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Economy of Costa Rica vs Saint Kitts and Nevis compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a GDP of $95.4B compared to $1.12B for Saint Kitts and Nevis, ranking 73/197 and 187/197 by economy size, respectively.

Costa Rica has $57B in government debt (59.8% of GDP), compared to $604M (53.8% of GDP) in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Costa Rica vs Saint Kitts and Nevis GDP by year

Costa Rica
Saint Kitts and Nevis
1x
Year GDP, current $
Costa Rica Saint Kitts
2024 $95,350,423,177 $1,122,388,889
2023 $86,497,941,439 $1,055,651,852
2022 $69,243,626,029 $981,429,630
2021 $64,960,725,734 $858,622,222
2020 $62,395,610,760 $883,922,222
2019 $64,417,670,521 $1,107,855,556
2018 $62,420,164,992 $1,076,548,148
2017 $60,516,044,657 $1,056,977,778
2016 $58,847,019,610 $1,006,818,519
2015 $56,441,920,821 $957,222,222
2014 $52,016,408,854 $952,111,111
2013 $50,949,668,842 $874,548,148
2012 $47,231,655,432 $824,585,185
2011 $42,762,613,699 $836,092,593
2010 $37,658,616,952 $778,718,519
2009 $30,745,714,313 $774,274,074
2008 $30,801,745,700 $777,692,593
2007 $26,884,700,709 $689,285,185
2006 $22,715,540,324 $644,414,815
2005 $20,040,642,477 $547,203,704
2004 $18,610,594,846 $506,900,000
2003 $17,271,760,507 $469,869,870
2002 $16,578,820,687 $481,077,374
2001 $15,976,174,337 $458,643,829
2000 $15,013,629,662 $421,695,770
1999 $14,254,866,285 $406,595,484
1998 $13,684,255,947 $383,257,331
1997 $12,614,602,382 $374,641,308
1996 $11,678,424,507 $333,944,444
1995 $11,578,594,260 $313,485,185
1994 $10,489,903,725 $295,159,259
1993 $9,564,815,975 $263,755,556
1992 $8,579,754,758 $242,137,037
1991 $7,215,725,487 $220,540,741
1990 $5,711,687,787 $217,259,259
1989 $5,251,025,767 $192,518,519
1988 $4,614,629,898 $172,692,593
1987 $4,532,952,047 $147,748,148
1986 $4,418,983,871 $130,685,185
1985 $3,919,203,960 $111,007,407
1984 $3,660,477,856 $98,603,704
1983 $3,146,772,631 $86,874,074
1982 $2,606,623,555 $86,022,222
1981 $2,623,803,096 $80,888,889
1980 $4,831,447,001 $68,459,259
1979 $4,035,519,323 $58,840,741
1978 $3,523,208,810 $49,433,333
1977 $3,072,427,013 $44,496,296
1976 $2,412,555,426 $30,095,602
1975 $1,960,863,466 $33,364,055
1974 $1,666,544,754 $31,514,856
1973 $1,528,925,846 $24,196,018
1972 $1,238,251,696 $22,944,849
1971 $1,077,147,538 $19,624,746
1970 $984,830,158 $16,300,000
1969 $853,630,204 $15,850,000
1968 $773,841,494 $14,600,000
1967 $699,456,619 $16,742,338
1966 $647,305,630 $14,469,078
1965 $592,981,162 $13,593,932
1964 $542,578,367 $13,416,633
1963 $511,902,137 $12,833,301
1962 $479,180,824 $12,541,635
1961 $490,325,182 $12,483,302
1960 $507,513,830 $12,366,636

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

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

GDP per capita in Costa Rica vs Saint Kitts and Nevis by year

Costa Rica
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Saint Kitts and Nevis
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Costa Rica Saint Kitts
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $18,587 $31,107 $23,961 $34,847
2023 $16,942 $28,909 $22,577 $33,980
2022 $13,626 $26,226 $21,012 $31,871
2021 $12,838 $23,853 $18,361 $26,897
2020 $12,394 $22,100 $18,859 $27,326
2019 $12,885 $23,340 $23,595 $32,482
2018 $12,590 $21,498 $22,901 $30,795
2017 $12,317 $20,499 $22,465 $29,579
2016 $12,091 $19,202 $21,388 $28,215
2015 $11,715 $17,525 $20,329 $26,877
2014 $10,911 $16,394 $20,219 $26,756
2013 $10,803 $15,232 $18,580 $24,624
2012 $10,127 $14,464 $17,532 $23,458
2011 $9,276 $13,614 $17,832 $24,550
2010 $8,266 $12,928 $16,623 $23,691
2009 $6,833 $12,274 $16,503 $23,385
2008 $6,937 $12,472 $16,605 $24,102
2007 $6,138 $11,842 $14,758 $21,301
2006 $5,257 $10,800 $13,838 $20,676
2005 $4,703 $9,899 $11,784 $19,500
2004 $4,431 $9,365 $10,945 $17,276
2003 $4,173 $8,863 $10,176 $16,226
2002 $4,068 $8,461 $10,454 $16,619
2001 $3,985 $8,190 $10,023 $16,235
2000 $3,813 $7,879 $9,320 $15,256
1999 $3,691 $7,563 $9,116 $13,754
1998 $3,617 $7,306 $8,711 $13,319
1997 $3,408 $6,890 $8,627 $13,409
1996 $3,227 $6,568 $7,788 $12,498
1995 $3,275 $6,515 $7,406 $11,747
1994 $3,040 $6,276 $7,065 $11,062
1993 $2,840 $6,025 $6,395 $10,418
1992 $2,612 $5,635 $5,947 $9,652
1991 $2,253 $5,175 $5,465 $9,131
1990 $1,830 $5,021 $5,373 $8,983
1989 $1,725 - $4,723 -
1988 $1,555 - $4,206 -
1987 $1,567 - $3,573 -
1986 $1,569 - $3,140 -
1985 $1,429 - $2,651 -
1984 $1,372 - $2,341 -
1983 $1,213 - $2,052 -
1982 $1,032 - $2,023 -
1981 $1,068 - $1,894 -
1980 $2,021 - $1,598 -
1979 $1,735 - $1,367 -
1978 $1,556 - $1,144 -
1977 $1,393 - $1,026 -
1976 $1,123 - $692 -
1975 $937 - $765 -
1974 $817 - $721 -
1973 $769 - $551 -
1972 $639 - $521 -
1971 $570 - $444 -
1970 $536 - $365 -
1969 $477 - $347 -
1968 $445 - $309 -
1967 $414 - $344 -
1966 $395 - $290 -
1965 $374 - $265.8 -
1964 $354 - $256.4 -
1963 $346 - $240.1 -
1962 $335 - $230.3 -
1961 $356 - $225.6 -
1960 $382 - $221.6 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

Costa Rica's GDP per capita is $18,587, ranking 62/197, compared to $23,961 in Saint Kitts and Nevis, ranking 51/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Costa Rica ranks 72nd at $31,107, while Saint Kitts and Nevis ranks 64th at $34,847.

Economic indicators

Costa Rica Saint Kitts
Gross domestic product
$95.4B
2024
$1.12B
2024
GDP rank
73/197
2024
187/197
2024
GDP growth
4.32%
2023-2024
0.31%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$23,961
2024
GDP per capita rank
62/197
2024
51/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$34,847
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
72/197
2024
64/197
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$604M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
53.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$12,897
2024
Government debt per person rank
50/185
2024
44/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$13,301
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
43.2%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
-0.41%
2023-2024
1.1%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
3.5%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
5.12%
2001
Population
5181862
47017

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Costa Rica
Spending

Debt
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Costa Rica Saint Kitts
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 18.9% 59.8% 43.2% 53.8%
2023 18.5% 61.1% 43.1% 55.7%
2022 19.2% 63% 49.5% 60.3%
2021 20.8% 67.6% 41.2% 69.1%
2020 22.3% 66.9% 36.5% 68%
2019 21.7% 56.4% 37.2% 54.3%
2018 18.9% 51.8% 33.7% 53.9%
2017 19.2% 47.1% 25.5% 56.2%
2016 18.8% 44.1% 26.1% 57.4%
2015 18.8% 39.8% 29% 62.2%
2014 18.4% 37.4% 28% 69.3%
2013 18.5% 35.1% 28.6% 91.5%
2012 17.3% 33.7% 27.2% 121.4%
2011 17.2% 29.5% 30.3% 127.1%
2010 18% 28.1% 31.2% 134.9%
2009 16.7% 26% 30.4% 129.1%
2008 15.2% 24% 29.5% 123.4%
2007 14.6% 27% 32.2% 135.4%
2006 15.2% 33% 32.5% 140.3%
2005 15.9% 37.3% 34.7% 130.1%
2004 17% 41% 33.7% 153.1%
2003 17.6% 40.6% 30.9% 140.7%
2002 18.6% 41.4% 35.4% 119.7%
2001 17.3% 39.6% 30.9% 105.2%
2000 16.9% 38.9% 34.6% 96.5%
1999 16.7% 39% 33.6% 89.2%
1998 16% 40.7% 29.1% 79%
1997 16.3% 30.6% 26.3% 67.2%
1996 17.3% 33.7% 26.8% 50.7%
1995 16.4% 29.1% 23.7% -
1994 17.4% 27% 22.2% -
1993 13.8% 24.4% 21.3% -
1992 13.7% 23.3% 19.8% -
1991 14% 28.4% 18.2% -
1990 18.9% 18.5% 19.3% -
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/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

In 2024, Costa Rica's government spending was $18B, accounting for 18.9% of its GDP, while Saint Kitts and Nevis spent $484M, or 43.2% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 59.8% in Costa Rica and 53.8% in Saint Kitts and Nevis, ranking 79/185 and 97/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Costa Rica

Saint Kitts and Nevis
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Costa Rica Saint Kitts
2024 -3.78% -11%
2023 -3.25% -0.27%
2022 -2.81% -4.16%
2021 -5.09% 5.41%
2020 -8.38% -3.06%
2019 -6.68% -0.7%
2018 -5.66% 1.8%
2017 -5.88% 1.68%
2016 -5.09% 3.77%
2015 -5.52% 5.66%
2014 -5.45% 8.52%
2013 -5.25% 10.9%
2012 -4.22% 4.32%
2011 -3.91% 1.6%
2010 -4.96% -4.15%
2009 -3.25% -1.23%
2008 0.18% -1.57%
2007 0.56% -1.03%
2006 -1.04% -1.37%
2005 -2.09% -3.45%
2004 -3.42% -6.6%
2003 -3.43% -5.66%
2002 -4.99% -11.7%
2001 -3.47% -10.9%
2000 -3.68% -13.3%
1999 -2.88% -11.1%
1998 -2.96% -5.13%
1997 -3.39% -2.33%
1996 -4.32% -2.27%
1995 -3.68% 0.9%
1994 -5.46% 0.79%
1993 -1.52% 0.24%
1992 -1.51% 0.5%
1991 -2.41% 0.92%
1990 -4.4% 0.62%
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/saint-kitts-and-nevis | 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 Saint Kitts and Nevis' deficit of $123M, or 11% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Costa Rica recorded a fiscal deficit in 33 of those years, while Saint Kitts and Nevis ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Costa Rica posted an annual deficit equal to 3.8% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.52% of GDP for Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Costa Rica

Saint Kitts and Nevis
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Costa Rica Saint Kitts
2024 -0.41% 1.1%
2023 0.53% 3.56%
2022 8.27% 2.67%
2021 1.73% 1.2%
2020 0.72% -1.17%
2019 2.1% -0.33%
2018 2.22% -1.04%
2017 1.63% 0.69%
2016 -0.02% -0.69%
2015 0.8% -2.3%
2014 4.52% 0.25%
2013 5.23% 1.11%
2012 4.5% 0.82%
2011 4.88% 5.84%
2010 5.66% 0.85%
2009 7.84% 2.06%
2008 13.4% 5.3%
2007 9.36% 4.48%
2006 11.5% 8.49%
2005 13.8% 3.38%
2004 12.3% 2.31%
2003 9.45% 2.24%
2002 9.17% 2.04%
2001 11.3% 2.3%
2000 11% 2.15%
1999 10% 3.36%
1998 11.7% 3.45%
1997 13.2% 8.91%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Costa Rica has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 6.66%, compared with 2.25% in Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 2024, inflation was -0.41% in Costa Rica and 1.1% in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Top exports between countries

Costa Rica
Export category Export value
Metals $276K
Chemicals & pharma $95K
Raw agricultural goods $71K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $66K
Machinery & equipment $47K
Wood & paper products $17K
Textiles & consumer goods $1K
Saint Kitts
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Costa Rica Saint Kitts
Current account balance
-$1.25B
2024
-$169M
2024
Current account balance ranking
129/190
2024
96/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.31%
2024
-15.1%
2024
Goods imports
$23.1B
2024
$404M
2024
Goods exports
$20.6B
2024
$33.7M
2024
Service imports
$7.58B
2024
$239M
2024
Service exports
$16.3B
2024
$471M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
32.8%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
38.5%
2024
11%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Costa Rica Saint Kitts
Economic freedom 69.1 62
Economic freedom ranking 43/197 90/197
Property rights 66 n/a
Government integrity 64.1 n/a
Judicial effectiveness 76.9 n/a
Tax burden 78.6 n/a
Government spending 89.3 n/a
Fiscal health 75.6 n/a
Business freedom 79.9 n/a
Labor freedom 55.9 n/a
Monetary freedom 78.2 n/a
Trade freedom 75 n/a
Investment freedom 50 n/a
Financial freedom 40 n/a

Other economic metrics

Costa Rica Saint Kitts
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
66.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
20.9%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
3.56%
2024
1.29%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$1.05B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$28,840
2024
$34,460
2024
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$295M
2024
Total reserves ranking
70/177
2024
168/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$4.96B
2024
-$19.5M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$5.3B
2024
$42.1M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$337M
2024
$8.97M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
6.31%
2023
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
20.3%
2024
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
15.7%
2024
n/a

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/saint-kitts-and-nevis | 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. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2024, 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.