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Economy of Costa Rica vs Zimbabwe compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a GDP of $95.4B compared to $41.5B for Zimbabwe, ranking 73/197 and 102/197 by economy size, respectively.

Costa Rica has $57B in government debt (59.8% of GDP), compared to $30.3B (73% of GDP) in Zimbabwe.

Costa Rica vs Zimbabwe GDP by year

Costa Rica
Zimbabwe
1x
Year GDP, current $
Costa Rica Zimbabwe
2024 $95,350,423,177 $41,539,411,516
2023 $86,497,941,439 $35,871,779,681
2022 $69,243,626,029 $40,757,561,709
2021 $64,960,725,734 $41,287,673,690
2020 $62,395,610,760 $31,980,334,561
2019 $64,417,670,521 $33,357,695,635
2018 $62,420,164,992 $34,141,666,667
2017 $60,516,044,657 $51,035,657,371
2016 $58,847,019,610 $20,559,250,000
2015 $56,441,920,821 $19,973,250,000
2014 $52,016,408,854 $19,505,500,000
2013 $50,949,668,842 $19,100,750,000
2012 $47,231,655,432 $17,123,500,000
2011 $42,762,613,699 $14,109,000,000
2010 $37,658,616,952 $12,047,750,000
2009 $30,745,714,313 $9,670,750,000
2008 $30,801,745,700 $4,418,000,000
2007 $26,884,700,709 $5,294,750,000
2006 $22,715,540,324 $5,446,750,000
2005 $20,040,642,477 $5,758,250,000
2004 $18,610,594,846 $5,808,500,000
2003 $17,271,760,507 $5,730,500,000
2002 $16,578,820,687 $6,345,250,000
2001 $15,976,174,337 $6,780,750,000
2000 $15,013,629,662 $6,693,250,000
1999 $14,254,866,285 $6,861,500,000
1998 $13,684,255,947 $6,405,250,000
1997 $12,614,602,382 $8,534,000,000
1996 $11,678,424,507 $8,557,500,000
1995 $11,578,594,260 $7,115,000,000
1994 $10,489,903,725 $6,894,250,000
1993 $9,564,815,975 $6,567,250,000
1992 $8,579,754,758 $6,755,000,000
1991 $7,215,725,487 $8,646,000,000
1990 $5,711,687,787 $8,788,301,546
1989 $5,251,025,767 $8,290,553,535
1988 $4,614,629,898 $7,818,774,177
1987 $4,532,952,047 $6,744,657,033
1986 $4,418,983,871 $6,220,698,247
1985 $3,919,203,960 $5,640,137,575
1984 $3,660,477,856 $6,355,369,172
1983 $3,146,772,631 $7,768,031,182
1982 $2,606,623,555 $8,544,060,905
1981 $2,623,803,096 $8,015,464,252
1980 $4,831,447,001 $6,682,278,300
1979 $4,035,519,323 $5,180,102,910
1978 $3,523,208,810 $4,353,822,343
1977 $3,072,427,013 $4,366,610,469
1976 $2,412,555,426 $4,320,576,877
1975 $1,960,863,466 $4,373,532,601
1974 $1,666,544,754 $3,984,194,614
1973 $1,528,925,846 $3,311,043,292
1972 $1,238,251,696 $2,679,096,597
1971 $1,077,147,538 $2,179,828,710
1970 $984,830,158 $1,885,168,339
1969 $853,630,204 $1,748,891,294
1968 $773,841,494 $1,480,355,355
1967 $699,456,619 $1,397,715,282
1966 $647,305,630 $1,282,403,936
1965 $592,981,162 $1,312,105,394
1964 $542,578,367 $1,217,759,447
1963 $511,902,137 $1,160,103,724
1962 $479,180,824 $1,118,172,226
1961 $490,325,182 $1,097,206,526
1960 $507,513,830 $1,053,528,036

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

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

GDP per capita in Costa Rica vs Zimbabwe by year

Costa Rica
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Zimbabwe
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Costa Rica Zimbabwe
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $18,587 $31,107 $2,497 $5,928
2023 $16,942 $28,909 $2,195 $5,791
2022 $13,626 $26,226 $2,536 $5,396
2021 $12,838 $23,853 $2,614 $4,827
2020 $12,394 $22,100 $2,060 $4,179
2019 $12,885 $23,340 $2,184 $4,166
2018 $12,590 $21,498 $2,271 $3,993
2017 $12,317 $20,499 $3,445 $10,756
2016 $12,091 $19,202 $1,408 $4,275
2015 $11,715 $17,525 $1,387 $4,046
2014 $10,911 $16,394 $1,373 $3,903
2013 $10,803 $15,232 $1,363 $3,784
2012 $10,127 $14,464 $1,239 $3,472
2011 $9,276 $13,614 $1,038 $3,047
2010 $8,266 $12,928 $902 $2,661
2009 $6,833 $12,274 $736 $2,233
2008 $6,937 $12,472 $341 $1,987
2007 $6,138 $11,842 $414 $2,396
2006 $5,257 $10,800 $431 $2,454
2005 $4,703 $9,899 $461 $2,496
2004 $4,431 $9,365 $470 $2,591
2003 $4,173 $8,863 $468 $2,708
2002 $4,068 $8,461 $525 $3,238
2001 $3,985 $8,190 $566 $3,533
2000 $3,813 $7,879 $563 $3,429
1999 $3,691 $7,563 $582 $3,491
1998 $3,617 $7,306 $552 $3,527
1997 $3,408 $6,890 $751 $3,457
1996 $3,227 $6,568 $767 $3,372
1995 $3,275 $6,515 $648 $3,051
1994 $3,040 $6,276 $634 $3,012
1993 $2,840 $6,025 $605 $2,703
1992 $2,612 $5,635 $631 $2,651
1991 $2,253 $5,175 $831 $2,930
1990 $1,830 $5,021 $867 $2,757
1989 $1,725 - $840 -
1988 $1,555 - $816 -
1987 $1,567 - $726 -
1986 $1,569 - $693 -
1985 $1,429 - $649 -
1984 $1,372 - $757 -
1983 $1,213 - $959 -
1982 $1,032 - $1,096 -
1981 $1,068 - $1,069 -
1980 $2,021 - $949 -
1979 $1,735 - $779 -
1978 $1,556 - $665 -
1977 $1,393 - $677 -
1976 $1,123 - $687 -
1975 $937 - $717 -
1974 $817 - $674 -
1973 $769 - $579 -
1972 $639 - $483 -
1971 $570 - $406 -
1970 $536 - $361 -
1969 $477 - $346 -
1968 $445 - $302 -
1967 $414 - $294.4 -
1966 $395 - $278.7 -
1965 $374 - $294.3 -
1964 $354 - $281.9 -
1963 $346 - $277.1 -
1962 $335 - $275.7 -
1961 $356 - $279.2 -
1960 $382 - $276.6 -

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

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

Costa Rica's GDP per capita is $18,587, ranking 62/197, compared to $2,497 in Zimbabwe, ranking 148/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Costa Rica ranks 72nd at $31,107, while Zimbabwe ranks 154th at $5,928.

Economic indicators

Costa Rica Zimbabwe
Gross domestic product
$95.4B
2024
$41.5B
2024
GDP rank
73/197
2024
102/197
2024
GDP growth
4.32%
2023-2024
1.74%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$2,497
2024
GDP per capita rank
62/197
2024
148/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$5,928
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
72/197
2024
154/197
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$30.3B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
73%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$1,824
2024
Government debt per person rank
50/185
2024
121/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$2,897
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$2.46B
1999
Number of billionaires n/a
1
2025
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
40.5%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
1.9%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
12.9%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
-0.41%
2023-2024
736%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
3.5%
2025
35%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
12.1%
2024
Population
5181862
17361868

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Costa Rica
Spending

Debt
Zimbabwe
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Costa Rica Zimbabwe
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 18.9% 59.8% 12.9% 73%
2023 18.5% 61.1% 15.5% 76.1%
2022 19.2% 63% 14.4% 66.8%
2021 20.8% 67.6% 12.8% 39.9%
2020 22.3% 66.9% 9.27% 56.8%
2019 21.7% 56.4% 9.36% 53.9%
2018 18.9% 51.8% 13.9% 33%
2017 19.2% 47.1% 19.8% 49%
2016 18.8% 44.1% 16.6% 35.1%
2015 18.8% 39.8% 14.7% 34.1%
2014 18.4% 37.4% 14.1% 29.2%
2013 18.5% 35.1% 14.7% 26.4%
2012 17.3% 33.7% 14.6% 27.2%
2011 17.2% 29.5% 16.2% 30%
2010 18% 28.1% 12.8% 33.2%
2009 16.7% 26% 7.93% 39.7%
2008 15.2% 24% 2.54% 41.3%
2007 14.6% 27% 3.43% 30.2%
2006 15.2% 33% 5.72% 26.7%
2005 15.9% 37.3% 10.5% 22.4%
2004 17% 41% - -
2003 17.6% 40.6% - -
2002 18.6% 41.4% - -
2001 17.3% 39.6% - -
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 (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1995, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Costa Rica's government spending was $18B, accounting for 18.9% of its GDP, while Zimbabwe spent $5.37B, or 12.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 59.8% in Costa Rica and 73% in Zimbabwe, ranking 79/185 and 50/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Costa Rica

Zimbabwe
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Costa Rica Zimbabwe
2024 -3.78% -1.06%
2023 -3.25% -3.9%
2022 -2.81% -3.3%
2021 -5.09% -2.24%
2020 -8.38% -0.34%
2019 -6.68% -1.72%
2018 -5.66% -3.81%
2017 -5.88% -7.37%
2016 -5.09% -4.63%
2015 -5.52% -1.45%
2014 -5.45% -0.71%
2013 -5.25% -0.69%
2012 -4.22% -0.13%
2011 -3.91% -1.72%
2010 -4.96% -0.11%
2009 -3.25% -1.39%
2008 0.18% -1.2%
2007 0.56% -1.67%
2006 -1.04% -1.4%
2005 -2.09% -3.46%
2004 -3.42% -
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/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe's deficit of $438M, or 1.06% of GDP.

Over the past 20 years, Costa Rica recorded a fiscal deficit in 18 of those years, while Zimbabwe ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Costa Rica posted an annual deficit equal to 4.08% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.11% of GDP for Zimbabwe.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Costa Rica

Zimbabwe
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Costa Rica Zimbabwe
2024 -0.41% 736%
2023 0.53% 667%
2022 8.27% 193.4%
2021 1.73% 98.5%
2020 0.72% 557%
2019 2.1% 255.3%
2018 2.22% 10.6%
2017 1.63% 0.9%
2016 -0.02% -1.6%
2015 0.8% -2.4%
2014 4.52% -0.2%
2013 5.23% 1.6%
2012 4.5% 3.7%
2011 4.88% 3.5%
2010 5.66% 3%
2009 7.84% 6.2%
2008 13.4% 157%
2007 9.36% -72.7%
2006 11.5% 33%
2005 13.8% -31.5%
2004 12.3% 113.6%
2003 9.45% -8.6%
2002 9.17% -34.4%
2001 11.3% -37.2%
2000 11% 4.5%
1999 10% -13.4%
1998 11.7% -28%
1997 13.2% -1%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the past 28 years, Costa Rica has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 6.66%, compared with 93.4% in Zimbabwe. In 2024, inflation was -0.41% in Costa Rica and 736% in Zimbabwe.

Top exports between countries

Costa Rica
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $34K
Textiles & consumer goods $2K
Metals $1K
Zimbabwe
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Costa Rica Zimbabwe
Current account balance
-$1.25B
2024
$501M
2024
Current account balance ranking
129/190
2024
62/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.31%
2024
+1.21%
2024
Goods imports
$23.1B
2024
$9.06B
2024
Goods exports
$20.6B
2024
$7.79B
2024
Service imports
$7.58B
2024
$1.66B
2024
Service exports
$16.3B
2024
$457M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
32.8%
2024
23.4%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
38.5%
2024
18%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Costa Rica Zimbabwe
Economic freedom 69.1 35.2
Economic freedom ranking 43/197 190/197
Property rights 66 19.4
Government integrity 64.1 20.7
Judicial effectiveness 76.9 16.8
Tax burden 78.6 73.6
Government spending 89.3 93.9
Fiscal health 75.6 52.4
Business freedom 79.9 42
Labor freedom 55.9 33.3
Monetary freedom 78.2 0
Trade freedom 75 50.4
Investment freedom 50 10
Financial freedom 40 10

Economic freedom comparison by year

Costa Rica
Zimbabwe
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Costa Rica Zimbabwe
2026 69.1 35.2
2025 68.6 35.1
2024 67.7 38.2
2023 66.5 39
2022 65.4 33.1
2021 64.2 39.5
2020 65.8 43.1
2019 65.3 40.4
2018 65.6 44
2017 65 44
2016 67.4 38.2
2015 67.2 37.6
2014 66.9 35.5
2013 67 28.6
2012 68 26.3
2011 67.3 22.1
2010 65.9 21.4
2009 66.4 22.7
2008 64.2 29.5
2007 64 32
2006 65.9 33.5
2005 66.1 35.2
2004 66.4 34.4
2003 67 36.7
2002 67.5 36.7
2001 67.6 38.8
2000 68.4 48.7
1999 67.4 47.2
1998 65.6 44.6
1997 65.6 48
1996 66.4 46.7
1995 68 48.5

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Costa Rica is 69.1, ranking 43/197, compared to 35.2 for Zimbabwe, ranking 190/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Costa Rica Zimbabwe
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
50.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
35%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
3.56%
2024
8.69%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$39.9B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$28,840
2024
$5,870
2024
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$485M
2024
Total reserves ranking
70/177
2024
157/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$4.96B
2024
-$465M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$5.3B
2024
$465M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$337M
2024
$131M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
6.31%
2023
3.44%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
20.3%
2024
38.3%
2019
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
15.7%
2024
8.85%
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/zimbabwe | 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 (2023–2024, 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.