Military Strength: 
Costa Rica vs 
United States
United States fields 1,395,000 active troops — 140:1 Costa Rica's 10,000, backed by 806,700 reserves. United States's $920B defense budget is 1608:1 that of Costa Rica ($0.6B).
Key figures
| Costa Rica | United States | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defense budget | $572M | $920B | 🇺🇸 1608× |
| – share of GDP | 0.6% | 3.2% | 🇺🇸 5.3× |
| Active personnel | 10,000 | 1,395,000 | 🇺🇸 140× |
| Combat aircraft | 0 | 2,956 | 🇺🇸 |
| Warships | 0 | 233 | 🇺🇸 |
| – submarines | 0 | 64 | 🇺🇸 |
| Main battle tanks | 0 | 4,640 | 🇺🇸 |
| Nuclear warheads | 0 | 5,042 | 🇺🇸 |
Show full breakdown · 14 more rowsHide the 14 extra rows
| Reserve troops | 0 | 806,700 | 🇺🇸 |
| Paramilitary forces | 9,800 | 0 | 🇨🇷 |
| Military aircraft (all types) | 0 | 13,004 | 🇺🇸 |
| – helicopters | 0 | 5,442 | 🇺🇸 |
| – bombers | 0 | 147 | 🇺🇸 |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | 11 | 🇺🇸 |
| Deployed warheads | 0 | 1,770 | 🇺🇸 |
| Budget share of govt spending | — | — | — |
| Budget per capita | $112 | $2,705 | 🇺🇸 24× |
| Population | 5.1M | 340.1M | 🇺🇸 66× |
| GDP | $95B | $28.8T | 🇺🇸 302× |
| GDP per capita | $18,587 | $84,534 | 🇺🇸 4.5× |
| Land area | 51,060 km² | 9,147,593 km² | 🇺🇸 179× |
| Coastline | 1,290 km | 19,924 km | 🇺🇸 15× |
Backbone systems most numerous in service
Defense budget history Costa Rica ×1.3 · United States ×1.1 since 2021
Military personnel history
Explore this matchup
Change opponent
Related comparisons & rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has more military personnel, Costa Rica or United States?
United States has approximately 1,395,000 active military personnel compared to Costa Rica's 10,000, giving United States a 140:1 numerical advantage.
Which country has more combat aircraft, Costa Rica or United States?
United States operates 2,956 combat aircraft compared to Costa Rica's 0. This includes fighters, strike aircraft, and multirole combat jets.
Who has the larger navy, Costa Rica or United States?
United States has a larger navy with 233 vessels compared to Costa Rica's 0 ships. Costa Rica operates 0 submarines while United States has 64.
Which country spends more on defense, Costa Rica or United States?
United States has a larger defense budget at $920 billion (1608:1 more) compared to Costa Rica's $572 million annually.
Do Costa Rica and United States have nuclear weapons?
United States possesses nuclear weapons with approximately 5,042 warheads, while Costa Rica does not have nuclear weapons.
How do the tank forces of Costa Rica and United States compare?
United States operates 4,640 main battle tanks compared to Costa Rica's 0. Tank numbers reflect both active inventory and reserves.