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Sheet 39 of 195 · AmericasCRI · 10.1°N 84.0°W

Costa Rica

Republic of Costa Rica · República de Costa Rica

Capital
San José
Population
5.15 million 2025
Area
51,100 km²
Neighbours
2
Locator map of Costa RicaCOSTA RICASan JoséNICARAGUAPANAMANorthPacific OceanCaribbean Sea0100 km
Costa Rica hatched, San José marked with a triangle, land neighbours shaded. Orthographic projection centred on 9.6°N 84.2°W; the scale bar is true at the centre.

In Central America, Costa Rica has two land neighbours: Nicaragua and Panama. At 51,100 km², it ranks 126th of 195 by area, close in size to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovakia.

Its population was 5.15 million in 2025 (World Bank), the 70th-smallest of the 194 countries with data. Density is 101 people per km². 79.7% of people lived in urban areas in 2025.

GDP per capita was US$19,970 in 2025 (World Bank, current US$), 56th of 191 and 9th of 35 in the Americas. Life expectancy at birth was 81.0 years in 2024.

Its main landmass lies entirely in the Northern and Western hemispheres. North to south it runs about 347 km, between 8.1°N and 11.2°N. San José's antipode is in the Indian Ocean, about 260 km from Indian Ocean Territories, the nearest land.

How it compares Americas: 35 countries

MeasureFigureWorldAmericas
Population5,152,9502025, World Bank125th of 19420th of 35
Area51,100 km²world-countries126th of 19521st of 35
GDPUS$102.9 billion2025, World Bank, current US$73rd of 19113th of 35
GDP per capitaUS$19,9702025, World Bank, current US$56th of 1919th of 35
Population density101 per km²population 2025, World Bank; area, world-countries88th of 19413th of 35
Life expectancy81.0 years2024, World Bank38th of 1943rd of 35
Urban population79.7%2025, World Bank44th of 19411th of 35
Forest area59.1% of land2024, World Bank30th of 1946th of 35
Population growth+0.45% a year2025, World Bank134th of 19420th of 35
Internet users87.2%2024, World Bank72nd of 18810th of 35
Fertility rate1.32 births per woman2024, World Bank170th of 19433rd of 35
Land neighbours2world-countries; among the 195112th of 19514th of 35
 Ranks run from the largest value (1st) among the countries with data; equal values share a rank.

Closest in areaBosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia and Dominican Republic

Closest in populationMauritania, New Zealand and Palestine

Neighbours 2 countries by land, nearest capital first

  • Nicaragua343 km
    San José to Managua, capital to capital
  • Panama511 km
    San José to Panama City, capital to capital

Where on Earth main landmass

Hemispheres
Northern and Western
Capital
San José
9.94°N 84.09°W
Northernmost latitude
11.19°N
Southernmost latitude
8.07°N
Westernmost longitude
85.91°W
Easternmost longitude
82.57°W
North to south
about 347 km
Antipode of San José
9.94°S 95.91°E
in the Indian Ocean, about 260 km from the nearest land (Indian Ocean Territories)