Nicaragua vs Costa Rica: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | Nicaragua | Costa Rica | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 7.0m2025 | 5.2m2025 | 108 · 126 |
| Area | 130,370 km²2023 | 51,100 km²2024 | 98 · 128 |
| Density | 56.72023 | 101.52024 | 148 · 104 |
| Urban share | 59.4%2025 | 79.7%2025 | 128 · 59 |
| Fertility | 2.212024 | 1.322024 | 93 · 189 |
| Aged 65+ | 5.7%2025 | 12.8%2025 | 141 · 77 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $22.2bn2025 | $103bn2025 | 130 · 75 |
| GDP per capita | $3,1732025 | $19,9702025 | 158 · 75 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $9,2842025 | $33,8152025 | 143 · 76 |
| GDP growth | 4.9%2025 | 4.6%2025 | 55 · 61 |
| Agriculture share | 14.5%2025 | 3.4%2025 | 55 · 124 |
| Industry share | 29.3%2025 | 19.9%2025 | 56 · 127 |
| Services share | 45.2%2025 | 69.2%2025 | 169 · 38 |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | 2.1%2025 | -0.1%2025 | 120 · 168 |
| Tax revenue | 20.1%2024 | 13.5%2024 | 48 · 95 |
| Military spending | 0.56%2025 | 0.00%2025 | 140 · 154 |
| Trade & investment | |||
| Exports | 41.6%2025 | 38.8%2025 | 75 · 88 |
| FDI inflows | 6.8%2025 | 5.4%2025 | 31 · 38 |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 5.0%2025 | 6.8%2025 | 100 · 64 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 54.9%2025 | 49.1%2025 | 3 · 8 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 30.4%2023 | 55.0%2019 | 111 · 72 |
| Education spending | 2.9%2023 | 5.3%2023 | 147 · 46 |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 75.1 yrs2024 | 81.0 yrs2024 | 106 · 47 |
| Infant mortality | 9.42024 | 9.12024 | 116 · 119 |
| Health spending | 8.3%2023 | 6.9%2023 | 57 · 87 |
| Physicians | 0.682018 | 2.692022 | 122 · 68 |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 61.4%2024 | 87.2%2024 | 137 · 75 |
| Fixed broadband | 5.82024 | 23.32024 | 136 · 82 |
| Electricity access | 88.7%2024 | 99.8%2024 | 165 · 127 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 0.83 t2024 | 1.63 t2024 | 146 · 122 |
| Renewable energy | 50.4%2021 | 34.2%2021 | 47 · 72 |
| Forest cover | 25.8%2023 | 59.1%2024 | 117 · 32 |
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
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Life expectancy
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Population
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Internet users
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Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
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