Costa Rica

Name: World Residence Index 2026 scores for Costa Rica
Published: 2026

Region: Central America
Capital: San José
Currency: Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
Density: 100 / km²

WRI Score 2026

73.18

scale 1–100 · higher is better

Global rank: 51st
In Americas: 13th
Ranked: 211

Parameter Breakdown · 2026

The nine components behind the score.

Every parameter is scored 1–100, higher is better, equally weighted; their sum normalises to the 0–100 WRI Score.

Personal Income Tax · 100 = no income tax Territorial system · top rate 25%· KPMG / EY
91.0
Territorial system taxes only locally sourced income.
Population Density · 100 = uncrowded 100 / km²· UN WPP
58.0
Moderate population density.
GDP per Capita · 100 = highest output per resident $20,134· IMF WEO 2026
59.4
Middle-income economy by per-capita output.
Life Expectancy · 100 = longest life expectancy 80.6 years· WHO / UN
82.6
Strong healthcare outcomes, above the global average.
Tourism & Lifestyle · 100 = strongest lifestyle appeal 0.6 arrivals per capita· UNWTO
68.5
Moderate tourism activity relative to population.
Unemployment · 100 = lowest unemployment 8.5%· ILO / SECO
72.0
Moderate unemployment relative to peers.
Warmongering · 100 = least militarised 0% of GDP· SIPRI
100.0
Minimal defence spending relative to output.
Safety & Rule of Law · 100 = safest Composite· UNODC · WJP · TI
48.3
Below-average safety and judicial quality.
Ideological Neutrality · 100 = most ideologically neutral WRI rubric composite· WRI rubric
81.2
Low institutional ideological enforcement.

Where it sits

Among the world's elite tier.

Costa Rica holds 51st of 211 with a WRI Score of 73.18 — ranks solidly in the top quarter of the index. The score is driven by near-perfect military posture (100) and its tax treatment (91), with safety and rule of law standing out as a moderate constraint.