Costa Rica vs Panama: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | Costa Rica | Panama | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 5.2m2025 | 4.6m2025 | 126 · 128 |
| Area | 51,100 km²2024 | 75,320 km²2024 | 128 · 119 |
| Density | 101.52024 | 60.92024 | 104 · 144 |
| Urban share | 79.7%2025 | 66.2%2025 | 59 · 102 |
| Fertility | 1.322024 | 2.112024 | 189 · 97 |
| Aged 65+ | 12.8%2025 | 9.7%2025 | 77 · 102 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $103bn2025 | $90.5bn2025 | 75 · 83 |
| GDP per capita | $19,9702025 | $19,7902025 | 75 · 77 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $33,8152025 | $43,9022025 | 76 · 62 |
| GDP growth | 4.6%2025 | 4.4%2025 | 61 · 70 |
| Agriculture share | 3.4%2025 | 2.6%2025 | 124 · 135 |
| Industry share | 19.9%2025 | 24.9%2025 | 127 · 88 |
| Services share | 69.2%2025 | 70.0%2025 | 38 · 36 |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | -0.1%2025 | -0.2%2025 | 168 · 171 |
| Tax revenue | 13.5%2024 | 7.2%2024 | 95 · 131 |
| Military spending | 0.00%2025 | 0.00%2025 | 154 · 156 |
| Trade & investment | |||
| Exports | 38.8%2025 | 44.4%2024 | 88 · 66 |
| FDI inflows | 5.4%2025 | 1.0%2025 | 38 · 139 |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 6.8%2025 | 8.4%2025 | 64 · 51 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 49.1%2025 | 21.7%2025 | 8 · 114 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 55.0%2019 | 53.7%2023 | 72 · 78 |
| Education spending | 5.3%2023 | 2.5%2023 | 46 · 159 |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 81.0 yrs2024 | 79.8 yrs2024 | 47 · 55 |
| Infant mortality | 9.12024 | 12.02024 | 119 · 103 |
| Health spending | 6.9%2023 | 8.3%2023 | 87 · 56 |
| Physicians | 2.692022 | 1.622022 | 68 · 92 |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 87.2%2024 | 72.8%2024 | 75 · 118 |
| Fixed broadband | 23.32024 | 18.12023 | 82 · 92 |
| Electricity access | 99.8%2024 | 96.0%2024 | 127 · 149 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 1.63 t2024 | 2.74 t2024 | 122 · 97 |
| Renewable energy | 34.2%2021 | 28.0%2021 | 72 · 84 |
| Forest cover | 59.1%2024 | 62.2%2024 | 32 · 26 |
Higher value in each row is highlighted; it is not always the better one (think inflation or emissions). Ranks are world positions.
GDP per capita
Costa RicaPanama
Life expectancy
Costa RicaPanama
Population
Costa RicaPanama
Internet users
Costa RicaPanama
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
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