If you lived in Costa Rica instead of Armenia, you would:

Health

live 2.7 years longer

In Armenia, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2024. In Costa Rica, that number is 81 years (78 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024.

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have 19.1% more access to essential health services

Armenia scores 68 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Costa Rica scores 81 as of 2021.

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be 30.9% more likely to be obese

In Armenia, 25.0% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Costa Rica, that number is 32.7% of people as of 2024.

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have 20.0% fewer doctors per person

Armenia has 33.6 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Costa Rica has 26.9 as of 2022.

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be 3.3 times more likely to die by suicide

Armenia has a suicide rate of 2.5 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Costa Rica, it is 8.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 46.9% less likely to be unemployed

In Armenia, 12.9% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Costa Rica, that number is 6.8% as of 2025.

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be 21.2% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Armenia, 21.7% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Costa Rica, however, that number is 17.1% as of 2025.

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make 2.1 times more money

Armenia has a GDP per capita of $9,474 as of 2025, while in Costa Rica, the GDP per capita is $19,970 as of 2025.

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Life

be 26.3% more likely to die during childbirth

In Armenia, approximately 19.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Costa Rica, 24.0 women do as of 2023.

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Expenditures

spend 26.3% less on healthcare

Armenia spends 9.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Costa Rica, that number is 6.9% of GDP as of 2023.

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spend 2.2 times more on education

Armenia spends 2.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Costa Rica spends 5.3% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Safety

be 8.0 times more likely to be murdered

Armenia has a homicide rate of 2.2 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Costa Rica, that number is 17.8 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 14.0% more likely to die in a road accident

In Armenia, road accidents kill 13.6 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Costa Rica, they kill 15.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 14.7% more home broadband

Armenia has 20.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Costa Rica has 23.3 as of 2024.

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live with 90.5% less strain on fresh water

Armenia withdraws 62% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Costa Rica withdraws 6% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 78.6% less likely to die from air pollution

In Armenia, air pollution causes 70.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Costa Rica, it causes 15.0 as of 2019.

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emit 34.0% less CO2

Armenia emits 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Costa Rica emits 1.6 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Costa Rica: At a glance

Costa Rica is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 51,060 sq km. Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. In 1949, Costa Rica dissolved its armed forces. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.
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How big is Costa Rica compared to Armenia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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