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Economy of Burkina Faso vs Costa Rica compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Burkina Faso has a GDP of $23.1B compared to $95.4B for Costa Rica, ranking 122/197 and 73/197 by economy size, respectively.

Burkina Faso has $13.2B in government debt (57.2% of GDP), compared to $57B (59.8% of GDP) in Costa Rica.

Burkina Faso vs Costa Rica GDP by year

Burkina Faso
Costa Rica
1x
Year GDP, current $
Burkina Faso Costa Rica
2024 $23,124,729,853 $95,350,423,177
2023 $20,112,614,449 $86,497,941,439
2022 $18,622,421,395 $69,243,626,029
2021 $19,697,516,284 $64,960,725,734
2020 $17,725,010,533 $62,395,610,760
2019 $16,032,813,503 $64,417,670,521
2018 $15,890,066,221 $62,420,164,992
2017 $14,106,955,615 $60,516,044,657
2016 $12,833,363,045 $58,847,019,610
2015 $11,832,159,316 $56,441,920,821
2014 $13,943,016,077 $52,016,408,854
2013 $13,444,300,486 $50,949,668,842
2012 $12,561,015,157 $47,231,655,432
2011 $12,080,295,978 $42,762,613,699
2010 $10,109,619,741 $37,658,616,952
2009 $9,450,696,873 $30,745,714,313
2008 $9,451,435,490 $30,801,745,700
2007 $7,625,722,837 $26,884,700,709
2006 $6,547,419,820 $22,715,540,324
2005 $6,146,353,173 $20,040,642,477
2004 $5,451,688,538 $18,610,594,846
2003 $4,740,768,143 $17,271,760,507
2002 $3,622,350,063 $16,578,820,687
2001 $3,190,371,081 $15,976,174,337
2000 $2,968,370,088 $15,013,629,662
1999 $3,389,566,713 $14,254,866,285
1998 $2,804,902,367 $13,684,255,947
1997 $2,447,669,102 $12,614,602,382
1996 $2,586,550,595 $11,678,424,507
1995 $2,379,517,975 $11,578,594,260
1994 $1,895,290,637 $10,489,903,725
1993 $3,199,536,465 $9,564,815,975
1992 $3,356,692,505 $8,579,754,758
1991 $3,135,045,584 $7,215,725,487
1990 $3,101,300,779 $5,711,687,787
1989 $2,615,587,734 $5,251,025,767
1988 $2,616,040,479 $4,614,629,898
1987 $2,369,834,950 $4,532,952,047
1986 $2,036,303,358 $4,418,983,871
1985 $1,552,493,196 $3,919,203,960
1984 $1,459,880,132 $3,660,477,856
1983 $1,600,278,605 $3,146,772,631
1982 $1,754,450,096 $2,606,623,555
1981 $1,775,842,334 $2,623,803,096
1980 $1,928,719,888 $4,831,447,001
1979 $1,748,480,621 $4,035,519,323
1978 $1,475,583,645 $3,523,208,810
1977 $1,131,224,878 $3,072,427,013
1976 $976,547,188 $2,412,555,426
1975 $939,972,703 $1,960,863,466
1974 $751,133,430 $1,666,544,754
1973 $674,773,570 $1,528,925,846
1972 $578,595,522 $1,238,251,696
1971 $482,411,179 $1,077,147,538
1970 $458,404,269 $984,830,158
1969 $478,298,645 $853,630,204
1968 $460,442,689 $773,841,494
1967 $450,753,924 $699,456,619
1966 $433,889,766 $647,305,630
1965 $422,916,790 $592,981,162
1964 $410,321,645 $542,578,367
1963 $394,040,667 $511,902,137
1962 $379,567,099 $479,180,824
1961 $350,247,234 $490,325,182
1960 $330,442,816 $507,513,830

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/burkina-faso/costa-rica | CC BY

GDP per capita in Burkina Faso vs Costa Rica by year

Burkina Faso
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Costa Rica
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Burkina Faso Costa Rica
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $982 $2,896 $18,587 $31,107
2023 $873 $2,759 $16,942 $28,909
2022 $827 $2,645 $13,626 $26,226
2021 $896 $2,486 $12,838 $23,853
2020 $825 $2,381 $12,394 $22,100
2019 $765 $2,232 $12,885 $23,340
2018 $777 $2,073 $12,590 $21,498
2017 $709 $2,042 $12,317 $20,499
2016 $664 $1,882 $12,091 $19,202
2015 $630 $1,692 $11,715 $17,525
2014 $765 $1,661 $10,911 $16,394
2013 $760 $1,643 $10,803 $15,232
2012 $731 $1,572 $10,127 $14,464
2011 $725 $1,531 $9,276 $13,614
2010 $625 $1,449 $8,266 $12,928
2009 $602 $1,360 $6,833 $12,274
2008 $619 $1,351 $6,937 $12,472
2007 $515 $1,290 $6,138 $11,842
2006 $456 $1,244 $5,257 $10,800
2005 $441 $1,172 $4,703 $9,899
2004 $404 $1,079 $4,431 $9,365
2003 $362 $1,038 $4,173 $8,863
2002 $285.7 $974 $4,068 $8,461
2001 $259.5 $948 $3,985 $8,190
2000 $248.9 $896 $3,813 $7,879
1999 $292.8 $886 $3,691 $7,563
1998 $249.5 $838 $3,617 $7,306
1997 $223.9 $794 $3,408 $6,890
1996 $242.7 $753 $3,227 $6,568
1995 $229.1 $684 $3,275 $6,515
1994 $187.2 $650 $3,040 $6,276
1993 $324 $644 $2,840 $6,025
1992 $349 $623 $2,612 $5,635
1991 $334 $623 $2,253 $5,175
1990 $339 $567 $1,830 $5,021
1989 $293.2 - $1,725 -
1988 $301 - $1,555 -
1987 $280.2 - $1,567 -
1986 $247.5 - $1,569 -
1985 $194.1 - $1,429 -
1984 $187.8 - $1,372 -
1983 $211.9 - $1,213 -
1982 $239 - $1,032 -
1981 $248.7 - $1,068 -
1980 $277.6 - $2,021 -
1979 $258.5 - $1,735 -
1978 $223.9 - $1,556 -
1977 $176 - $1,393 -
1976 $155.5 - $1,123 -
1975 $152.9 - $937 -
1974 $124.7 - $817 -
1973 $114.1 - $769 -
1972 $99.6 - $639 -
1971 $84.5 - $570 -
1970 $81.7 - $536 -
1969 $86.8 - $477 -
1968 $85 - $445 -
1967 $84.6 - $414 -
1966 $82.8 - $395 -
1965 $82.1 - $374 -
1964 $80.9 - $354 -
1963 $78.9 - $346 -
1962 $77.2 - $335 -
1961 $72.2 - $356 -
1960 $69.2 - $382 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/burkina-faso/costa-rica | CC BY

Burkina Faso's GDP per capita is $982, ranking 180/197, compared to $18,587 in Costa Rica, ranking 62/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Burkina Faso ranks 181st at $2,896, while Costa Rica ranks 72nd at $31,107.

Economic indicators

Burkina Faso Costa Rica
Gross domestic product
$23.1B
2024
$95.4B
2024
GDP rank
122/197
2024
73/197
2024
GDP growth
4.8%
2023-2024
4.32%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$982
2024
$18,587
2024
GDP per capita rank
180/197
2024
62/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,896
2024
$31,107
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
181/197
2024
72/197
2024
Government debt
$13.2B
2024
$57B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
57.2%
2024
59.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$562
2024
$11,106
2024
Government debt per person rank
162/185
2024
50/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,710
2026
$12,150
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$2.23B
2022
Income share by richest 10%
30.2%
2021
34.2%
2024
Income share by poorest 10%
3%
2021
1.7%
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27.8%
2024
18.9%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
4.19%
2023-2024
-0.41%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
3.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
3.44%
2024
6.94%
2024
Population
24756783
5181862

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Burkina Faso
Spending

Debt
Costa Rica
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Burkina Faso Costa Rica
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 27.8% 57.2% 18.9% 59.8%
2023 29.4% 56.8% 18.5% 61.1%
2022 32.9% 59.2% 19.2% 63%
2021 27.8% 55.5% 20.8% 67.6%
2020 24.4% 43.6% 22.3% 66.9%
2019 23.3% 41.7% 21.7% 56.4%
2018 24.2% 38.1% 18.9% 51.8%
2017 26.3% 33.9% 19.2% 47.1%
2016 21.6% 32.9% 18.8% 44.1%
2015 20.4% 31.3% 18.8% 39.8%
2014 20.9% 26.1% 18.4% 37.4%
2013 25.3% 25.9% 18.5% 35.1%
2012 22.7% 25.2% 17.3% 33.7%
2011 20.4% 24.5% 17.2% 29.5%
2010 21.7% 23.7% 18% 28.1%
2009 21.5% 25.9% 16.7% 26%
2008 18.6% 24.9% 15.2% 24%
2007 22.8% 22.4% 14.6% 27%
2006 21.9% 20.1% 15.2% 33%
2005 20.2% 39.2% 15.9% 37.3%
2004 20.3% 40.7% 17% 41%
2003 17.6% 39.7% 17.6% 40.6%
2002 19.5% 43.3% 18.6% 41.4%
2001 19.7% 46.6% 17.3% 39.6%
2000 19.8% 47.5% 16.9% 38.9%
1999 21.4% 46.4% 16.7% 39%
1998 19.7% 47.7% 16% 40.7%
1997 20% 48.4% 16.3% 30.6%
1996 19.8% 45.8% 17.3% 33.7%
1995 19.4% 48.9% 16.4% 29.1%
1994 17.8% 55.1% 17.4% 27%
1993 17.9% 33.6% 13.8% 24.4%
1992 16.7% 29.6% 13.7% 23.3%
1991 17% 28.7% 14% 28.4%
1990 18.4% 25.6% 18.9% 18.5%
1989 14.2% 25.5% 26.1% 19.3%
1988 16.2% 28.8% 24.5% 18.2%
1987 19.2% 30.7% 27.2% 21.2%
1986 16.3% 27.6% 26.4% 26.1%
1985 11.5% 28.5% 21.8% 22.8%
1984 - - 22.8% 25.2%
1983 - - 23.6% 29.8%
1982 - - 18.4% 31.8%
1981 - - 21% 32.3%
1980 - - 25% 37.7%
1979 - - 24.9% 39.5%
1978 - - 23.2% 41.7%
1977 - - 19.3% 27.8%
1976 - - 20.1% 29.5%
1975 - - 19.1% 26.1%
1974 - - 18.3% 30.3%
1973 - - 18.4% 32.8%
1972 - - 17.2% 31.8%
1971 - - 17.5% 30.4%
1970 - - 14.9% 28.6%
1969 - - 14.5% 26.1%
1968 - - 13.8% 27.7%
1967 - - 14.7% 26.7%
1966 - - 14.3% 24.8%
1965 - - 13.8% 24.1%
1964 - - 13.5% 22.7%
1963 - - 13.3% 21.8%
1962 - - 14% 19.7%
1961 - - 13.2% 20.3%
1960 - - 12.5% 16.1%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–2001, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/burkina-faso/costa-rica | CC BY

In 2024, Burkina Faso's government spending was $6.43B, accounting for 27.8% of its GDP, while Costa Rica spent $18B, or 18.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 57.2% in Burkina Faso and 59.8% in Costa Rica, ranking 89/185 and 79/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Burkina Faso

Costa Rica
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Burkina Faso Costa Rica
2024 -5.84% -3.78%
2023 -6.91% -3.25%
2022 -10.9% -2.81%
2021 -7.45% -5.09%
2020 -5.16% -8.38%
2019 -3.39% -6.68%
2018 -4.43% -5.66%
2017 -6.92% -5.88%
2016 -3.08% -5.09%
2015 -2.09% -5.52%
2014 -1.74% -5.45%
2013 -3.55% -5.25%
2012 -2.76% -4.22%
2011 -2.04% -3.91%
2010 -4.06% -4.96%
2009 -4.16% -3.25%
2008 -3.63% 0.18%
2007 -5.01% 0.56%
2006 14.3% -1.04%
2005 -4.89% -2.09%
2004 -4.19% -3.42%
2003 -1.79% -3.43%
2002 -4.43% -4.99%
2001 -3.56% -3.47%
2000 -3.03% -3.68%
1999 -3.29% -2.88%
1998 -2.6% -2.96%
1997 -2.64% -3.39%
1996 -1.67% -4.32%
1995 -2.65% -3.68%
1994 -1.89% -5.46%
1993 -3.81% -1.52%
1992 -2.51% -1.51%
1991 -2.77% -2.41%
1990 -7.54% -4.4%
1989 1.96% -1.55%
1988 -4.32% 0.57%
1987 -5.27% -2.57%
1986 -5.1% -4.26%
1985 -1.21% -1.06%
1984 - -0.5%
1983 - -1.84%
1982 - -0.94%
1981 - -3.14%
1980 - -7.24%
1979 - -6.6%
1978 - -4.12%
1977 - -2.63%
1976 - -2.42%
1975 - -1.13%
1974 - 0.26%
1973 - -2.41%
1972 - -4.54%
1971 - -4.72%
1970 - -1.41%
1969 - -1.61%
1968 - -1.72%
1967 - -3.03%
1966 - -2.12%
1965 - -1.71%
1964 - -1.51%
1963 - -2.01%
1962 - -1.99%
1961 - -0.71%
1960 - -0.19%
1959 - 0.49%
1958 - 0%
1957 - 0.3%
1956 - 0.05%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1956–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/burkina-faso/costa-rica | CC BY

In 2024, Burkina Faso's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.35B, equivalent to 5.84% of GDP. This compares to Costa Rica's deficit of $3.61B, or 3.78% of GDP.

Over the past 40 years, Burkina Faso recorded a fiscal deficit in 38 of those years, while Costa Rica ran a deficit in 37 years. On average, Burkina Faso posted an annual deficit equal to 3.4% of GDP, compared to deficit of 3.55% of GDP for Costa Rica.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Burkina Faso

Costa Rica
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Burkina Faso Costa Rica
2024 4.19% -0.41%
2023 0.74% 0.53%
2022 14.3% 8.27%
2021 3.65% 1.73%
2020 1.88% 0.72%
2019 -3.23% 2.1%
2018 1.96% 2.22%
2017 1.48% 1.63%
2016 0.44% -0.02%
2015 0.72% 0.8%
2014 -0.26% 4.52%
2013 0.53% 5.23%
2012 3.82% 4.5%
2011 2.76% 4.88%
2010 -0.76% 5.66%
2009 2.61% 7.84%
2008 10.7% 13.4%
2007 -0.23% 9.36%
2006 2.33% 11.5%
2005 6.42% 13.8%
2004 -0.4% 12.3%
2003 2.03% 9.45%
2002 2.18% 9.17%
2001 5.01% 11.3%
2000 -0.3% 11%
1999 -1.07% 10%
1998 5.08% 11.7%
1997 2.32% 13.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/burkina-faso/costa-rica | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Burkina Faso has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.46%, compared with 6.66% in Costa Rica. In 2024, inflation was 4.19% in Burkina Faso and -0.41% in Costa Rica.

Top exports between countries

Burkina Faso
Export category Export value
Costa Rica
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $188K
Raw materials & minerals $15K

Balance of trade

Burkina Faso Costa Rica
Current account balance
-$1.02B
2023
-$1.25B
2024
Current account balance ranking
122/190
2023
129/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-5.06%
2023
-1.31%
2024
Goods imports
$5.38B
2023
$23.1B
2024
Goods exports
$5.29B
2023
$20.6B
2024
Service imports
$1.45B
2023
$7.58B
2024
Service exports
$621M
2023
$16.3B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
31.9%
2024
32.8%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.6%
2024
38.5%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Burkina Faso Costa Rica
Economic freedom 49.1 69.1
Economic freedom ranking 167/197 43/197
Property rights 17.6 66
Government integrity 40.2 64.1
Judicial effectiveness 26.1 76.9
Tax burden 80.8 78.6
Government spending 72.9 89.3
Fiscal health 13.4 75.6
Business freedom 37.8 79.9
Labor freedom 62.1 55.9
Monetary freedom 71.9 78.2
Trade freedom 61 75
Investment freedom 65 50
Financial freedom 40 40

Economic freedom comparison by year

Burkina Faso
Costa Rica
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Burkina Faso Costa Rica
2026 49.1 69.1
2025 51 68.6
2024 51.9 67.7
2023 56.2 66.5
2022 58.3 65.4
2021 56.5 64.2
2020 56.7 65.8
2019 59.4 65.3
2018 60 65.6
2017 59.6 65
2016 59.1 67.4
2015 58.6 67.2
2014 58.9 66.9
2013 59.9 67
2012 60.6 68
2011 60.6 67.3
2010 59.4 65.9
2009 59.5 66.4
2008 55.7 64.2
2007 55.1 64
2006 55.8 65.9
2005 56.6 66.1
2004 58 66.4
2003 58.9 67
2002 58.8 67.5
2001 56.7 67.6
2000 55.7 68.4
1999 55 67.4
1998 54.5 65.6
1997 54 65.6
1996 49.4 66.4
1995 - 68

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/burkina-faso/costa-rica | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Burkina Faso is 49.1, ranking 167/197, compared to 69.1 for Costa Rica, ranking 43/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Burkina Faso Costa Rica
Services, % of GDP
43.9%
2024
68.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
26.5%
2024
19.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
20.9%
2024
3.56%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$20.1B
2024
$80.2B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$2,720
2024
$28,840
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$14.2B
2024
Total reserves ranking n/a
70/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$64.3M
2023
-$4.96B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$82.9M
2024
$5.3B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$2.73M
2024
$337M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.07%
2024
6.31%
2023
Poverty at national poverty lines
43.2%
2021
20.3%
2024
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
21.9%
2024
15.7%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/burkina-faso/costa-rica | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1956–2001, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.