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Costa Rica vs Mexico: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 179 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Costa Rica
cri
Leads on 87 of 179 metrics
Mexico
mex
Leads on 84 of 179 metrics

Summary

Mexico has 25.7 times as many people as Costa Rica (133.03 million vs 5.18 million). Mexico's economy is 20.7 times the size of Costa Rica's ($2.29 trillion vs $110.67 billion GDP).

Comparing Costa Rica and Mexico: Costa Rica leads on Radios (980,000) against Mexico (31); Costa Rica leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (53,000) against Mexico (1.98); Costa Rica leads on Oil Consumption (47,000) against Mexico (2.07). Across 179 compared metrics, Costa Rica wins on 87 and Mexico wins on 84.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 68 metrics compared
  • Environment: 12 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 24 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‡½ MexicoShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration23.29 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…21.74 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)87.17 %ā˜…83.12 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)85.4 %ā˜…81.18 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 85% (2023 est.)percent of population: 81% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed23.29 Mbpsā˜…21.74 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score73.09 pointsā˜…45.55 points
Radios980,000ā˜…31
Televisions525,000ā˜…25.6
Waterways7302,900ā˜…

Economy

68 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicoShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country2.74B $69.44B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars110.67B $2.29T $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)15.67 %24.12 %ā˜…
Apple Import Volume20.26M tonnes246.26M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate71.35 %ā˜…53.03 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)3.5 %7.25 %ā˜…
Coal Revenue00.03ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)11.37 %ā˜…7.34 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)7.6 % of GDPā˜…5.4 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index69.286.1ā˜…
Electricity Consumption9.81258.7ā˜…
Electricity Exports643ā˜…7.31
Electricity from Fossil Fuels1871ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants64ā˜…17
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels02ā˜…
Electricity from Other Renewables18ā˜…9
Electricity Imports807ā˜…3.53
Electricity Installed Capacity3.5872.56ā˜…
Electricity Production10.79302.7ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)30.73 USD per capita57.54 USD per capitaā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate53.46 %ā˜…51.88 %
Gender Pay Gap Percentage-6.34 %0.01 %ā˜…
Gender Wage Gap-6.34 %ā˜…0.01 %
Gini Index Coefficient45.8ā˜…43.5
Gross Fixed Investment19.921.5ā˜…
Gross National Saving15.121.4ā˜…
High-Tech Export Percentage54.1 %78.22 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries28,443.41 USDā˜…21,911.93 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)4.1 %ā˜…0.2 %
Inflation Rate-0.07 %ā˜…3.81 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)-0.4 %ā˜…4.7 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.6 % of GDP0.9 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption081.61ā˜…
Natural Gas Exports036.81ā˜…
Natural Gas Imports050.12ā˜…
Natural Gas Production031.57ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves0279.8ā˜…
Number of AI Patents Filed1 patents134 patentsā˜…
Oil Consumption47,000ā˜…2.07
Oil Exports2,087ā˜…1.51
Oil Imports44,110496,000ā˜…
Oil Production263ā˜…2.98
Oil Proved Reserves010.42ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line24.4 peopleā˜…36.3 people
Private Investment (% of GDP)13.93 % of GDP19.21 % of GDPā˜…
Public Debt48.945.1ā˜…
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.34 %ā˜…0.27 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)4.3 USDā˜…1.5 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends7.45 %ā˜…3.97 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption53,000ā˜…1.98
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0155,800ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Imports51,320867,500ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production0844,600ā˜…
Remittances0.83.7ā˜…
Researchers in R&D per Million507.76 researchersā˜…419.44 researchers
Revenue from Forest Resources0.82ā˜…0.1
Robotics Research Funding0.34 USDā˜…0.27 USD
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)1.6ā˜…2.33
Tax Burden (% of GDP)13.46 %ā˜…14.82 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)13.46 % of GDP14.82 % of GDPā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues13.914.2ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries36.74B USD681.35B USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)5.43 %ā˜…2.35 %
Tourism Contribution to GDP2.72 %7.62 %ā˜…
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)2.72 %7.62 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate7.9 %2.8 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate57.66 %ā˜…61.61 %
Youth Unemployment Rate19.95 %5.71 %ā˜…

Environment

12 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicoShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)287,922ā˜…2.73M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate3,517.97 %ā˜…-127,765.63 %
Average Annual Temperature23.34 Ā°Cā˜…21.68 Ā°C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions7.91ā˜…441.05
Continental Shelf200natural prolongation of continental margin or 200 nm;
Global Precipitation Distribution3,314.33 mmā˜…809.08 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 populationmost of the population is found in the middle of the country between the states of Jalisco and Veracruz; approximately a quarter of the population lives in and around Mexico City
Protected Land Area for Adaptation25.83 sq kmā˜…15.55 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage26.6 %ā˜…15.3 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country37.31 Cubic meters per year150 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources113461.89ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species12 speciesā˜…97 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicoShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization3.41 %ā˜…1.86 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)196ā˜…52.44
Agricultural land16,651.72 sq. km1.04M sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km51,0601.94Mā˜…
Coastline Length (km)1,290 km9,330 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita382.59 cubic meters per inhabitant1,145.45 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land1,01559,910ā˜…

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicoShare
Rule of Law Index by Country54.31 %ā˜…17.92 %
Administrative Divisions732ā˜…
Corruption Perception Index58 index26 indexā˜…
Corruption Perceptions Index Score58 indexā˜…26 index
Independence1516ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score3.076.13ā˜…
Prison Population Rate395 per 100,000156 per 100,000ā˜…
Public Sector Corruption Perception5826ā˜…
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

24 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicoShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water80.5 %ā˜…42.97 %
Average BMI for Adults26.8 kg/mĀ²27.5 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate93 %ā˜…80 %
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)34.49ā˜…93.85
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)9.816.4ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders81 yearsā˜…75.26 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.45 per 1,000 birthsā˜…0.64 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita2,112.89 USDā˜…1,579.68 USD
Health Coverage Index Score84 scoreā˜…79 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)7.6 % of GDPā˜…6.1 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy81 yearsā˜…75.26 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.5 %0.4 %ā˜…
Hospital Bed Density1.2 people/sq kmā˜…1 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita1.14 beds per 1,000ā˜…1.01 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence8.72 %ā˜…10.15 %
Malaria Incidence Rate0.13 cases per 1,0000.1 cases per 1,000ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)24 %ā˜…42 %
Nurses and Midwives Density3.07 per 1,000 peopleā˜…3.03 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)25.7 %ā˜…28.9 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending24.13 %ā˜…41.24 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS16,000ā˜…340,000
Public Health Spending (% of GDP)4.8 %ā˜…3.17 %
Total Number of Doctors2.69ā˜…2.59
Underweight Children Under 52.9ā˜…4.2

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicoShare
Active Military Personnel0 personnel216,000 personnelā˜…
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)0 %ā˜…0.74 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)10,000341,000ā˜…

People and Society

41 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicoShare
Currently married (Percent)40.93 %51.87 %ā˜…
Human Capital Index0.63ā˜…0.63
Life expectancy at birth84.75 yearsā˜…80.06 years
Median age of population35.68 yearsā˜…29.96 years
Population Change24,088.1 persons1.20M personsā˜…
Population density101.38 per sq. km67.89 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population5.18M persons133.03M personsā˜…
Academic Freedom Index0.92ā˜…0.71
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsA-Bā˜…A
Beer Consumption per Capita2.46 liters4.55 litersā˜…
Birth Rate (%)10.86 %14.73 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate70.9 %73.1 %ā˜…
Crude Birth Rate9.99 per 1,000 people15.46 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Death Rate (%)5.24 %ā˜…6.04 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)6.2 % of GDPā˜…4.1 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age1.33M persons35.92M personsā˜…
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)60.47 %ā˜…44.35 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate23.29 %ā˜…21.74 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth104.41 male/femaleā˜…103.66 male/female
Human Development Index0.59ā˜…0.43
Labor Force Participation Rate2.3660.96ā˜…
Learning-adjusted years of school9.01 yearsā˜…9.01 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population1.46 people22.28 peopleā˜…
Mean Male Height (cm)168.93169.01ā˜…
Mean Years of Schooling9.12 years10.18 yearsā˜…
Military Manpower at Military Age1818
Military Service Age and Obligation1818
Old-Age Dependency Ratio16.98 %11.9 %ā˜…
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization74.2 %77.59 %ā˜…
Physician Density2.69 people/sq kmā˜…2.59 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.75 %0.81 %ā˜…
Population living in slums1.68 %15.76 %ā˜…
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio11.63ā˜…26.55
Total deaths26,826 personsā˜…685,869.9 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)63.4 %ā˜…62.6 %
Total fertility rate1.3 per woman1.84 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration974.7 personsā˜…-98,968.7 persons
Under-five mortality rate7.18 per live birthsā˜…11.69 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate0.97 %1.19 %ā˜…
Voting Age Population60.6 millions65.62 millionsā˜…

Transportation

4 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicoShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.480.48
Airports1321,580ā˜…
Civil Air Travel11186ā˜…
Heliports8488ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicoShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita5.62B USD36.24B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicoShare
Current Bank Rate3.5 %6.5 %ā˜…

Frequently Asked Questions About Costa Rica vs Mexico

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

Mexico. Mexico has 25.7 times as many people as Costa Rica (133.03 million vs 5.18 million). Data for 2026.

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

Mexico. Mexico's economy is 20.7 times the size of Costa Rica's ($2.29 trillion vs $110.67 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

Costa Rica is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $21,381 in Costa Rica vs $17,235 in Mexico (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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