South Africa vs Costa Rica Country Comparison
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Comparative Statistics (South Africa 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 South Africa in 10 of 11 comparable indicators, while South Africa leads in 1. South Africa's strongest global position is 92nd (2023) in Rule of Law: Estimate. Costa Rica's strongest global position is 32nd (2023) in Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism: Estimate.
- Costa Rica wins against South Africa in GDP growth (annual %): 4.32 (2024, ranked 56th) vs 0.53 (2024, ranked 186th).
- Costa Rica wins against South Africa in GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2021 international $): 26,973.44 (2024, ranked 77th) vs 13,597.65 (2024, ranked 118th).
- Costa Rica wins against South Africa in Gini index: 45.50 (2025, ranked 111th) vs 54.10 (2022, ranked 167th).
- Costa Rica wins against South Africa in Individuals using the Internet (% of population): 87.17 (2024, ranked 86th) vs 78.36 (2024, ranked 118th).
- Costa Rica wins against South Africa in Life expectancy at birth, total (years): 81 (2024, ranked 47th) vs 66.31 (2024, ranked 183rd).
- South Africa wins against Costa Rica in Lower secondary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group): 88.31 (2023, ranked 107th) vs 61.39 (2024, ranked 152nd).
- Costa Rica wins against South Africa in Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate): 6.84 (2025, ranked 124th) vs 32.39 (2025, ranked 186th).
- Costa Rica wins against South Africa in Regulatory Quality: Estimate: 0.54 (2023, ranked 59th) vs -0.22 (2023, ranked 111th).
- Costa Rica wins against South Africa in Control of Corruption: Estimate: 0.65 (2023, ranked 55th) vs -0.28 (2023, ranked 108th).
- Costa Rica wins against South Africa in Rule of Law: Estimate: 0.39 (2023, ranked 79th) vs 0.09 (2023, ranked 92nd).
- Costa Rica wins against South Africa in Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism: Estimate: 0.98 (2023, ranked 32nd) vs -0.67 (2023, ranked 161st).
| Metric | South Africa(1) | Costa Rica(10) |
|---|---|---|
| GDP growth (annual %) | (2024) 0.53 (186/214) | (2024) 4.32 (56/214) |
| GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2021 international $) | (2024) 13,597.65 (118/199) | (2024) 26,973.44 (77/199) |
| Gini index | (2022) 54.10 (167/171) | (2025) 45.50 (111/171) |
| Individuals using the Internet (% of population) | (2024) 78.36 (118/213) | (2024) 87.17 (86/213) |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | (2024) 66.31 (183/217) | (2024) 81 (47/217) |
| Lower secondary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) | (2023) 88.31 (107/197) | (2024) 61.39 (152/197) |
| Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) | (2025) 32.39 (186/187) | (2025) 6.84 (124/187) |
| Regulatory Quality: Estimate | (2023) -0.22 (111/205) | (2023) 0.54 (59/205) |
| Control of Corruption: Estimate | (2023) -0.28 (108/205) | (2023) 0.65 (55/205) |
| Rule of Law: Estimate | (2023) 0.09 (92/205) | (2023) 0.39 (79/205) |
| Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism: Estimate | (2023) -0.67 (161/205) | (2023) 0.98 (32/205) |