Costa Rica
North America · Central America
Pura vida lifestyle, a strong environmental record, and a growing expat community.
Digital Nomad
Ideal destination
Expat
Ideal destination
Retiree
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Costa Rica's Human Development Index
0.806
Very High human development#63 of 191 countries worldwide, #9 of 23 in North America.
Higher than 67% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a small Central American country that has built a strong reputation for ecotourism, with an exceptional network of national parks protecting cloud forests, active volcanoes, and both Pacific and Caribbean coastlines. The culture is famously relaxed, captured in the local expression pura vida, meaning pure life. Those who love nature, wildlife, and outdoor activity will find it outstanding, though popular areas have become increasingly busy and commercialised.
- Abolished its military in 1948 — 76 years ago — and spent the budget on education instead.
- Runs on 99%+ renewable energy on most days of the year.
- Has no army yet ranks among the safest and happiest countries in Latin America.
Quick Facts
Capital
San José
Language
Spanish
Currency
₡ CRC
Area
51,060 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
165Mbps
Mobile
70Mbps
Digital Nomad Visa
Min. Income
$3,000/mo
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Yes
Application Fee
~$100
GDP / Capita
$20K
PPP / Capita
$34K
Inflation
-0.1%
Unemployment
6.8%
Innovation (GII)
28.4
GNI / Capita
$18K
Tax Revenue
13.5%
FDI Inflows
5.4%
Education Spend
5.3%
Cost of Living
52.9
Price Level Index
29th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.659 → 0.806 (+0.147)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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Costa Rica head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Costa Rica's Human Development Index?
Costa Rica's Human Development Index is 0.806 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #63 of 191 countries.
Is Costa Rica safe?
Costa Rica scores 1.86 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #61 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Costa Rica?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Costa Rica at 52.9 (New York = 100); that is #106 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Costa Rica?
Life expectancy at birth in Costa Rica is 81.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #38 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Costa Rica?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Costa Rica at 127.4, ranked #55 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.