Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 95.1% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Malawi, 8.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Costa Rica, that number is 0.4% of people as of 2020.

live 7.2 years longer

In Malawi, the average life expectancy is 72 years (69 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2022. In Costa Rica, that number is 80 years (77 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.4 times more likely to be obese

In Malawi, 5.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Costa Rica, that number is 25.7% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 15.2 times more money

Malawi has a GDP per capita of $1,700 as of 2023, while in Costa Rica, the GDP per capita is $25,800 as of 2023.

be 49.7% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Malawi, 50.7% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In Costa Rica, however, that number is 25.5% as of 2022.

pay a 50.0% lower top tax rate

Malawi has a top tax rate of 30.0% as of 2016. In Costa Rica, the top tax rate is 15.0% as of 2016.

be 64.7% more likely to be unemployed

In Malawi, 5.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Costa Rica, that number is 8.3% as of 2023.

Life

be 94.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Malawi, approximately 381.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Costa Rica, 22.0 women do as of 2020.

be 45.6% more likely to be literate

In Malawi, the literacy rate is 67.3% as of 2021. In Costa Rica, it is 98.0% as of 2021.

be 74.9% less likely to die during infancy

In Malawi, approximately 33.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Costa Rica, on the other hand, 8.4 children do as of 2022.

have 59.4% fewer children

In Malawi, there are approximately 26.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Costa Rica, there are 10.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 7.1 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Malawi, approximately 14% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Costa Rica, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 3.5 times more likely to have internet access

In Malawi, approximately 24.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Costa Rica, about 83.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 2.3 times more on education

Malawi spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Costa Rica spends 6.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 46.3% more on healthcare

Malawi spends 5.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Costa Rica, that number is 7.9% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Malawi Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, Directorate General of Taxation of Costa Rica.

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 Malawi? See an in-depth size comparison.

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