Costa Rica vs Panama

Costa Rica scores 54.7 in the NationsTree Index (71st in the world) and Panama scores 45.5 (106th), a gap of 9.3 points. Their trees are 7.9 m and 8.2 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.

Costa Rica has 13% more people than Panama. Panama has 47% more land area than Costa Rica. The economy of Panama is 15% larger than that of Costa Rica (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Costa Rica 5.2 million and Panama 4.6 million (2025).

GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $43,902 in Panama and $33,815 in Costa Rica (2025, international dollars). People in Costa Rica live on average 1.2 years longer (81.0 vs 79.8 years).

Of 35 indicators reported by both countries, Costa Rica ranks higher in the world on 23 and Panama on 12. Costa Rica is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, science & innovation and main industries. Panama is clearly stronger in military and infrastructure & digital.

As a nation, Costa Rica is the older of the two (statehood since 1821, 205 years), compared with Panama (since 1903). Over the last five years Costa Rica improved faster (direction score 50 vs 43 out of 100).