Compare countries
Costa Rica and Guatemala
All 52 regional series side by side. Each row marks the better-placed country when the indicator has a direction; a coloured year is older than the region's newest figure.
Costa Rica
31 / 36
comparable indicators where it is better placed
Guatemala
5 / 36
comparable indicators where it is better placed
No direction
10
descriptive series (population, exchange rate…)
Economy
| Indicator | Costa Rica | Guatemala |
|---|---|---|
| GDP growthannual, constant prices (ECLAC) | 4.6%2025 · 3rd of 14 | 4.3%2025 · 5th of 14 |
| GDP per capita growthannual, constant prices (ECLAC) | 3.9%2025 · 2nd of 14 | 2.7%2025 · 6th of 14 |
| GDP, current US dollarscurrent US dollars (World Bank) | 103B USD2025 | 123B USD2025 |
| Net foreign direct investmentcurrent US dollars (ECLAC) | 5.12B USD2025 · 4th of 14 | -626M USD2025 · 14th of 14 |
| Remittances receivedcurrent US dollars (World Bank) | 853M USD2025 | 21.6B USD2024 |
| GDP per capita (PPP)current international dollars (World Bank) | 33,815 USD2025 · 3rd of 14 | 15,197 USD2025 · 10th of 14 |
| Income per capita (GNI)Atlas method, current US dollars (World Bank) | 17,930 USD2025 · 3rd of 14 | 6,360 USD2025 · 10th of 14 |
| Exportsgoods and services, % of GDP (World Bank) | 38.8%2025 | 15.6%2025 |
| Current accountbalance, % of GDP (World Bank) | -0.7%2025 | 2.9%2024 |
| Populationpeople, mid-year estimate (World Bank) | 5.15M2025 | 18.7M2025 |
| Urban population% of total (World Bank) | 79.7%2025 | 56.3%2025 |
Prices and exchange rates
| Indicator | Costa Rica | Guatemala |
|---|---|---|
| InflationDecember to December (ECLAC) | -1.2%2025 · 1st of 14 | 1.6%2025 · 5th of 14 |
| Average annual inflationconsumer prices, annual average (World Bank) | -0.1%2025 · 2nd of 14 | 1.5%2025 · 5th of 14 |
| Consumer price indexmonthly index, not seasonally adjusted (World Bank GEM) | 144.6242026-07 | 191.9242026-07 |
| Official exchange ratelocal currency per US dollar, monthly average (World Bank GEM) | 4502026-08 | 7.632026-08 |
Public finance
| Indicator | Costa Rica | Guatemala |
|---|---|---|
| Public debtcentral government, % of GDP (ECLAC) | 60.4%2025 · 9th of 14 | 27.3%2025 · 2nd of 14 |
| Central government debt (World Bank)% of GDP (World Bank) | — | — |
| Tax revenuecentral government, % of GDP (ECLAC) | 15.4%2022 · 7th of 14 | 12.8%2022 · 12th of 14 |
Labour and wages
| Indicator | Costa Rica | Guatemala |
|---|---|---|
| Female labour participation% of women 15+, ILO estimate (World Bank) | 46%2025 · 12th of 14 | 38.3%2025 · 14th of 14 |
| Unemploymentannual average rate (ECLAC) | 7.5%2024 · 11th of 14 | 1.7%2024 · 1st of 14 |
| Women’s unemploymentannual average rate, women (ECLAC) | 8.4%2024 · 11th of 14 | 2.3%2024 · 1st of 14 |
| Men’s unemploymentannual average rate, men (ECLAC) | 6.8%2024 · 12th of 14 | 1.2%2024 · 1st of 14 |
| Quarterly unemploymentquarterly rate, ten countries (ECLAC) | 7.4%2025-04 · 8th of 10 | — |
| Unemployment (ILO estimate)% of labour force, ILO modelled (World Bank) | 6.8%2025 · 11th of 14 | 2.6%2025 · 1st of 14 |
| Real minimum wageindex 2018 = 100 (ECLAC) | 106.1592024 · 7th of 14 | 94.4392024 · 13th of 14 |
Poverty and inequality
| Indicator | Costa Rica | Guatemala |
|---|---|---|
| Povertypopulation, national figures (ECLAC) | 15.2%2025 · 1st of 13 | 56%2023 · 12th of 13 |
| Extreme povertypopulation, national figures (ECLAC) | 3.8%2025 · 4th of 13 | 16.2%2023 · 11th of 13 |
| Inequality (Gini)0 = perfect equality (ECLAC) | 0.472024 · 10th of 13 | 0.4942023 · 11th of 13 |
| Income gap (Q5/Q1)mean income of the richest quintile over the poorest (ECLAC) | 12.4×2024 · 9th of 13 | 19.7×2023 · 12th of 13 |
Education
| Indicator | Costa Rica | Guatemala |
|---|---|---|
| Finish upper secondarycompletion rate (UNESCO UIS) | 81.7%2024 · 2nd of 13 | 23.1%2024 · 13th of 13 |
| Finish primarycompletion rate (UNESCO UIS) | 99.6%2024 · 1st of 13 | 85%2024 · 13th of 13 |
| Finish lower secondarycompletion rate (UNESCO UIS) | 90.3%2024 · 6th of 13 | 56.5%2024 · 13th of 13 |
| Gender parity in finishing secondaryadjusted index; 1 = parity (UNESCO UIS) | 1.0672024 | 1.0492024 |
| Out-of-school childrenprimary age, % (UNESCO UIS) | 4.5%2024 · 3rd of 13 | 8.4%2024 · 9th of 13 |
| Net primary enrolmenttotal net rate, % (UNESCO UIS) | 95.5%2024 · 4th of 14 | 91.6%2024 · 10th of 14 |
| Tertiary enrolmentgross ratio, % (UNESCO UIS) | — | 27.3%2023 · 9th of 10 |
| Education spending% of GDP (UNESCO UIS) | 5.3%2023 · 2nd of 14 | 3.1%2024 · 12th of 14 |
| Education in public spending% of total government expenditure (UNESCO UIS) | 20.4%2023 · 2nd of 12 | 17.3%2025 · 5th of 12 |
| Adult literacyaged 15+, % (UNESCO UIS) | — | 82.1%2024 · 12th of 12 |
| Years of schoolingmean, population aged 25+ (UNESCO UIS) | 9.4 yrs2024 · 9th of 13 | 6 yrs2024 · 13th of 13 |
| Qualified primary teacherswith minimum qualifications, % (UNESCO UIS) | 94.3%2020 · 5th of 10 | — |
| Primary schools with electricity% of schools (UNESCO UIS) | 99.4%2020 · 2nd of 9 | — |
Health
| Indicator | Costa Rica | Guatemala |
|---|---|---|
| Infant mortalityper 1,000 live births (IGME) | 9.1 ‰2024 · 3rd of 14 | 17.2 ‰2024 · 13th of 14 |
| Life expectancyyears at birth (World Bank) | 81 yrs2024 · 1st of 14 | 72.7 yrs2024 · 12th of 14 |
| Health spendingtotal current spending, % of GDP (WHO via World Bank) | 6.9%2023 | 6.8%2023 |
Security
| Indicator | Costa Rica | Guatemala |
|---|---|---|
| Homicidesper 100,000 people (SDG 16) | 17.12024 · 8th of 13 | 22.82024 · 9th of 13 |
Gender
| Indicator | Costa Rica | Guatemala |
|---|---|---|
| Femicidesper 100,000 women (ECLAC) | 1.32024 · 7th of 14 | 1.92024 · 13th of 14 |
| Women in parliament% of seats (ECLAC) | 49.1%2026 · 4th of 14 | 20%2026 · 14th of 14 |
Technology
| Indicator | Costa Rica | Guatemala |
|---|---|---|
| Households onlinefixed or mobile access (ECLAC) | 81.7%2023 · 2nd of 14 | 20.6%2023 · 14th of 14 |
| Internet users% of population (ITU via World Bank) | 87.2%2024 · 3rd of 14 | 60.2%2024 · 13th of 14 |
Energy
| Indicator | Costa Rica | Guatemala |
|---|---|---|
| Access to electricity% of population (World Bank) | 99.8%2024 · 2nd of 14 | 90.9%2024 · 13th of 14 |
| Renewable energy% of primary supply (ECLAC) | 100%2024 · 2nd of 14 | 92%2024 · 4th of 14 |