Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Costa Rica instead of France, you would:
Health
be 51.4% less likely to die by suicide
France has a suicide rate of 16.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Costa Rica, it is 8.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.
live 2.0 years less
In France, the average life expectancy is 83 years (80 years for men, 86 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.
be 2.9 times more likely to be obese
In France, 11.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Costa Rica, that number is 32.7% of people as of 2024.
see 71.9% less spent on your healthcare
France spends $6,868 per person on healthcare as of 2024 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Costa Rica spends $1,928 as of 2023.
have 18.1% fewer doctors per person
France has 32.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Costa Rica has 26.9 as of 2022.
Economy
make 59.2% less money
France has a GDP per capita of $48,986 as of 2025, while in Costa Rica, the GDP per capita is $19,970 as of 2025.
Life
be 3.4 times more likely to die during childbirth
In France, approximately 7.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Costa Rica, 24.0 women do as of 2023.
be 2.7 times more likely to die during infancy
In France, approximately 3.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Costa Rica, on the other hand, 9.1 children do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 40.5% less on healthcare
France spends 11.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2024. In Costa Rica, that number is 6.9% of GDP as of 2023.
Geography
see 73.4% less coastline
France has a total of 4,853 km of coastline. In Costa Rica, that number is 1,290 km.
Safety
be 13.2 times more likely to be murdered
France has a homicide rate of 1.3 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Costa Rica, that number is 17.8 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 3.3 times more likely to die in a road accident
In France, road accidents kill 4.7 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Costa Rica, they kill 15.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
live with 72.5% less strain on fresh water
France withdraws 21% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Costa Rica withdraws 6% as of 2022.
find 52.4% less home broadband
France has 48.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Costa Rica has 23.3 as of 2024.
use 64.6% less electricity
France uses 6,447 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Costa Rica uses 2,282 kWh as of 2024.
Environment
emit 59.2% less CO2
France emits 4.0 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Costa Rica emits 1.6 tonnes as of 2024.
be 50.0% more likely to die from air pollution
In France, air pollution causes 10.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Costa Rica, it causes 15.0 as of 2019.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this
Compare further: France vs. Costa Rica
Costa Rica: At a glance
How big is Costa Rica compared to France? See an in-depth size comparison.