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Costa Rica vs Thailand: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 177 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Costa Rica
cri
Leads on 80 of 177 metrics
Thailand
tha
Leads on 88 of 177 metrics

Summary

Thailand has 13.8 times as many people as Costa Rica (71.57 million vs 5.18 million). Thailand's economy is 4.8 times the size of Costa Rica's ($533.67 billion vs $110.67 billion GDP).

Comparing Costa Rica and Thailand: Costa Rica leads on Radios (980,000) against Thailand (13.96); Costa Rica leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (53,000) against Thailand (1.33); Costa Rica leads on Televisions (525,000) against Thailand (15.19). Across 177 compared metrics, Costa Rica wins on 80 and Thailand wins on 88.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 67 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‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration23.29 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…14.89 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)87.17 %90.87 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)85.4 %89.54 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 85% (2023 est.)percent of population: 90% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed23.29 Mbpsā˜…14.89 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score73.09 pointsā˜…56.72 points
Radios980,000ā˜…13.96
Televisions525,000ā˜…15.19
Waterways7304,000ā˜…

Economy

67 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country2.74B $45.86B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars110.67B $533.67B $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)15.67 %21.58 %ā˜…
Apple Import Volume20.26M tonnes186.16M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate71.35 %91.82 %ā˜…
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)3.5 %ā˜…1.5 %
Coal Revenue00.03ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)11.37 %ā˜…4.42 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)7.6 % of GDPā˜…3.8 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index69.284.6ā˜…
Electricity Consumption9.81187.7ā˜…
Electricity Exports643ā˜…2.27
Electricity from Fossil Fuels1876ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants64ā˜…8
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables18ā˜…16
Electricity Imports807ā˜…19.83
Electricity Installed Capacity3.5844.89ā˜…
Electricity Production10.79181.5ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)30.73 USD per capita80.6 USD per capitaā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate53.46 %69.01 %ā˜…
Gender Pay Gap Percentage-6.34 %-3.64 %ā˜…
Gender Wage Gap-6.34 %ā˜…-3.64 %
Gini Index Coefficient45.8ā˜…33.5
Gross Fixed Investment19.928.8ā˜…
Gross National Saving15.134.1ā˜…
High-Tech Export Percentage54.1 %61.93 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries28,443.41 USDā˜…22,431.75 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)4.1 %ā˜…0.9 %
Inflation Rate-0.07 %-0.13 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)-0.4 %ā˜…1.4 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.6 % of GDP1.1 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption052.64ā˜…
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports014.41ā˜…
Natural Gas Production038.59ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves0193.4ā˜…
Oil Consumption47,000988,000ā˜…
Oil Exports2,087269,100ā˜…
Oil Imports44,110807,100ā˜…
Oil Production263406,800ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves0435ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line24.4 people5.4 peopleā˜…
Private Investment (% of GDP)13.93 % of GDP16.53 % of GDPā˜…
Public Debt48.9ā˜…61.1
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.34 %0.94 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)4.3 USDā˜…2.5 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends7.45 %ā˜…4.85 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption53,000ā˜…1.33
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0278,300ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Imports51,320134,200ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production01.33ā˜…
Remittances0.81.8ā˜…
Researchers in R&D per Million507.76 researchers1,591.97 researchersā˜…
Revenue from Forest Resources0.82ā˜…0.34
Robotics Research Funding0.34 USD0.94 USDā˜…
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)1.540ā˜…
Tax Burden (% of GDP)13.46 %ā˜…15.18 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)13.46 % of GDP15.18 % of GDPā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues13.915.4ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries36.74B USD368.82B USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)5.43 %ā˜…3.27 %
Tourism Contribution to GDP2.72 %ā˜…0.84 %
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)2.72 %ā˜…0.84 %
Unemployment Rate7.9 %0.7 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate57.66 %ā˜…66.68 %
Youth Unemployment Rate19.95 %4.53 %ā˜…

Environment

12 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)287,922ā˜…3.03M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate3,517.97 %ā˜…-138,016.02 %
Average Annual Temperature23.34 Ā°C26.31 Ā°Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions7.91ā˜…336.69
Continental Shelf200not specific;
Global Precipitation Distribution3,314.33 mmā˜…1,756.8 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 populationhighest population density is found in and around Bangkok; significant population clusters throughout large parts of the country, particularly north and northeast of Bangkok and in the extreme southern region of the country
Protected Land Area for Adaptation25.83 sq kmā˜…18.37 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage26.6 %ā˜…18.4 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country37.31 Cubic meters per year41.9 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources113438.61ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species12 speciesā˜…64 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization3.41 %5.23 %ā˜…
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)196ā˜…142.5
Agricultural land16,651.72 sq. km243,086.8 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km51,060510,890ā˜…
Coastline Length (km)1,290 km3,219 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita382.59 cubic meters per inhabitant1,098 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land1,01564,150ā˜…

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Rule of Law Index by Country54.31 %56.88 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions776ā˜…
Corruption Perception Index58 index34 indexā˜…
Corruption Perceptions Index Score58 indexā˜…34 index
Independence15123ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score3.076.07ā˜…
Prison Population Rate395 per 100,000ā˜…529 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception5834ā˜…
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

23 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Average BMI for Adults26.8 kg/mĀ²ā˜…23.9 kg/mĀ²
Change in Measles Immunization Rate93 %93 %
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)37.3319.51ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)9.810.2ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders81 yearsā˜…76.56 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.45 per 1,000 births0.39 per 1,000 birthsā˜…
Health Care Spending per Capita2,112.89 USDā˜…1,465.74 USD
Health Coverage Index Score84 scoreā˜…82 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)7.6 % of GDPā˜…5.2 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy81 yearsā˜…76.56 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.5 %ā˜…1 %
Hospital Bed Density1.2 people/sq km2.3 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita1.14 beds per 1,0002.39 beds per 1,000ā˜…
Low Birth Weight Prevalence8.72 %ā˜…10.3 %
Malaria Incidence Rate0.13 cases per 1,000ā˜…0.58 cases per 1,000
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)24 %ā˜…34 %
Nurses and Midwives Density2.91 per 1,000 people3.07 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)25.7 %10 %ā˜…
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending24.13 %9.93 %ā˜…
People Living With HIV/AIDS16,000ā˜…500,000
Public Health Spending (% of GDP)4.8 %ā˜…3.46 %
Total Number of Doctors2.56ā˜…0.54
Underweight Children Under 52.9ā˜…6.7

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Active Military Personnel0 personnel361,000 personnelā˜…
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)0 %ā˜…1.04 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)10,000455,000ā˜…

People and Society

41 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Currently married (Percent)40.93 %50.17 %ā˜…
Human Capital Index0.63ā˜…0.63
Life expectancy at birth84.75 yearsā˜…80.78 years
Median age of population35.68 years41.03 yearsā˜…
Population Change24,088.1 personsā˜…-87,807.2 persons
Population density101.38 per sq. kmā˜…140.16 per sq. km
Total population5.18M persons71.57M personsā˜…
Academic Freedom Index0.92ā˜…0.38
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsA-Bā˜…AA
Beer Consumption per Capita2.46 litersā˜…2.01 liters
Birth Rate (%)10.86 %ā˜…9.82 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate70.9 %73 %ā˜…
Crude Birth Rate9.99 per 1,000 peopleā˜…8.12 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)5.24 %ā˜…8.08 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)6.2 % of GDPā˜…2.5 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age1.33M persons16.94M personsā˜…
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)60.47 %ā˜…52.11 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate23.29 %ā˜…14.89 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth104.41 male/female106.24 male/femaleā˜…
Human Development Index0.59ā˜…0.4
Labor Force Participation Rate2.3640.62ā˜…
Learning-adjusted years of school9.01 yearsā˜…8.95 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population1.46 people11.07 peopleā˜…
Mean Male Height (cm)168.93169.16ā˜…
Mean Years of Schooling9.12 years9.32 yearsā˜…
Military Manpower at Military Age1818
Military Service Age and Obligation1821ā˜…
Old-Age Dependency Ratio16.98 %ā˜…20.94 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization74.2 %ā˜…62.64 %
Physician Density2.69 people/sq kmā˜…0.54 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.75 %ā˜…0.13 %
Population living in slums1.68 %2 %ā˜…
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio12.2ā˜…16.64
Total deaths26,826 personsā˜…685,767.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)63.4 %ā˜…44.11 %
Total fertility rate1.3 per womanā˜…1.18 per woman
Total net-migration974.7 persons36,266.2 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate7.18 per live birthsā˜…10.25 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate0.97 %1.43 %ā˜…
Voting Age Population64.35 millionsā˜…39.35 millions

Transportation

4 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.481.01ā˜…
Airports132ā˜…105
Civil Air Travel1141ā˜…
Heliports8ā˜…5

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita5.62B USD46.57B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡· Costa RicašŸ‡¹šŸ‡­ ThailandShare
Current Bank Rate3.5 %ā˜…1.5 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Costa Rica vs Thailand

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

Thailand. Thailand has 13.8 times as many people as Costa Rica (71.57 million vs 5.18 million). Data for 2026.

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

Thailand. Thailand's economy is 4.8 times the size of Costa Rica's ($533.67 billion vs $110.67 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

Costa Rica is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $21,381 in Costa Rica vs $7,456 in Thailand (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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