Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 91.5% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Tanzania, 4.7% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Costa Rica, that number is 0.4% of people as of 2020.

live 9.5 years longer

In Tanzania, the average life expectancy is 70 years (68 years for men, 72 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 3.1 times more likely to be obese

In Tanzania, 8.4% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Costa Rica, that number is 25.7% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 7.2 times more money

Tanzania has a GDP per capita of $3,600 as of 2023, while in Costa Rica, the GDP per capita is $25,800 as of 2023.

pay a 50.0% lower top tax rate

Tanzania 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 3.2 times more likely to be unemployed

In Tanzania, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Costa Rica, that number is 8.3% as of 2023.

Life

be 90.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In Tanzania, approximately 238.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Costa Rica, 22.0 women do as of 2020.

be 19.8% more likely to be literate

In Tanzania, the literacy rate is 81.8% as of 2021. In Costa Rica, it is 98.0% as of 2021.

be 77.0% less likely to die during infancy

In Tanzania, approximately 36.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2020. In Costa Rica, on the other hand, 8.4 children do as of 2022.

have 66.8% fewer children

In Tanzania, there are approximately 32.5 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 2.2 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Tanzania, approximately 46% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Costa Rica, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 2.6 times more likely to have internet access

In Tanzania, approximately 32.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Costa Rica, about 83.0% do as of 2021.

be 38.9% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Tanzania, approximately 72% of people have improved drinking water access (95% in urban areas, and 59% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Costa Rica, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 2.0 times more on education

Tanzania spends 3.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Costa Rica spends 6.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 2.1 times more on healthcare

Tanzania spends 3.8% 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: Tanzania 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 Tanzania? See an in-depth size comparison.

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