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Costa Rica vs Guatemala
Side-by-side comparison of Costa Rica and Guatemala from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Costa Rica
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 205 years
Guatemala
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 205 years
In short
Costa Rica scores 54.7 in the NationsTree Index (71st in the world) and Guatemala scores 35.4 (145th), a gap of 19.4 points. Their trees are 7.9 m and 9.2 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Guatemala has 3.6 times the population of Costa Rica. Guatemala is 2.1 times larger than Costa Rica by land area. The economy of Guatemala is 63% larger than that of Costa Rica (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Costa Rica 5.2 million and Guatemala 18.7 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $33,815 in Costa Rica and $15,197 in Guatemala (2025, international dollars). People in Costa Rica live on average 8.3 years longer (81.0 vs 72.7 years).
Of 36 indicators reported by both countries, Costa Rica ranks higher in the world on 30 and Guatemala on 6. Costa Rica is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, society & health and science & innovation. Guatemala is clearly stronger in military, natural resources and land & people.
Over the last five years Costa Rica improved faster (direction score 50 vs 44 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Costa Rica and Guatemala.
Costa Ricabetter
121.8%
14th of 173
Guatemala
49.6%
156th of 173
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Costa Ricabetter
99%
1st of 193
Guatemala
81%
142nd of 193
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Costa Ricabetter
62.0
51st of 207
Guatemala
29.4
161st of 207
Political stabilityInstitutions & safety
Costa Ricabetter
87.0
24th of 207
Guatemala
61.9
133rd of 207
UnemploymentEconomy
Costa Rica
6.8%
124th of 187
Guatemalabetter
2.6%
26th of 187
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Costa Rica has been ahead of Guatemala in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1995.
Costa Rica has been ahead of Guatemala in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Guatemala has been ahead of Costa Rica in GDP (PPP) and 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
Costa RicaGuatemala 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 | Costa Rica | Guatemala |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 51,100128th/216 · 2024 | 108,889107th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 50,560127th/216 · 2024 | 107,160103rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 5.2 m126th/217 · 2025 | 18.7 m69th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.45%143rd/217 · 2025 | 1.52%70th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 101.5104th/216 · 2024 | 171.870th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 79.7%59th/217 · 2025 | 56.3%137th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 18.3%136th/217 · 2025 | 31.0%67th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 12.8%77th/217 · 2025 | 5.0%148th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $102.90 bn74th/210 · 2025 | $123.31 bn68th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $174.25 bn84th/199 · 2025 | $284.00 bn71st/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $146.57 bn86th/199 · 2025 | $242.69 bn70th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $19,97075th/210 · 2025 | $6,598124th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $33,81576th/199 · 2025 | $15,197122nd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $17,93072nd/201 · 2025 | $6,360114th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 4.6%61st/210 · 2025 | 4.3%72nd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | -0.1%13th/180 · 2025 | 1.5%48th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 6.8%124th/187 · 2025 | 2.6%26th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 39.3%2001 | 25.2%2013 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 60.4%116th/189 · 2025 | 26.7%26th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -3.4%116th/192 · 2025 | -1.9%75th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 3.4%124th/197 · 2025 | 9.6%72nd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 19.9%127th/200 · 2025 | 21.8%116th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 13.6%56th/192 · 2025 | 13.2%61st/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 69.2%37th/200 · 2025 | 62.1%71st/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $39.98 bn73rd/182 · 2025 | $19.19 bn91st/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $33.59 bn78th/182 · 2025 | $38.19 bn71st/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 38.8%87th/183 · 2025 | 15.6%160th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 32.6%124th/183 · 2025 | 31.0%130th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 71.5%110th/183 · 2025 | 46.5%150th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%147th/170 · 2024 | 2.5%93rd/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 64.9%48th/171 · 2024 | 45.2%70th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 32.3%45th/171 · 2024 | 46.8%33rd/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 1.4%123rd/171 · 2024 | 1.0%134th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 22.9%27th/168 · 2024 | 5.4%94th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -0.6%84th/191 · 2025 | 4.7%40th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 5.4%38th/196 · 2025 | 1.4%125th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.8%123rd/209 · 2021 | 1.9%96th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.01%108th/197 · 2021 | 0.12%74th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%98th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 1.12%45th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.75%62nd/209 · 2021 | 0.69%63rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 3.3%153rd/206 · 2024 | 17.5%62nd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 22,23629th/183 · 2022 | 6,11862nd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.1 m90th/194 · 2020 | 594,000115th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $1.48 bn59th/175 · 2020 | $298.5 m108th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 7.4%71st/168 · 2020 | 2.3%121st/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 324,00087th/107 · 2020 | 507,80078th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 81.047th/217 · 2024 | 72.7128th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 10.479th/196 · 2024 | 20.5124th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.6967th/174 · 2022 | 1.28100th/174 · 2020 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.1110th/145 · 2022 | 0.5138th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 99%1st/193 · 2024 | 81%142nd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 52.4%112th/153 · 2024 | 33.9%126th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 121.8%14th/173 · 2024 | 49.6%156th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 70.9%17th/55 · 2022 | 63.3%2014 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 18.5%81st/217 · 2025 | 7.8%146th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 6.9%87th/193 · 2023 | 6.8%90th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 97.4%2011 | 82.1%64th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 55.0%2019 | 27.3%108th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.83362nd/193 · 2023 | 0.662137th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 45.5100th/108 · 2025 | 45.299th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.8%43rd/108 · 2025 | 9.7%84th/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 99.8%126th/215 · 2024 | 90.9%160th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 80.5%76th/150 · 2024 | 48.8%108th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 26.3%115th/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 87.2%75th/186 · 2024 | 60.2%138th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 13647th/210 · 2024 | 113115th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 23.382nd/208 · 2024 | 5.3138th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.7071st/164 · 2022 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 8482001 | 8852004 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 2.0 m82nd/161 · 2023 | 221,478128th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 1.6382nd/203 · 2024 | 1.1166th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 34.2%72nd/212 · 2021 | 62.1%35th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 17.7101st/200 · 2023 | 29.7151st/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 59.1%32nd/214 · 2024 | 33.1%104th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,12187th/149 · 2024 | 94093rd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 60.871st/205 · 2025 | 36.5163rd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 62.051st/207 · 2025 | 29.4161st/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 68.658th/207 · 2025 | 41.6166th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 87.024th/207 · 2025 | 61.9133rd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 64.856th/205 · 2025 | 49.7121st/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 76.837th/205 · 2025 | 51.5122nd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 17.7127th/145 · 2023 | 23.4130th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $0.00154th/156 · 2025 | $632.9 m94th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.0%154th/156 · 2025 | 0.5%144th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 0.0%152nd/154 · 2025 | 3.5%122nd/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 10,000131st/170 · 2020 | 43,00076th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.41%125th/168 · 2020 | 0.64%100th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 8.0 m2019 | 6.0 m125th/163 · 2023 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 3.0 m2009 | — |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.34%71st/110 · 2023 | 0.01%110th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1593rd/137 · 2024 | 8109th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 66192nd/197 · 2023 | 109138th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Costa Rica or Guatemala?
Guatemala has the larger population: 18.7 m (2025) compared with 5.2 m for Costa Rica (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Costa Rica or Guatemala?
Guatemala is larger: 108,889 km² (2024) compared with 51,100 km² for Costa Rica (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Costa Rica or Guatemala?
Guatemala has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $284.00 bn intl. (2025) compared with $174.25 bn intl. for Costa Rica (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Costa Rica or Guatemala?
Costa Rica has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $33,815 intl. (2025) compared with $15,197 intl. for Guatemala (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Costa Rica or Guatemala?
Costa Rica has the higher life expectancy at birth: 81.0 years (2024) compared with 72.7 years for Guatemala (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Costa Rica or Guatemala?
Guatemala spends more on the military: $632.9 m (2025) compared with $0.00 for Costa Rica (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Costa Rica or Guatemala?
Costa Rica: 54.7 points (71st in the world); Guatemala: 35.4 points (145th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Bolivia
Ecuador
Panama
Paraguay
Puerto Rico (US)
Uruguay
Dominican RepublicSources
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). Costa Rica vs Guatemala — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/costa-rica-vs-guatemala. Data as of 26 October 2026.