Skip to content

Costa Rica vs United Kingdom statistics compared

Updated on by Georank

Costa Rica has a population of 5.15M (ranked 126/197), compared with 69.5M in The United Kingdom (ranked 22/197). Costa Rica's land area is 19,714 sq mi versus 93,410 sq mi for The United Kingdom (ranked 126th vs. 78th).

By GDP, Costa Rica ranks 74/197 ($103B) and The United Kingdom ranks 5/197 ($4T). By GDP per capita, Costa Rica ranks 59/197 ($19,970), while The United Kingdom ranks 21/197 ($57,602).

Main facts and rankings

Costa Rica United Kingdom
Population
5186356
70071289
Population rank 126/197 22/197
GDP
$103B
2025
$4T
2025
GDP rank 74/197 5/197
GDP per capita
$19,970
2025
$57,602
2025
GDP per capita rank 59/197 21/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$62,009
2024
Government debt
$62.2B
2025
$4.1T
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
60.4%
2025
102.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$12,064
2025
$58,936
2025
Government debt per person rank 51/185 7/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,879
2026
$43,539
2026
Land area 19,714 sq mi 93,410 sq mi
Population density
262.5 ppl/mi²
2026
748 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.32
2024
1.55
2024
Median age
36.2 years
2025
41.1 years
2025
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
81.7 years
2026

Costa Rica and United Kingdom: Comparison Charts

Costa Rica and United Kingdom economies compared

GDP
Costa Rica

United Kingdom
1x
Year GDP
Costa Rica United Kingdom
2025 $102,904,921,157 $4,002,587,541,846
2024 $96,715,644,331 $3,695,539,513,534
2023 $87,512,637,056 $3,420,796,653,789
2022 $71,001,226,361 $3,181,244,350,465
2021 $65,588,938,787 $3,194,559,188,926
2020 $62,806,591,555 $2,724,001,478,305
2019 $64,753,504,730 $2,875,710,080,015
2018 $62,567,765,946 $2,897,028,009,916
2017 $60,516,044,661 $2,699,118,387,873
2016 $58,847,019,588 $2,706,807,606,539
2015 $56,441,920,888 $2,945,579,890,258
2014 $52,016,408,816 $3,085,362,169,410
2013 $50,949,668,763 $2,796,908,333,283
2012 $47,231,655,493 $2,719,715,961,540
2011 $42,762,613,785 $2,675,590,034,129
2010 $37,658,616,966 $2,496,740,681,057
2009 $30,745,714,234 $2,429,358,155,476
2008 $30,801,745,703 $2,945,251,838,235
2007 $26,884,700,688 $3,104,699,879,952
2006 $22,715,540,342 $2,719,558,417,663
2005 $20,040,642,421 $2,551,361,818,182
2004 $18,610,594,844 $2,429,774,807,763
2003 $17,271,760,397 $2,061,227,755,102
2002 $16,578,820,799 $1,790,536,570,743
2001 $15,976,174,476 $1,656,171,009,069
2000 $15,013,629,579 $1,671,597,821,153
1999 $14,254,866,284 $1,693,458,987,219
1998 $13,684,255,998 $1,660,821,464,061
1997 $12,614,602,322 $1,569,317,288,802
1996 $11,678,424,727 $1,425,287,051,482
1995 $11,578,594,333 $1,349,094,208,616
1994 $10,489,903,834 $1,140,489,745,944
1993 $9,564,816,063 $1,061,388,722,256
1992 $8,579,754,953 $1,179,659,529,660
1991 $7,215,725,635 $1,142,797,178,131
1990 $5,711,687,787 $1,093,169,389,205
1989 $5,251,025,767 $926,884,816,754
1988 $4,614,629,898 $910,122,732,124
1987 $4,532,952,047 $745,162,608,269
1986 $4,418,983,871 $601,452,653,181
1985 $3,919,203,960 $489,285,164,271
1984 $3,660,477,856 $461,487,097,632
1983 $3,146,772,631 $489,618,008,186
1982 $2,606,623,555 $515,048,916,841
1981 $2,623,803,096 $540,765,675,241
1980 $4,831,447,001 $564,947,710,899
1979 $4,035,519,323 $438,994,070,309
1978 $3,523,208,810 $335,883,029,722
1977 $3,072,427,013 $263,066,457,352
1976 $2,412,555,426 $232,614,555,256
1975 $1,960,863,466 $241,756,637,168
1974 $1,666,544,754 $206,131,369,799
1973 $1,528,925,846 $192,537,971,583
1972 $1,238,251,696 $169,965,034,965
1971 $1,077,147,538 $148,113,896,325
1970 $984,830,158 $130,671,946,244
1969 $853,630,204 $116,464,702,803
1968 $773,841,494 $107,759,910,068
1967 $699,456,619 $113,116,888,211
1966 $647,305,630 $108,572,752,102
1965 $592,981,162 $101,824,755,079
1964 $542,578,367 $94,407,558,351
1963 $511,902,137 $86,561,961,812
1962 $479,180,824 $81,247,564,157
1961 $490,325,182 $77,741,965,703
1960 $507,513,830 $73,233,967,692

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

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

Costa Rica and United Kingdom economies compared

GDP per capita
Costa Rica

United Kingdom
1x
Year GDP per capita
Costa Rica United Kingdom
2025 $19,970 $57,602
2024 $18,853 $53,341
2023 $17,141 $49,920
2022 $13,972 $47,035
2021 $12,962 $47,696
2020 $12,476 $40,815
2019 $12,952 $43,161
2018 $12,620 $43,704
2017 $12,317 $40,918
2016 $12,091 $41,259
2015 $11,715 $45,256
2014 $10,911 $47,747
2013 $10,803 $43,608
2012 $10,127 $42,688
2011 $9,276 $42,296
2010 $8,266 $39,778
2009 $6,833 $39,009
2008 $6,937 $47,652
2007 $6,138 $50,629
2006 $5,257 $44,695
2005 $4,703 $42,240
2004 $4,431 $40,504
2003 $4,173 $34,557
2002 $4,068 $30,159
2001 $3,985 $28,014
2000 $3,813 $28,384
1999 $3,691 $28,858
1998 $3,617 $28,396
1997 $3,408 $26,910
1996 $3,227 $24,503
1995 $3,275 $23,253
1994 $3,040 $19,709
1993 $2,840 $18,389
1992 $2,612 $20,487
1991 $2,253 $19,901
1990 $1,830 $19,095
1989 $1,725 $16,239
1988 $1,555 $15,987
1987 $1,567 $13,119
1986 $1,569 $10,611
1985 $1,429 $8,652
1984 $1,372 $8,179
1983 $1,213 $8,692
1982 $1,032 $9,146
1981 $1,068 $9,599
1980 $2,021 $10,032
1979 $1,735 $7,805
1978 $1,556 $5,977
1977 $1,393 $4,681
1976 $1,123 $4,138
1975 $937 $4,300
1974 $817 $3,666
1973 $769 $3,426
1972 $639 $3,030
1971 $570 $2,650
1970 $536 $2,348
1969 $477 $2,101
1968 $445 $1,952
1967 $414 $2,059
1966 $395 $1,987
1965 $374 $1,874
1964 $354 $1,748
1963 $346 $1,613
1962 $335 $1,526
1961 $356 $1,472
1960 $382 $1,398

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

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

Costa Rica vs. United Kingdom life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Costa Rica

United Kingdom
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Costa Rica United Kingdom
2026 81.4 81.7
2025 81.2 81.6
2024 81 81.4
2023 80.8 81.3
2022 79.3 81.1
2021 78.1 80.7
2020 79.7 80.4
2019 80.3 81.4
2018 80.1 81.1
2017 80 81.2
2016 80 81.1
2015 80.4 80.9
2014 80.2 81.2
2013 80.2 80.9
2012 79.9 80.9
2011 79.6 80.8
2010 79.4 80.4
2009 79.4 80.2
2008 79.2 79.7
2007 79.1 79.5
2006 79 79.3
2005 78.9 79.1
2004 78.5 78.9
2003 78.2 78.3
2002 77.9 78.2
2001 77.6 78.1
2000 77.3 77.8
1999 77.1 77.4
1998 76.9 77.3
1997 76.6 77.1
1996 76.4 76.9
1995 76.4 76.6
1994 76.3 76.7
1993 76.3 76.2
1992 76.4 76.3
1991 76.2 75.9
1990 76.1 75.7
1989 75.9 75.4
1988 75.5 75.3
1987 75.2 75.1
1986 74.9 74.8
1985 74.8 74.5
1984 74.6 74.7
1983 74.2 74.3
1982 73.9 74
1981 73.4 73.9
1980 73 73.6
1979 72.5 73.2
1978 72 73
1977 71.5 73.1
1976 70.9 72.6
1975 70.3 72.7
1974 69.4 72.4
1973 68.7 72.2
1972 68 72
1971 67.4 72.2
1970 66.8 71.9
1969 66.4 71.7
1968 65.8 71.7
1967 65.6 72.1
1966 65.1 71.4
1965 64.8 71.5
1964 64.5 71.5
1963 64.3 70.8
1962 64.2 70.9
1961 63.9 70.8
1960 63.5 71
1959 62.9 70.8
1958 62.3 70.7
1957 61.6 70.5
1956 61.2 70.4
1955 60.5 70.1
1954 59.9 70.2
1953 59.1 69.8
1952 58.1 69.5
1951 57.8 68.2
1950 57.5 68.6

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

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

Costa Rica and United Kingdom population clocks and comparison

Population
Costa Rica

United Kingdom
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica United Kingdom
2025 5,152,950 69,487,000
2024 5,129,910 69,281,000
2023 5,105,525 68,526,000
2022 5,081,765 67,636,000
2021 5,059,988 66,978,000
2020 5,034,320 66,740,000
2019 4,999,553 66,628,000
2018 4,957,818 66,287,000
2017 4,913,177 65,964,000
2016 4,866,998 65,606,000
2015 4,818,038 65,087,000
2014 4,767,119 64,619,000
2013 4,716,147 64,138,000
2012 4,663,934 63,711,000
2011 4,609,833 63,258,810
2010 4,555,962 62,766,365
2009 4,499,791 62,276,270
2008 4,440,056 61,806,995
2007 4,380,248 61,322,463
2006 4,321,340 60,846,820
2005 4,261,240 60,401,206
2004 4,200,078 59,987,905
2003 4,138,784 59,647,577
2002 4,075,705 59,370,479
2001 4,008,947 59,119,673
2000 3,937,739 58,892,514
1999 3,862,101 58,682,466
1998 3,782,838 58,487,141
1997 3,701,711 58,316,954
1996 3,619,013 58,166,950
1995 3,535,176 58,019,030
1994 3,451,122 57,865,745
1993 3,367,434 57,718,614
1992 3,284,258 57,580,402
1991 3,202,176 57,424,897
1990 3,121,706 57,247,586
1989 3,043,827 57,076,711
1988 2,968,103 56,928,327
1987 2,892,699 56,802,050
1986 2,817,216 56,681,396
1985 2,741,894 56,550,268
1984 2,667,595 56,422,072
1983 2,595,153 56,332,848
1982 2,524,806 56,313,641
1981 2,456,637 56,333,829
1980 2,390,633 56,314,216
1979 2,326,490 56,246,951
1978 2,264,510 56,196,504
1977 2,205,025 56,193,492
1976 2,147,774 56,211,968
1975 2,092,719 56,225,800
1974 2,039,643 56,229,974
1973 1,988,343 56,194,527
1972 1,938,248 56,086,065
1971 1,888,539 55,896,223
1970 1,838,949 55,663,250
1969 1,789,276 55,441,750
1968 1,739,731 55,211,700
1967 1,689,523 54,943,600
1966 1,638,116 54,648,500
1965 1,586,208 54,348,050
1964 1,533,960 54,000,000
1963 1,481,604 53,650,000
1962 1,429,445 53,250,000
1961 1,377,920 52,800,000
1960 1,327,496 52,400,000

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

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

Fertility rates in Costa Rica and United Kingdom

Fertility rate
Costa Rica

United Kingdom
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica United Kingdom
2024 1.32 1.55
2023 1.33 1.56
2022 1.34 1.56
2021 1.35 1.58
2020 1.45 1.57
2019 1.6 1.63
2018 1.71 1.68
2017 1.71 1.74
2016 1.75 1.79
2015 1.8 1.8
2014 1.8 1.81
2013 1.78 1.83
2012 1.85 1.92
2011 1.88 1.91
2010 1.83 1.92
2009 1.95 1.89
2008 1.98 1.91
2007 1.95 1.86
2006 1.94 1.82
2005 2.04 1.76
2004 2.03 1.75
2003 2.08 1.7
2002 2.16 1.63
2001 2.31 1.63
2000 2.41 1.64
1999 2.48 1.68
1998 2.53 1.71
1997 2.59 1.72
1996 2.68 1.73
1995 2.78 1.71
1994 2.86 1.74
1993 2.93 1.76
1992 3 1.79
1991 3.08 1.82
1990 3.17 1.83
1989 3.24 1.79
1988 3.31 1.82
1987 3.38 1.81
1986 3.45 1.78
1985 3.51 1.79
1984 3.52 1.77
1983 3.53 1.77
1982 3.54 1.78
1981 3.56 1.82
1980 3.58 1.9
1979 3.65 1.86
1978 3.66 1.75
1977 3.7 1.69
1976 3.75 1.74
1975 3.8 1.81
1974 3.89 1.92
1973 3.99 2.04
1972 4.16 2.2
1971 4.36 2.41
1970 4.59 2.44
1969 4.84 2.51
1968 5.03 2.6
1967 5.42 2.68
1966 5.7 2.78
1965 5.96 2.86
1964 6.19 2.93
1963 6.39 2.88
1962 6.54 2.86
1961 6.65 2.78
1960 6.71 2.69

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

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

Costa Rica and United Kingdom demographics compared

Median age
Costa Rica

United Kingdom
1x
Year Median age, years
Costa Rica United Kingdom
2025 36.2 41.1
2024 35.6 41
2023 35.1 40.8
2022 34.5 40.5
2021 34 40.3
2020 33.5 40.2
2019 33 40.1
2018 32.6 40
2017 32.1 39.9
2016 31.7 39.8
2015 31.2 39.8
2014 30.7 39.7
2013 30.3 39.6
2012 29.8 39.5
2011 29.4 39.3
2010 29 39.2
2009 28.6 39
2008 28.2 38.9
2007 27.8 38.8
2006 27.4 38.6
2005 27 38.5
2004 26.7 38.4
2003 26.3 38.2
2002 25.9 38.1
2001 25.5 37.9
2000 25.2 37.7
1999 24.9 37.4
1998 24.7 37.2
1997 24.4 37
1996 24.1 36.8
1995 23.9 36.6
1994 23.6 36.5
1993 23.4 36.3
1992 23.2 36.2
1991 22.9 36.1
1990 22.7 36
1989 22.5 35.9
1988 22.3 35.7
1987 22.1 35.4
1986 21.8 35.4
1985 21.6 35.3
1984 21.4 35.2
1983 21.2 35
1982 20.9 34.8
1981 20.6 34.5
1980 20.3 34.4
1979 20 34.3
1978 19.7 34.2
1977 19.5 34.1
1976 19.2 34
1975 18.9 34
1974 18.6 34
1973 18.4 34
1972 18.1 34
1971 17.8 34.1
1970 17.6 34.2
1969 17.3 34.4
1968 17.1 34.6
1967 16.9 34.8
1966 16.8 34.9
1965 16.7 35.1
1964 16.7 35.2
1963 16.7 35.3
1962 16.7 35.3
1961 16.8 35.4
1960 16.8 35.5

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

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

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Costa Rica and the United Kingdom.

1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x

National statistics comparison

Finance

Costa Rica United Kingdom
GNI, Atlas method
$92.4B
2025
$3.79T
2025
Government expenditure, % of GDP
17.8%
2025
43.6%
2025
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.31%
2023
4.96%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2.28%
2024
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
153,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.35%
2025
-5.38%
2025
Unemployment rate
6.34%
2025
4.9%
2025
Services, % of GDP
69.2%
2025
73.1%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
19.9%
2025
16.5%
2025
Economic freedom index
69.1
2026
70.4
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.3%
2025
25%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
1.8%
2025
2.9%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
2,428,000
2026
Percentage of millionaires n/a
4.54%
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
56
2026
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.0001%
2026
Listed domestic companies
9
2022
1,606
2022
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$3.1T
2022
Total reserves including gold
$17.1B
2025
$214B
2025
Personal remittances received
$725M
2024
$4.83B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,146,500
2020
11,101,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
7.4%
2020
8.24%
1998
Banked people share
71.4%
2024
99.3%
2024

Energy

Costa Rica United Kingdom
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,024 kg
2024
2,069 kg
2024
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$30.4
2024
$29.9
2024
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.38 megatons
2024
292.4 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.63 tons
2024
4.22 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.6%
2023
75.5%
2023
Renewable energy use share
34.2%
2021
12.2%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
37.4%
2024
13.8%
2024
Net energy imports use share
60.4%
2023
44%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,282 kWh
2024
4,195 kWh
2024
Renewable electricity output share
99.4%
2021
40.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
66.6%
2024
2.75%
2024
Nuclear share
0%
2021
14.2%
2024
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Costa Rica United Kingdom
% of world population
0.06%
2025
0.85%
2025
Annual migration change
+1,000
2025
+389,911
2025
Urban population
79.7%
2025
83.3%
2025
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2025
49.3:50.7
2025
Average male height
5.56 ft
2026
5.85 ft
2026
Average female height
5.11 ft
2026
5.38 ft
2026
Quality of life index
65.9
2026
92.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
70
2025
Higher education index
73
2026
100
2026
Homicides per 100K people
17.7
2023
1.15
2021
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.8
2019
3.2
2019
Visa free countries
143
2026
171
2026
Adult literacy rate
98%
2021
99%
2003
English speaking
8.15%
2026
98.3%
2026
People using the Internet
87.2%
2024
95.5%
2024

Health

Costa Rica United Kingdom
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,163
2023
$5,860
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$280.7
2023
$853
2024
Life expectancy
81.4 years
2026
81.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0.009%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.69
2022
3.3
2023
Age at first childbirth n/a
29 years
2018
Maternal mortality per 100K births
24
2023
8
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
10.4
2024
4.7
2024
Obesity rate
32.3%
2022
27.6%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.8%
2024
7.4%
2024
Air quality index
80
2026
83
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
7.9%
2024
12.8%
2024
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.4 liters
2020
10.7 liters
2020

Territory

Costa Rica United Kingdom
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.16%
2026
Land area per capita
3,826 sq mi
2025
1,344 sq mi
2025
Agricultural land area
6,534 sq mi
2026
65,674 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,907 sq mi
2026
12,415 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,129 mi
2017
263,542 mi
2020

In-depth comparisons

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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) (2018, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.