018

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 (1960–2025, 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)

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.