Costa Rica vs Panama
Costa Rica vs Panama: Median age
Median age in 2023: 34.1 years in Costa Rica and 29.6 years in Panama, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Costa Rica, by 4.5 years, or 1.15 times that in Panama.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Costa Rica has been higher since 1971, when it overtook Panama.
- In 2023, Costa Rica ranked 99 and Panama ranked 125 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Costa Rica at 56.2 years and Panama at 48 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 30.4 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | Costa Rica | Panama | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 34.1 | 29.6 | 30.4 |
| 2022 | 33.5 | 29.3 | 30.1 |
| 2021 | 33 | 29 | 29.8 |
| 2020 | 32.5 | 28.7 | 29.6 |
| 2019 | 32 | 28.4 | 29.3 |
| 2018 | 31.5 | 28.1 | 29 |
| 2017 | 31.1 | 27.8 | 28.8 |
| 2016 | 30.6 | 27.5 | 28.5 |
| 2015 | 30.2 | 27.3 | 28.3 |
| 2014 | 29.7 | 27 | 28.1 |
| 2013 | 29.3 | 26.7 | 27.8 |
| 2012 | 28.8 | 26.5 | 27.6 |
| 2011 | 28.4 | 26.2 | 27.4 |
| 2010 | 28 | 25.9 | 27.2 |
| 2009 | 27.6 | 25.7 | 27 |
| 2008 | 27.2 | 25.4 | 26.7 |
| 2007 | 26.8 | 25.1 | 26.5 |
| 2006 | 26.4 | 24.8 | 26.3 |
| 2005 | 26 | 24.6 | 26.1 |
| 2004 | 25.6 | 24.3 | 25.9 |
| 2003 | 25.2 | 24.1 | 25.7 |
| 2002 | 24.8 | 23.8 | 25.5 |
| 2001 | 24.5 | 23.5 | 25.3 |
| 2000 | 24.2 | 23.3 | 25.1 |
| 1999 | 23.9 | 23 | 24.9 |
| 1998 | 23.7 | 22.7 | 24.7 |
| 1997 | 23.4 | 22.5 | 24.4 |
| 1996 | 23.1 | 22.2 | 24.2 |
| 1995 | 22.9 | 21.9 | 24 |
| 1994 | 22.6 | 21.6 | 23.8 |
| 1993 | 22.4 | 21.3 | 23.5 |
| 1992 | 22.2 | 21 | 23.3 |
| 1991 | 21.9 | 20.8 | 23.1 |
| 1990 | 21.7 | 20.5 | 22.9 |
| 1989 | 21.5 | 20.2 | 22.8 |
| 1988 | 21.3 | 20 | 22.6 |
| 1987 | 21.1 | 19.7 | 22.4 |
| 1986 | 20.8 | 19.4 | 22.2 |
| 1985 | 20.6 | 19.2 | 22 |
| 1984 | 20.4 | 18.9 | 21.9 |
| 1983 | 20.1 | 18.7 | 21.8 |
| 1982 | 19.9 | 18.4 | 21.7 |
| 1981 | 19.6 | 18.2 | 21.6 |
| 1980 | 19.3 | 18 | 21.5 |
| 1979 | 19 | 17.7 | 21.3 |
| 1978 | 18.7 | 17.5 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 18.4 | 17.3 | 21 |
| 1976 | 18.1 | 17.2 | 20.8 |
| 1975 | 17.8 | 17 | 20.7 |
| 1974 | 17.5 | 16.9 | 20.5 |
| 1973 | 17.2 | 16.7 | 20.4 |
| 1972 | 17 | 16.6 | 20.4 |
| 1971 | 16.7 | 16.6 | 20.3 |
| 1970 | 16.4 | 16.5 | 20.3 |
| 1969 | 16.2 | 16.4 | 20.3 |
| 1968 | 16 | 16.4 | 20.4 |
| 1967 | 15.8 | 16.4 | 20.5 |
| 1966 | 15.7 | 16.4 | 20.6 |
| 1965 | 15.6 | 16.4 | 20.8 |
| 1964 | 15.6 | 16.5 | 21 |
| 1963 | 15.5 | 16.5 | 21.2 |
| 1962 | 15.6 | 16.6 | 21.4 |
| 1961 | 15.6 | 16.7 | 21.4 |
| 1960 | 15.7 | 16.7 | 21.5 |
| 1959 | 15.9 | 16.8 | 21.5 |
| 1958 | 16 | 16.9 | 21.5 |
| 1957 | 16.1 | 16.9 | 21.6 |
| 1956 | 16.2 | 17 | 21.7 |
| 1955 | 16.3 | 17.1 | 21.8 |
| 1954 | 16.4 | 17.2 | 21.9 |
| 1953 | 16.5 | 17.3 | 22 |
| 1952 | 16.6 | 17.4 | 22.1 |
| 1951 | 16.7 | 17.6 | 22.1 |
| 1950 | 16.8 | 17.7 | 22.2 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Costa Rica | Panama | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 34.634.6–34.6 | 29.929.9–30 | 30.6 |
| 2025 | 35.235.1–35.2 | 30.330.1–30.4 | 30.9 |
| 2026 | 35.735.5–35.9 | 30.630.3–30.8 | 31.1 |
| 2027 | 36.236–36.5 | 30.930.6–31.2 | 31.3 |
| 2028 | 36.836.5–37.1 | 31.230.8–31.7 | 31.6 |
| 2029 | 37.336.9–37.7 | 31.631–32.1 | 31.8 |
| 2030 | 37.837.4–38.3 | 31.931.2–32.5 | 32 |
| 2031 | 38.337.8–38.9 | 32.231.4–33 | 32.2 |
| 2032 | 38.838.2–39.5 | 32.531.6–33.4 | 32.4 |
| 2033 | 39.338.7–40.2 | 32.931.8–33.8 | 32.6 |
| 2034 | 39.839.1–40.8 | 33.232–34.3 | 32.8 |
| 2035 | 40.339.5–41.4 | 33.532.2–34.7 | 33 |
| 2036 | 40.839.9–42 | 33.832.4–35.2 | 33.2 |
| 2037 | 41.340.3–42.5 | 34.232.6–35.6 | 33.4 |
| 2038 | 41.840.7–43.1 | 34.532.8–36 | 33.6 |
| 2039 | 42.341–43.7 | 34.833–36.5 | 33.8 |
| 2040 | 42.741.4–44.3 | 35.133.2–36.9 | 34 |
| 2041 | 43.241.8–44.8 | 35.433.4–37.3 | 34.2 |
| 2042 | 43.642.1–45.4 | 35.733.6–37.7 | 34.4 |
| 2043 | 44.142.5–45.9 | 3633.8–38.2 | 34.6 |
| 2044 | 44.542.9–46.5 | 36.334–38.6 | 34.8 |
| 2045 | 44.943.2–47 | 36.634.2–39 | 35 |
| 2046 | 45.443.5–47.6 | 36.934.5–39.4 | 35.2 |
| 2047 | 45.843.9–48.1 | 37.234.7–39.8 | 35.4 |
| 2048 | 46.244.2–48.7 | 37.534.9–40.2 | 35.6 |
| 2049 | 46.644.5–49.2 | 37.935.1–40.7 | 35.9 |
| 2050 | 4744.7–49.7 | 38.235.3–41.1 | 36.1 |
| 2051 | 47.445–50.2 | 38.535.5–41.5 | 36.3 |
| 2052 | 47.745.3–50.7 | 38.835.7–41.9 | 36.5 |
| 2053 | 48.145.6–51.2 | 39.135.9–42.3 | 36.7 |
| 2054 | 48.545.9–51.7 | 39.436.1–42.7 | 36.9 |
| 2055 | 48.846.2–52.2 | 39.736.3–43.1 | 37.1 |
| 2056 | 49.246.5–52.7 | 4036.5–43.5 | 37.3 |
| 2057 | 49.546.8–53.2 | 40.336.6–43.9 | 37.5 |
| 2058 | 49.947.1–53.7 | 40.636.7–44.4 | 37.6 |
| 2059 | 50.247.3–54.1 | 40.936.8–44.8 | 37.8 |
| 2060 | 50.647.6–54.6 | 41.236.9–45.2 | 37.9 |
| 2061 | 5147.8–55.1 | 41.437–45.6 | 38 |
| 2062 | 51.348.1–55.5 | 41.737.1–46 | 38.1 |
| 2063 | 51.748.3–56 | 41.937.2–46.4 | 38.3 |
| 2064 | 5248.6–56.4 | 42.137.4–46.8 | 38.4 |
| 2065 | 52.348.8–56.8 | 42.337.5–47.3 | 38.5 |
| 2066 | 52.749–57.3 | 42.537.6–47.7 | 38.6 |
| 2067 | 5349.2–57.7 | 42.737.8–48.1 | 38.7 |
| 2068 | 53.349.4–58.2 | 42.937.9–48.5 | 38.8 |
| 2069 | 53.649.6–58.6 | 43.138.1–48.8 | 38.9 |
| 2070 | 53.949.7–59 | 43.338.2–49.2 | 39 |
| 2071 | 54.249.8–59.4 | 43.538.4–49.5 | 39.1 |
| 2072 | 54.549.8–59.8 | 43.738.5–49.9 | 39.2 |
| 2073 | 54.749.7–60.2 | 43.938.7–50.2 | 39.3 |
| 2074 | 5549.7–60.6 | 44.138.8–50.5 | 39.4 |
| 2075 | 55.249.7–61 | 44.239–50.9 | 39.5 |
| 2076 | 55.449.7–61.4 | 44.439.1–51.2 | 39.6 |
| 2077 | 55.649.7–61.8 | 44.639.3–51.5 | 39.7 |
| 2078 | 55.649.7–62.2 | 44.839.4–51.7 | 39.8 |
| 2079 | 55.749.7–62.6 | 44.939.6–52 | 40 |
| 2080 | 55.749.8–63 | 45.139.7–52.2 | 40.1 |
| 2081 | 55.849.8–63.3 | 45.339.8–52.4 | 40.2 |
| 2082 | 55.849.8–63.7 | 45.539.9–52.6 | 40.3 |
| 2083 | 55.849.9–64.1 | 45.640–52.9 | 40.4 |
| 2084 | 55.849.9–64.5 | 45.840.1–53.1 | 40.5 |
| 2085 | 55.850–64.8 | 4640.2–53.3 | 40.6 |
| 2086 | 55.850–65.1 | 46.140.3–53.5 | 40.7 |
| 2087 | 55.850–65.4 | 46.340.4–53.7 | 40.9 |
| 2088 | 55.950–65.6 | 46.540.5–53.9 | 41 |
| 2089 | 55.950.1–65.8 | 46.640.5–54 | 41.1 |
| 2090 | 55.950.1–66 | 46.840.6–54.2 | 41.2 |
| 2091 | 55.950.1–66.2 | 46.940.7–54.4 | 41.3 |
| 2092 | 55.950.1–66.3 | 4740.8–54.5 | 41.4 |
| 2093 | 5650.1–66.4 | 47.240.9–54.7 | 41.5 |
| 2094 | 5650.1–66.5 | 47.340.9–54.9 | 41.6 |
| 2095 | 5650.1–66.5 | 47.441–55.1 | 41.7 |
| 2096 | 56.150.1–66.6 | 47.641.1–55.3 | 41.8 |
| 2097 | 56.150.1–66.6 | 47.741.2–55.4 | 41.9 |
| 2098 | 56.250.1–66.6 | 47.841.2–55.6 | 42 |
| 2099 | 56.250.1–66.6 | 47.941.3–55.8 | 42 |
| 2100 | 56.250.1–66.6 | 4841.4–55.9 | 42.1 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Half the people are older than this age and half are younger.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Costa Rica vs Panama
Health
- Life expectancyCosta Rica: 80.8 years in 2023Panama: 79.6 years in 2023
- Child mortalityCosta Rica: 1 per 100 live births in 2024Panama: 1.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityCosta Rica: 6.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023Panama: 12.6 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionCosta Rica: 2.91% in 2017Panama: 2.68% in 2017
- Suicide rateCosta Rica: 7.8 per 100,000 people in 2017Panama: 5 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationCosta Rica: 5.11 million people in 2023Panama: 4.46 million people in 2023
- Population growthCosta Rica: 0.49% a year in 2023Panama: 1.29% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateCosta Rica: 1.33 births per woman in 2023Panama: 2.12 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationCosta Rica: 79.7% in 2025Panama: 66.2% in 2025
- People aged 65 and overCosta Rica: 11.7% in 2023Panama: 9.1% in 2023
- Net migration rateCosta Rica: 0.2 per 1,000 people in 2023Panama: 1.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingCosta Rica: 0% of GDP in 2025Panama: 0% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsCosta Rica: $0 in 2025Panama: $0 in 2025
- Military spending per personCosta Rica: $0 in 2025Panama: $0 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingCosta Rica: 0% of government spending in 2025Panama: 0% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelCosta Rica: 10,000 people in 2020Panama: 28,000 people in 2020
- National powerCosta Rica: 0.03% of world capability in 2022Panama: 0.03% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersCosta Rica: 0.41% of the labour force in 2020Panama: 1.33% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsCosta Rica: 8 million TIV in 2019Panama: 2 million TIV in 1989
- Arms exportsCosta Rica: 3 million TIV in 2009Panama: 1 million TIV in 2019