Costa Rica
81.2 years
Life expectancy
31st out of 147 countries.
2.62 gha
Ecological footprint
71st out of 147 countries.
7.6/10
Wellbeing
2nd out of 147 countries.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica has consistently placed in the top 5 of the Happy Planet Index. Strong social networks, sustained investments in health and education, and a deep connection to nature may help explain why Costa Ricans are happier and live longer than the residents of most wealthy nations. A national commitment to environmental protection and use of renewable energy also keeps Costa Rica’s Carbon Footprint small.
Human rights abuses are a problem in most of the world, including in some of the high-ranking countries in the Happy Planet Index results. While the Happy Planet Index may reflect some of the negative impacts of these abuses, it does not seek to directly measure this. For more information about human rights in this country, visit Amnesty International.
Costa Rica over time
This graph maps the results of the country’s Happy Planet Index and component measures over time, including goals for attainable results in 2030. Learn more about how the Happy Planet Index is calculated.
Happy Planet Index
Ecological footprint
Wellbeing
Life expectancy
HPI split by income group data in 2023
Hover over the text on the income decile axis to see the income ranges each decile refers to.
Happy Planet Index
Ecological footprint
Wellbeing
Life expectancy
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