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Costa Rica vs Malaysia: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 178 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Costa Rica
cri
Leads on 69 of 178 metrics
Malaysia
mys
Leads on 102 of 178 metrics

Summary

Malaysia has 7.0 times as many people as Costa Rica (36.4 million vs 5.18 million). Malaysia's economy is 4.2 times the size of Costa Rica's ($466.53 billion vs $110.67 billion GDP).

Comparing Costa Rica and Malaysia: Costa Rica leads on Radios (980,000) against Malaysia (10.90); Costa Rica leads on Televisions (525,000) against Malaysia (10.80); Malaysia leads on Oil Production (664,800) against Costa Rica (263). Across 178 compared metrics, Costa Rica wins on 69 and Malaysia wins on 102.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 68 metrics compared
  • Environment: 12 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 23 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 41 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 4 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration23.29 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)87.17 %98.02 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)85.4 %97.69 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 85% (2023 est.)percent of population: 98% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed23.29 Mbpsā˜…13.55 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score73.09 pointsā˜…56.09 points
Radios980,000ā˜…10.9
Televisions525,000ā˜…10.8
Waterways7307,200ā˜…

Economy

68 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country2.74B $47.38B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars110.67B $466.53B $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)15.67 %21.95 %ā˜…
Apple Import Volume20.26M tonnes101.62M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate71.35 %88.69 %ā˜…
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)3.5 %ā˜…3 %
Coal Revenue00.02ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)11.37 %ā˜…4.61 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)7.6 % of GDPā˜…3.8 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index69.283.3ā˜…
Electricity Consumption9.81136.9ā˜…
Electricity Exports643ā˜…3
Electricity from Fossil Fuels1878ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants64ā˜…18
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables18ā˜…4
Electricity Imports807ā˜…33
Electricity Installed Capacity3.5833ā˜…
Electricity Production10.79148.3ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)30.73 USD per capita113.16 USD per capitaā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate53.46 %56.67 %ā˜…
Gender Pay Gap Percentage-5.74 %-2.25 %ā˜…
Gender Wage Gap-5.74 %ā˜…-2.25 %
Gini Index Coefficient45.8ā˜…40.7
Gross Fixed Investment19.925.2ā˜…
Gross National Saving15.128.5ā˜…
High-Tech Export Percentage54.1 %63.18 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries28,443.41 USD35,461.45 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)4.1 %4.9 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate-0.07 %ā˜…1.38 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)-0.4 %ā˜…1.8 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.6 % of GDP1 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption030.44ā˜…
Natural Gas Exports038.23ā˜…
Natural Gas Imports02.8ā˜…
Natural Gas Production069.49ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves01.18ā˜…
Number of AI Patents Filed1 patents16 patentsā˜…
Oil Consumption47,000561,000ā˜…
Oil Exports2,087644,900ā˜…
Oil Imports44,110355,300ā˜…
Oil Production263664,800ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves04ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line24.4 people6.2 peopleā˜…
Private Investment (% of GDP)13.93 % of GDP16.45 % of GDPā˜…
Public Debt48.9ā˜…64.3
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.34 %1.01 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)4.3 USD5.1 USDā˜…
Real Interest Rate Trends7.45 %ā˜…5.3 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption53,000704,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0208,400ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Imports51,320304,600ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production0528,300ā˜…
Remittances0.8ā˜…0.4
Researchers in R&D per Million462.47 researchers1,218.33 researchersā˜…
Revenue from Forest Resources0.821.57ā˜…
Robotics Research Funding0.34 USD1.01 USDā˜…
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)2.160.01ā˜…
Tax Burden (% of GDP)13.46 %12.43 %ā˜…
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)13.46 % of GDPā˜…12.43 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues13.9ā˜…12.6
Top Exporting Countries36.74B USD301.22B USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)5.59 %ā˜…3.69 %
Tourism Contribution to GDP2.72 %ā˜…0.75 %
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)2.72 %ā˜…0.75 %
Unemployment Rate7.9 %3.9 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate57.66 %ā˜…66.12 %
Youth Unemployment Rate19.95 %11.95 %ā˜…

Environment

12 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)287,922ā˜…13.93M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate3,517.97 %ā˜…-60,000 %
Average Annual Temperature23.34 Ā°C25.87 Ā°Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions7.91ā˜…260.01
Continental Shelf200200
Global Precipitation Distribution3,314.33 mmā˜…3,150.09 mm
Population Distributionroughly half of the nation's population resides in urban areas; the capital of San Jose is the largest city and home to approximately one fifth of the populationa highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula
Protected Land Area for Adaptation25.83 sq kmā˜…13.3 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage26.6 %ā˜…13.3 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country37.31 Cubic meters per year64 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources113580ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species12 speciesā˜…80 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization3.41 %4.11 %ā˜…
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)196209.87ā˜…
Agricultural land16,651.72 sq. km85,710 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km51,060328,550ā˜…
Coastline Length (km)1,290 km4,675 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita382.59 cubic meters per inhabitant611.58 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land1,0154,420ā˜…

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country54.31 %67.87 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions713ā˜…
Corruption Perception Index58 index50 indexā˜…
Corruption Perceptions Index Score58 indexā˜…50 index
Independence1531ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score3.07ā˜…-2.46
Prison Population Rate395 per 100,000188 per 100,000ā˜…
Public Sector Corruption Perception5850ā˜…
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

23 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water80.5 %94.7 %ā˜…
Average BMI for Adults26.8 kg/mĀ²ā˜…25.3 kg/mĀ²
Change in Measles Immunization Rate93 %96 %ā˜…
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)39.4613.01ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)9.821.1ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders81 yearsā˜…76.82 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.45 per 1,000 birthsā˜…0.48 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita2,112.89 USDā˜…1,703.34 USD
Health Coverage Index Score84 scoreā˜…80 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)7.6 % of GDPā˜…4.4 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy81 yearsā˜…76.82 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.5 %0.3 %ā˜…
Hospital Bed Density1.2 people/sq km2 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita1.14 beds per 1,0001.94 beds per 1,000ā˜…
Low Birth Weight Prevalence8.72 %ā˜…13.81 %
Malaria Incidence Rate0.01 cases per 1,000ā˜…0.07 cases per 1,000
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)24 %ā˜…26 %
Nurses and Midwives Density3.07 per 1,000 people4.03 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)25.7 %15.6 %ā˜…
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending24.13 %ā˜…37.09 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS16,000ā˜…92,000
Total Number of Doctors2.69ā˜…2.29
Underweight Children Under 52.9ā˜…15.3

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Active Military Personnel0 personnel113,000 personnelā˜…
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)0 %ā˜…1.04 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)10,000136,000ā˜…

People and Society

41 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Currently married (Percent)40.93 %58.88 %ā˜…
Human Capital Index0.630.65ā˜…
Life expectancy at birth84.75 yearsā˜…80.87 years
Median age of population35.68 yearsā˜…31.44 years
Population Change24,088.1 persons428,622.9 personsā˜…
Population density101.38 per sq. kmā˜…110.8 per sq. km
Total population5.18M persons36.40M personsā˜…
Academic Freedom Index0.92ā˜…0.29
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsA-Bā˜…AA
Beer Consumption per Capita2.46 litersā˜…0.51 liters
Birth Rate (%)10.86 %14.05 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate70.9 %ā˜…52.2 %
Crude Birth Rate9.99 per 1,000 people12.36 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Death Rate (%)5.24 %ā˜…5.8 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)6.2 % of GDPā˜…3.5 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age1.33M persons9.69M personsā˜…
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)60.47 %ā˜…48.49 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate23.29 %ā˜…13.55 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth104.41 male/female106.37 male/femaleā˜…
Human Development Index0.59ā˜…0.48
Labor Force Participation Rate2.3618.26ā˜…
Learning-adjusted years of school9.01 years9.72 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population1.46 people8.62 peopleā˜…
Mean Male Height (cm)168.93ā˜…167.88
Mean Years of Schooling9.12 years11.96 yearsā˜…
Military Manpower at Military Age1821ā˜…
Military Service Age and Obligation1818
Old-Age Dependency Ratio16.98 %10.6 %ā˜…
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization74.2 %83.21 %ā˜…
Physician Density2.69 people/sq kmā˜…2.34 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.75 %0.97 %ā˜…
Population living in slums1.68 %ā˜…0.2 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio11.63ā˜…11.66
Total deaths26,826 personsā˜…179,998.3 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)63.4 %ā˜…42.17 %
Total fertility rate1.3 per woman1.53 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration974.7 persons162,673.4 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate7.18 per live births5.53 per live birthsā˜…
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate0.97 %1.79 %ā˜…
Voting Age Population55.05 millions63.6 millionsā˜…

Transportation

4 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.481.58ā˜…
Airports132ā˜…100
Civil Air Travel1153ā˜…
Heliports824ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita5.62B USD24.59B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Current Bank Rate3.5 %ā˜…2.75 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Costa Rica vs Malaysia

Which has a larger population, Costa Rica or Malaysia?ā–¾

Malaysia. Malaysia has 7.0 times as many people as Costa Rica (36.4 million vs 5.18 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Costa Rica or Malaysia?ā–¾

Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 4.2 times the size of Costa Rica's ($466.53 billion vs $110.67 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Costa Rica or Malaysia?ā–¾

Costa Rica is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $21,381 in Costa Rica vs $12,818 in Malaysia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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