Costa Rica vs New Zealand
A data-driven side-by-side: investment score, economy, business climate, political stability, and tax, to help you decide where to invest, incorporate, or relocate.
Overall: New Zealand ranks higher
New Zealand scores 77/100 on our composite investment index, ahead of Costa Rica at 60/100. This blends economic strength, political stability, business climate, financial maturity, and growth outlook. Read the breakdown below to see where each country actually leads.
Category breakdown
58
Economic strength
New Zealand leads
74
68
Political stability
New Zealand leads
92
62
Business climate
New Zealand leads
86
52
Financial maturity
New Zealand leads
75
55
Growth outlook
New Zealand leads
68
Macro snapshot
71
GDP (USD bn)
-181.5 bn
252
3.8%
GDP growth (%)
+2.6 pp
1.2%
$13,200
GDP per capita (USD)
-34800.0
$48,000
1.8%
Inflation (%)
-1.4 pp
3.2%
4.5%
FDI (% of GDP)
+2.5 pp
2.0%
62%
Public debt (% of GDP)
+7.0 pp
55%
5.2
Population (M)
0.0M
5.2
Costa Rica: strong sectors
- Technology7.0% of GDP72
- Tourism8.5% of GDP68
- Medical Devices6.0% of GDP65
- Agriculture5.5% of GDP55
New Zealand: strong sectors
- Agriculture6.0% of GDP88
- Tourism6.0% of GDP80
- Technology4.0% of GDP72
Frequently asked
Which is better for investment: Costa Rica or New Zealand?
Our composite investment index gives Costa Rica a score of 60/100 and New Zealand a score of 77/100. New Zealand ranks higher overall, but the right answer depends on your sector and risk tolerance. See the category breakdown above.
Is Costa Rica a safer market than New Zealand?
Risk classification puts Costa Rica as moderate (Growing economy with manageable risks - suitable for diversified portfolios) and New Zealand as safe (Strong fundamentals, stable governance, favorable investment climate).
Which has higher GDP growth: Costa Rica or New Zealand?
Costa Rica is currently growing at 3.8% per year, vs 1.2% for New Zealand. Costa Rica has the faster headline growth rate today.