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Costa Rica vs Switzerland statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a population of 5.13M (ranked 126/197), compared with 9.01M in Switzerland (ranked 101/197). 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 73/197 ($95.4B) and Switzerland ranks 20/197 ($937B). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 62/197 ($18,587), while Switzerland ranks 5/197 ($103,998).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica Switzerland
Population
5181862
9107866
Population rank 126/197 100/197
GDP
$95.4B
2024
$937B
2024
GDP rank 73/197 20/197
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$103,998
2024
GDP per capita rank 62/197 5/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$96,498
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$351B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
37.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$39,021
2024
Government debt per person rank 50/185 15/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$85,867
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 15,255 sq mi
Population density
262.6 ppl/mi²
2026
596 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.33
2023
1.33
2023
Median age
35.6 years
2024
43.7 years
2024
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
2024 $95,350,423,177 $936,564,198,049
2023 $86,497,941,439 $894,424,821,645
2022 $69,243,626,029 $828,508,926,958
2021 $64,960,725,734 $815,309,330,987
2020 $62,395,610,760 $741,999,406,006
2019 $64,417,670,521 $721,369,112,727
2018 $62,420,164,992 $725,568,717,468
2017 $60,516,044,657 $695,200,833,086
2016 $58,847,019,610 $687,895,460,903
2015 $56,441,920,821 $694,118,186,380
2014 $52,016,408,854 $726,537,808,338
2013 $50,949,668,842 $706,234,937,371
2012 $47,231,655,432 $686,420,221,558
2011 $42,762,613,699 $715,888,126,682
2010 $37,658,616,952 $598,851,028,907
2009 $30,745,714,313 $554,212,916,092
2008 $30,801,745,700 $567,267,767,519
2007 $26,884,700,709 $490,740,715,595
2006 $22,715,540,324 $441,634,672,197
2005 $20,040,642,477 $418,284,865,885
2004 $18,610,594,846 $403,912,891,033
2003 $17,271,760,507 $362,075,086,508
2002 $16,578,820,687 $309,301,422,430
2001 $15,976,174,337 $286,582,672,434
2000 $15,013,629,662 $279,216,033,870
1999 $14,254,866,285 $297,873,643,323
1998 $13,684,255,947 $303,459,014,347
1997 $12,614,602,382 $294,788,198,856
1996 $11,678,424,507 $340,103,959,547
1995 $11,578,594,260 $352,835,806,342
1994 $10,489,903,725 $301,375,055,202
1993 $9,564,815,975 $272,237,527,071
1992 $8,579,754,758 $279,921,425,828
1991 $7,215,725,487 $268,901,693,863
1990 $5,711,687,787 $265,763,573,999
1989 $5,251,025,767 $208,105,846,934
1988 $4,614,629,898 $215,540,625,299
1987 $4,532,952,047 $199,236,370,038
1986 $4,418,983,871 $159,089,921,063
1985 $3,919,203,960 $110,980,314,192
1984 $3,660,477,856 $109,455,312,168
1983 $3,146,772,631 $114,634,358,535
1982 $2,606,623,555 $115,043,365,512
1981 $2,623,803,096 $112,244,805,519
1980 $4,831,447,001 $122,557,843,886
1979 $4,035,519,323 $114,970,094,425
1978 $3,523,208,810 $102,280,472,036
1977 $3,072,427,013 $73,135,771,167
1976 $2,412,555,426 $68,476,524,644
1975 $1,960,863,466 $65,466,081,819
1974 $1,666,544,754 $57,103,011,446
1973 $1,528,925,846 $49,550,006,320
1972 $1,238,251,696 $36,844,318,854
1971 $1,077,147,538 $30,040,171,751
1970 $984,830,158 $24,998,066,773
1969 $853,630,204 $22,442,043,274
1968 $773,841,494 $20,712,102,794
1967 $699,456,619 $19,397,044,714
1966 $647,305,630 $18,019,402,374
1965 $592,981,162 $16,780,226,225
1964 $542,578,367 $15,833,133,858
1963 $511,902,137 $14,283,872,299
1962 $479,180,824 $12,989,649,694
1961 $490,325,182 $11,713,348,834
1960 $507,513,830 $10,412,232,621

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

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
2024 $18,587 $103,998
2023 $16,942 $100,624
2022 $13,626 $94,395
2021 $12,838 $93,665
2020 $12,394 $85,898
2019 $12,885 $84,122
2018 $12,590 $85,217
2017 $12,317 $82,254
2016 $12,091 $82,153
2015 $11,715 $83,806
2014 $10,911 $88,725
2013 $10,803 $87,304
2012 $10,127 $85,836
2011 $9,276 $90,477
2010 $8,266 $76,531
2009 $6,833 $71,568
2008 $6,937 $74,175
2007 $6,138 $64,989
2006 $5,257 $59,011
2005 $4,703 $56,243
2004 $4,431 $54,659
2003 $4,173 $49,336
2002 $4,068 $42,459
2001 $3,985 $39,639
2000 $3,813 $38,865
1999 $3,691 $41,696
1998 $3,617 $42,681
1997 $3,408 $41,584
1996 $3,227 $48,093
1995 $3,275 $50,114
1994 $3,040 $43,092
1993 $2,840 $39,237
1992 $2,612 $40,714
1991 $2,253 $39,544
1990 $1,830 $39,575
1989 $1,725 $31,309
1988 $1,555 $32,690
1987 $1,567 $30,441
1986 $1,569 $24,460
1985 $1,429 $17,152
1984 $1,372 $16,991
1983 $1,213 $17,859
1982 $1,032 $18,000
1981 $1,068 $17,665
1980 $2,021 $19,394
1979 $1,735 $18,266
1978 $1,556 $16,282
1977 $1,393 $11,644
1976 $1,123 $10,865
1975 $937 $10,328
1974 $817 $9,005
1973 $769 $7,856
1972 $639 $5,885
1971 $570 $4,835
1970 $536 $4,044
1969 $477 $3,657
1968 $445 $3,413
1967 $414 $3,237
1966 $395 $3,045
1965 $374 $2,865
1964 $354 $2,735
1963 $346 $2,508
1962 $335 $2,330
1961 $356 $2,155
1960 $382 $1,954

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

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 2026-03-10).

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
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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
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 (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica Switzerland
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$857B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
31.9%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.25%
2021
4.92%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
0.72%
2024
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
20,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
+0.58%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
4.34%
2024
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
72%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
24.7%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
83.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
26.6%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
2.9%
2022
Number of millionaires n/a
1,119,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
15.5%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
42
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.0006%
2025
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
206
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$1.97T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$909B
2024
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
7.41%
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
1,025 kg
2023
2,511 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.2
2023
$37.9
2023
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
37.7%
2023
45.1%
2023
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
51.7%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,206 kWh
2023
7,096 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
68.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
69.3%
2023
55.8%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
33%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Costa Rica Switzerland
% of world population
0.06%
2024
0.11%
2024
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
+37,253
2025
Urban population
79.3%
2024
85.5%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
49.7:50.3
2024
Average male height
5.71 ft
2025
5.86 ft
2025
Average female height
5.26 ft
2025
5.39 ft
2025
Quality of life index
64.8
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
142
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
99%
2003
English speaking
8.15%
2023
61.3%
2023
People using the Internet
85.4%
2023
97.3%
2023

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
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
5
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.5
2023
3.9
2023
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
8.9%
2022
25.5%
2022
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
3,843 sq mi
2024
1,694 sq mi
2024
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 (1960–2025, 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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