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Costa Rica vs United Arab Emirates statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a population of 5.13M (ranked 126/197), compared with 11M in The United Arab Emirates (ranked 86/197). Costa Rica's land area is 19,714 sq mi versus 27,421 sq mi for The United Arab Emirates (ranked 126th vs. 117th).

By GDP, Costa Rica ranks 73/197 ($95.4B) and The United Arab Emirates ranks 27/197 ($552B). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 62/197 ($18,587), while The United Arab Emirates ranks 24/197 ($50,274).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica UAE
Population
5181862
11686438
Population rank 126/197 84/197
GDP
$95.4B
2024
$552B
2024
GDP rank 73/197 27/197
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$50,274
2024
GDP per capita rank 62/197 24/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$79,229
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$193B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
34.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$17,568
2024
Government debt per person rank 50/185 36/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$40,522
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 27,421 sq mi
Population density
262.6 ppl/mi²
2026
424 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.33
2023
1.2
2023
Median age
35.6 years
2024
32.6 years
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
83.4 years
2026

Costa Rica and United Arab Emirates: Comparison Charts

Costa Rica and United Arab Emirates economies compared

GDP
Costa Rica

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP
Costa Rica UAE
2024 $95,350,423,177 $552,324,846,835
2023 $86,497,941,439 $522,622,191,967
2022 $69,243,626,029 $511,403,403,676
2021 $64,960,725,734 $422,441,388,700
2020 $62,395,610,760 $357,161,878,829
2019 $64,417,670,521 $433,926,208,305
2018 $62,420,164,992 $440,560,108,918
2017 $60,516,044,657 $403,365,010,211
2016 $58,847,019,610 $381,717,086,453
2015 $56,441,920,821 $381,973,042,886
2014 $52,016,408,854 $424,935,874,745
2013 $50,949,668,842 $409,632,675,289
2012 $47,231,655,432 $392,793,464,942
2011 $42,762,613,699 $368,881,143,635
2010 $37,658,616,952 $307,736,419,333
2009 $30,745,714,313 $253,547,358,747
2008 $30,801,745,700 $315,474,615,739
2007 $26,884,700,709 $257,916,133,424
2006 $22,715,540,324 $222,116,541,865
2005 $20,040,642,477 $180,617,467,965
2004 $18,610,594,846 $147,824,370,320
2003 $17,271,760,507 $124,346,358,067
2002 $16,578,820,687 $109,816,201,498
2001 $15,976,174,337 $103,311,640,572
2000 $15,013,629,662 $104,337,372,362
1999 $14,254,866,285 $84,445,473,111
1998 $13,684,255,947 $75,674,336,283
1997 $12,614,602,382 $78,839,008,445
1996 $11,678,424,507 $73,571,233,996
1995 $11,578,594,260 $65,743,666,576
1994 $10,489,903,725 $59,305,093,980
1993 $9,564,815,975 $55,625,170,253
1992 $8,579,754,758 $54,239,171,888
1991 $7,215,725,487 $51,552,165,622
1990 $5,711,687,787 $50,701,443,748
1989 $5,251,025,767 $41,464,995,914
1988 $4,614,629,898 $36,275,674,203
1987 $4,532,952,047 $36,384,908,744
1986 $4,418,983,871 $33,943,612,095
1985 $3,919,203,960 $40,603,650,232
1984 $3,660,477,856 $41,807,954,236
1983 $3,146,772,631 $42,803,323,345
1982 $2,606,623,555 $46,622,718,605
1981 $2,623,803,096 $49,333,424,135
1980 $4,831,447,001 $43,599,160,050
1979 $4,035,519,323 $31,225,659,621
1978 $3,523,208,810 $23,775,764,225
1977 $3,072,427,013 $24,871,775,165
1976 $2,412,555,426 $19,213,158,779
1975 $1,960,863,466 $14,720,728,249
1974 $1,666,544,754 $11,651,505,689
1973 $1,528,925,846 $4,231,243,616
1972 $1,238,251,696 $1,415,086,929
1971 $1,077,147,538 $939,893,600
1970 $984,830,158 $685,986,701
1969 $853,630,204 -
1968 $773,841,494 -
1967 $699,456,619 -
1966 $647,305,630 -
1965 $592,981,162 -
1964 $542,578,367 -
1963 $511,902,137 -
1962 $479,180,824 -
1961 $490,325,182 -
1960 $507,513,830 -

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Costa Rica and United Arab Emirates economies compared

GDP per capita
Costa Rica

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP per capita
Costa Rica UAE
2024 $18,587 $50,274
2023 $16,942 $49,851
2022 $13,626 $50,760
2021 $12,838 $44,119
2020 $12,394 $37,992
2019 $12,885 $45,939
2018 $12,590 $47,135
2017 $12,317 $43,734
2016 $12,091 $42,721
2015 $11,715 $44,910
2014 $10,911 $52,725
2013 $10,803 $53,247
2012 $10,127 $53,142
2011 $9,276 $51,922
2010 $8,266 $44,795
2009 $6,833 $37,803
2008 $6,937 $50,054
2007 $6,138 $45,855
2006 $5,257 $44,343
2005 $4,703 $38,719
2004 $4,431 $33,377
2003 $4,173 $29,660
2002 $4,068 $27,754
2001 $3,985 $27,745
2000 $3,813 $29,866
1999 $3,691 $25,856
1998 $3,617 $24,889
1997 $3,408 $27,983
1996 $3,227 $28,323
1995 $3,275 $27,003
1994 $3,040 $25,473
1993 $2,840 $25,033
1992 $2,612 $25,648
1991 $2,253 $25,691
1990 $1,830 $26,710
1989 $1,725 $23,167
1988 $1,555 $21,570
1987 $1,567 $23,113
1986 $1,569 $23,132
1985 $1,429 $29,468
1984 $1,372 $32,012
1983 $1,213 $34,650
1982 $1,032 $39,972
1981 $1,068 $44,854
1980 $2,021 $42,925
1979 $1,735 $34,238
1978 $1,556 $29,379
1977 $1,393 $35,020
1976 $1,123 $31,197
1975 $937 $27,117
1974 $817 $23,823
1973 $769 $9,696
1972 $639 $3,675
1971 $570 $2,805
1970 $536 $2,394
1969 $477 -
1968 $445 -
1967 $414 -
1966 $395 -
1965 $374 -
1964 $354 -
1963 $346 -
1962 $335 -
1961 $356 -
1960 $382 -

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Costa Rica vs. United Arab Emirates life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Costa Rica

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Costa Rica UAE
2026 81.4 83.4
2025 81.2 83.2
2024 81 83.1
2023 80.8 82.9
2022 79.3 80.5
2021 78.1 79.1
2020 79.7 81.9
2019 80.3 82.6
2018 80.1 82.4
2017 80 82.4
2016 80 82.2
2015 80.4 82.1
2014 80.2 82
2013 80.2 82
2012 79.9 81.9
2011 79.6 81.9
2010 79.4 81.9
2009 79.4 81.7
2008 79.2 81.6
2007 79.1 81.4
2006 79 81.2
2005 78.9 80.8
2004 78.5 80.3
2003 78.2 79.6
2002 77.9 78.7
2001 77.6 77.6
2000 77.3 76.3
1999 77.1 75
1998 76.9 73.7
1997 76.6 72.6
1996 76.4 71.8
1995 76.4 71.4
1994 76.3 71.2
1993 76.3 71.2
1992 76.4 71.2
1991 76.2 71.1
1990 76.1 71.1
1989 75.9 71
1988 75.5 70.8
1987 75.2 70.6
1986 74.9 70.4
1985 74.8 70.1
1984 74.6 69.8
1983 74.2 69.4
1982 73.9 69.1
1981 73.4 68.6
1980 73 68.2
1979 72.5 67.6
1978 72 67.1
1977 71.5 66.5
1976 70.9 65.8
1975 70.3 65.1
1974 69.4 64.4
1973 68.7 63.5
1972 68 62.7
1971 67.4 61.8
1970 66.8 60.8
1969 66.4 59.8
1968 65.8 58.7
1967 65.6 57.6
1966 65.1 56.6
1965 64.8 55.5
1964 64.5 54.5
1963 64.3 53.5
1962 64.2 52.5
1961 63.9 51.6
1960 63.5 50.7
1959 62.9 49.7
1958 62.3 48.8
1957 61.6 47.8
1956 61.2 46.9
1955 60.5 46
1954 59.9 45.2
1953 59.1 44.4
1952 58.1 43.6
1951 57.8 42.9
1950 57.5 42.1

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Costa Rica and United Arab Emirates population clocks and comparison

Population
Costa Rica

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica UAE
2024 5,129,910 10,986,400
2023 5,105,525 10,483,751
2022 5,081,765 10,074,977
2021 5,059,988 9,575,152
2020 5,034,320 9,401,038
2019 4,999,553 9,445,785
2018 4,957,818 9,346,701
2017 4,913,177 9,223,225
2016 4,866,998 8,935,095
2015 4,818,038 8,505,237
2014 4,767,119 8,059,440
2013 4,716,147 7,693,031
2012 4,663,934 7,391,448
2011 4,609,833 7,104,538
2010 4,555,962 6,869,838
2009 4,499,791 6,707,058
2008 4,440,056 6,302,664
2007 4,380,248 5,624,635
2006 4,321,340 5,009,100
2005 4,261,240 4,664,790
2004 4,200,078 4,428,967
2003 4,138,784 4,192,457
2002 4,075,705 3,956,826
2001 4,008,947 3,723,590
2000 3,937,739 3,493,575
1999 3,862,101 3,266,009
1998 3,782,838 3,040,421
1997 3,701,711 2,817,410
1996 3,619,013 2,597,564
1995 3,535,176 2,434,662
1994 3,451,122 2,328,188
1993 3,367,434 2,222,093
1992 3,284,258 2,114,730
1991 3,202,176 2,006,626
1990 3,121,706 1,898,220
1989 3,043,827 1,789,851
1988 2,968,103 1,681,788
1987 2,892,699 1,574,244
1986 2,817,216 1,467,383
1985 2,741,894 1,377,911
1984 2,667,595 1,305,996
1983 2,595,153 1,235,305
1982 2,524,806 1,166,370
1981 2,456,637 1,099,855
1980 2,390,633 1,015,700
1979 2,326,490 912,010
1978 2,264,510 809,274
1977 2,205,025 710,209
1976 2,147,774 615,866
1975 2,092,719 542,856
1974 2,039,643 489,087
1973 1,988,343 436,399
1972 1,938,248 385,014
1971 1,888,539 335,027
1970 1,838,949 286,536
1969 1,789,276 239,660
1968 1,739,731 199,416
1967 1,689,523 179,700
1966 1,638,116 173,976
1965 1,586,208 167,103
1964 1,533,960 159,692
1963 1,481,604 152,211
1962 1,429,445 144,946
1961 1,377,920 137,989
1960 1,327,496 131,334

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Fertility rates in Costa Rica and United Arab Emirates

Fertility rate
Costa Rica

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica UAE
2023 1.33 1.2
2022 1.34 1.15
2021 1.35 1.16
2020 1.45 1.29
2019 1.6 1.25
2018 1.71 1.29
2017 1.71 1.35
2016 1.75 1.37
2015 1.8 1.42
2014 1.8 1.48
2013 1.78 1.53
2012 1.85 1.53
2011 1.88 1.54
2010 1.83 1.57
2009 1.95 1.58
2008 1.98 1.52
2007 1.95 1.79
2006 1.94 1.96
2005 2.04 2.23
2004 2.03 2.38
2003 2.08 2.49
2002 2.16 2.54
2001 2.31 2.62
2000 2.41 2.73
1999 2.48 2.79
1998 2.53 2.77
1997 2.59 2.83
1996 2.68 3.06
1995 2.78 3.28
1994 2.86 3.76
1993 2.93 3.82
1992 3 4.09
1991 3.08 4.25
1990 3.17 4.51
1989 3.24 4.65
1988 3.31 4.77
1987 3.38 4.88
1986 3.45 5
1985 3.51 5.13
1984 3.52 5.3
1983 3.53 5.48
1982 3.54 5.66
1981 3.56 5.81
1980 3.58 5.95
1979 3.65 6.06
1978 3.66 6.15
1977 3.7 6.22
1976 3.75 6.29
1975 3.8 6.35
1974 3.89 6.41
1973 3.99 6.46
1972 4.16 6.5
1971 4.36 6.52
1970 4.59 6.52
1969 4.84 6.52
1968 5.03 6.53
1967 5.42 6.51
1966 5.7 6.5
1965 5.96 6.5
1964 6.19 6.49
1963 6.39 6.5
1962 6.54 6.49
1961 6.65 6.49
1960 6.71 6.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Costa Rica and United Arab Emirates demographics compared

Median age
Costa Rica

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Median age, years
Costa Rica UAE
2024 35.6 32.6
2023 35.1 32.2
2022 34.5 31.9
2021 34 31.9
2020 33.5 31.8
2019 33 31.8
2018 32.6 31.8
2017 32.1 31.8
2016 31.7 31.8
2015 31.2 31.8
2014 30.7 31.8
2013 30.3 31.7
2012 29.8 31.7
2011 29.4 31.7
2010 29 31.7
2009 28.6 31.6
2008 28.2 31.6
2007 27.8 31.6
2006 27.4 31.4
2005 27 30.9
2004 26.7 30.3
2003 26.3 29.6
2002 25.9 29.1
2001 25.5 28.6
2000 25.2 28.2
1999 24.9 28
1998 24.7 27.9
1997 24.4 27.9
1996 24.1 28.1
1995 23.9 28
1994 23.6 27.4
1993 23.4 26.8
1992 23.2 26.4
1991 22.9 26
1990 22.7 25.8
1989 22.5 25.8
1988 22.3 25.9
1987 22.1 26.1
1986 21.8 26.5
1985 21.6 26.6
1984 21.4 26.4
1983 21.2 26.4
1982 20.9 26.4
1981 20.6 26.4
1980 20.3 26.2
1979 20 25.8
1978 19.7 25.5
1977 19.5 25.4
1976 19.2 25.6
1975 18.9 25.4
1974 18.6 24.7
1973 18.4 24.1
1972 18.1 23.6
1971 17.8 23.2
1970 17.6 23
1969 17.3 23.1
1968 17.1 23.5
1967 16.9 23.3
1966 16.8 22.6
1965 16.7 22
1964 16.7 21.5
1963 16.7 21
1962 16.7 20.6
1961 16.8 20.1
1960 16.8 19.6

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

GeoRank.org/facts/costa-rica/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica UAE
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$566B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
21.4%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.25%
2021
3.89%
2021
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
5.64%
2014
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
63,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
+6.41%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
1.88%
2024
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
54.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
44.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
71.9
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
20.5%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
2.8%
2018
Number of millionaires n/a
339,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
3.89%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
6
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
154
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$1.05T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$238B
2024
Personal remittances received
$725M
2024
$1.8B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,146,500
2020
8,084,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
7.41%
2020
n/a
Banked people share
71.4%
2024
85.7%
2021

Energy

Costa Rica UAE
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,025 kg
2023
8,336 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.2
2023
$9.01
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.38 megatons
2024
200.6 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.63 tons
2024
18.3 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.6%
2023
92.7%
2022
Renewable energy use share
34.2%
2021
1%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
37.7%
2023
7.24%
2022
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
-171.5%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
2,206 kWh
2023
14,688 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
4.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
69.3%
2023
0%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
13.3%
2022
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Costa Rica UAE
% of world population
0.06%
2024
0.14%
2024
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
+158,634
2025
Urban population
79.3%
2024
85.8%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
63.9:36.1
2024
Average male height
5.71 ft
2025
5.71 ft
2025
Average female height
5.26 ft
2025
5.27 ft
2025
Quality of life index
64.8
2026
84
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
69
2025
Higher education index
73
2026
66
2026
Homicides per 100K people
17.7
2023
0.75
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.8
2019
8.9
2019
Visa free countries
142
2025
181
2025
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
98.8%
2024
English speaking
8.15%
2023
65%
2025
People using the Internet
85.4%
2023
100%
2024

Health

Costa Rica UAE
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,163
2023
$2,402
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$280.7
2023
$232.1
2023
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
83.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.69
2022
2.99
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
3
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.5
2023
5
2023
Obesity rate
32.3%
2022
32.6%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.8%
2024
20.7%
2024
Air quality index
80
2026
11
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
8.9%
2022
9%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.4 liters
2020
2.08 liters
2020

Territory

Costa Rica UAE
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.05%
2026
Land area per capita
3,843 sq mi
2024
2,496 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,534 sq mi
2026
1,512 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,907 sq mi
2026
1,225 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,129 mi
2017
2,535 mi
2008

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)

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