Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Costa Rica instead of United Kingdom, you would:
Health
live 2.3 years less
In United Kingdom, the average life expectancy is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 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.
Economy
pay a 66.7% lower top tax rate
United Kingdom has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2016. In Costa Rica, the top tax rate is 15.0% as of 2016.
make 52.3% less money
United Kingdom has a GDP per capita of $54,100 as of 2023, while in Costa Rica, the GDP per capita is $25,800 as of 2023.
be 2.0 times more likely to be unemployed
In United Kingdom, 4.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Costa Rica, that number is 8.3% as of 2023.
be 37.1% more likely to live below the poverty line
In United Kingdom, 18.6% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Costa Rica, however, that number is 25.5% as of 2022.
Life
be 2.2 times more likely to die during childbirth
In United Kingdom, approximately 10.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Costa Rica, 22.0 women do as of 2020.
be 2.2 times more likely to die during infancy
In United Kingdom, approximately 3.8 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.
Basic Needs
be 14.4% less likely to have internet access
In United Kingdom, approximately 97.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Costa Rica, about 83.0% do as of 2021.
Expenditures
spend 34.2% less on healthcare
United Kingdom spends 12.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Costa Rica, that number is 7.9% of GDP as of 2020.
spend 21.8% more on education
United Kingdom spends 5.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Costa Rica spends 6.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.
Geography
see 89.6% less coastline
United Kingdom has a total of 12,429 km of coastline. In Costa Rica, that number is 1,290 km.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Directorate General of Taxation of Costa Rica, HM Revenue & Customs.
Costa Rica: At a glance
How big is Costa Rica compared to United Kingdom? See an in-depth size comparison.