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Costa Rica vs Switzerland statistics compared

Updated on by Georank

Costa Rica has a population of 5.15M (ranked 126/197), compared with 9.09M in Switzerland (ranked 99/197). Costa Rica's land area is 19,714 sq mi versus 15,255 sq mi for Switzerland (ranked 126th vs. 131st).

By GDP, Costa Rica ranks 74/197 ($103B) and Switzerland ranks 20/197 ($1.04T). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 59/197 ($19,970), while Switzerland ranks 5/197 ($114,769).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica Switzerland
Population
5186356
9155878
Population rank 126/197 99/197
GDP
$103B
2025
$1.04T
2025
GDP rank 74/197 20/197
GDP per capita
$19,970
2025
$114,769
2025
GDP per capita rank 59/197 5/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$96,498
2024
Government debt
$62.2B
2025
$411B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
60.4%
2025
39.4%
2025
Government debt per person
$12,064
2025
$45,239
2025
Government debt per person rank 51/185 12/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,879
2026
$89,347
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 15,255 sq mi
Population density
262.5 ppl/mi²
2026
599 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.32
2024
1.29
2024
Median age
36.2 years
2025
43.9 years
2025
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
84.4 years
2026

Costa Rica and Switzerland: Comparison Charts

Costa Rica and Switzerland economies compared

GDP
Costa Rica

Switzerland
1x
Year GDP
Costa Rica Switzerland
2025 $102,904,921,157 $1,043,529,899,251
2024 $96,715,644,331 $969,919,786,395
2023 $87,512,637,056 $928,435,275,852
2022 $71,001,226,361 $858,479,038,994
2021 $65,588,938,787 $840,710,023,481
2020 $62,806,591,555 $756,096,180,222
2019 $64,753,504,730 $736,384,764,157
2018 $62,567,765,946 $740,766,531,454
2017 $60,516,044,661 $706,660,443,624
2016 $58,847,019,588 $698,607,778,795
2015 $56,441,920,888 $706,199,008,879
2014 $52,016,408,816 $741,168,119,617
2013 $50,949,668,763 $718,748,402,260
2012 $47,231,655,493 $697,882,536,677
2011 $42,762,613,785 $727,231,637,102
2010 $37,658,616,966 $609,999,593,542
2009 $30,745,714,234 $563,659,557,945
2008 $30,801,745,703 $574,703,945,157
2007 $26,884,700,688 $498,993,845,385
2006 $22,715,540,342 $448,364,681,767
2005 $20,040,642,421 $424,511,048,024
2004 $18,610,594,844 $409,012,909,530
2003 $17,271,760,397 $366,563,952,625
2002 $16,578,820,799 $313,930,961,761
2001 $15,976,174,476 $290,160,142,214
2000 $15,013,629,579 $282,327,351,966
1999 $14,254,866,284 $301,911,268,140
1998 $13,684,255,998 $306,907,741,068
1997 $12,614,602,322 $298,868,250,534
1996 $11,678,424,727 $345,373,647,249
1995 $11,578,594,333 $358,152,520,085
1994 $10,489,903,834 $305,916,331,798
1993 $9,564,816,063 $276,339,744,180
1992 $8,579,754,953 $284,139,428,246
1991 $7,215,725,635 $272,953,645,746
1990 $5,711,687,787 $269,768,238,555
1989 $5,251,025,767 $211,241,694,480
1988 $4,614,629,898 $218,788,504,066
1987 $4,532,952,047 $202,238,567,597
1986 $4,418,983,871 $161,487,171,049
1985 $3,919,203,960 $112,652,623,418
1984 $3,660,477,856 $111,104,641,869
1983 $3,146,772,631 $116,361,728,836
1982 $2,606,623,555 $116,776,899,473
1981 $2,623,803,096 $113,936,168,924
1980 $4,831,447,001 $124,404,609,417
1979 $4,035,519,323 $116,702,524,208
1978 $3,523,208,810 $103,821,687,919
1977 $3,072,427,013 $74,237,819,014
1976 $2,412,555,426 $69,508,364,538
1975 $1,960,863,466 $66,452,559,176
1974 $1,666,544,754 $57,963,469,607
1973 $1,528,925,846 $50,296,651,921
1972 $1,238,251,696 $37,399,508,287
1971 $1,077,147,538 $30,492,832,676
1970 $984,830,158 $25,374,750,743
1969 $853,630,204 $22,780,211,812
1968 $773,841,494 $21,024,203,656
1967 $699,456,619 $19,689,329,510
1966 $647,305,630 $18,290,928,227
1965 $592,981,162 $17,033,079,428
1964 $542,578,367 $16,071,715,835
1963 $511,902,137 $14,499,109,270
1962 $479,180,824 $13,185,384,691
1961 $490,325,182 $11,889,851,950
1960 $507,513,830 $10,569,129,806

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Costa Rica and Switzerland economies compared

GDP per capita
Costa Rica

Switzerland
1x
Year GDP per capita
Costa Rica Switzerland
2025 $19,970 $114,769
2024 $18,853 $107,702
2023 $17,141 $104,450
2022 $13,972 $97,809
2021 $12,962 $96,583
2020 $12,476 $87,530
2019 $12,952 $85,873
2018 $12,620 $87,002
2017 $12,317 $83,610
2016 $12,091 $83,432
2015 $11,715 $85,265
2014 $10,911 $90,512
2013 $10,803 $88,851
2012 $10,127 $87,270
2011 $9,276 $91,910
2010 $8,266 $77,956
2009 $6,833 $72,788
2008 $6,937 $75,148
2007 $6,138 $66,082
2006 $5,257 $59,910
2005 $4,703 $57,080
2004 $4,431 $55,350
2003 $4,173 $49,947
2002 $4,068 $43,094
2001 $3,985 $40,134
2000 $3,813 $39,298
1999 $3,691 $42,261
1998 $3,617 $43,166
1997 $3,408 $42,160
1996 $3,227 $48,838
1995 $3,275 $50,869
1994 $3,040 $43,741
1993 $2,840 $39,828
1992 $2,612 $41,327
1991 $2,253 $40,140
1990 $1,830 $40,171
1989 $1,725 $31,780
1988 $1,555 $33,183
1987 $1,567 $30,899
1986 $1,569 $24,828
1985 $1,429 $17,411
1984 $1,372 $17,247
1983 $1,213 $18,128
1982 $1,032 $18,271
1981 $1,068 $17,931
1980 $2,021 $19,686
1979 $1,735 $18,541
1978 $1,556 $16,528
1977 $1,393 $11,819
1976 $1,123 $11,029
1975 $937 $10,484
1974 $817 $9,140
1973 $769 $7,974
1972 $639 $5,973
1971 $570 $4,908
1970 $536 $4,105
1969 $477 $3,712
1968 $445 $3,465
1967 $414 $3,286
1966 $395 $3,091
1965 $374 $2,908
1964 $354 $2,776
1963 $346 $2,546
1962 $335 $2,366
1961 $356 $2,188
1960 $382 $1,984

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Costa Rica vs. Switzerland life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Costa Rica

Switzerland
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Costa Rica Switzerland
2026 81.4 84.4
2025 81.2 84.2
2024 81 84.1
2023 80.8 84
2022 79.3 83.2
2021 78.1 83.6
2020 79.7 83.1
2019 80.3 83.8
2018 80.1 83.6
2017 80 83.4
2016 80 83.4
2015 80.4 82.8
2014 80.2 83.1
2013 80.2 82.7
2012 79.9 82.6
2011 79.6 82.6
2010 79.4 82.3
2009 79.4 82
2008 79.2 82
2007 79.1 81.7
2006 79 81.5
2005 78.9 81.2
2004 78.5 81.1
2003 78.2 80.5
2002 77.9 80.4
2001 77.6 80.3
2000 77.3 79.8
1999 77.1 79.7
1998 76.9 79.5
1997 76.6 79.2
1996 76.4 79
1995 76.4 78.6
1994 76.3 78.5
1993 76.3 78.2
1992 76.4 77.9
1991 76.2 77.6
1990 76.1 77.4
1989 75.9 77.6
1988 75.5 77.4
1987 75.2 77.3
1986 74.9 77
1985 74.8 76.9
1984 74.6 76.8
1983 74.2 76.2
1982 73.9 76.2
1981 73.4 75.8
1980 73 75.6
1979 72.5 75.6
1978 72 75.3
1977 71.5 75.4
1976 70.9 74.9
1975 70.3 74.8
1974 69.4 74.4
1973 68.7 74.1
1972 68 73.8
1971 67.4 73.2
1970 66.8 73.1
1969 66.4 72.7
1968 65.8 72.7
1967 65.6 72.7
1966 65.1 72.4
1965 64.8 72.3
1964 64.5 72.2
1963 64.3 71.3
1962 64.2 71.3
1961 63.9 71.7
1960 63.5 71.4
1959 62.9 71.5
1958 62.3 71.3
1957 61.6 70.5
1956 61.2 70.2
1955 60.5 70.1
1954 59.9 70
1953 59.1 69.5
1952 58.1 69.6
1951 57.8 68.7
1950 57.5 68.9

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Costa Rica and Switzerland population clocks and comparison

Population
Costa Rica

Switzerland
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Switzerland
2025 5,152,950 9,092,436
2024 5,129,910 9,005,582
2023 5,105,525 8,888,822
2022 5,081,765 8,777,088
2021 5,059,988 8,704,546
2020 5,034,320 8,638,167
2019 4,999,553 8,575,280
2018 4,957,818 8,514,329
2017 4,913,177 8,451,840
2016 4,866,998 8,373,338
2015 4,818,038 8,282,396
2014 4,767,119 8,188,649
2013 4,716,147 8,089,346
2012 4,663,934 7,996,861
2011 4,609,833 7,912,398
2010 4,555,962 7,824,909
2009 4,499,791 7,743,831
2008 4,440,056 7,647,675
2007 4,380,248 7,551,117
2006 4,321,340 7,483,934
2005 4,261,240 7,437,115
2004 4,200,078 7,389,625
2003 4,138,784 7,339,001
2002 4,075,705 7,284,753
2001 4,008,947 7,229,854
2000 3,937,739 7,184,250
1999 3,862,101 7,143,991
1998 3,782,838 7,110,001
1997 3,701,711 7,088,906
1996 3,619,013 7,071,850
1995 3,535,176 7,040,687
1994 3,451,122 6,993,795
1993 3,367,434 6,938,265
1992 3,284,258 6,875,364
1991 3,202,176 6,799,978
1990 3,121,706 6,715,519
1989 3,043,827 6,646,912
1988 2,968,103 6,593,386
1987 2,892,699 6,545,106
1986 2,817,216 6,504,124
1985 2,741,894 6,470,365
1984 2,667,595 6,441,865
1983 2,595,153 6,418,773
1982 2,524,806 6,391,309
1981 2,456,637 6,354,074
1980 2,390,633 6,319,408
1979 2,326,490 6,294,365
1978 2,264,510 6,281,738
1977 2,205,025 6,281,174
1976 2,147,774 6,302,504
1975 2,092,719 6,338,632
1974 2,039,643 6,341,405
1973 1,988,343 6,307,347
1972 1,938,248 6,260,956
1971 1,888,539 6,213,399
1970 1,838,949 6,180,877
1969 1,789,276 6,136,387
1968 1,739,731 6,067,714
1967 1,689,523 5,991,785
1966 1,638,116 5,918,002
1965 1,586,208 5,856,472
1964 1,533,960 5,789,228
1963 1,481,604 5,694,247
1962 1,429,445 5,573,815
1961 1,377,920 5,434,294
1960 1,327,496 5,327,827

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Fertility rates in Costa Rica and Switzerland

Fertility rate
Costa Rica

Switzerland
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica Switzerland
2024 1.32 1.29
2023 1.33 1.33
2022 1.34 1.39
2021 1.35 1.52
2020 1.45 1.46
2019 1.6 1.48
2018 1.71 1.52
2017 1.71 1.52
2016 1.75 1.54
2015 1.8 1.54
2014 1.8 1.54
2013 1.78 1.52
2012 1.85 1.52
2011 1.88 1.52
2010 1.83 1.52
2009 1.95 1.5
2008 1.98 1.48
2007 1.95 1.46
2006 1.94 1.44
2005 2.04 1.42
2004 2.03 1.42
2003 2.08 1.39
2002 2.16 1.39
2001 2.31 1.38
2000 2.41 1.5
1999 2.48 1.48
1998 2.53 1.47
1997 2.59 1.48
1996 2.68 1.5
1995 2.78 1.48
1994 2.86 1.49
1993 2.93 1.51
1992 3 1.58
1991 3.08 1.58
1990 3.17 1.58
1989 3.24 1.56
1988 3.31 1.57
1987 3.38 1.52
1986 3.45 1.53
1985 3.51 1.52
1984 3.52 1.53
1983 3.53 1.52
1982 3.54 1.56
1981 3.56 1.55
1980 3.58 1.55
1979 3.65 1.52
1978 3.66 1.51
1977 3.7 1.53
1976 3.75 1.55
1975 3.8 1.61
1974 3.89 1.73
1973 3.99 1.81
1972 4.16 1.91
1971 4.36 2.04
1970 4.59 2.1
1969 4.84 2.19
1968 5.03 2.29
1967 5.42 2.39
1966 5.7 2.5
1965 5.96 2.59
1964 6.19 2.66
1963 6.39 2.65
1962 6.54 2.58
1961 6.65 2.52
1960 6.71 2.44

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Costa Rica and Switzerland demographics compared

Median age
Costa Rica

Switzerland
1x
Year Median age, years
Costa Rica Switzerland
2025 36.2 43.9
2024 35.6 43.7
2023 35.1 43.4
2022 34.5 43
2021 34 42.8
2020 33.5 42.7
2019 33 42.6
2018 32.6 42.5
2017 32.1 42.4
2016 31.7 42.3
2015 31.2 42.2
2014 30.7 42.1
2013 30.3 42
2012 29.8 41.8
2011 29.4 41.6
2010 29 41.5
2009 28.6 41.3
2008 28.2 41.1
2007 27.8 40.9
2006 27.4 40.6
2005 27 40.3
2004 26.7 39.9
2003 26.3 39.6
2002 25.9 39.3
2001 25.5 39
2000 25.2 38.7
1999 24.9 38.4
1998 24.7 38.2
1997 24.4 37.9
1996 24.1 37.6
1995 23.9 37.3
1994 23.6 37.1
1993 23.4 37
1992 23.2 36.9
1991 22.9 36.9
1990 22.7 36.9
1989 22.5 36.8
1988 22.3 36.7
1987 22.1 36.5
1986 21.8 36.3
1985 21.6 36.1
1984 21.4 35.9
1983 21.2 35.6
1982 20.9 35.3
1981 20.6 35
1980 20.3 34.8
1979 20 34.5
1978 19.7 34.2
1977 19.5 33.8
1976 19.2 33.5
1975 18.9 33.1
1974 18.6 32.7
1973 18.4 32.5
1972 18.1 32.3
1971 17.8 32.2
1970 17.6 32
1969 17.3 31.7
1968 17.1 31.7
1967 16.9 31.6
1966 16.8 31.6
1965 16.7 31.6
1964 16.7 31.5
1963 16.7 31.7
1962 16.7 32
1961 16.8 32.4
1960 16.8 32.6

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica Switzerland
GNI, Atlas method
$92.4B
2025
$1T
2025
Government expenditure, % of GDP
17.8%
2025
31.2%
2025
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.31%
2023
4.86%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
0.72%
2024
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
20,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.35%
2025
+0.45%
2025
Unemployment rate
6.34%
2025
4.84%
2025
Services, % of GDP
69.2%
2025
71.7%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
19.9%
2025
25%
2025
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
83.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.3%
2025
26.6%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
1.8%
2025
2.9%
2022
Number of millionaires n/a
944,000
2026
Percentage of millionaires n/a
13%
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
45
2026
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.0006%
2026
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
201
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$2.51T
2025
Total reserves including gold
$17.1B
2025
$1.08T
2025
Personal remittances received
$725M
2024
$3.64B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,146,500
2020
11,818,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
7.4%
2020
2.08%
2020
Banked people share
71.4%
2024
98.4%
2024

Energy

Costa Rica Switzerland
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,024 kg
2024
2,492 kg
2024
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$30.4
2024
$38.7
2024
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.38 megatons
2024
33.7 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.63 tons
2024
3.75 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.6%
2023
44.5%
2023
Renewable energy use share
34.2%
2021
27.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
37.4%
2024
48.1%
2024
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
51.7%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,282 kWh
2024
7,117 kWh
2024
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
67.9%
2021
Hydroelectric share
66.6%
2024
59.1%
2024
Nuclear share
0%
2021
29.1%
2024
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Costa Rica Switzerland
% of world population
0.06%
2025
0.11%
2025
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
+37,253
2025
Urban population
79.7%
2025
85.7%
2025
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2025
49.7:50.3
2025
Average male height
5.56 ft
2026
5.75 ft
2026
Average female height
5.11 ft
2026
5.38 ft
2026
Quality of life index
65.9
2026
100
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
80
2025
Higher education index
73
2026
99
2026
Homicides per 100K people
17.7
2023
0.6
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.8
2019
2.2
2019
Visa free countries
143
2026
174
2026
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
99%
2003
English speaking
8.15%
2026
38.7%
2026
People using the Internet
87.2%
2024
97.3%
2025

Health

Costa Rica Switzerland
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,163
2023
$11,784
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$280.7
2023
$2,596
2023
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
84.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.69
2022
4.48
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
31.3 years
2024
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
5
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.4
2024
3.9
2024
Obesity rate
32.3%
2022
12.5%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.8%
2024
5.3%
2024
Air quality index
80
2026
83
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
7.9%
2024
23.1%
2024
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.4 liters
2020
10.1 liters
2020

Territory

Costa Rica Switzerland
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.03%
2026
Land area per capita
3,826 sq mi
2025
1,678 sq mi
2025
Agricultural land area
6,534 sq mi
2026
5,765 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,907 sq mi
2026
4,940 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,129 mi
2017
52,266 mi
2021

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  10. Passport Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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