Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Costa Rica instead of United Arab Emirates, you would:
Health
live 2.1 years less
In United Arab Emirates, the average life expectancy is 83 years (82 years for men, 84 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.
see 48.3% less spent on your healthcare
United Arab Emirates spends $3,727 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Costa Rica spends $1,928 as of 2023.
have 10.2% fewer doctors per person
United Arab Emirates has 29.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Costa Rica has 26.9 as of 2022.
be 4.7 times more likely to die by suicide
United Arab Emirates has a suicide rate of 1.7 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Costa Rica, it is 8.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
be 3.2 times more likely to be unemployed
In United Arab Emirates, 2.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Costa Rica, that number is 6.8% as of 2025.
make 60.3% less money
United Arab Emirates has a GDP per capita of $50,274 as of 2024, while in Costa Rica, the GDP per capita is $19,970 as of 2025.
Life
be 8.0 times more likely to die during childbirth
In United Arab Emirates, approximately 3.0 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 2.4 times more likely to die during infancy
In United Arab Emirates, approximately 3.8 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.
Basic Needs
be 12.8% less likely to have internet access
In United Arab Emirates, approximately 100.0% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Costa Rica, about 87.2% do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 36.5% more on education
United Arab Emirates spends 3.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Costa Rica spends 5.3% of total GDP on education as of 2023.
spend 38.2% more on healthcare
United Arab Emirates spends 5.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Costa Rica, that number is 6.9% of GDP as of 2023.
Safety
be 25.7 times more likely to be murdered
United Arab Emirates has a homicide rate of 0.7 per 100,000 people as of 2022. In Costa Rica, that number is 17.8 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 2.6 times more likely to die in a road accident
In United Arab Emirates, road accidents kill 5.9 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Costa Rica, they kill 15.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
live with 99.6% less strain on fresh water
United Arab Emirates withdraws 1510% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Costa Rica withdraws 6% as of 2022.
find 43.0% less home broadband
United Arab Emirates has 40.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Costa Rica has 23.3 as of 2024.
use 85.1% less electricity
United Arab Emirates uses 15,285 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Costa Rica uses 2,282 kWh as of 2024.
Environment
be 78.6% less likely to die from air pollution
In United Arab Emirates, air pollution causes 70.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Costa Rica, it causes 15.0 as of 2019.
emit 91.1% less CO2
United Arab Emirates emits 18.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Costa Rica emits 1.6 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021). How we calculate this
Compare further: United Arab Emirates vs. Costa Rica
Costa Rica: At a glance
How big is Costa Rica compared to United Arab Emirates? See an in-depth size comparison.