Life expectancy in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Life expectancy was 78.63 Years in 2021. ▬ Flat
Life expectancy in Costa Rica, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in Years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for life expectancy in Costa Rica is 78.63 Years, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life expectancy in Costa Rica peaked at 80.61 Years in 2009 and was at its lowest, 78.07 Years, in 2001.
That places Costa Rica 32nd out of 185 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
Life expectancy in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 78.17 Years | — |
| 2001 | 78.07 Years | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 78.86 Years | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 78.71 Years | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 78.68 Years | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 79.72 Years | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 79.36 Years | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 80.23 Years | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 80.29 Years | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 80.61 Years | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 79.51 Years | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 80.26 Years | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 80.42 Years | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 80.6 Years | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 80.48 Years | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 80.57 Years | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 80.11 Years | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 80.2 Years | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 80.29 Years | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 80.3 Years | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 79.99 Years | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 78.63 Years | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 79.27 Years | 78.07 Years | 80.61 Years | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.27 Years | 79.51 Years | 80.6 Years | 10 |
| 2020s | 79.31 Years | 78.63 Years | 79.99 Years | 2 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More health data for Costa Rica
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.78 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4617 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,632 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 35 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -2.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.0896 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -2.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.0935 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life expectancy in Costa Rica?
- Life expectancy in Costa Rica was 78.63 Years in 2021, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest life expectancy recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 80.61 Years in 2009.
- What is the lowest life expectancy recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 78.07 Years in 2001.
- How does Costa Rica rank for life expectancy?
- Costa Rica ranks 32nd out of 185 countries with data for 2021.
- Is life expectancy rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Life expectancy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The period life expectancy at birth, in a given year.