Costa Rica vs Spain
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: Spain ranks higher
Spain scores 76/100 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
Spain leads
74
68
Political stability
Spain leads
78
62
Business climate
Spain leads
74
52
Financial maturity
Spain leads
72
55
Growth outlook
Spain leads
72
Macro snapshot
71
GDP (USD bn)
-1511.1 bn
1,582
3.8%
GDP growth (%)
+1.3 pp
2.5%
$13,200
GDP per capita (USD)
-20080.0
$33,280
1.8%
Inflation (%)
-1.0 pp
2.8%
4.5%
FDI (% of GDP)
+1.7 pp
2.8%
62%
Public debt (% of GDP)
-45.5 pp
108%
5.2
Population (M)
-42.9M
48.1
Costa Rica: strong sectors
- Technology7.0% of GDP72
- Tourism8.5% of GDP68
- Medical Devices6.0% of GDP65
- Agriculture5.5% of GDP55
Spain: strong sectors
- Tourism12.0% of GDP82
- Renewable Energy5.0% of GDP80
- Automotive4.0% of GDP72
- Agriculture3.0% of GDP68
Frequently asked
Which is better for investment: Costa Rica or Spain?
Our composite investment index gives Costa Rica a score of 60/100 and Spain a score of 76/100. Spain 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 Spain?
Risk classification puts Costa Rica as moderate (Growing economy with manageable risks - suitable for diversified portfolios) and Spain as safe (Strong fundamentals, stable governance, favorable investment climate).
Which has higher GDP growth: Costa Rica or Spain?
Costa Rica is currently growing at 3.8% per year, vs 2.5% for Spain. Costa Rica has the faster headline growth rate today.