Costa Rica vs South Korea
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: South Korea ranks higher
South Korea scores 80/100 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
South Korea leads
82
68
Political stability
South Korea leads
78
62
Business climate
South Korea leads
82
52
Financial maturity
South Korea leads
80
55
Growth outlook
South Korea leads
70
Macro snapshot
71
GDP (USD bn)
-1639.5 bn
1,710
3.8%
GDP growth (%)
+1.6 pp
2.2%
$13,200
GDP per capita (USD)
-19800.0
$33,000
1.8%
Inflation (%)
-0.7 pp
2.5%
4.5%
FDI (% of GDP)
+3.3 pp
1.2%
62%
Public debt (% of GDP)
+8.0 pp
54%
5.2
Population (M)
-46.8M
52
Costa Rica: strong sectors
- Technology7.0% of GDP72
- Tourism8.5% of GDP68
- Medical Devices6.0% of GDP65
- Agriculture5.5% of GDP55
South Korea: strong sectors
- Semiconductors8.0% of GDP95
- Technology12.0% of GDP90
- Automotive5.0% of GDP82
- Manufacturing25.0% of GDP82
Frequently asked
Which is better for investment: Costa Rica or South Korea?
Our composite investment index gives Costa Rica a score of 60/100 and South Korea a score of 80/100. South Korea 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 South Korea?
Risk classification puts Costa Rica as moderate (Growing economy with manageable risks - suitable for diversified portfolios) and South Korea as safe (Strong fundamentals, stable governance, favorable investment climate).
Which has higher GDP growth: Costa Rica or South Korea?
Costa Rica is currently growing at 3.8% per year, vs 2.2% for South Korea. Costa Rica has the faster headline growth rate today.