Panama vs Costa Rica Country Comparison
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Comparative Statistics (Panama vs Costa Rica)
ⓘ When data for the selected year is missing, the closest prior year with data is used instead. Whenever the two countries' data points are 5+ years apart those indicators are excluded from the total score.
Costa Rica leads against Panama in 9 of 11 comparable indicators, while Panama leads in 2. Panama's strongest global position is 55th (2024) in Life expectancy at birth, total (years). Costa Rica's strongest global position is 32nd (2023) in Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism: Estimate.
- Costa Rica wins against Panama in GDP growth (annual %): 4.32 (2024, ranked 56th) vs 2.75 (2024, ranked 126th).
- Panama wins against Costa Rica in GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2021 international $): 36,394.92 (2024, ranked 60th) vs 26,973.44 (2024, ranked 77th).
- Costa Rica wins against Panama in Gini index: 45.50 (2025, ranked 111th) vs 49.70 (2024, ranked 159th).
- Costa Rica wins against Panama in Individuals using the Internet (% of population): 87.17 (2024, ranked 86th) vs 72.77 (2024, ranked 132nd).
- Costa Rica wins against Panama in Life expectancy at birth, total (years): 81 (2024, ranked 47th) vs 79.78 (2024, ranked 55th).
- Panama wins against Costa Rica in Lower secondary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group): 78.84 (2024, ranked 131st) vs 61.39 (2024, ranked 152nd).
- Costa Rica wins against Panama in Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate): 6.84 (2025, ranked 124th) vs 8.36 (2025, ranked 138th).
- Costa Rica wins against Panama in Regulatory Quality: Estimate: 0.54 (2023, ranked 59th) vs 0.12 (2023, ranked 89th).
- Costa Rica wins against Panama in Control of Corruption: Estimate: 0.65 (2023, ranked 55th) vs -0.63 (2023, ranked 145th).
- Costa Rica wins against Panama in Rule of Law: Estimate: 0.39 (2023, ranked 79th) vs -0.35 (2023, ranked 122nd).
- Costa Rica wins against Panama in Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism: Estimate: 0.98 (2023, ranked 32nd) vs 0.21 (2023, ranked 95th).
| Metric | Panama(2) | Costa Rica(9) |
|---|---|---|
| GDP growth (annual %) | (2024) 2.75 (126/214) | (2024) 4.32 (56/214) |
| GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2021 international $) | (2024) 36,394.92 (60/199) | (2024) 26,973.44 (77/199) |
| Gini index | (2024) 49.70 (159/171) | (2025) 45.50 (111/171) |
| Individuals using the Internet (% of population) | (2024) 72.77 (132/213) | (2024) 87.17 (86/213) |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | (2024) 79.78 (55/217) | (2024) 81 (47/217) |
| Lower secondary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) | (2024) 78.84 (131/197) | (2024) 61.39 (152/197) |
| Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) | (2025) 8.36 (138/187) | (2025) 6.84 (124/187) |
| Regulatory Quality: Estimate | (2023) 0.12 (89/205) | (2023) 0.54 (59/205) |
| Control of Corruption: Estimate | (2023) -0.63 (145/205) | (2023) 0.65 (55/205) |
| Rule of Law: Estimate | (2023) -0.35 (122/205) | (2023) 0.39 (79/205) |
| Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism: Estimate | (2023) 0.21 (95/205) | (2023) 0.98 (32/205) |