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Costa Rica vs Spain statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a population of 5.13M (ranked 126/197), compared with 48.8M in Spain (ranked 32/197). Costa Rica's land area is 19,714 sq mi versus 192,934 sq mi for Spain (ranked 126th vs. 51st).

By GDP, Costa Rica ranks 73/197 ($95.4B) and Spain ranks 15/197 ($1.73T). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 62/197 ($18,587), while Spain ranks 32/197 ($35,327).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica Spain
Population
5181862
48806901
Population rank 126/197 32/197
GDP
$95.4B
2024
$1.73T
2024
GDP rank 73/197 15/197
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$35,327
2024
GDP per capita rank 62/197 32/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$57,965
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$1.75T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
101.6%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$35,909
2024
Government debt per person rank 50/185 20/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$25,470
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 192,934 sq mi
Population density
262.6 ppl/mi²
2026
253 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.33
2023
1.12
2023
Median age
35.6 years
2024
46.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
84.1 years
2026

Costa Rica and Spain: Comparison Charts

Costa Rica and Spain economies compared

GDP
Costa Rica

Spain
1x
Year GDP
Costa Rica Spain
2024 $95,350,423,177 $1,725,671,652,742
2023 $86,497,941,439 $1,619,481,980,720
2022 $69,243,626,029 $1,448,850,658,407
2021 $64,960,725,734 $1,461,244,901,853
2020 $62,395,610,760 $1,289,783,836,971
2019 $64,417,670,521 $1,403,496,387,686
2018 $62,420,164,992 $1,431,642,809,327
2017 $60,516,044,657 $1,321,754,088,819
2016 $58,847,019,610 $1,243,015,667,917
2015 $56,441,920,821 $1,206,164,777,553
2014 $52,016,408,854 $1,380,244,561,362
2013 $50,949,668,842 $1,362,186,923,158
2012 $47,231,655,432 $1,330,994,811,670
2011 $42,762,613,699 $1,487,568,659,241
2010 $37,658,616,952 $1,427,989,078,917
2009 $30,745,714,313 $1,496,587,590,848
2008 $30,801,745,700 $1,636,115,447,613
2007 $26,884,700,709 $1,476,746,276,855
2006 $22,715,540,324 $1,261,846,683,275
2005 $20,040,642,477 $1,154,667,551,776
2004 $18,610,594,846 $1,069,829,382,515
2003 $17,271,760,507 $907,963,217,058
2002 $16,578,820,687 $708,938,227,244
2001 $15,976,174,337 $627,798,682,379
2000 $15,013,629,662 $598,102,854,756
1999 $14,254,866,285 $634,394,904,387
1998 $13,684,255,947 $618,731,484,575
1997 $12,614,602,382 $589,739,772,727
1996 $11,678,424,507 $642,251,412,058
1995 $11,578,594,260 $614,170,002,669
1994 $10,489,903,725 $530,183,651,720
1993 $9,564,815,975 $524,700,572,624
1992 $8,579,754,758 $630,465,353,486
1991 $7,215,725,487 $576,753,902,322
1990 $5,711,687,787 $536,175,326,477
1989 $5,251,025,767 $414,460,794,097
1988 $4,614,629,898 $375,891,716,898
1987 $4,532,952,047 $318,520,253,335
1986 $4,418,983,871 $251,141,555,186
1985 $3,919,203,960 $180,664,322,896
1984 $3,660,477,856 $171,979,977,230
1983 $3,146,772,631 $170,829,074,246
1982 $2,606,623,555 $195,856,752,991
1981 $2,623,803,096 $202,663,023,968
1980 $4,831,447,001 $232,600,556,974
1979 $4,035,519,323 $214,448,666,336
1978 $3,523,208,810 $160,484,969,618
1977 $3,072,427,013 $132,354,665,936
1976 $2,412,555,426 $118,422,534,195
1975 $1,960,863,466 $114,695,060,870
1974 $1,666,544,754 $97,204,522,642
1973 $1,528,925,846 $78,583,355,226
1972 $1,238,251,696 $59,090,176,029
1971 $1,077,147,538 $46,586,119,760
1970 $984,830,158 $40,963,715,237
1969 $853,630,204 $37,090,689,288
1968 $773,841,494 $32,394,326,464
1967 $699,456,619 $32,570,905,397
1966 $647,305,630 $29,559,436,183
1965 $592,981,162 $25,479,619,607
1964 $542,578,367 $21,966,876,027
1963 $511,902,137 $19,631,714,760
1962 $479,180,824 $16,609,632,791
1961 $490,325,182 $14,238,126,760
1960 $507,513,830 $12,424,514,014

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

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

Costa Rica and Spain economies compared

GDP per capita
Costa Rica

Spain
1x
Year GDP per capita
Costa Rica Spain
2024 $18,587 $35,327
2023 $16,942 $33,493
2022 $13,626 $30,319
2021 $12,838 $30,799
2020 $12,394 $27,234
2019 $12,885 $29,787
2018 $12,590 $30,602
2017 $12,317 $28,381
2016 $12,091 $26,756
2015 $11,715 $25,982
2014 $10,911 $29,708
2013 $10,803 $29,229
2012 $10,127 $28,456
2011 $9,276 $31,825
2010 $8,266 $30,659
2009 $6,833 $32,280
2008 $6,937 $35,603
2007 $6,138 $32,652
2006 $5,257 $28,422
2005 $4,703 $26,451
2004 $4,431 $24,925
2003 $4,173 $21,522
2002 $4,068 $17,111
2001 $3,985 $15,368
2000 $3,813 $14,743
1999 $3,691 $15,708
1998 $3,617 $15,382
1997 $3,408 $14,722
1996 $3,227 $16,101
1995 $3,275 $15,461
1994 $3,040 $13,406
1993 $2,840 $13,330
1992 $2,612 $16,101
1991 $2,253 $14,801
1990 $1,830 $13,795
1989 $1,725 $10,674
1988 $1,555 $9,696
1987 $1,567 $8,234
1986 $1,569 $6,509
1985 $1,429 $4,696
1984 $1,372 $4,487
1983 $1,213 $4,475
1982 $1,032 $5,156
1981 $1,068 $5,367
1980 $2,021 $6,204
1979 $1,735 $5,766
1978 $1,556 $4,353
1977 $1,393 $3,625
1976 $1,123 $3,277
1975 $937 $3,208
1974 $817 $2,748
1973 $769 $2,246
1972 $639 $1,708
1971 $570 $1,361
1970 $536 $1,211
1969 $477 $1,109
1968 $445 $978
1967 $414 $997
1966 $395 $916
1965 $374 $797
1964 $354 $695
1963 $346 $627
1962 $335 $535
1961 $356 $463
1960 $382 $408

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

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

Costa Rica vs. Spain life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Costa Rica

Spain
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Costa Rica Spain
2026 81.4 84.1
2025 81.2 84
2024 81 83.8
2023 80.8 83.7
2022 79.3 82.4
2021 78.1 83
2020 79.7 82.2
2019 80.3 83.5
2018 80.1 83.1
2017 80 83
2016 80 83
2015 80.4 82.6
2014 80.2 82.8
2013 80.2 82.7
2012 79.9 82.2
2011 79.6 82.2
2010 79.4 82
2009 79.4 81.6
2008 79.2 81.3
2007 79.1 81
2006 79 81
2005 78.9 80.3
2004 78.5 80.3
2003 78.2 79.7
2002 77.9 79.8
2001 77.6 79.7
2000 77.3 79.4
1999 77.1 78.9
1998 76.9 78.9
1997 76.6 78.9
1996 76.4 78.3
1995 76.4 78.2
1994 76.3 78.1
1993 76.3 77.7
1992 76.4 77.6
1991 76.2 77.1
1990 76.1 77
1989 75.9 77
1988 75.5 76.9
1987 75.2 77
1986 74.9 76.7
1985 74.8 76.4
1984 74.6 76.5
1983 74.2 76.1
1982 73.9 76.3
1981 73.4 75.7
1980 73 75.5
1979 72.5 75
1978 72 74.5
1977 71.5 74.3
1976 70.9 73.8
1975 70.3 73.5
1974 69.4 73.1
1973 68.7 72.7
1972 68 73
1971 67.4 71.7
1970 66.8 72.1
1969 66.4 71.1
1968 65.8 71.7
1967 65.6 71.3
1966 65.1 71.2
1965 64.8 70.9
1964 64.5 70.5
1963 64.3 69.8
1962 64.2 69.6
1961 63.9 69.6
1960 63.5 69.2
1959 62.9 68.7
1958 62.3 68.8
1957 61.6 66.6
1956 61.2 66.8
1955 60.5 66.7
1954 59.9 66.9
1953 59.1 65.7
1952 58.1 64.8
1951 57.8 61.5
1950 57.5 61.8

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

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

Costa Rica and Spain population clocks and comparison

Population
Costa Rica

Spain
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Spain
2024 5,129,910 48,848,840
2023 5,105,525 48,352,528
2022 5,081,765 47,786,102
2021 5,059,988 47,443,821
2020 5,034,320 47,359,424
2019 4,999,553 47,118,501
2018 4,957,818 46,782,011
2017 4,913,177 46,571,232
2016 4,866,998 46,458,139
2015 4,818,038 46,422,303
2014 4,767,119 46,460,733
2013 4,716,147 46,604,197
2012 4,663,934 46,773,055
2011 4,609,833 46,742,697
2010 4,555,962 46,576,897
2009 4,499,791 46,362,946
2008 4,440,056 45,954,106
2007 4,380,248 45,226,803
2006 4,321,340 44,397,319
2005 4,261,240 43,653,155
2004 4,200,078 42,921,895
2003 4,138,784 42,187,645
2002 4,075,705 41,431,558
2001 4,008,947 40,850,412
2000 3,937,739 40,567,864
1999 3,862,101 40,386,875
1998 3,782,838 40,223,509
1997 3,701,711 40,057,389
1996 3,619,013 39,889,852
1995 3,535,176 39,724,050
1994 3,451,122 39,549,108
1993 3,367,434 39,361,262
1992 3,284,258 39,157,685
1991 3,202,176 38,966,376
1990 3,121,706 38,867,322
1989 3,043,827 38,827,764
1988 2,968,103 38,766,939
1987 2,892,699 38,684,815
1986 2,817,216 38,584,624
1985 2,741,894 38,469,512
1984 2,667,595 38,330,364
1983 2,595,153 38,171,525
1982 2,524,806 37,986,012
1981 2,456,637 37,758,631
1980 2,390,633 37,491,165
1979 2,326,490 37,191,330
1978 2,264,510 36,864,898
1977 2,205,025 36,511,638
1976 2,147,774 36,137,812
1975 2,092,719 35,757,900
1974 2,039,643 35,373,335
1973 1,988,343 34,988,947
1972 1,938,248 34,604,469
1971 1,888,539 34,224,490
1970 1,838,949 33,814,531
1969 1,789,276 33,441,054
1968 1,739,731 33,113,134
1967 1,689,523 32,682,947
1966 1,638,116 32,283,194
1965 1,586,208 31,954,292
1964 1,533,960 31,609,195
1963 1,481,604 31,296,651
1962 1,429,445 31,023,366
1961 1,377,920 30,739,250
1960 1,327,496 30,455,000

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

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

Fertility rates in Costa Rica and Spain

Fertility rate
Costa Rica

Spain
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica Spain
2023 1.33 1.12
2022 1.34 1.16
2021 1.35 1.18
2020 1.45 1.18
2019 1.6 1.23
2018 1.71 1.26
2017 1.71 1.31
2016 1.75 1.33
2015 1.8 1.33
2014 1.8 1.32
2013 1.78 1.27
2012 1.85 1.32
2011 1.88 1.34
2010 1.83 1.37
2009 1.95 1.38
2008 1.98 1.45
2007 1.95 1.38
2006 1.94 1.36
2005 2.04 1.33
2004 2.03 1.31
2003 2.08 1.3
2002 2.16 1.25
2001 2.31 1.23
2000 2.41 1.22
1999 2.48 1.17
1998 2.53 1.13
1997 2.59 1.15
1996 2.68 1.14
1995 2.78 1.16
1994 2.86 1.19
1993 2.93 1.26
1992 3 1.31
1991 3.08 1.33
1990 3.17 1.36
1989 3.24 1.4
1988 3.31 1.45
1987 3.38 1.49
1986 3.45 1.56
1985 3.51 1.64
1984 3.52 1.73
1983 3.53 1.8
1982 3.54 1.94
1981 3.56 2.04
1980 3.58 2.22
1979 3.65 2.37
1978 3.66 2.54
1977 3.7 2.65
1976 3.75 2.77
1975 3.8 2.77
1974 3.89 2.88
1973 3.99 2.84
1972 4.16 2.87
1971 4.36 2.9
1970 4.59 2.84
1969 4.84 2.86
1968 5.03 2.87
1967 5.42 2.94
1966 5.7 2.91
1965 5.96 2.94
1964 6.19 3.01
1963 6.39 2.88
1962 6.54 2.8
1961 6.65 2.77
1960 6.71 2.86

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

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

Costa Rica and Spain demographics compared

Median age
Costa Rica

Spain
1x
Year Median age, years
Costa Rica Spain
2024 35.6 46.4
2023 35.1 45.9
2022 34.5 45.4
2021 34 44.9
2020 33.5 44.5
2019 33 44.1
2018 32.6 43.8
2017 32.1 43.5
2016 31.7 43.1
2015 31.2 42.7
2014 30.7 42.2
2013 30.3 41.7
2012 29.8 41.1
2011 29.4 40.6
2010 29 40.2
2009 28.6 39.8
2008 28.2 39.4
2007 27.8 39.2
2006 27.4 39
2005 27 38.8
2004 26.7 38.5
2003 26.3 38.3
2002 25.9 38.1
2001 25.5 37.8
2000 25.2 37.4
1999 24.9 37
1998 24.7 36.6
1997 24.4 36.2
1996 24.1 35.7
1995 23.9 35.3
1994 23.6 34.9
1993 23.4 34.6
1992 23.2 34.2
1991 22.9 33.9
1990 22.7 33.6
1989 22.5 33.2
1988 22.3 32.9
1987 22.1 32.5
1986 21.8 32.2
1985 21.6 31.9
1984 21.4 31.6
1983 21.2 31.4
1982 20.9 31.1
1981 20.6 30.9
1980 20.3 30.7
1979 20 30.6
1978 19.7 30.4
1977 19.5 30.2
1976 19.2 30.1
1975 18.9 30
1974 18.6 30
1973 18.4 30
1972 18.1 30
1971 17.8 30.1
1970 17.6 30.1
1969 17.3 30.2
1968 17.1 30.4
1967 16.9 30.4
1966 16.8 30.3
1965 16.7 30.2
1964 16.7 30.1
1963 16.7 29.9
1962 16.7 29.7
1961 16.8 29.6
1960 16.8 29.4

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica Spain
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$1.64T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
45.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.25%
2021
4.59%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
1.43%
2024
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
199,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
-3.15%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
11.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
68.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
19.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
66.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
24.5%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
2.2%
2023
Number of millionaires n/a
1,202,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
3.01%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
34
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00009%
2025
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
277
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$754B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$108B
2024
Personal remittances received
$725M
2024
$6.33B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,146,500
2020
36,410,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
7.41%
2020
19.8%
1998
Banked people share
71.4%
2024
98.4%
2024

Energy

Costa Rica Spain
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,025 kg
2023
2,294 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.2
2023
$24.3
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.38 megatons
2024
220.1 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.63 tons
2024
4.51 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.6%
2023
68.5%
2023
Renewable energy use share
34.2%
2021
19%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
37.7%
2023
25.2%
2023
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
77%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,206 kWh
2023
5,118 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
47%
2021
Hydroelectric share
69.3%
2023
10.9%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
19.9%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Costa Rica Spain
% of world population
0.06%
2024
0.6%
2024
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
+96,630
2025
Urban population
79.3%
2024
80.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
49.1:50.9
2024
Average male height
5.71 ft
2025
5.78 ft
2025
Average female height
5.26 ft
2025
5.31 ft
2025
Quality of life index
64.8
2026
82.5
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
55
2025
Higher education index
73
2026
90
2026
Homicides per 100K people
17.7
2023
0.69
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.8
2019
3.9
2019
Visa free countries
142
2025
173
2025
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
99.7%
2021
English speaking
8.15%
2023
22%
2023
People using the Internet
85.4%
2023
95.8%
2024

Health

Costa Rica Spain
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,163
2023
$3,107
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$280.7
2023
$648
2023
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
84.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.69
2022
4.29
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
31.5 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
3
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.5
2023
3.1
2023
Obesity rate
32.3%
2022
16.2%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.8%
2024
9.7%
2024
Air quality index
80
2026
77
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
8.9%
2022
28.4%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.4 liters
2020
9.16 liters
2020

Territory

Costa Rica Spain
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.34%
2026
Land area per capita
3,843 sq mi
2024
3,950 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,534 sq mi
2026
95,648 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,907 sq mi
2026
71,757 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,129 mi
2017
424,505 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) (2000–2019, 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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