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Economy of Costa Rica vs East Timor compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Costa Rica has a GDP of $103B compared to $1.9B for East Timor, ranking 74/197 and 181/197 by economy size, respectively.

Costa Rica has $62.2B in government debt (60.4% of GDP), compared to $273M (14.3% of GDP) in East Timor.

Costa Rica vs East Timor GDP by year

Costa Rica
East Timor
1x
Year GDP, current $
Costa Rica East Timor
2025 $102,904,921,157 $1,902,180,258
2024 $96,715,644,331 $1,865,608,515
2023 $87,512,637,056 $2,079,767,200
2022 $71,001,226,361 $3,208,599,900
2021 $65,588,938,787 $3,625,024,300
2020 $62,806,591,555 $2,162,619,200
2019 $64,753,504,730 $2,032,550,400
2018 $62,567,765,946 $1,555,988,600
2017 $60,516,044,661 $1,584,878,400
2016 $58,847,019,588 $1,640,464,600
2015 $56,441,920,888 $1,590,282,400
2014 $52,016,408,816 $1,447,535,200
2013 $50,949,668,763 $1,395,727,400
2012 $47,231,655,493 $1,160,555,000
2011 $42,762,613,785 $1,042,534,600
2010 $37,658,616,966 $881,909,300
2009 $30,745,714,234 $726,937,800
2008 $30,801,745,703 $648,523,600
2007 $26,884,700,688 $542,795,400
2006 $22,715,540,342 $453,792,400
2005 $20,040,642,421 $462,268,000
2004 $18,610,594,844 $440,772,000
2003 $17,271,760,397 $490,439,100
2002 $16,578,820,799 $469,455,500
2001 $15,976,174,476 $477,359,300
2000 $15,013,629,579 $366,924,300
1999 $14,254,866,284 $225,357,600
1998 $13,684,255,998 $325,729,800
1997 $12,614,602,322 $319,972,700
1996 $11,678,424,727 $306,956,900
1995 $11,578,594,333 $262,819,900
1994 $10,489,903,834 $239,040,500
1993 $9,564,816,063 $216,914,400
1992 $8,579,754,953 $187,891,500
1991 $7,215,725,635 $147,713,000
1990 $5,711,687,787 $128,210,142
1989 $5,251,025,767 -
1988 $4,614,629,898 -
1987 $4,532,952,047 -
1986 $4,418,983,871 -
1985 $3,919,203,960 -
1984 $3,660,477,856 -
1983 $3,146,772,631 -
1982 $2,606,623,555 -
1981 $2,623,803,096 -
1980 $4,831,447,001 -
1979 $4,035,519,323 -
1978 $3,523,208,810 -
1977 $3,072,427,013 -
1976 $2,412,555,426 -
1975 $1,960,863,466 -
1974 $1,666,544,754 -
1973 $1,528,925,846 -
1972 $1,238,251,696 -
1971 $1,077,147,538 -
1970 $984,830,158 -
1969 $853,630,204 -
1968 $773,841,494 -
1967 $699,456,619 -
1966 $647,305,630 -
1965 $592,981,162 -
1964 $542,578,367 -
1963 $511,902,137 -
1962 $479,180,824 -
1961 $490,325,182 -
1960 $507,513,830 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/east-timor | CC BY

GDP per capita in Costa Rica vs East Timor by year

Costa Rica
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
East Timor
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Costa Rica East Timor
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $19,970 - $1,341 -
2024 $18,853 $31,107 $1,332 $4,423
2023 $17,141 $28,909 $1,502 $4,807
2022 $13,972 $26,226 $2,343 $5,730
2021 $12,962 $23,853 $2,685 $6,825
2020 $12,476 $22,100 $1,631 $6,132
2019 $12,952 $23,340 $1,562 $4,557
2018 $12,620 $21,498 $1,219 $3,561
2017 $12,317 $20,499 $1,266 $3,463
2016 $12,091 $19,202 $1,336 $3,391
2015 $11,715 $17,525 $1,320 $3,108
2014 $10,911 $16,394 $1,225 $2,860
2013 $10,803 $15,232 $1,205 $2,566
2012 $10,127 $14,464 $1,023 $2,386
2011 $9,276 $13,614 $939 $2,066
2010 $8,266 $12,928 $813 $1,955
2009 $6,833 $12,274 $687 $1,810
2008 $6,937 $12,472 $628 $1,675
2007 $6,138 $11,842 $540 $1,516
2006 $5,257 $10,800 $465 $1,377
2005 $4,703 $9,899 $487 $1,435
2004 $4,431 $9,365 $474 $1,379
2003 $4,173 $8,863 $535 $1,355
2002 $4,068 $8,461 $534 $1,417
2001 $3,985 $8,190 $588 $1,619
2000 $3,813 $7,879 $492 $1,483
1999 $3,691 $7,563 $270 $819
1998 $3,617 $7,306 $346 $1,108
1997 $3,408 $6,890 $349 $1,149
1996 $3,227 $6,568 $344 $1,116
1995 $3,275 $6,515 $303 $1,043
1994 $3,040 $6,276 $283.1 $985
1993 $2,840 $6,025 $264.1 $925
1992 $2,612 $5,635 $235.1 $843
1991 $2,253 $5,175 $189.8 $766
1990 $1,830 $5,021 $168.6 $685
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/east-timor | CC BY

Costa Rica's GDP per capita is $19,970, ranking 59/197, compared to $1,341 in East Timor, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Costa Rica ranks 72nd at $31,107, while East Timor ranks 163rd at $4,423.

Economic indicators

Costa Rica East Timor
Gross domestic product
$103B
2025
$1.9B
2025
GDP rank
74/197
2025
181/197
2025
GDP growth
4.56%
2024-2025
6.98%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$19,970
2025
$1,341
2025
GDP per capita rank
59/197
2025
168/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$4,423
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
72/197
2024
163/197
2024
Government debt
$62.2B
2025
$273M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
60.4%
2025
14.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$12,064
2025
$192.3
2025
Government debt per person rank
51/185
2025
182/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,879
2026
$1,644
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
34.3%
2025
24%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
1.8%
2025
4%
2014
Government expenditure, % of GDP
17.8%
2025
93.9%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
-0.07%
2024-2025
0.5%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
3.5%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
6.34%
2025
1.54%
2022
Population
5186356
1446322

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Costa Rica
Spending

Debt
East Timor
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Costa Rica East Timor
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 17.8% 60.4% 93.9% 14.3%
2024 18.6% 58.9% 98% 14.4%
2023 18.3% 60.4% 78.6% 12.4%
2022 18.7% 61.4% 59.9% 7.9%
2021 20.6% 67% 45.7% 6.53%
2020 22.1% 66.5% 61.7% 10.1%
2019 21.6% 56.1% 68.8% 9.51%
2018 18.9% 51.7% 85.5% 9.31%
2017 19.2% 47.1% 87.3% 6.71%
2016 18.8% 44.1% 112.2% 4.71%
2015 18.8% 39.8% 98.1% 2.95%
2014 18.4% 37.4% 111% 1.52%
2013 18.5% 35.1% 96.1% 0.46%
2012 17.3% 33.7% 129.3% 0.002%
2011 17.2% 29.5% 133.3% 0%
2010 18% 28.1% 121.3% 0%
2009 16.7% 26% 121.8% 0%
2008 15.2% 24% 122.4% 0%
2007 14.6% 27% 75.8% 0%
2006 15.2% 33% 59.8% 0%
2005 15.9% 37.3% 58.3% 0%
2004 17% 41% 74.2% 0%
2003 17.6% 40.6% 80.1% 0%
2002 18.6% 41.4% 93.5% 0%
2001 17.3% 39.6% 95.7% 0%
2000 16.9% 38.9% - -
1999 16.7% 39% - -
1998 16% 40.7% - -
1997 16.3% 30.6% - -
1996 17.3% 33.7% - -
1995 16.4% 29.1% - -
1994 17.4% 27% - -
1993 13.8% 24.4% - -
1992 13.7% 23.3% - -
1991 14% 28.4% - -
1990 18.9% 18.5% - -
1989 26.1% 19.3% - -
1988 24.5% 18.2% - -
1987 27.2% 21.2% - -
1986 26.4% 26.1% - -
1985 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 (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1995, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/east-timor | CC BY

In 2025, Costa Rica's government spending was $18.3B, accounting for 17.8% of its GDP, while East Timor spent $1.79B, or 93.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 60.4% in Costa Rica and 14.3% in East Timor, ranking 77/185 and 178/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Costa Rica

East Timor
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Costa Rica East Timor
2025 -3.35% -48%
2024 -3.73% -47%
2023 -3.21% -34.7%
2022 -2.74% -29.5%
2021 -5.04% -20.1%
2020 -8.32% -18.9%
2019 -6.65% -25.4%
2018 -5.65% -26.9%
2017 -5.88% -33.8%
2016 -5.09% -55.7%
2015 -5.52% -33.2%
2014 -5.45% -37.5%
2013 -5.25% -14.4%
2012 -4.22% -38.7%
2011 -3.91% -25.4%
2010 -4.96% -19.8%
2009 -3.25% -17.2%
2008 0.18% -18.6%
2007 0.56% -29.9%
2006 -1.04% 41%
2005 -2.09% -10.5%
2004 -3.42% -7.48%
2003 -3.43% -8.24%
2002 -4.99% -7.64%
2001 -3.47% 3.24%
2000 -3.68% -
1999 -2.88% -
1998 -2.96% -
1997 -3.39% -
1996 -4.32% -
1995 -3.68% -
1994 -5.46% -
1993 -1.52% -
1992 -1.51% -
1991 -2.41% -
1990 -4.4% -
1989 -1.55% -
1988 0.57% -
1987 -2.57% -
1986 -4.26% -
1985 -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 (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1956–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/east-timor | CC BY

In 2025, Costa Rica's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $3.45B, equivalent to 3.35% of GDP. This compares to East Timor's deficit of $914M, or 48% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, Costa Rica recorded a fiscal deficit in 23 of those years, while East Timor ran a deficit in 23 years. On average, Costa Rica posted an annual deficit equal to 4% of GDP, compared to deficit of 22.6% of GDP for East Timor.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Costa Rica

East Timor
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Costa Rica East Timor
2025 -0.07% 0.5%
2024 -0.41% 2.1%
2023 0.53% 8.4%
2022 8.27% 7%
2021 1.73% 3.8%
2020 0.72% 0.5%
2019 2.1% 0.9%
2018 2.22% 2.3%
2017 1.63% 0.5%
2016 -0.02% -1.5%
2015 0.8% 0.6%
2014 4.52% 0.8%
2013 5.23% 9.5%
2012 4.5% 10.9%
2011 4.88% 13.2%
2010 5.66% 5.2%
2009 7.84% -0.2%
2008 13.4% 7.4%
2007 9.36% 8.6%
2006 11.5% 5.2%
2005 13.8% 1.6%
2004 12.3% 2.2%
2003 9.45% 8%
2002 9.17% 4.1%
2001 11.3% 3.6%
2000 11% -
1999 10% -
1998 11.7% -
1997 13.2% -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2001–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/east-timor | CC BY

Over the past 25 years, Costa Rica has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 5.61%, compared with 4.21% in East Timor. In 2025, inflation was -0.07% in Costa Rica and 0.5% in East Timor.

Balance of trade

Costa Rica East Timor
Current account balance
-$687M
2025
-$701M
2025
Current account balance ranking
108/190
2025
109/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-0.67%
2025
-36.9%
2025
Goods imports
$24.4B
2025
$842M
2025
Goods exports
$23.5B
2025
$126M
2025
Service imports
$8.64B
2025
$475M
2025
Service exports
$18.1B
2025
$147M
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
32.6%
2025
84.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
38.8%
2025
10.6%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Costa Rica East Timor
Economic freedom 69.1 47.9
Economic freedom ranking 43/197 173/197
Property rights 66 43.5
Government integrity 64.1 43.9
Judicial effectiveness 76.9 34.5
Tax burden 78.6 97.1
Government spending 89.3 0
Fiscal health 75.6 19.6
Business freedom 79.9 62.7
Labor freedom 55.9 56.5
Monetary freedom 78.2 72.2
Trade freedom 75 79.8
Investment freedom 50 45
Financial freedom 40 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

Costa Rica
East Timor
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Costa Rica East Timor
2026 69.1 47.9
2025 68.6 47.9
2024 67.7 50.2
2023 66.5 47.2
2022 65.4 46.3
2021 64.2 44.7
2020 65.8 45.9
2019 65.3 44.2
2018 65.6 48.1
2017 65 46.3
2016 67.4 45.8
2015 67.2 45.5
2014 66.9 43.2
2013 67 43.7
2012 68 43.3
2011 67.3 42.8
2010 65.9 45.8
2009 66.4 50.5
2008 64.2 -
2007 64 -
2006 65.9 -
2005 66.1 -
2004 66.4 -
2003 67 -
2002 67.5 -
2001 67.6 -
2000 68.4 -
1999 67.4 -
1998 65.6 -
1997 65.6 -
1996 66.4 -
1995 68 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/east-timor | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Costa Rica is 69.1, ranking 43/197, compared to 47.9 for East Timor, ranking 173/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Costa Rica East Timor
Services, % of GDP
69.2%
2025
71.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.9%
2025
11.8%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
3.37%
2025
20.2%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$92.4B
2025
$2.14B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$30,760
2025
$5,120
2025
Total reserves including gold
$17.1B
2025
$851M
2025
Total reserves ranking
70/177
2025
145/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$5.12B
2025
-$253M
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$5.4B
2024
$225M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$337M
2024
$4.5M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
6.31%
2023
1.23%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
17.1%
2025
41.8%
2014
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
15.8%
2025
30.1%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/east-timor | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1956–1995, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.