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

Health

live 8.5 years longer

In Uzbekistan, the average life expectancy is 73 years (70 years for men, 76 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 2.6 times more spent on your healthcare

Uzbekistan spends $749 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Costa Rica spends $1,928 as of 2023.

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Economy

make 5.0 times more money

Uzbekistan has a GDP per capita of $3,968 as of 2025, while in Costa Rica, the GDP per capita is $19,970 as of 2025.

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be 48.1% more likely to be unemployed

In Uzbekistan, 4.6% 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 2.9 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Uzbekistan, 5.8% 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 28.9% less likely to die during infancy

In Uzbekistan, approximately 12.8 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.

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have 60.9% fewer children

In Uzbekistan, there are approximately 25.6 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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Safety

be 12.7 times more likely to be murdered

Uzbekistan has a homicide rate of 1.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Costa Rica, that number is 17.8 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 66.7% more likely to die in a road accident

In Uzbekistan, road accidents kill 9.3 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

live with 95.2% less strain on fresh water

Uzbekistan withdraws 123% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Costa Rica withdraws 6% as of 2022.

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use 10.8% more electricity

Uzbekistan uses 2,059 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Costa Rica uses 2,282 kWh as of 2024.

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find 33.0% less home broadband

Uzbekistan has 34.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Costa Rica has 23.3 as of 2024.

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Environment

be 87.2% less likely to die from air pollution

In Uzbekistan, air pollution causes 117.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Costa Rica, it causes 15.0 as of 2019.

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emit 60.1% less CO2

Uzbekistan emits 4.1 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). 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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