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

Health

live 9.7 years longer

In Indonesia, the average life expectancy is 71 years (69 years for men, 73 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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see 4.6 times more spent on your healthcare

Indonesia spends $417 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Costa Rica spends $1,928 as of 2023.

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have 5.1 times more doctors per person

Indonesia has 5.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Costa Rica has 26.9 as of 2022.

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have 47.3% more access to essential health services

Indonesia scores 55 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Costa Rica scores 81 as of 2021.

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be 2.8 times more likely to be obese

In Indonesia, 11.8% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Costa Rica, that number is 32.7% of people as of 2024.

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be 6.7 times more likely to die by suicide

Indonesia has a suicide rate of 1.2 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

make 3.9 times more money

Indonesia has a GDP per capita of $5,060 as of 2025, while in Costa Rica, the GDP per capita is $19,970 as of 2025.

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be 2.1 times more likely to be unemployed

In Indonesia, 3.2% 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 2.0 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Indonesia, 8.5% live below the poverty line as of 2025. In Costa Rica, however, that number is 17.1% as of 2025.

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Life

be 82.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In Indonesia, approximately 140.0 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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be 40.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Indonesia, approximately 15.2 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.

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have 36.6% fewer children

In Indonesia, there are approximately 15.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Costa Rica, there are 10.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 19.8% more likely to have internet access

In Indonesia, approximately 72.8% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Costa Rica, about 87.2% do as of 2024.

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be 12.1% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Indonesia, approximately 89% of people have access to drinking water (95% in urban areas, and 80% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Costa Rica, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 4.1 times more on education

Indonesia spends 1.3% 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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spend 2.5 times more on healthcare

Indonesia spends 2.7% 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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Geography

see 97.6% less coastline

Indonesia has a total of 54,716 km of coastline. In Costa Rica, that number is 1,290 km.

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Safety

be 59.2 times more likely to be murdered

Indonesia has a homicide rate of 0.3 per 100,000 people as of 2022. In Costa Rica, that number is 17.8 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 37.2% more likely to die in a road accident

In Indonesia, road accidents kill 11.3 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 4.7 times more home broadband

Indonesia has 4.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Costa Rica has 23.3 as of 2024.

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live with 80.2% less strain on fresh water

Indonesia withdraws 30% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Costa Rica withdraws 6% as of 2022.

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use 57.9% more electricity

Indonesia uses 1,445 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Costa Rica uses 2,282 kWh as of 2024.

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Environment

be 74.1% less likely to die from air pollution

In Indonesia, air pollution causes 58.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Costa Rica, it causes 15.0 as of 2019.

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emit 43.2% less CO2

Indonesia emits 2.9 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), The World Factbook. 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 Indonesia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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