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Bolivia vs Costa Rica
Side-by-side comparison of Bolivia and Costa Rica from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Bolivia
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 201 years
Costa Rica
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 205 years
In short
Costa Rica scores 54.7 in the NationsTree Index (71st in the world) and Bolivia scores 40.0 (129th), a gap of 14.8 points. Their trees are 7.2 m and 7.9 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Bolivia has 2.4 times the population of Costa Rica. Bolivia is 21 times larger than Costa Rica by land area. Bolivia and Costa Rica have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Bolivia 12.6 million and Costa Rica 5.2 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $33,815 in Costa Rica and $12,873 in Bolivia (2025, international dollars). People in Costa Rica live on average 12.3 years longer (81.0 vs 68.7 years).
Of 36 indicators reported by both countries, Bolivia ranks higher in the world on 7 and Costa Rica on 29. Bolivia is clearly stronger in military, natural resources and land & people. Costa Rica is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, economy and science & innovation.
As a nation, Costa Rica is the older of the two (statehood since 1821, 205 years), compared with Bolivia (since 1825). Over the last five years Bolivia improved faster (direction score 51 vs 50 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Bolivia and Costa Rica.
Bolivia
59%
186th of 193
Costa Ricabetter
99%
1st of 193
InflationEconomy
Bolivia
19.5%
169th of 180
Costa Ricabetter
-0.1%
13th of 180
GDP growthEconomy
Bolivia
-1.6%
202nd of 210
Costa Ricabetter
4.6%
61st of 210
Regulatory qualityInstitutions & safety
Bolivia
34.5
184th of 205
Costa Ricabetter
64.8
56th of 205
Rule of lawInstitutions & safety
Bolivia
36.4
187th of 207
Costa Ricabetter
68.6
58th of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Costa Rica overtook Bolivia in GDP (PPP) in 2024 and has stayed ahead since.
Costa Rica has been ahead of Bolivia in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1995.
Costa Rica has been ahead of Bolivia in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Bolivia has been ahead of Costa Rica in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
BoliviaCosta Rica All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Bolivia | Costa Rica |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 1,098,58027th/216 · 2024 | 51,100128th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,087,95927th/216 · 2024 | 50,560127th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 12.6 m78th/217 · 2025 | 5.2 m126th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.35%76th/217 · 2025 | 0.45%143rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 11.4201st/216 · 2024 | 101.5104th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 71.6%83rd/217 · 2025 | 79.7%59th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 29.4%74th/217 · 2025 | 18.3%136th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 5.7%139th/217 · 2025 | 12.8%77th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $64.77 bn88th/210 · 2025 | $102.90 bn74th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $161.97 bn89th/199 · 2025 | $174.25 bn84th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $138.41 bn89th/199 · 2025 | $146.57 bn86th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $5,148137th/210 · 2025 | $19,97075th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $12,873129th/199 · 2025 | $33,81576th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $4,420134th/201 · 2025 | $17,93072nd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | -1.6%202nd/210 · 2025 | 4.6%61st/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 19.5%169th/180 · 2025 | -0.1%13th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.0%38th/187 · 2025 | 6.8%124th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 68.3%2001 | 39.3%2001 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 83.3%149th/189 · 2025 | 60.4%116th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -11.4%183rd/192 · 2025 | -3.4%116th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 8.8%77th/197 · 2024 | 3.4%124th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 31.3%49th/200 · 2024 | 19.9%127th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 13.1%65th/192 · 2024 | 13.6%56th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 53.4%129th/200 · 2024 | 69.2%37th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $11.76 bn105th/182 · 2024 | $39.98 bn73rd/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $14.02 bn109th/182 · 2024 | $33.59 bn78th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 21.4%141st/183 · 2024 | 38.8%87th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 25.5%150th/183 · 2024 | 32.6%124th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 47.0%148th/183 · 2024 | 71.5%110th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 11.7%44th/170 · 2025 | 0.0%147th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 8.3%137th/171 · 2025 | 64.9%48th/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 20.5%73rd/171 · 2025 | 32.3%45th/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 46.6%8th/171 · 2025 | 1.4%123rd/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 8.8%74th/168 · 2024 | 22.9%27th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -1.9%99th/191 · 2025 | -0.6%84th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.8%151st/196 · 2025 | 5.4%38th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 9.5%48th/209 · 2021 | 0.8%123rd/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 1.26%43rd/197 · 2021 | 0.01%108th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 1.85%24th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 5.91%19th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.44%73rd/209 · 2021 | 0.75%62nd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 5.6%131st/206 · 2024 | 3.3%153rd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 25,13026th/183 · 2022 | 22,23629th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 323,300141st/194 · 2020 | 1.1 m90th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $243.0 m114th/175 · 2020 | $1.48 bn59th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 3.3%102nd/168 · 2020 | 7.4%71st/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 432,00080th/107 · 2020 | 324,00087th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 68.7163rd/217 · 2024 | 81.047th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 15.7102nd/196 · 2024 | 10.479th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.2899th/174 · 2021 | 2.6967th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.5101st/145 · 2023 | 1.1110th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 59%186th/193 · 2024 | 99%1st/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 65.6%90th/153 · 2024 | 52.4%112th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 90.5%101st/173 · 2024 | 121.8%14th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 96.9%1st/55 · 2021 | 70.9%17th/55 · 2022 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 8.9%139th/217 · 2025 | 18.5%81st/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 6.9%86th/193 · 2023 | 6.9%87th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 96.7%28th/98 · 2024 | 97.4%2011 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | — | 55.0%2019 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.733108th/193 · 2023 | 0.83362nd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 40.990th/108 · 2024 | 45.5100th/108 · 2025 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 2.1%59th/108 · 2024 | 0.8%43rd/108 · 2025 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 96.6%146th/215 · 2024 | 99.8%126th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 80.5%76th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 26.3%115th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 79.7%103rd/186 · 2024 | 87.2%75th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 98142nd/210 · 2024 | 13647th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 12.1110th/208 · 2024 | 23.382nd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 | 2.7071st/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | — | 8482001 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 5.6 m57th/161 · 2023 | 2.0 m82nd/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.2994th/203 · 2024 | 1.6382nd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 12.8%128th/212 · 2021 | 34.2%72nd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 28.1147th/200 · 2023 | 17.7101st/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 50.2%58th/214 · 2024 | 59.1%32nd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 833102nd/149 · 2024 | 1,12187th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 39.7154th/205 · 2025 | 60.871st/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 24.1179th/207 · 2025 | 62.051st/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 36.4187th/207 · 2025 | 68.658th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 62.7127th/207 · 2025 | 87.024th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 34.5184th/205 · 2025 | 64.856th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 54.5114th/205 · 2025 | 76.837th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 4.494th/145 · 2023 | 17.7127th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $688.3 m90th/156 · 2025 | $0.00154th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.2%104th/156 · 2025 | 0.0%154th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 3.2%125th/154 · 2025 | 0.0%152nd/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 71,00059th/170 · 2020 | 10,000131st/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 1.21%54th/168 · 2020 | 0.41%125th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 0158th/163 · 2024 | 8.0 m2019 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 3.0 m2009 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.06%104th/110 · 2021 | 0.34%71st/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 10104th/137 · 2022 | 1593rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 197129th/197 · 2023 | 66192nd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Bolivia or Costa Rica?
Bolivia has the larger population: 12.6 m (2025) compared with 5.2 m for Costa Rica (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Bolivia or Costa Rica?
Bolivia is larger: 1,098,580 km² (2024) compared with 51,100 km² for Costa Rica (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Bolivia or Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $174.25 bn intl. (2025) compared with $161.97 bn intl. for Bolivia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Bolivia or Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $33,815 intl. (2025) compared with $12,873 intl. for Bolivia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Bolivia or Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has the higher life expectancy at birth: 81.0 years (2024) compared with 68.7 years for Bolivia (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Bolivia or Costa Rica?
Bolivia spends more on the military: $688.3 m (2025) compared with $0.00 for Costa Rica (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Bolivia or Costa Rica?
Costa Rica: 54.7 points (71st in the world); Bolivia: 40.0 points (129th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Panama
Paraguay
Puerto Rico (US)
Uruguay
Ecuador
GuatemalaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Bolivia vs Costa Rica — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/bolivia-vs-costa-rica. Data as of 26 October 2026.