Costa Rica vs Spain: Age of liberal democracy
Costa Rica
37 years
in 2025
Spain
43 years
in 2025
Costa Rica rank
24th
Spain rank
22nd
Age of liberal democracy over time
- Costa Rica
- Spain
How they compare
Spain currently reports 43 years against 37 years in Costa Rica, a difference of 6 years.
That makes Spain's figure about 1.2 times Costa Rica's.
Across all 37 years both countries report, Spain has been ahead every year.
Costa Rica ranks 24th and Spain ranks 22nd of 47 countries.
Spain has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Costa Rica | Spain | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1 years | 7 years | 6 years | Spain |
| 1990s | 6.5 years | 12.5 years | 6 years | Spain |
| 2000s | 16.5 years | 22.5 years | 6 years | Spain |
| 2010s | 26.5 years | 32.5 years | 6 years | Spain |
| 2020s | 34.5 years | 40.5 years | 6 years | Spain |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher age of liberal democracy, Costa Rica or Spain?
- Spain, at 43 years against 37 years in Costa Rica as of 2025.
- What is the difference in age of liberal democracy between Costa Rica and Spain?
- 6 years, with Spain ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Costa Rica and Spain?
- 37 years are reported by both, from 1989 to 2025.
- How do Costa Rica and Spain rank globally for age of liberal democracy?
- Costa Rica ranks 24th and Spain ranks 22nd of 47 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Age of liberal democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Number of consecutive years in electoral democracy.