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Economy of Costa Rica vs Mauritania compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a GDP of $95.4B compared to $10.9B for Mauritania, ranking 73/197 and 153/197 by economy size, respectively.

Costa Rica has $57B in government debt (59.8% of GDP), compared to $4.67B (42.8% of GDP) in Mauritania.

Costa Rica vs Mauritania GDP by year

Costa Rica
Mauritania
1x
Year GDP, current $
Costa Rica Mauritania
2024 $95,350,423,177 $10,908,045,687
2023 $86,497,941,439 $10,726,838,461
2022 $69,243,626,029 $9,557,966,698
2021 $64,960,725,734 $9,222,536,364
2020 $62,395,610,760 $8,260,752,385
2019 $64,417,670,521 $7,894,764,886
2018 $62,420,164,992 $7,473,550,557
2017 $60,516,044,657 $6,800,135,898
2016 $58,847,019,610 $6,398,747,592
2015 $56,441,920,821 $6,166,863,897
2014 $52,016,408,854 $6,592,537,782
2013 $50,949,668,842 $7,223,071,097
2012 $47,231,655,432 $6,728,208,836
2011 $42,762,613,699 $6,764,627,746
2010 $37,658,616,952 $5,628,878,798
2009 $30,745,714,313 $4,714,595,548
2008 $30,801,745,700 $5,206,437,194
2007 $26,884,700,709 $4,346,212,355
2006 $22,715,540,324 $3,919,577,286
2005 $20,040,642,477 $2,936,019,526
2004 $18,610,594,846 $2,362,501,023
2003 $17,271,760,507 $2,051,147,607
2002 $16,578,820,687 $1,777,057,481
2001 $15,976,174,337 $1,746,063,558
2000 $15,013,629,662 $1,779,520,886
1999 $14,254,866,285 $1,985,922,776
1998 $13,684,255,947 $2,032,347,665
1997 $12,614,602,382 $2,071,996,564
1996 $11,678,424,507 $2,132,087,009
1995 $11,578,594,260 $2,091,726,101
1994 $10,489,903,725 $1,944,876,755
1993 $9,564,815,975 $1,847,353,211
1992 $8,579,754,758 $2,164,298,425
1991 $7,215,725,487 $2,133,692,697
1990 $5,711,687,787 $1,506,914,408
1989 $5,251,025,767 $1,450,647,019
1988 $4,614,629,898 $1,414,951,290
1987 $4,532,952,047 $1,344,664,725
1986 $4,418,983,871 $1,186,628,778
1985 $3,919,203,960 $1,009,723,326
1984 $3,660,477,856 $1,074,373,230
1983 $3,146,772,631 $1,165,171,263
1982 $2,606,623,555 $1,108,776,653
1981 $2,623,803,096 $1,105,494,682
1980 $4,831,447,001 $1,047,925,106
1979 $4,035,519,323 $951,900,945
1978 $3,523,208,810 $804,629,877
1977 $3,072,427,013 $799,030,017
1976 $2,412,555,426 $775,045,517
1975 $1,960,863,466 $703,377,837
1974 $1,666,544,754 $613,010,553
1973 $1,528,925,846 $493,237,876
1972 $1,238,251,696 $391,669,449
1971 $1,077,147,538 $335,568,907
1970 $984,830,158 $309,405,316
1969 $853,630,204 $295,062,308
1968 $773,841,494 $311,395,937
1967 $699,456,619 $282,615,310
1966 $647,305,630 $266,533,605
1965 $592,981,162 $255,340,475
1964 $542,578,367 $224,495,744
1963 $511,902,137 $168,186,297
1962 $479,180,824 $164,271,558
1961 $490,325,182 $159,213,430
1960 $507,513,830 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/mauritania | CC BY

GDP per capita in Costa Rica vs Mauritania by year

Costa Rica
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Mauritania
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Costa Rica Mauritania
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $18,587 $31,107 $2,110 $7,369
2023 $16,942 $28,909 $2,136 $6,966
2022 $13,626 $26,226 $1,960 $6,485
2021 $12,838 $23,853 $1,948 $5,837
2020 $12,394 $22,100 $1,796 $5,741
2019 $12,885 $23,340 $1,767 $5,610
2018 $12,590 $21,498 $1,723 $5,429
2017 $12,317 $20,499 $1,615 $5,353
2016 $12,091 $19,202 $1,566 $4,683
2015 $11,715 $17,525 $1,555 $3,978
2014 $10,911 $16,394 $1,713 $3,865
2013 $10,803 $15,232 $1,934 $3,831
2012 $10,127 $14,464 $1,859 $3,465
2011 $9,276 $13,614 $1,931 $3,271
2010 $8,266 $12,928 $1,660 $3,178
2009 $6,833 $12,274 $1,435 $3,159
2008 $6,937 $12,472 $1,636 $3,236
2007 $6,138 $11,842 $1,405 $3,278
2006 $5,257 $10,800 $1,301 $3,342
2005 $4,703 $9,899 $999 $2,809
2004 $4,431 $9,365 $824 $2,570
2003 $4,173 $8,863 $732 $2,447
2002 $4,068 $8,461 $649 $2,296
2001 $3,985 $8,190 $652 $2,280
2000 $3,813 $7,879 $681 $2,304
1999 $3,691 $7,563 $781 $2,411
1998 $3,617 $7,306 $821 $2,355
1997 $3,408 $6,890 $859 $2,325
1996 $3,227 $6,568 $904 $2,436
1995 $3,275 $6,515 $905 $2,306
1994 $3,040 $6,276 $865 $2,114
1993 $2,840 $6,025 $850 $2,209
1992 $2,612 $5,635 $1,036 $2,122
1991 $2,253 $5,175 $1,062 $2,116
1990 $1,830 $5,021 $772 $2,070
1989 $1,725 - $762 -
1988 $1,555 - $762 -
1987 $1,567 - $746 -
1986 $1,569 - $677 -
1985 $1,429 - $593 -
1984 $1,372 - $650 -
1983 $1,213 - $725 -
1982 $1,032 - $710 -
1981 $1,068 - $729 -
1980 $2,021 - $711 -
1979 $1,735 - $664 -
1978 $1,556 - $578 -
1977 $1,393 - $590 -
1976 $1,123 - $589 -
1975 $937 - $551 -
1974 $817 - $494 -
1973 $769 - $410 -
1972 $639 - $335 -
1971 $570 - $296 -
1970 $536 - $281.3 -
1969 $477 - $276.6 -
1968 $445 - $301 -
1967 $414 - $281.5 -
1966 $395 - $273.6 -
1965 $374 - $270 -
1964 $354 - $244.3 -
1963 $346 - $188.2 -
1962 $335 - $189 -
1961 $356 - $188.2 -
1960 $382 - - -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/mauritania | CC BY

Costa Rica's GDP per capita is $18,587, ranking 62/197, compared to $2,110 in Mauritania, ranking 156/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Costa Rica ranks 72nd at $31,107, while Mauritania ranks 147th at $7,369.

Economic indicators

Costa Rica Mauritania
Gross domestic product
$95.4B
2024
$10.9B
2024
GDP rank
73/197
2024
153/197
2024
GDP growth
4.32%
2023-2024
6.31%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$2,110
2024
GDP per capita rank
62/197
2024
156/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$7,369
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
72/197
2024
147/197
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$4.67B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
42.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$904
2024
Government debt per person rank
50/185
2024
145/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$2,078
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
24.6%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
3.1%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
23.6%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
-0.41%
2023-2024
2.49%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
3.5%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
10.4%
2019
Population
5181862
5505206

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Costa Rica
Spending

Debt
Mauritania
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Costa Rica Mauritania
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 18.9% 59.8% 23.6% 42.8%
2023 18.5% 61.1% 24.8% 47.1%
2022 19.2% 63% 28.7% 50.5%
2021 20.8% 67.6% 20.8% 54.5%
2020 22.3% 66.9% 18.5% 56.5%
2019 21.7% 56.4% 17.8% 57.7%
2018 18.9% 51.8% 19% 59.2%
2017 19.2% 47.1% 20.3% 55.7%
2016 18.8% 44.1% 20.8% 57.6%
2015 18.8% 39.8% 25.7% 59.9%
2014 18.4% 37.4% 23.9% 49.5%
2013 18.5% 35.1% 20.1% 40.7%
2012 17.3% 33.7% 21.5% 39.3%
2011 17.2% 29.5% 17% 38.8%
2010 18% 28.1% 17.3% 43.9%
2009 16.7% 26% 19.6% 54.3%
2008 15.2% 24% 19.8% 57.2%
2007 14.6% 27% 19.7% 61.5%
2006 15.2% 33% 19% 38%
2005 15.9% 37.3% 21.3% 71.1%
2004 17% 41% 23.9% 22%
2003 17.6% 40.6% - 22.9%
2002 18.6% 41.4% - 59.5%
2001 17.3% 39.6% - 63.5%
2000 16.9% 38.9% - 55.5%
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 (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1995, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/mauritania | CC BY

In 2024, Costa Rica's government spending was $18B, accounting for 18.9% of its GDP, while Mauritania spent $2.57B, or 23.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 59.8% in Costa Rica and 42.8% in Mauritania, ranking 79/185 and 126/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Costa Rica

Mauritania
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Costa Rica Mauritania
2024 -3.78% -1.35%
2023 -3.25% -2.45%
2022 -2.81% -3.09%
2021 -5.09% 2.6%
2020 -8.38% 2.78%
2019 -6.68% 2.65%
2018 -5.66% 3.23%
2017 -5.88% 0.53%
2016 -5.09% 0.13%
2015 -5.52% -2.44%
2014 -5.45% -2.64%
2013 -5.25% -0.66%
2012 -4.22% 1.67%
2011 -3.91% 0.07%
2010 -4.96% -0.45%
2009 -3.25% -3.59%
2008 0.18% -3.32%
2007 0.56% -1.38%
2006 -1.04% 2.05%
2005 -2.09% -3.16%
2004 -3.42% -3.06%
2003 -3.43% -
2002 -4.99% -
2001 -3.47% -
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 (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1956–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/mauritania | CC BY

In 2024, Costa Rica's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $3.61B, equivalent to 3.78% of GDP. This compares to Mauritania's deficit of $148M, or 1.35% of GDP.

Over the past 21 years, Costa Rica recorded a fiscal deficit in 19 of those years, while Mauritania ran a deficit in 12 years. On average, Costa Rica posted an annual deficit equal to 4.05% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.57% of GDP for Mauritania.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Costa Rica

Mauritania
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Costa Rica Mauritania
2024 -0.41% 2.49%
2023 0.53% 4.95%
2022 8.27% 9.53%
2021 1.73% 3.57%
2020 0.72% 2.39%
2019 2.1% 2.3%
2018 2.22% 3.07%
2017 1.63% 2.25%
2016 -0.02% 1.47%
2015 0.8% 3.25%
2014 4.52% 3.53%
2013 5.23% 4.13%
2012 4.5% 4.9%
2011 4.88% 5.69%
2010 5.66% 6.28%
2009 7.84% 2.22%
2008 13.4% 7.35%
2007 9.36% 7.25%
2006 11.5% 6.24%
2005 13.8% 12.1%
2004 12.3% 10.4%
2003 9.45% 5.15%
2002 9.17% 3.9%
2001 11.3% 4.71%
2000 11% 3.25%
1999 10% 4.07%
1998 11.7% 8.03%
1997 13.2% 4.63%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/mauritania | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Costa Rica has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 6.66%, compared with 4.97% in Mauritania. In 2024, inflation was -0.41% in Costa Rica and 2.49% in Mauritania.

Top exports between countries

Costa Rica
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $5K
Chemicals & pharma $2K
Mauritania
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Costa Rica Mauritania
Current account balance
-$1.25B
2024
-$1.04B
2024
Current account balance ranking
129/190
2024
124/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.31%
2024
-9.53%
2024
Goods imports
$23.1B
2024
$4.32B
2024
Goods exports
$20.6B
2024
$3.83B
2024
Service imports
$7.58B
2024
$1.05B
2024
Service exports
$16.3B
2024
$230M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
32.8%
2024
52.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
38.5%
2024
41.4%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Costa Rica Mauritania
Economic freedom 69.1 53.9
Economic freedom ranking 43/197 136/197
Property rights 66 32.6
Government integrity 64.1 24.5
Judicial effectiveness 76.9 26.4
Tax burden 78.6 75.5
Government spending 89.3 80.2
Fiscal health 75.6 87.9
Business freedom 79.9 38.7
Labor freedom 55.9 53.6
Monetary freedom 78.2 77.8
Trade freedom 75 59.6
Investment freedom 50 50
Financial freedom 40 40

Economic freedom comparison by year

Costa Rica
Mauritania
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Costa Rica Mauritania
2026 69.1 53.9
2025 68.6 54.9
2024 67.7 55.3
2023 66.5 55.3
2022 65.4 55.3
2021 64.2 56.1
2020 65.8 55.3
2019 65.3 55.7
2018 65.6 54
2017 65 54.4
2016 67.4 54.8
2015 67.2 53.3
2014 66.9 53.2
2013 67 52.3
2012 68 53
2011 67.3 52.1
2010 65.9 52
2009 66.4 53.9
2008 64.2 55.2
2007 64 53.6
2006 65.9 55.7
2005 66.1 59.4
2004 66.4 61.8
2003 67 59
2002 67.5 52.5
2001 67.6 48.5
2000 68.4 46
1999 67.4 42.8
1998 65.6 43.7
1997 65.6 47
1996 66.4 45.5
1995 68 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/mauritania | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Costa Rica is 69.1, ranking 43/197, compared to 53.9 for Mauritania, ranking 136/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Costa Rica Mauritania
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
42.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
30.5%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
3.56%
2024
19.3%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$11B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$28,840
2024
$7,300
2024
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$2.04B
2021
Total reserves ranking
70/177
2024
126/177
2021
Net foreign direct investment
-$4.96B
2024
-$1.44B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$5.3B
2024
$1.44B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$337M
2024
$3.9M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
6.31%
2023
3.82%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
20.3%
2024
31.8%
2019
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
15.7%
2024
43.1%
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/costa-rica/mauritania | 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 (1956–1995, 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 (2020–2022, 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.