Costa Rica ranked 73/197 by economy size with a GDP of $95.4B and 62/197 by GDP per capita at $18,587. Costa Rica has $57B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 59.8%.
In 2024, Costa Rica made up 0.09% of the world's economy, compared to 0.04% in 1960.
Costa Rica GDP & GDP growth by year
| Year | GDP | GDP growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $95,350,423,177 | 4.32% |
| 2023 | $86,497,941,439 | 5.11% |
| 2022 | $69,243,626,029 | 4.55% |
| 2021 | $64,960,725,734 | 7.94% |
| 2020 | $62,395,610,760 | -4.27% |
| 2019 | $64,417,670,521 | 2.42% |
| 2018 | $62,420,164,992 | 2.62% |
| 2017 | $60,516,044,657 | 4.16% |
| 2016 | $58,847,019,610 | 4.2% |
| 2015 | $56,441,920,821 | 3.65% |
| 2014 | $52,016,408,854 | 3.54% |
| 2013 | $50,949,668,842 | 2.49% |
| 2012 | $47,231,655,432 | 4.88% |
| 2011 | $42,762,613,699 | 4.4% |
| 2010 | $37,658,616,952 | 5.36% |
| 2009 | $30,745,714,313 | -0.87% |
| 2008 | $30,801,745,700 | 4.74% |
| 2007 | $26,884,700,709 | 8.22% |
| 2006 | $22,715,540,324 | 7.33% |
| 2005 | $20,040,642,477 | 3.98% |
| 2004 | $18,610,594,846 | 4.42% |
| 2003 | $17,271,760,507 | 4.32% |
| 2002 | $16,578,820,687 | 3.42% |
| 2001 | $15,976,174,337 | 3.49% |
| 2000 | $15,013,629,662 | 3.87% |
| 1999 | $14,254,866,285 | 4.21% |
| 1998 | $13,684,255,947 | 7.16% |
| 1997 | $12,614,602,382 | 5.48% |
| 1996 | $11,678,424,507 | 1.35% |
| 1995 | $11,578,594,260 | 4.15% |
| 1994 | $10,489,903,725 | 4.52% |
| 1993 | $9,564,815,975 | 7.1% |
| 1992 | $8,579,754,758 | 9.2% |
| 1991 | $7,215,725,487 | 2.27% |
| 1990 | $5,711,687,787 | 3.55% |
| 1989 | $5,251,025,767 | 5.67% |
| 1988 | $4,614,629,898 | 3.43% |
| 1987 | $4,532,952,047 | 4.76% |
| 1986 | $4,418,983,871 | 5.54% |
| 1985 | $3,919,203,960 | 0.72% |
| 1984 | $3,660,477,856 | 8.02% |
| 1983 | $3,146,772,631 | 2.86% |
| 1982 | $2,606,623,555 | -7.29% |
| 1981 | $2,623,803,096 | -2.26% |
| 1980 | $4,831,447,001 | 0.75% |
| 1979 | $4,035,519,323 | 4.94% |
| 1978 | $3,523,208,810 | 6.27% |
| 1977 | $3,072,427,013 | 8.9% |
| 1976 | $2,412,555,426 | 5.52% |
| 1975 | $1,960,863,466 | 2.1% |
| 1974 | $1,666,544,754 | 5.54% |
| 1973 | $1,528,925,846 | 7.71% |
| 1972 | $1,238,251,696 | 8.18% |
| 1971 | $1,077,147,538 | 6.78% |
| 1970 | $984,830,158 | 7.5% |
| 1969 | $853,630,204 | 5.49% |
| 1968 | $773,841,494 | 8.47% |
| 1967 | $699,456,619 | 5.65% |
| 1966 | $647,305,630 | 6.97% |
| 1965 | $592,981,162 | 8.19% |
| 1964 | $542,578,367 | 3.66% |
| 1963 | $511,902,137 | 6.9% |
| 1962 | $479,180,824 | 5.44% |
| 1961 | $490,325,182 | 1.88% |
| 1960 | $507,513,830 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica | CC BY 
Costa Rica GDP per capita by year
| Year | Current $ | |
|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2024 | $18,587 | $31,107 |
| 2023 | $16,942 | $28,909 |
| 2022 | $13,626 | $26,226 |
| 2021 | $12,838 | $23,853 |
| 2020 | $12,394 | $22,100 |
| 2019 | $12,885 | $23,340 |
| 2018 | $12,590 | $21,498 |
| 2017 | $12,317 | $20,499 |
| 2016 | $12,091 | $19,202 |
| 2015 | $11,715 | $17,525 |
| 2014 | $10,911 | $16,394 |
| 2013 | $10,803 | $15,232 |
| 2012 | $10,127 | $14,464 |
| 2011 | $9,276 | $13,614 |
| 2010 | $8,266 | $12,928 |
| 2009 | $6,833 | $12,274 |
| 2008 | $6,937 | $12,472 |
| 2007 | $6,138 | $11,842 |
| 2006 | $5,257 | $10,800 |
| 2005 | $4,703 | $9,899 |
| 2004 | $4,431 | $9,365 |
| 2003 | $4,173 | $8,863 |
| 2002 | $4,068 | $8,461 |
| 2001 | $3,985 | $8,190 |
| 2000 | $3,813 | $7,879 |
| 1999 | $3,691 | $7,563 |
| 1998 | $3,617 | $7,306 |
| 1997 | $3,408 | $6,890 |
| 1996 | $3,227 | $6,568 |
| 1995 | $3,275 | $6,515 |
| 1994 | $3,040 | $6,276 |
| 1993 | $2,840 | $6,025 |
| 1992 | $2,612 | $5,635 |
| 1991 | $2,253 | $5,175 |
| 1990 | $1,830 | $5,021 |
| 1989 | $1,725 | - |
| 1988 | $1,555 | - |
| 1987 | $1,567 | - |
| 1986 | $1,569 | - |
| 1985 | $1,429 | - |
| 1984 | $1,372 | - |
| 1983 | $1,213 | - |
| 1982 | $1,032 | - |
| 1981 | $1,068 | - |
| 1980 | $2,021 | - |
| 1979 | $1,735 | - |
| 1978 | $1,556 | - |
| 1977 | $1,393 | - |
| 1976 | $1,123 | - |
| 1975 | $937 | - |
| 1974 | $817 | - |
| 1973 | $769 | - |
| 1972 | $639 | - |
| 1971 | $570 | - |
| 1970 | $536 | - |
| 1969 | $477 | - |
| 1968 | $445 | - |
| 1967 | $414 | - |
| 1966 | $395 | - |
| 1965 | $374 | - |
| 1964 | $354 | - |
| 1963 | $346 | - |
| 1962 | $335 | - |
| 1961 | $356 | - |
| 1960 | $382 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica | CC BY
Costa Rica has a GDP per capita of $18,587, ranking 62/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $31,107, ranking 72/197, and a median annual after tax income of $12,150, ranking 66/197.
Costa Rica GDP rankings by year
| Year | Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2024 | 72 | 58 | 66 |
| 2023 | 72 | 63 | 69 |
| 2022 | 83 | 67 | 68 |
| 2021 | 81 | 66 | 65 |
| 2020 | 76 | 63 | 64 |
| 2019 | 78 | 63 | 66 |
| 2018 | 78 | 62 | 67 |
| 2017 | 77 | 63 | 67 |
| 2016 | 75 | 63 | 67 |
| 2015 | 76 | 63 | 74 |
| 2014 | 81 | 70 | 76 |
| 2013 | 80 | 70 | 80 |
| 2012 | 80 | 72 | 81 |
| 2011 | 85 | 74 | 85 |
| 2010 | 85 | 75 | 84 |
| 2009 | 88 | 81 | 85 |
| 2008 | 86 | 81 | 86 |
| 2007 | 84 | 80 | 85 |
| 2006 | 82 | 81 | 85 |
| 2005 | 82 | 79 | 83 |
| 2004 | 83 | 75 | 82 |
| 2003 | 82 | 73 | 79 |
| 2002 | 78 | 69 | 79 |
| 2001 | 76 | 69 | 80 |
| 2000 | 78 | 72 | 77 |
| 1999 | 78 | 70 | 76 |
| 1998 | 81 | 71 | 75 |
| 1997 | 80 | 75 | 76 |
| 1996 | 80 | 72 | 76 |
| 1995 | 80 | 71 | 73 |
| 1994 | 76 | 68 | 73 |
| 1993 | 80 | 69 | 75 |
| 1992 | 80 | 70 | 76 |
| 1991 | 86 | 75 | 81 |
| 1990 | 98 | 81 | 83 |
| 1989 | 86 | 78 | - |
| 1988 | 88 | 81 | - |
| 1987 | 89 | 79 | - |
| 1986 | 82 | 73 | - |
| 1985 | 85 | 76 | - |
| 1984 | 87 | 77 | - |
| 1983 | 91 | 83 | - |
| 1982 | 92 | 91 | - |
| 1981 | 92 | 89 | - |
| 1980 | 78 | 64 | - |
| 1979 | 76 | 65 | - |
| 1978 | 76 | 58 | - |
| 1977 | 78 | 57 | - |
| 1976 | 84 | 62 | - |
| 1975 | 85 | 64 | - |
| 1974 | 83 | 67 | - |
| 1973 | 79 | 57 | - |
| 1972 | 81 | 56 | - |
| 1971 | 80 | 56 | - |
| 1970 | 80 | 56 | - |
| 1969 | 78 | 47 | - |
| 1968 | 79 | 47 | - |
| 1967 | 80 | 48 | - |
| 1966 | 82 | 48 | - |
| 1965 | 81 | 47 | - |
| 1964 | 78 | 46 | - |
| 1963 | 78 | 44 | - |
| 1962 | 78 | 42 | - |
| 1961 | 75 | 40 | - |
| 1960 | 73 | 36 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica | CC BY
Compared with 2000, in 2024 Costa Rica is ranked 72nd out of 182 by GDP (up from 78th), 58th by GDP per capita (up from 72nd), and 66th by GDP per capita PPP (up from 77th).
Economic indicators
Costa Rica
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$95.4B
2024 |
73/197 |
| GDP growth |
4.32%
2023-2024 |
51/194 |
| GDP per capita |
$18,587
2024 |
62/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$31,107
2024 |
72/197 |
| Government debt |
$57B
2024 |
69/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
59.8%
2024 |
79/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$11,106
2024 |
50/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$12,150
2026 |
66/197 |
| Listed domestic companies |
9
2022 |
99/103 |
| Market capitalization of domestic companies |
$2.23B
2022 |
90/100 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
34.2%
2024 |
21/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
1.7%
2024 |
150/169 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
18.9%
2024 |
165/195 |
| Consumer prices inflation |
-0.41%
2023-2024 |
189/195 |
| Central bank interest rate |
3.5%
2025 |
81/106 |
| Unemployment rate |
6.94%
2024 |
65/196 |
| Population |
5181862
|
126/197 |
Government spending, deficit, and debt by year
| Year | % of GDP | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Government spending | Government debt | Government deficit/surplus | |
| 2024 | 18.9% | 59.8% | -3.78% |
| 2023 | 18.5% | 61.1% | -3.25% |
| 2022 | 19.2% | 63% | -2.81% |
| 2021 | 20.8% | 67.6% | -5.09% |
| 2020 | 22.3% | 66.9% | -8.38% |
| 2019 | 21.7% | 56.4% | -6.68% |
| 2018 | 18.9% | 51.8% | -5.66% |
| 2017 | 19.2% | 47.1% | -5.88% |
| 2016 | 18.8% | 44.1% | -5.09% |
| 2015 | 18.8% | 39.8% | -5.52% |
| 2014 | 18.4% | 37.4% | -5.45% |
| 2013 | 18.5% | 35.1% | -5.25% |
| 2012 | 17.3% | 33.7% | -4.22% |
| 2011 | 17.2% | 29.5% | -3.91% |
| 2010 | 18% | 28.1% | -4.96% |
| 2009 | 16.7% | 26% | -3.25% |
| 2008 | 15.2% | 24% | 0.18% |
| 2007 | 14.6% | 27% | 0.56% |
| 2006 | 15.2% | 33% | -1.04% |
| 2005 | 15.9% | 37.3% | -2.09% |
| 2004 | 17% | 41% | -3.42% |
| 2003 | 17.6% | 40.6% | -3.43% |
| 2002 | 18.6% | 41.4% | -4.99% |
| 2001 | 17.3% | 39.6% | -3.47% |
| 2000 | 16.9% | 38.9% | -3.68% |
| 1999 | 16.7% | 39% | -2.88% |
| 1998 | 16% | 40.7% | -2.96% |
| 1997 | 16.3% | 30.6% | -3.39% |
| 1996 | 17.3% | 33.7% | -4.32% |
| 1995 | 16.4% | 29.1% | -3.68% |
| 1994 | 17.4% | 27% | -5.46% |
| 1993 | 13.8% | 24.4% | -1.52% |
| 1992 | 13.7% | 23.3% | -1.51% |
| 1991 | 14% | 28.4% | -2.41% |
| 1990 | 18.9% | 18.5% | -4.4% |
| 1989 | 26.1% | 19.3% | -1.55% |
| 1988 | 24.5% | 18.2% | 0.57% |
| 1987 | 27.2% | 21.2% | -2.57% |
| 1986 | 26.4% | 26.1% | -4.26% |
| 1985 | 21.8% | 22.8% | -1.06% |
| 1984 | 22.8% | 25.2% | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 23.6% | 29.8% | -1.84% |
| 1982 | 18.4% | 31.8% | -0.94% |
| 1981 | 21% | 32.3% | -3.14% |
| 1980 | 25% | 37.7% | -7.24% |
| 1979 | 24.9% | 39.5% | -6.6% |
| 1978 | 23.2% | 41.7% | -4.12% |
| 1977 | 19.3% | 27.8% | -2.63% |
| 1976 | 20.1% | 29.5% | -2.42% |
| 1975 | 19.1% | 26.1% | -1.13% |
| 1974 | 18.3% | 30.3% | 0.26% |
| 1973 | 18.4% | 32.8% | -2.41% |
| 1972 | 17.2% | 31.8% | -4.54% |
| 1971 | 17.5% | 30.4% | -4.72% |
| 1970 | 14.9% | 28.6% | -1.41% |
| 1969 | 14.5% | 26.1% | -1.61% |
| 1968 | 13.8% | 27.7% | -1.72% |
| 1967 | 14.7% | 26.7% | -3.03% |
| 1966 | 14.3% | 24.8% | -2.12% |
| 1965 | 13.8% | 24.1% | -1.71% |
| 1964 | 13.5% | 22.7% | -1.51% |
| 1963 | 13.3% | 21.8% | -2.01% |
| 1962 | 14% | 19.7% | -1.99% |
| 1961 | 13.2% | 20.3% | -0.71% |
| 1960 | 12.5% | 16.1% | -0.19% |
| 1959 | 12.1% | 17.1% | 0.49% |
| 1958 | 11.9% | 14.6% | 0% |
| 1957 | 12% | 16.2% | 0.3% |
| 1956 | 12.7% | 15.3% | 0.05% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1956–1995, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica | CC BY
This chart shows Costa Rica's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.
Over the past 50 years, Costa Rica recorded a fiscal deficit in 47 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 3.45% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $18B (18.9% of GDP), with a deficit of 3.78%.
The national debt reached $57B, ranking 69th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 59.8%, ranking 79th.
Inflation rate by year
| Year | Inflation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | -0.41% |
| 2023 | 0.53% |
| 2022 | 8.27% |
| 2021 | 1.73% |
| 2020 | 0.72% |
| 2019 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | 2.22% |
| 2017 | 1.63% |
| 2016 | -0.02% |
| 2015 | 0.8% |
| 2014 | 4.52% |
| 2013 | 5.23% |
| 2012 | 4.5% |
| 2011 | 4.88% |
| 2010 | 5.66% |
| 2009 | 7.84% |
| 2008 | 13.4% |
| 2007 | 9.36% |
| 2006 | 11.5% |
| 2005 | 13.8% |
| 2004 | 12.3% |
| 2003 | 9.45% |
| 2002 | 9.17% |
| 2001 | 11.3% |
| 2000 | 11% |
| 1999 | 10% |
| 1998 | 11.7% |
| 1997 | 13.2% |
| 1996 | 17.5% |
| 1995 | 23.2% |
| 1994 | 13.5% |
| 1993 | 9.78% |
| 1992 | 21.8% |
| 1991 | 28.7% |
| 1990 | 19% |
| 1989 | 16.5% |
| 1988 | 20.8% |
| 1987 | 16.8% |
| 1986 | 11.8% |
| 1985 | 15.1% |
| 1984 | 11.9% |
| 1983 | 32.6% |
| 1982 | 90.1% |
| 1981 | 37.1% |
| 1980 | 18.1% |
| 1979 | 9.19% |
| 1978 | 6.01% |
| 1977 | 4.19% |
| 1976 | 3.49% |
| 1975 | 17.4% |
| 1974 | 30.1% |
| 1973 | 15.2% |
| 1972 | 4.6% |
| 1971 | 3.08% |
| 1970 | 4.65% |
| 1969 | 2.63% |
| 1968 | 4.09% |
| 1967 | 1.21% |
| 1966 | 0.18% |
| 1965 | -0.67% |
| 1964 | 3.32% |
| 1963 | 2.93% |
| 1962 | 2.68% |
| 1961 | 2.43% |
| 1960 | 0.79% |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica | CC BY
Over the past 20 years, Costa Rica has had an average annual inflation rate of 4.91%. In 2024, inflation was -0.41%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.
Balance of trade
|
Costa Rica
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
|
Current account balance
|
-$1.25B
2024 |
129/190 |
| Current account balance, % of GDP |
-1.31%
2024 |
95/190 |
| Goods imports |
$23.1B
2024 |
77/189 |
| Goods exports |
$20.6B
2024 |
76/189 |
| Service imports |
$7.58B
2024 |
77/189 |
| Service exports |
$16.3B
2024 |
56/189 |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP |
32.8%
2024 |
118/181 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
38.5%
2024 |
84/193 |
Costa Rica top 10 trading partners
Costa Rica's biggest trading partner accounting for 42.1% of all exports and imports is the United States, with a trade balance between the two of +$877M: Costa Rica exports $9.53B worth of goods and services to the United States and imports $8.65B.
Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Costa Rica.
| Rank | Country | Trade value | Share of total trade | Export to | Import from | Top export to | Top import from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
United States
|
$18.2B | 42.1% | $9.53B | $8.65B | Machinery & equipment | Machinery & equipment |
| 2 |
China
|
$4.42B | 10.2% | $383M | $4.04B | Machinery & equipment | Machinery & equipment |
| 3 |
Netherlands
|
$2.06B | 4.78% | $1.71B | $348M | Machinery & equipment | Raw materials & minerals |
| 4 |
Mexico
|
$1.85B | 4.29% | $332M | $1.52B | Processed food, beverages & tobacco | Machinery & equipment |
| 5 |
Guatemala
|
$1.65B | 3.82% | $1.03B | $622M | Processed food, beverages & tobacco | Chemicals & pharma |
| 6 |
Belgium
|
$1.12B | 2.59% | $987M | $132M | Machinery & equipment | Machinery & equipment |
| 7 |
Panama
|
$993M | 2.3% | $614M | $380M | Processed food, beverages & tobacco | Raw materials & minerals |
| 8 |
Nicaragua
|
$953M | 2.21% | $737M | $216M | Processed food, beverages & tobacco | Raw agricultural goods |
| 9 |
Japan
|
$848M | 1.96% | $240M | $607M | Machinery & equipment | Machinery & equipment |
| 10 |
El Salvador
|
$790M | 1.83% | $500M | $290M | Processed food, beverages & tobacco | Chemicals & pharma |
Top 10 exports
|
Costa Rica
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Machinery & equipment | $9.81B | 45/193 |
| Business & finance services | $5.37B | 42/188 |
| Transport & tourism services | $5B | 66/188 |
| Raw agricultural goods | $3.62B | 38/193 |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $2.58B | 54/192 |
| IT & IP services | $1.89B | 49/183 |
| Chemicals & pharma | $1.43B | 67/193 |
| Metals | $670M | 79/192 |
| Raw materials & minerals | $444M | 125/193 |
| Animal & marine products | $425M | 76/192 |
Top 10 imports
|
Costa Rica
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Machinery & equipment | $7.91B | 75/193 |
| Chemicals & pharma | $4.34B | 69/193 |
| Raw materials & minerals | $3.29B | 89/193 |
| Transport & tourism services | $3.13B | 79/188 |
| Metals | $1.88B | 75/193 |
| Textiles & consumer goods | $1.8B | 80/193 |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $1.6B | 81/193 |
| Business & finance services | $1.56B | 72/188 |
| IT & IP services | $1.15B | 57/182 |
| Raw agricultural goods | $1.11B | 81/193 |
Economic freedom indices
|
Costa Rica
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 69.1 | 43/197 |
| Property rights | 66 | 57/182 |
| Government integrity | 64.1 | 38/182 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 76.9 | 38/182 |
| Tax burden | 78.6 | 93/182 |
| Government spending | 89.3 | 30/180 |
| Fiscal health | 75.6 | 91/181 |
| Business freedom | 79.9 | 29/182 |
| Labor freedom | 55.9 | 92/182 |
| Monetary freedom | 78.2 | 32/180 |
| Trade freedom | 75 | 73/181 |
| Investment freedom | 50 | 106/181 |
| Financial freedom | 40 | 107/181 |
Economic freedom by year
| Year | Index | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | Judicial effectiveness | Tax burden | Government spending | Fiscal health | |
| 2026 | 69.1 | 76.9 | 78.6 | 89.3 | 75.6 |
| 2025 | 68.6 | 75.7 | 78.5 | 88.6 | 70.8 |
| 2024 | 67.7 | 76.9 | 78.9 | 86.9 | 44.4 |
| 2023 | 66.5 | 63.3 | 79.5 | 85.9 | 17.4 |
| 2022 | 65.4 | 78.4 | 79.2 | 86.6 | 10.9 |
| 2021 | 64.2 | 58.1 | 79.9 | 87.7 | 24.3 |
| 2020 | 65.8 | 54.4 | 78.9 | 88.4 | 39.7 |
| 2019 | 65.3 | 54 | 79.2 | 88.4 | 42.5 |
| 2018 | 65.6 | 57.8 | 79.3 | 88.9 | 46.8 |
| 2017 | 65 | 55.6 | 79.4 | 88.5 | 42.4 |
| 2016 | 67.4 | - | 79.4 | 88.7 | - |
| 2015 | 67.2 | - | 80 | 89.9 | - |
| 2014 | 66.9 | - | 80 | 90 | - |
| 2013 | 67 | - | 82.9 | 90.1 | - |
| 2012 | 68 | - | 82.8 | 90.8 | - |
| 2011 | 67.3 | - | 82.3 | 86.9 | - |
| 2010 | 65.9 | - | 82.4 | 87 | - |
| 2009 | 66.4 | - | 82.8 | 88.4 | - |
| 2008 | 64.2 | - | 82.9 | 87.4 | - |
| 2007 | 64 | - | 83 | 86.4 | - |
| 2006 | 65.9 | - | 83 | 85.2 | - |
| 2005 | 66.1 | - | 83 | 84.7 | - |
| 2004 | 66.4 | - | 83 | 78.1 | - |
| 2003 | 67 | - | 83.2 | 83.6 | - |
| 2002 | 67.5 | - | 83.3 | 85.5 | - |
| 2001 | 67.6 | - | 83.2 | 88 | - |
| 2000 | 68.4 | - | 83.2 | 88 | - |
| 1999 | 67.4 | - | 83.2 | 85.9 | - |
| 1998 | 65.6 | - | 82.4 | 87 | - |
| 1997 | 65.6 | - | 82.7 | 87.9 | - |
| 1996 | 66.4 | - | 82.5 | 90.5 | - |
| 1995 | 68 | - | 82.6 | 90.8 | - |
Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).
GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica | CC BY
Costa Rica is ranked 37/174 for economic freedom with a score of 69.1, compared to 41/162 and a score of 65.9 in 2006.
Other economic metrics
|
Costa Rica
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
68.8%
2024 |
30/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
19.7%
2024 |
131/194 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
3.56%
2024 |
122/193 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$80.2B
2024 |
77/194 |
| GNI per capita, PPP |
$28,840
2024 |
69/191 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$14.2B
2024 |
70/177 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
-$4.96B
2024 |
165/189 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
$5.3B
2024 |
45/193 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$337M
2024 |
67/193 |
|
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
|
6.31%
2023 |
36/121 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines |
20.3%
2024 |
94/176 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
15.7%
2024 |
154/178 |
Compare Costa Rica vs other countries
GDP per capita map
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/costa-rica | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1956–1995, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- 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.