Costa Rica vs US size comparison
How Big Is Costa Rica Compared to the US?
The US is about 192 times the size of Costa Rica. Costa Rica is about 3 times as densely populated. Drag Costa Rica over the US below to see the difference at true size.
Hawaii and the territories are not drawn.
Printable Costa Rica vs US size comparison
Free to print or share: Costa Rica laid over the US at true size, with both areas, on one landscape A4 or US Letter page.
Key facts
- Area of Costa Rica
- 51,100 km² (19,730 sq mi)
- Area of the US
- 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi)
- Size difference
- The US is about 192 times bigger
- Closest US state in size
- West Virginia (62,755 km²)
- Population (2025)
- Costa Rica 5,152,950; the US 341,784,857
- Costa Rica's rank by area
- 126th-largest of 197
How big Costa Rica is compared with the US
The US is about 192 times the size of Costa Rica: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 51,100 km² (19,730 sq mi). Even the 48 contiguous states alone, without Alaska, could hold Costa Rica about 158 times. Costa Rica is bigger than 9 of the 50 US states and smaller than the other 41; the state closest in size is West Virginia (62,755 km²). It is the 126th-largest of the world's 197 countries, and the ninth-largest of 23 in North America; the US is the third-largest.
Costa Rica has about 5 million people (2025), the 126th-most populous country in the world, against 342 million in the US. With 101 people per km² it is about 3 times as crowded as the US (35 per km²), the 91st-most densely populated country.
Costa Rica and the US on a world map
Costa Rica reaches from 6°N to 11°N; the US from 19°N to 71°N, with Hawaii in the south and Alaska in the far north. Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which enlarges places more the further they are from the Equator. It draws Costa Rica about 1.03 times its real size and the US about 2.3 times (Alaska far more than Florida). So on a normal world map the US looks about 430 times the size of Costa Rica, when it is really about 192 times. The equal-area map above shows the real difference.
Where Costa Rica is
Costa Rica's capital, San José, is 3,300 km (2,050 miles) from Washington, D.C. as the crow flies. Costa Rica borders 2 countries: Nicaragua and Panama.
Costa Rica and US in numbers
| Costa Rica | US | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | 51,100 km² 19,730 sq mi | 9,833,517 km² 3,796,741 sq mi | The US is 192× bigger |
| Population (2025) | 5,152,950 | 341,784,857 | The US has 66× more |
| Rank by area | 126th-largest | Third-largest | of 197 countries |
| People per km² | 101 | 35 | Costa Rica is 2.9× denser |
| Capital | San José | Washington, D.C. | 3,300 km apart |
| Neighbouring countries | 2 | 2 |
Costa Rica compared with US states
Frequently asked questions
Is Costa Rica bigger than the US?
No. The US is about 192 times the size of Costa Rica: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 51,100 km² (19,730 sq mi).
How many times would Costa Rica fit into the US?
About 192 times (192). Into the 48 contiguous states alone, about 158 times.
Which US state is Costa Rica closest in size to?
West Virginia (62,755 km²). West Virginia is about 1.23 times the size of Costa Rica.
Is Costa Rica bigger than Texas?
No. Texas is about 14 times the size of Costa Rica.
Which has more people, Costa Rica or the US?
The US: about 342 million people in 2025, about 66 times the 5 million in Costa Rica.
Why does Costa Rica look so small on a world map?
Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches places more the further they are from the Equator. The US is further from the Equator than Costa Rica, so it is stretched more. On a Mercator map the US looks about 430 times the size of Costa Rica, not 192.
Where does Costa Rica rank by size?
Costa Rica is the 126th-largest of the world's 197 countries by total area and the ninth-largest in North America. The US is the third-largest.
How far is Costa Rica from the US?
Costa Rica's capital, San José, is 3,300 km (2,050 miles) from Washington, D.C. in a straight line.
Sources
- Areas: CIA World Factbook (total area, land and water). US states: US Census Bureau.
- Populations: World Bank, World Development Indicators (2025).
- Outlines are drawn on an equal-area projection, so their sizes on the map match their real areas.