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Costa Rica vs Thailand statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a population of 5.13M (ranked 126/197), compared with 71.7M in Thailand (ranked 20/197). Costa Rica's land area is 19,714 sq mi versus 197,256 sq mi for Thailand (ranked 126th vs. 50th).

By GDP, Costa Rica ranks 73/197 ($95.4B) and Thailand ranks 31/197 ($527B). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 62/197 ($18,587), while Thailand ranks 100/197 ($7,347).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica Thailand
Population
5181862
71571743
Population rank 126/197 21/197
GDP
$95.4B
2024
$527B
2024
GDP rank 73/197 31/197
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$7,347
2024
GDP per capita rank 62/197 100/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$24,712
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$333B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
63.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$4,643
2024
Government debt per person rank 50/185 84/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$6,733
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 197,256 sq mi
Population density
262.6 ppl/mi²
2026
363 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.33
2023
1.21
2023
Median age
35.6 years
2024
41.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
77.1 years
2026

Costa Rica and Thailand: Comparison Charts

Costa Rica and Thailand economies compared

GDP
Costa Rica

Thailand
1x
Year GDP
Costa Rica Thailand
2024 $95,350,423,177 $526,517,658,842
2023 $86,497,941,439 $515,906,283,941
2022 $69,243,626,029 $495,644,697,588
2021 $64,960,725,734 $506,194,668,790
2020 $62,395,610,760 $500,461,898,480
2019 $64,417,670,521 $543,976,691,794
2018 $62,420,164,992 $506,754,208,404
2017 $60,516,044,657 $456,356,813,537
2016 $58,847,019,610 $413,366,349,748
2015 $56,441,920,821 $401,296,238,228
2014 $52,016,408,854 $407,339,040,198
2013 $50,949,668,842 $420,333,654,593
2012 $47,231,655,432 $397,558,325,279
2011 $42,762,613,699 $370,818,739,624
2010 $37,658,616,952 $341,104,766,329
2009 $30,745,714,313 $281,710,630,187
2008 $30,801,745,700 $291,382,982,431
2007 $26,884,700,709 $262,942,621,455
2006 $22,715,540,324 $221,758,296,022
2005 $20,040,642,477 $189,318,408,469
2004 $18,610,594,846 $172,895,685,155
2003 $17,271,760,507 $152,280,615,246
2002 $16,578,820,687 $134,300,904,400
2001 $15,976,174,337 $120,296,476,180
2000 $15,013,629,662 $126,392,224,254
1999 $14,254,866,285 $126,669,211,779
1998 $13,684,255,947 $113,675,596,788
1997 $12,614,602,382 $150,180,456,566
1996 $11,678,424,507 $183,035,237,429
1995 $11,578,594,260 $169,278,916,593
1994 $10,489,903,725 $146,683,778,959
1993 $9,564,815,975 $128,889,262,951
1992 $8,579,754,758 $111,452,746,518
1991 $7,215,725,487 $98,234,714,971
1990 $5,711,687,787 $85,343,190,719
1989 $5,251,025,767 $72,250,748,100
1988 $4,614,629,898 $61,667,253,471
1987 $4,532,952,047 $50,535,446,555
1986 $4,418,983,871 $43,096,773,981
1985 $3,919,203,960 $38,900,711,333
1984 $3,660,477,856 $41,797,647,776
1983 $3,146,772,631 $40,042,798,388
1982 $2,606,623,555 $36,589,772,404
1981 $2,623,803,096 $34,846,039,194
1980 $4,831,447,001 $32,353,514,989
1979 $4,035,519,323 $27,371,650,825
1978 $3,523,208,810 $24,006,566,637
1977 $3,072,427,013 $19,779,312,261
1976 $2,412,555,426 $16,985,208,648
1975 $1,960,863,466 $14,882,770,594
1974 $1,666,544,754 $13,702,998,512
1973 $1,528,925,846 $10,838,587,358
1972 $1,238,251,696 $8,177,873,151
1971 $1,077,147,538 $7,375,000,024
1970 $984,830,158 $7,086,538,438
1969 $853,630,204 $6,695,336,567
1968 $773,841,494 $6,081,009,428
1967 $699,456,619 $5,638,461,442
1966 $647,305,630 $5,279,230,817
1965 $592,981,162 $4,388,937,649
1964 $542,578,367 $3,889,129,942
1963 $511,902,137 $3,540,403,457
1962 $479,180,824 $3,308,912,797
1961 $490,325,182 $3,034,037,811
1960 $507,513,830 $2,760,750,861

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

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

Costa Rica and Thailand economies compared

GDP per capita
Costa Rica

Thailand
1x
Year GDP per capita
Costa Rica Thailand
2024 $18,587 $7,347
2023 $16,942 $7,195
2022 $13,626 $6,909
2021 $12,838 $7,057
2020 $12,394 $6,986
2019 $12,885 $7,606
2018 $12,590 $7,100
2017 $12,317 $6,413
2016 $12,091 $5,834
2015 $11,715 $5,689
2014 $10,911 $5,801
2013 $10,803 $6,018
2012 $10,127 $5,726
2011 $9,276 $5,374
2010 $8,266 $4,974
2009 $6,833 $4,135
2008 $6,937 $4,309
2007 $6,138 $3,919
2006 $5,257 $3,331
2005 $4,703 $2,868
2004 $4,431 $2,642
2003 $4,173 $2,348
2002 $4,068 $2,090
2001 $3,985 $1,890
2000 $3,813 $2,006
1999 $3,691 $2,033
1998 $3,617 $1,848
1997 $3,408 $2,473
1996 $3,227 $3,055
1995 $3,275 $2,864
1994 $3,040 $2,518
1993 $2,840 $2,245
1992 $2,612 $1,972
1991 $2,253 $1,766
1990 $1,830 $1,559
1989 $1,725 $1,342
1988 $1,555 $1,164
1987 $1,567 $970
1986 $1,569 $842
1985 $1,429 $774
1984 $1,372 $847
1983 $1,213 $827
1982 $1,032 $770
1981 $1,068 $748
1980 $2,021 $709
1979 $1,735 $612
1978 $1,556 $548
1977 $1,393 $462
1976 $1,123 $405
1975 $937 $364
1974 $817 $343
1973 $769 $278.3
1972 $639 $215.6
1971 $570 $199.7
1970 $536 $197.1
1969 $477 $191.4
1968 $445 $178.8
1967 $414 $170.7
1966 $395 $164.5
1965 $374 $140.9
1964 $354 $128.6
1963 $346 $120.7
1962 $335 $116.2
1961 $356 $109.7
1960 $382 $102.8

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

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

Costa Rica vs. Thailand life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Costa Rica

Thailand
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Costa Rica Thailand
2026 81.4 77.1
2025 81.2 76.8
2024 81 76.6
2023 80.8 76.4
2022 79.3 75.3
2021 78.1 77.6
2020 79.7 77.3
2019 80.3 77.2
2018 80.1 77.2
2017 80 77
2016 80 76.8
2015 80.4 76.6
2014 80.2 76.3
2013 80.2 76
2012 79.9 75.6
2011 79.6 75.3
2010 79.4 75
2009 79.4 74.7
2008 79.2 74.2
2007 79.1 73.8
2006 79 73.3
2005 78.9 72.9
2004 78.5 72.1
2003 78.2 72.1
2002 77.9 71.8
2001 77.6 71.5
2000 77.3 71.2
1999 77.1 71
1998 76.9 70.7
1997 76.6 70.4
1996 76.4 69.9
1995 76.4 69.8
1994 76.3 69.7
1993 76.3 69.6
1992 76.4 69.4
1991 76.2 69.1
1990 76.1 68.9
1989 75.9 68.6
1988 75.5 68.2
1987 75.2 67.8
1986 74.9 67.3
1985 74.8 66.5
1984 74.6 65.5
1983 74.2 64.5
1982 73.9 63.6
1981 73.4 62.9
1980 73 62.2
1979 72.5 61.7
1978 72 61.3
1977 71.5 60.9
1976 70.9 60.4
1975 70.3 59.7
1974 69.4 59
1973 68.7 58.3
1972 68 57.7
1971 67.4 57.1
1970 66.8 56.5
1969 66.4 55.7
1968 65.8 55
1967 65.6 54.3
1966 65.1 53.7
1965 64.8 53.1
1964 64.5 52.5
1963 64.3 52
1962 64.2 51.4
1961 63.9 51.1
1960 63.5 50.6
1959 62.9 50.1
1958 62.3 49.5
1957 61.6 49.1
1956 61.2 48.6
1955 60.5 48.1
1954 59.9 47.6
1953 59.1 47.1
1952 58.1 46.5
1951 57.8 45.9
1950 57.5 45.2

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

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

Costa Rica and Thailand population clocks and comparison

Population
Costa Rica

Thailand
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Thailand
2024 5,129,910 71,668,011
2023 5,105,525 71,702,435
2022 5,081,765 71,735,329
2021 5,059,988 71,727,332
2020 5,034,320 71,641,484
2019 4,999,553 71,522,271
2018 4,957,818 71,376,079
2017 4,913,177 71,160,187
2016 4,866,998 70,859,841
2015 4,818,038 70,540,795
2014 4,767,119 70,216,367
2013 4,716,147 69,845,114
2012 4,663,934 69,436,098
2011 4,609,833 69,007,208
2010 4,555,962 68,579,447
2009 4,499,791 68,121,080
2008 4,440,056 67,619,830
2007 4,380,248 67,102,394
2006 4,321,340 66,567,687
2005 4,261,240 66,017,420
2004 4,200,078 65,452,047
2003 4,138,784 64,868,166
2002 4,075,705 64,266,437
2001 4,008,947 63,651,141
2000 3,937,739 63,007,815
1999 3,862,101 62,299,043
1998 3,782,838 61,522,630
1997 3,701,711 60,724,584
1996 3,619,013 59,920,064
1995 3,535,176 59,098,232
1994 3,451,122 58,260,854
1993 3,367,434 57,408,198
1992 3,284,258 56,528,834
1991 3,202,176 55,637,434
1990 3,121,706 54,738,329
1989 3,043,827 53,848,956
1988 2,968,103 52,969,595
1987 2,892,699 52,074,105
1986 2,817,216 51,177,834
1985 2,741,894 50,270,753
1984 2,667,595 49,351,708
1983 2,595,153 48,423,309
1982 2,524,806 47,494,577
1981 2,456,637 46,575,855
1980 2,390,633 45,650,022
1979 2,326,490 44,718,434
1978 2,264,510 43,788,976
1977 2,205,025 42,843,974
1976 2,147,774 41,896,504
1975 2,092,719 40,940,005
1974 2,039,643 39,952,891
1973 1,988,343 38,947,787
1972 1,938,248 37,933,929
1971 1,888,539 36,937,387
1970 1,838,949 35,954,408
1969 1,789,276 34,973,782
1968 1,739,731 34,002,560
1967 1,689,523 33,037,801
1966 1,638,116 32,086,071
1965 1,586,208 31,149,337
1964 1,533,960 30,232,141
1963 1,481,604 29,342,322
1962 1,429,445 28,481,040
1961 1,377,920 27,650,334
1960 1,327,496 26,851,747

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

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

Fertility rates in Costa Rica and Thailand

Fertility rate
Costa Rica

Thailand
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica Thailand
2023 1.33 1.21
2022 1.34 1.22
2021 1.35 1.23
2020 1.45 1.26
2019 1.6 1.29
2018 1.71 1.32
2017 1.71 1.36
2016 1.75 1.4
2015 1.8 1.45
2014 1.8 1.48
2013 1.78 1.53
2012 1.85 1.56
2011 1.88 1.57
2010 1.83 1.56
2009 1.95 1.57
2008 1.98 1.59
2007 1.95 1.62
2006 1.94 1.63
2005 2.04 1.64
2004 2.03 1.67
2003 2.08 1.67
2002 2.16 1.69
2001 2.31 1.71
2000 2.41 1.73
1999 2.48 1.77
1998 2.53 1.82
1997 2.59 1.85
1996 2.68 1.87
1995 2.78 1.89
1994 2.86 1.93
1993 2.93 1.97
1992 3 2.01
1991 3.08 2.04
1990 3.17 2.07
1989 3.24 2.14
1988 3.31 2.17
1987 3.38 2.26
1986 3.45 2.36
1985 3.51 2.45
1984 3.52 2.58
1983 3.53 2.76
1982 3.54 2.94
1981 3.56 3.13
1980 3.58 3.29
1979 3.65 3.45
1978 3.66 3.62
1977 3.7 3.87
1976 3.75 4.12
1975 3.8 4.36
1974 3.89 4.6
1973 3.99 4.85
1972 4.16 5.08
1971 4.36 5.25
1970 4.59 5.45
1969 4.84 5.7
1968 5.03 5.93
1967 5.42 6.08
1966 5.7 6.18
1965 5.96 6.26
1964 6.19 6.31
1963 6.39 6.34
1962 6.54 6.33
1961 6.65 6.32
1960 6.71 6.33

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

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

Costa Rica and Thailand demographics compared

Median age
Costa Rica

Thailand
1x
Year Median age, years
Costa Rica Thailand
2024 35.6 41.1
2023 35.1 40.7
2022 34.5 40.2
2021 34 39.7
2020 33.5 39.2
2019 33 38.7
2018 32.6 38.2
2017 32.1 37.7
2016 31.7 37.3
2015 31.2 36.8
2014 30.7 36.3
2013 30.3 35.9
2012 29.8 35.4
2011 29.4 35
2010 29 34.5
2009 28.6 34
2008 28.2 33.6
2007 27.8 33.1
2006 27.4 32.6
2005 27 32.2
2004 26.7 31.7
2003 26.3 31.3
2002 25.9 30.9
2001 25.5 30.5
2000 25.2 30
1999 24.9 29.5
1998 24.7 28.9
1997 24.4 28.3
1996 24.1 27.7
1995 23.9 27.2
1994 23.6 26.6
1993 23.4 26
1992 23.2 25.4
1991 22.9 24.8
1990 22.7 24.3
1989 22.5 23.7
1988 22.3 23.3
1987 22.1 22.8
1986 21.8 22.4
1985 21.6 21.9
1984 21.4 21.5
1983 21.2 21
1982 20.9 20.6
1981 20.6 20.2
1980 20.3 19.9
1979 20 19.5
1978 19.7 19.2
1977 19.5 18.9
1976 19.2 18.7
1975 18.9 18.4
1974 18.6 18.2
1973 18.4 18
1972 18.1 17.8
1971 17.8 17.6
1970 17.6 17.5
1969 17.3 17.4
1968 17.1 17.3
1967 16.9 17.3
1966 16.8 17.3
1965 16.7 17.4
1964 16.7 17.5
1963 16.7 17.6
1962 16.7 17.7
1961 16.8 17.9
1960 16.8 18

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica Thailand
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$509B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
22.7%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.25%
2021
2.52%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
1.08%
2024
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
455,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
-1.29%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
0.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
59.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
32.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
62.2
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
26.1%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
3.4%
2023
Number of millionaires n/a
100,001
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.18%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
25
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00004%
2025
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
860
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$520B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$237B
2024
Personal remittances received
$725M
2024
$9.46B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,146,500
2020
39,916,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
7.41%
2020
5.97%
2020
Banked people share
71.4%
2024
91.8%
2024

Energy

Costa Rica Thailand
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,025 kg
2023
1,851 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.2
2023
$12.7
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.38 megatons
2024
283.8 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.63 tons
2024
3.96 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.6%
2023
79.7%
2022
Renewable energy use share
34.2%
2021
19%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
37.7%
2023
1.02%
2023
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
57.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,206 kWh
2023
2,965 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
19.9%
2021
Hydroelectric share
69.3%
2023
3.45%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Costa Rica Thailand
% of world population
0.06%
2024
0.88%
2024
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
+27,509
2025
Urban population
79.3%
2024
61.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.71 ft
2025
5.63 ft
2025
Average female height
5.26 ft
2025
5.23 ft
2025
Quality of life index
64.8
2026
56.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
33
2025
Higher education index
73
2026
76
2026
Homicides per 100K people
17.7
2023
4.81
2011
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.8
2019
32.2
2019
Visa free countries
142
2025
93
2025
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
91.1%
2022
English speaking
8.15%
2023
27.2%
2023
People using the Internet
85.4%
2023
90.9%
2024

Health

Costa Rica Thailand
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,163
2023
$327
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$280.7
2023
$32.4
2023
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
77.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0.1%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.69
2022
0.54
2021
Age at first childbirth n/a
23.3 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
34
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.5
2023
9.2
2023
Obesity rate
32.3%
2022
15.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.8%
2024
10.2%
2024
Air quality index
80
2026
35
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
8.9%
2022
19.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.4 liters
2020
7.99 liters
2020

Territory

Costa Rica Thailand
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.34%
2026
Land area per capita
3,843 sq mi
2024
2,752 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,534 sq mi
2026
86,394 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,907 sq mi
2026
76,313 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,129 mi
2017
436,817 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) (2000–2025, 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)

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