Country profile

Costa Rica: Costs, Safety, Relocation and Quality of Life

Costa Rica is especially relevant in the Nomadino comparison when comparing residence, visas and settling abroad as well as travel, accommodation and visitor usability. The current data points to a solid overall picture; its strongest main categories are Relocation & Residency and Travel & Vacation, while Electricity & Energy, Beaches, Nature & Relaxation and Welcome Culture for Foreigners stand out at topic level. Before making a decision, check infrastructure, mobility and digital usability as well as climate, leisure, nature and day-to-day lifestyle more closely, because the largest deductions come from Food & Basic Goods, Basic Infrastructure & Logistics and Roads & Traffic Infrastructure.

Overall rating 65.61 points
Global rank Rank 58 globally
Continental rank Rank 6 in North America

View main country ranking

Decision areas

The following entry points link directly to detailed articles that are especially relevant for relocation, longer stays, daily life and travel planning.

Key questions about Costa Rica

Why is Costa Rica especially relevant in this comparison?

The profile is shaped mainly by residence, visas and settling abroad as well as travel, accommodation and visitor usability; its strongest main categories are Relocation & Residency and Travel & Vacation.

Which topics stand out positively for Costa Rica?

Electricity & Energy, Beaches, Nature & Relaxation and Welcome Culture for Foreigners show the strongest topic-level results.

What should be checked before making a decision?

infrastructure, mobility and digital usability as well as climate, leisure, nature and day-to-day lifestyle deserve closer attention; the largest deductions come from Food & Basic Goods, Basic Infrastructure & Logistics and Roads & Traffic Infrastructure.

How important is relocation, residence and settling in for Costa Rica?

The detailed articles below help check whether the rating fits residence, work, costs, healthcare, safety or travel.

Strengths and weaknesses

This section only shows categories, topic areas and indicators where Costa Rica ranks in the top three or bottom three globally or continentally and shares the same score with no more than two other countries. Global ranks take priority over continental ranks.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Comparisons and related countries

Costa Rica is especially useful to compare with United States, Portugal and Spain, because those countries sit closer to its overall rating profile. Denmark and Germany work as contrast comparisons when residence, visas and settling abroad as well as travel, accommodation and visitor usability need to be weighed against different priorities; infrastructure, mobility and digital usability as well as climate, leisure, nature and day-to-day lifestyle still deserve closer attention.

Static comparisons

All ratings and indicators for Costa Rica

58 topic areas and 342 indicators are linked directly in the static HTML. Categories and topic areas are collapsed to keep the country profile easy to scan.

๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Safety & Risk ShowHide

Safety & Crime

6 indicators

56
/ 100
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Homicide Rate
Rank 206 globally 62
Petty Crime Index
Rank 131 globally 51
Women's Safety
Rank 119 globally 57
Organized Crime
Rank 136 globally 48
Kidnapping Risk
Rank 122 globally 76
BAC Limit (โ€ฐ)
Rank 123 globally 38
77
/ 100
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Active Conflicts & War Risk
Rank 170 globally 74
Political Violence
Rank 168 globally 67
Geopolitical Risk
Rank 94 globally 88
Terrorism Risk
Rank 1 globally 100

Natural Hazards

8 indicators

51
/ 100
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Flood Risk
Rank 74 globally 55
Storm Risk
Rank 88 globally 80
Earthquake Risk
Rank 215 globally 19
Drought Risk
Rank 20 globally 86
Wildfire Risk
Rank 140 globally 40
Landslide Risk
Rank 201 globally 30
Tsunami Risk
Rank 210 globally 21
Volcano Risk
Rank 211 globally 32

Privacy & Surveillance

6 indicators

74
/ 100
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State Surveillance
Rank 68 globally 74
Internet Censorship
Rank 68 globally 78
Internet Freedom
Rank 73 globally 73
Data Protection Laws
Rank 74 globally 69
VPN Access
Rank 71 globally 81
Cybercrime Risk
Rank 91 globally 64
61
/ 100
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Rule of Law
Rank 78 globally 62
Property Rights Security
Rank 83 globally 63
Corruption Perception
Rank 79 globally 58
Police Effectiveness
Rank 101 globally 64
Expropriation Risk
Rank 78 globally 67
Extradition Risk
Rank 99 globally 45

Long-Term Stability

4 indicators

65
/ 100
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Political Stability
Rank 98 globally 66
Economic Resilience
Rank 85 globally 63
Government Efficiency
Rank 83 globally 65
Climate Vulnerability
Rank 54 globally 67
โค๏ธ Health ShowHide

Healthcare & Access

12 indicators

69
/ 100
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Healthcare Quality
Rank 72 globally 67
Universal Healthcare Coverage
Rank 68 globally 76
Emergency Care
Rank 87 globally 65
Medicine Access
Rank 78 globally 71
Hospital Infections & Patient Safety
Rank 85 globally 67
Health Insurance for Foreigners
Rank 6 globally 82
Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure
Rank 108 globally 70
Doctor Density
Rank 75 globally 65
Hospital Beds
Rank 172 globally 22
Healthcare Coverage (%)
Rank 82 globally 95
Specialist Visit Cost
Rank 136 globally 48
English-Speaking Doctors
Rank 64 globally 65

Environmental Health

6 indicators

59
/ 100
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Fine Particulate Matter Exposure (PM2.5)
Rank 87 globally 79
Noise Pollution
Rank 67 globally 62
UV Radiation
Rank 225 globally 12
Tap Water Safety
Rank 116 globally 83
Sanitation
Rank 178 globally 37
Waste Management
Rank 95 globally 45
74
/ 100
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Life Expectancy
Rank 47 globally 89
Infectious Diseases
Rank 116 globally 74
Obesity Rate
Rank 177 globally 60
Infant Mortality (per 1,000)
Rank 104 globally 50
Mental Health
Rank 91 globally 66
Suicide Rate
Rank 104 globally 59
Maternal Mortality
Rank 98 globally 71
Vaccination Rate
Rank 50 globally 95
Alcohol & Tobacco Consumption
Rank 43 globally 80
Drug and Substance-Use Burden
Rank 33 globally 87
๐Ÿ’ธ Finance & Taxes ShowHide

Taxes & Finance

10 indicators

69
/ 100
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Effective Income Tax Rate (%)
Rank 131 globally 82
Top Income Tax Rate
Rank 75 globally 66
Social Security Burden
Rank 201 globally 47
VAT / GST Rate
Rank 88 globally 59
Capital Gains Tax
Rank 143 globally 68
Dividend Tax Rate
Rank 137 globally 68
Inheritance / Estate Tax
Rank 1 globally 100
Territorial Tax System
Rank 20 globally 98
Tax Filing Effort (hours/year)
Rank 82 globally 74
Double Taxation Agreements
Rank 132 globally 18
69
/ 100
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Capital Flow Freedom
Rank 43 globally 71
Capital Market Depth
Rank 59 globally 71
Business Credit Access
Rank 70 globally 70
Investor Protection
Rank 71 globally 65
Foreign Investment Openness
Rank 52 globally 69
Currency Convertibility & Transferability
Rank 50 globally 77
Venture Capital & Startup Financing
Rank 103 globally 59
Alternative Financing Access
Rank 88 globally 64

Banking & Fintech

8 indicators

68
/ 100
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Expat Banking Ease
Rank 74 globally 51
Banking Stability
Rank 43 globally 82
SWIFT / Wire Access
Rank 62 globally 85
Fintech Development
Rank 96 globally 69
ATM Availability
Rank 58 globally 84
Banking Secrecy Index
Rank 129 globally 48
Automatic Tax Information Exchange
Rank 132 globally 12
Cash Transaction Limit
Rank 1 globally 100

Bitcoin & Crypto

6 indicators

52
/ 100
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Crypto Adoption
Rank 81 globally 36
Crypto Regulation
Rank 75 globally 53
Legal Status
Rank 69 globally 58
Bitcoin Merchant Acceptance
Rank 18 globally 60
Crypto Tax Rate
Rank 112 globally 66
Bitcoin Cash Access
Rank 14 globally 44

Real Estate & Property

4 indicators

78
/ 100
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Foreigner Ownership Rights
Rank 24 globally 85
Transaction Costs
Rank 30 globally 85
Affordability
Rank 87 globally 70
Gross Rental Yield
Rank 50 globally 74
45
/ 100
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Corporate Tax Rate
Rank 176 globally 25
Cost to Start a Business
Rank 121 globally 62
Labor Market Flexibility
Rank 122 globally 56
Days to Register a Company
Rank 166 globally 41

Macroeconomics

9 indicators

74
/ 100
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GDP per Capita (PPP, USD)
Rank 85 globally 69
Inflation Rate (CPI, %)
Rank 48 globally 96
Public Debt (% of GDP)
Rank 143 globally 52
GDP Growth Rate (%)
Rank 53 globally 87
Economic Freedom Index
Rank 54 globally 67
Tax Burden (% of GDP)
Rank 142 globally 78
Central Bank Independence
Rank 77 globally 71
Foreign Exchange Reserves (months of imports)
Rank 116 globally 61
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)
Rank 98 globally 76
65
/ 100
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Avg. Monthly Net Salary ($/month)
Rank 71 globally 60
Purchasing Power Index
Rank 72 globally 48
Unemployment Rate (%)
Rank 141 globally 68
Wage Growth Rate (%)
Rank 28 globally 88
Salary-to-Rent Ratio
Rank 37 globally 86
Minimum Wage (USD/month)
Rank 78 globally 56
๐Ÿ  Costs ShowHide

Housing & Utilities

5 indicators

64
/ 100
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City Rent per Square Meter
Rank 119 globally 42
Rural Rent per Square Meter
Rank 116 globally 55
Electricity Cost
Rank 104 globally 70
Heating & Gas Cost
Rank 27 globally 99
Water & Sewage Cost
Rank 120 globally 92

Food & Basic Goods

7 indicators

15
/ 100
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Milk Price per Liter
Rank 219 globally 11
Bread Price per 500 Grams
Rank 225 globally 4
Egg Price for 12 Eggs
Rank 182 globally 26
Chicken Fillet Price per Kilogram
Rank 202 globally 30
Beef Round Price per Kilogram
Rank 160 globally 44
Vegetable Basket Price per Kilogram
Rank 222 globally 7
Water Price per Liter in Supermarket
Rank 229 globally 1

Dining & Going Out

9 indicators

75
/ 100
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Price of an Inexpensive Restaurant Meal
Rank 123 globally 64
Burger Menu Price
Rank 143 globally 71
Cappuccino (Cafรฉ)
Rank 117 globally 75
Local Beer (Restaurant)
Rank 101 globally 82
Local Beer Price in a Market
Rank 113 globally 86
Imported Beer Price in a Market
Rank 81 globally 86
Cocktail (Bar)
Rank 88 globally 83
Mid-Range Wine Bottle Price
Rank 97 globally 71
Soft Drink Price in a Market
Rank 119 globally 82

Mobility Costs

7 indicators

75
/ 100
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Transit Cost
Rank 142 globally 85
Fuel Price ($/L)
Rank 103 globally 66
Car Rental ($/day)
Rank 133 globally 79
Car Insurance ($/yr)
Rank 134 globally 87
Car Purchase Index
Rank 70 globally 27
Driving License Cost ($)
Rank 151 globally 90
City Parking ($/hr)
Rank 140 globally 88
75
/ 100
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Internet Cost
Rank 74 globally 70
Mobile Plan Cost
Rank 90 globally 73
Prepaid SIM & Data Package Cost
Rank 114 globally 80
eSIM & Travel Data Cost
Rank 96 globally 89
Coworking Day Pass Cost
Rank 43 globally 75

Personal Services

4 indicators

76
/ 100
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Haircut Cost
Rank 126 globally 73
Fitness Club Monthly Fee
Rank 112 globally 77
Laundry & Dry Cleaning Cost
Rank 100 globally 83
Local Services Cost
Rank 125 globally 69
๐Ÿ—๏ธ Infrastructure ShowHide
42
/ 100
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Logistics Performance
Rank 71 globally 44
Rail Network Density
Rank 63 globally 38
Airport Connectivity
Rank 81 globally 53
Port Connectivity
Rank 74 globally 28
43
/ 100
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Road Quality
Rank 155 globally 36
Traffic Congestion
Rank 190 globally 35
Road Density
Rank 185 globally 46
Traffic Deaths
Rank 85 globally 80
EV Charging Infrastructure
Rank 104 globally 11

Electricity & Energy

6 indicators

94
/ 100
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Power Outages
Rank 48 globally 96
Electrification Rate
Rank 1 globally 100
Energy Self-Sufficiency
Rank 55 globally 70
Renewable Energy Share
Rank 1 globally 100
CO2 Intensity
Rank 1 globally 100
Nuclear Exposure
Rank 1 globally 100
51
/ 100
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Broadband Speed
Rank 96 globally 55
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions
Rank 90 globally 58
Mobile Speed
Rank 96 globally 58
5G Coverage
Rank 98 globally 15

Public Transport

4 indicators

48
/ 100
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Transit Coverage
Rank 70 globally 55
Transit Punctuality
Rank 88 globally 58
Cycling Infrastructure
Rank 85 globally 18
Walkability Score
Rank 73 globally 58
๐ŸŒฟ Lifestyle ShowHide

Work-Life Balance

5 indicators

55
/ 100
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Annual Working Hours
Rank 168 globally 44
Paid Vacation Days
Rank 154 globally 47
Happiness Index (UN)
Rank 21 globally 71
Burnout Risk
Rank 50 globally 65
Public Holidays
Rank 92 globally 48

Climate & Weather

6 indicators

79
/ 100
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Temperature Comfort
Rank 5 globally 84
Sunshine Hours
Rank 149 globally 75
Humidity Comfort
Rank 104 globally 66
Rainy Days
Rank 151 globally 58
Extreme Heat Days
Rank 33 globally 98
Seasonal Variation
Rank 43 globally 94

Outdoor & Lifestyle

5 indicators

81
/ 100
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Beach Quality
Rank 51 globally 80
Mountain Access
Rank 56 globally 61
Protected Land Area (%)
Rank 58 globally 89
Biodiversity Index
Rank 11 globally 93
Forest Cover
Rank 30 globally 81

Leisure & Recreation

4 indicators

67
/ 100
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Sports & Fitness Facilities
Rank 66 globally 56
Urban Green Space Access
Rank 9 globally 88
Leisure Infrastructure
Rank 70 globally 52
Recovery Time
Rank 131 globally 66

Arts & Entertainment

6 indicators

49
/ 100
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Museums per 100,000 People
Rank 70 globally 45
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Rank 74 globally 27
Music & Nightlife
Rank 68 globally 50
Cinema Density
Rank 71 globally 30
Cultural Freedom
Rank 37 globally 78
Football and Stadium Culture
Rank 51 globally 75
52
/ 100
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Cuisine Diversity
Rank 80 globally 45
Restaurant Density
Rank 72 globally 55
Street Food Scene
Rank 77 globally 48
Local Market Quality
Rank 65 globally 58
Cafรฉ Culture
Rank 75 globally 48
Local Freshness
Rank 64 globally 64
Local Authenticity
Rank 82 globally 43

Family-Friendly

7 indicators

57
/ 100
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Childcare Cost ($/month)
Rank 146 globally 85
Paid Parental Leave (weeks)
Rank 71 globally 38
Child Benefit ($/month)
Rank 72 globally 27
Child Poverty Rate (%)
Rank 49 globally 86
Child Safety Score
Rank 65 globally 70
Childcare Coverage (%)
Rank 64 globally 30
Playground Density
Rank 65 globally 60

Pet-Friendly

7 indicators

65
/ 100
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Pet Entry Rules
Rank 44 globally 70
Veterinary Quality
Rank 53 globally 72
Vet Cost Affordability
Rank 124 globally 55
Pet Food Prices
Rank 119 globally 55
Animal Welfare Laws
Rank 42 globally 68
Pet-Friendly Housing
Rank 25 globally 60
Outdoor Pet Access
Rank 36 globally 72
โœˆ๏ธ Relocation & Residency ShowHide
73
/ 100
ShowHide
Residence Permit Ease
Rank 7 globally 90
E-Government
Rank 113 globally 71
Visa Processing Time
Rank 27 globally 70
Local Registration Requirements
Rank 87 globally 68
Foreign Document & Qualification Recognition
Rank 85 globally 69
Household Goods & Customs
Rank 68 globally 58
International Licence Compatibility
Rank 94 globally 67
74
/ 100
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Visa-Free Tourist Stay Days
Rank 38 globally 75
Visa Application Ease
Rank 86 globally 71
Border Openness
Rank 95 globally 73
Travel & Entry Comfort
Rank 81 globally 66
Visa Income & Asset Requirements
Rank 106 globally 89
71
/ 100
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Digital Nomad Visa
Rank 7 globally 88
Remote Work Legality
Rank 40 globally 74
Freelance Legal Framework
Rank 106 globally 67
Remote Job Market
Rank 88 globally 67
Coworking Density
Rank 53 globally 62
Nomad Community
Rank 41 globally 65
Avg. Remote Salary (USD)
Rank 81 globally 66
74
/ 100
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Work Rights for Foreigners
Rank 55 globally 78
Work Permit Access for Foreigners
Rank 57 globally 77
Local Self-Employment and Freelancing Rights
Rank 69 globally 71
Employment Restrictions for Foreigners
Rank 69 globally 72
Professional Qualification Recognition
Rank 84 globally 66
Business Ownership by Foreigners
Rank 64 globally 79
76
/ 100
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Time to Permanent Residency or Citizenship
Rank 10 globally 80
Family Reunification
Rank 49 globally 82
Naturalization Requirements
Rank 38 globally 77
Residence Status Stability
Rank 66 globally 76
Residence Status for Spouses and Children
Rank 46 globally 79
Passport Power (Henley Index)
Rank 88 globally 74
Dual Citizenship Allowed
Rank 32 globally 95
Citizenship by Investment
Rank 13 globally 0

Language & Integration

7 indicators

60
/ 100
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English Proficiency (EF EPI)
Rank 122 globally 47
Local Language Barrier
Rank 118 globally 56
Integration Ease
Rank 34 globally 80
Cultural Etiquette Gap
Rank 75 globally 70
Expat Community Size
Rank 71 globally 47
Cultural Distance to West
Rank 74 globally 69
International Schools
Rank 90 globally 48
81
/ 100
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Expat Welcome Culture
Rank 7 globally 88
Foreigner Discrimination
Rank 48 globally 75
Xenophobia Levels
Rank 20 globally 86
Racial Safety for Foreigners
Rank 43 globally 74
70
/ 100
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Rental Access for Foreigners
Rank 30 globally 82
Tax Residency Clarity for Expats
Rank 95 globally 51
Local Contracts and Utilities Access
Rank 58 globally 71
Local Identity and Address Proof
Rank 79 globally 67
Everyday Accounts and Payments for Foreigners
Rank 60 globally 74
๐Ÿ–๏ธ Travel & Vacation ShowHide
66
/ 100
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Hotel Quality
Rank 111 globally 57
Vacation Rental Quality
Rank 69 globally 72
Accommodation Availability
Rank 81 globally 61
Booking & Transparency
Rank 78 globally 72

Tourism Infrastructure

4 indicators

68
/ 100
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Airport-to-Destination Transfer
Rank 81 globally 57
Digital Travel Services
Rank 91 globally 66
Traveler Payment Infrastructure
Rank 74 globally 79
Tourist Information Quality
Rank 94 globally 70
70
/ 100
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Major Attractions Density
Rank 63 globally 57
Guided Tours & Bookable Experiences
Rank 75 globally 70
Tourist Outdoor Activities
Rank 6 globally 90
Nightlife & Entertainment for Visitors
Rank 63 globally 63
86
/ 100
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Tourist Beach Quality
Rank 48 globally 83
Swimming & Water Sports
Rank 29 globally 82
National Parks & Nature Access
Rank 5 globally 92

Vacation Costs

5 indicators

74
/ 100
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Hotel Cost
Rank 146 globally 73
Vacation Rental Cost
Rank 156 globally 72
Attraction Entry Cost
Rank 130 globally 81
Tour & Activity Cost
Rank 141 globally 79
Tourist Taxes & Fees
Rank 196 globally 65
76
/ 100
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High-Season Overcrowding
Rank 121 globally 84
Off-Season Usability
Rank 76 globally 73
Seasonal Capacity Shortage
Rank 85 globally 69
Seasonal Price Surcharges
Rank 166 globally 78
๐ŸŒ Society & Participation ShowHide

Society & Freedom

4 indicators

80
/ 100
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Press Freedom
Rank 47 globally 73
Democracy Index
Rank 31 globally 82
Personal Freedom
Rank 64 globally 77
Freedom of Political Expression
Rank 31 globally 85

Education & Knowledge

5 indicators

76
/ 100
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Adult Literacy Rate
Rank 72 globally 98
PISA Score
Rank 80 globally 50
Tertiary Enrollment Rate
Rank 76 globally 52
Education Expenditure
Rank 1 globally 100
School Life Expectancy
Rank 54 globally 78
59
/ 100
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Pension Replacement Rate (%)
Rank 47 globally 58
Unemployment Benefit Duration (months)
Rank 25 globally 50
Social Spending (% of GDP)
Rank 63 globally 47
Gini Index
Rank 42 globally 77
Poverty Rate (%)
Rank 82 globally 50
Housing Support Score
Rank 50 globally 57
Social Mobility Score
Rank 55 globally 59
Social Cohesion
Rank 63 globally 70
71
/ 100
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Gender Equality
Rank 74 globally 67
Womenโ€™s Rights & Equality
Rank 75 globally 66
Anti-Discrimination Protection
Rank 56 globally 74
Minority Rights Protection
Rank 46 globally 78
Everyday Discrimination Risk
Rank 54 globally 75

LGBTQ+ Friendliness

5 indicators

80
/ 100
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Same-Sex Legal Status
Rank 29 globally 95
LGBTQ+ Anti-Discrimination
Rank 50 globally 75
LGBTQ+ Social Acceptance
Rank 50 globally 76
LGBTQ+ Rights
Rank 48 globally 78
Pride Culture
Rank 49 globally 73
66
/ 100
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Disability Support Score
Rank 57 globally 67
Public Accessibility
Rank 68 globally 61
Digital Accessibility
Rank 74 globally 63
Inclusion in Education and Work
Rank 59 globally 71

Religion & Worldviews

4 indicators

67
/ 100
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Religious Freedom Index
Rank 56 globally 84
Secularization Score
Rank 70 globally 51
Religious Diversity Index
Rank 103 globally 38
Religious Influence in Public Life
Rank 60 globally 72

Demography

10 indicators

60
/ 100
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Median Age
Rank 138 globally 53
Fertility Rate
Rank 89 globally 75
Population Growth
Rank 111 globally 40
Net Migration Rate
Rank 50 globally 60
Urbanization Rate
Rank 59 globally 79
Foreign Population Share
Rank 79 globally 57
Population Density
Rank 116 globally 58
Gender Ratio (F/100 M)
Rank 131 globally 50
Youth Gender Ratio (15-29)
Rank 106 globally 88
Single-Person Households
Rank 105 globally 30