Costa Rica vs South Africa: R&D researchers per million people vs. GDP per capita
Costa Rica
507.76 per million people
in 2023
South Africa
444.16 per million people
in 2022
Costa Rica rank
73rd
South Africa rank
76th
R&D researchers per million people vs. GDP per capita over time
- Costa Rica
- South Africa
How they compare
Costa Rica currently reports 507.76 per million people against 444.16 per million people in South Africa, a difference of 63.6 per million people.
That makes Costa Rica's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.
The two have swapped places 5 times across 17 shared years of data; in 2003 it was South Africa ahead.
Costa Rica ranks 73rd and South Africa ranks 76th of 103 countries.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Costa Rica | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 195.11 per million people | 355.64 per million people | 160.52 per million people | South Africa |
| 2010s | 426.49 per million people | 440.74 per million people | 14.25 per million people | South Africa |
| 2020s | 413.68 per million people | 452.98 per million people | 39.31 per million people | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher r&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita, Costa Rica or South Africa?
- Costa Rica, at 507.76 per million people against 444.16 per million people in South Africa as of 2023.
- What is the difference in r&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita between Costa Rica and South Africa?
- 63.6 per million people, with Costa Rica ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Costa Rica and South Africa?
- 17 years are reported by both, from 2003 to 2022.
- How do Costa Rica and South Africa rank globally for r&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita?
- Costa Rica ranks 73rd and South Africa ranks 76th of 103 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as R&D researchers per million people vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Professionals conceiving or creating new knowledge, products, processes, methods, or systems. GDP per capita is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.