Costa Rica
Capital: San JoseRegion: Latin America & Caribbean Income: High income
Costa Rica's GDP is $109.14B (2026), with a population of 5.1M, and GDP per capita of $20,134. Key indicators include real GDP growth of 3.3%, inflation at 2.0%, unemployment at 8.0%, government debt at 59.5% of GDP, life expectancy of 80.8 years. Data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators. Explore Costa Rica's full economic profile with 440+ indicators, interactive charts, and historical data below.
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook
Economy
Fiscal & Monetary
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Inflation, Consumer Prices (%) | 2.0% | 2026 |
| Govt Gross Debt (% of GDP) | 59.5% | 2026 |
| Fiscal Balance (% of GDP) | -3.0% | 2026 |
| Current Account Balance (% of GDP) | -2.1% | 2026 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 8.0% | 2026 |
| Inflation, CPI (%, World Bank) | -0.4% | 2024 |
| Real Interest Rate (%) | 7.3% | 2024 |
| Lending Interest Rate (%) | 7.3% | 2024 |
| Deposit Interest Rate (%) | 3.7% | 2024 |
| Government Revenue (% of GDP) | 29.3% | 2023 |
| Government Expenditure (% of GDP) | 28.9% | 2023 |
| Tax Revenue (% of GDP) | 13.9% | 2023 |
| Taxes on Goods & Services (% of revenue) | 23.9% | 2023 |
| Taxes on International Trade (% of revenue) | 3.7% | 2023 |
| Taxes on Income, Profits & Capital Gains (% of rev) | 15.8% | 2023 |
| Net Investment in Nonfinancial Assets (% of GDP) | 1.1% | 2023 |
| Total Reserves incl. Gold (USD) | $14.18B | 2024 |
| Total Reserves (months of imports) | 4.3 | 2024 |
| Official Exchange Rate (per USD) | 515.11 | 2024 |
| PPP Conversion Factor | 307.79 | 2024 |
| Broad Money (% of GDP) | 50.5% | 2024 |
Trade
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Trade (% of GDP) | 71.3% | 2024 |
| Exports of Goods & Services (% of GDP) | 38.5% | 2024 |
| Imports of Goods & Services (% of GDP) | 32.8% | 2024 |
| Exports of Goods & Services (USD) | $36.74B | 2024 |
| Imports of Goods & Services (USD) | $31.27B | 2024 |
| Merchandise Exports (USD) | $21.69B | 2024 |
| Merchandise Imports (USD) | $26.48B | 2024 |
| FDI Inflows (% of GDP) | 5.6% | 2024 |
| FDI Outflows (% of GDP) | 0.4% | 2024 |
| FDI Net Inflows (USD) | $5.30B | 2024 |
| Personal Remittances Received (USD) | $724.8M | 2024 |
| Personal Remittances Received (% of GDP) | 0.8% | 2024 |
| High-Tech Exports (% of manufactured) | 22.9% | 2024 |
| Current Account Balance (% of GDP) | -1.3% | 2024 |
| Current Account Balance (USD) | $-1.25B | 2024 |
External Debt
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Net ODA Received (% of GNI) | 0.2% | 2023 |
| Net ODA Received (USD) | $144.6M | 2023 |
Finance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Credit by Financial Sector (% of GDP) | 77.3% | 2024 |
| Domestic Credit to Private Sector (% of GDP) | 52.0% | 2024 |
| Stock Market Capitalization (% of GDP) | 3.2% | 2022 |
| Stock Market Capitalization (USD) | $2.23B | 2022 |
| Stock Market Turnover (% of GDP) | 0.1% | 2022 |
| Listed Domestic Companies | 9 | 2022 |
| Bank Capital to Assets Ratio (%) | 9.9% | 2023 |
| Bank Nonperforming Loans (%) | 2.0% | 2023 |
| Account Ownership at Financial Institution (%) | 71.4% | 2024 |
| Account Ownership, Female (%) | 68.3% | 2024 |
| Account Ownership, Male (%) | 74.5% | 2024 |
| Firms Using Banks to Finance Investment (%) | 32.8% | 2023 |
Business Environment
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Time to Get Electricity (days) | 25 | 2023 |
Private Sector
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Firms Expected to Pay Bribes (%) | 2.1% | 2023 |
| Firms with Female Top Manager (%) | 53.0% | 2023 |
| Firms with Female Participation in Ownership (%) | 25.3% | 2023 |
| Firms Offering Training (%) | 36.8% | 2023 |
| Average Firm Age (years) | 27 years | 2023 |
| Firms Using Computers (%) | 61.1% | 2023 |
People
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5.1M | 2024 |
| Population Growth (%) | 0.5% | 2024 |
| Population Density (per km²) | 100 | 2023 |
| Surface Area (sq km) | 51,100 | 2023 |
| Land Area (sq km) | 51,060 | 2023 |
| Urban Population (%) | 79.3% | 2024 |
| Urban Population (total) | 4.1M | 2024 |
| Rural Population (%) | 20.7% | 2024 |
| Life Expectancy at Birth | 80.8 years | 2023 |
| Life Expectancy, Male | 78.1 years | 2023 |
| Life Expectancy, Female | 83.4 years | 2023 |
| Fertility Rate (births per woman) | 1.3 | 2023 |
| Birth Rate (per 1,000) | 10.2 | 2023 |
| Death Rate (per 1,000) | 5.5 | 2023 |
| Net Migration | 1,000 | 2025 |
| Population Ages 0–14 (%) | 18.8% | 2024 |
| Population Ages 15–64 (%) | 69.0% | 2024 |
| Population Ages 65+ (%) | 12.2% | 2024 |
| Age Dependency Ratio (%) | 45.0% | 2024 |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio (%) | 17.7% | 2024 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio (%) | 27.3% | 2024 |
| Mortality Rate, Adult Male (per 1,000) | 111.4 | 2023 |
| Mortality Rate, Adult Female (per 1,000) | 57.7 | 2023 |
Labor
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 2.4M | 2025 |
| Labor Force Participation (%) | 57.7% | 2025 |
| Female Labor Force Participation (%) | 46.0% | 2025 |
| Male Labor Force Participation (%) | 69.8% | 2025 |
| Unemployment (%) | 6.8% | 2025 |
| Female Unemployment (%) | 7.8% | 2025 |
| Male Unemployment (%) | 6.2% | 2025 |
| Youth Unemployment (%) | 19.9% | 2025 |
| Employment in Agriculture (%) | 11.5% | 2025 |
| Employment in Industry (%) | 18.5% | 2025 |
| Employment in Services (%) | 70.0% | 2025 |
| Self-Employed (%) | 57.7% | 2024 |
| Vulnerable Employment (%) | 23.4% | 2025 |
| Wage & Salaried Workers (% of total) | 73.4% | 2025 |
| Part-Time Employment (%) | 22.2% | 2024 |
| Employers (% of total employment) | 3.2% | 2025 |
| Labor Force, Female (% of total) | 40.7% | 2025 |
| Employment to Population Ratio (%) | 53.7% | 2025 |
| Self-Employed (% of total) | 26.6% | 2025 |
| NEET Youth (% not in education/employment) | 18.3% | 2024 |
Education
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Education Spending (% of GDP) | 6.2% | 2021 |
| Education Spending (% of govt expenditure) | 31.2% | 2021 |
| Primary School Enrollment (%) | 106.2% | 2023 |
| Secondary School Enrollment (%) | 125.5% | 2023 |
| Primary Completion Rate (%) | 100.7% | 2023 |
| Lower Secondary Completion Rate (%) | 62.3% | 2023 |
| Out-of-School Children, Primary | 21,131 | 2023 |
| Out-of-School Girls, Primary | 10,864 | 2023 |
| Primary School Teachers | 43,117 | 2022 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 37,039 | 2022 |
| Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Primary | 12 | 2018 |
| Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Secondary | 12 | 2018 |
| Expenditure per Student, Primary (% of GDP/cap) | 28.7% | 2018 |
| Pupil-Teacher Ratio (Primary) | 97.4 | 2020 |
| Education Spending, Secondary (% of govt) | 28.7% | 2018 |
| Education Spending, Tertiary (% of govt) | 23.1% | 2018 |
Health
Energy & Environment
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| CO₂ Emissions (tonnes per capita) | 1.6 | 2024 |
| CO₂ Emissions (total kilotonnes) | 8 | 2024 |
| Energy Use (kg oil eq. per capita) | 1,025 | 2023 |
| Electric Power Consumption (kWh per capita) | 2,206 | 2023 |
| Renewable Electricity Output (%) | 99.4% | 2021 |
| Renewable Energy Consumption (%) | 34.2% | 2021 |
| Access to Electricity (%) | 100.0% | 2023 |
| Access to Clean Fuels for Cooking (%) | 96.6% | 2023 |
| PM2.5 Air Pollution (µg/m³) | 14.3 | 2020 |
| Forest Area (%) | 60.4% | 2023 |
| Forest Area (sq km) | 30,840 | 2023 |
| Arable Land (%) | 3.3% | 2023 |
| Terrestrial Protected Areas (%) | 28.2% | 2024 |
| Marine Protected Areas (%) | 28.4% | 2024 |
| Access to Basic Drinking Water (%) | 99.8% | 2024 |
| Access to Basic Sanitation (%) | 98.8% | 2024 |
Agriculture
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Land (%) | 33.1% | 2023 |
| Cereal Yield (kg per hectare) | 4,448 | 2023 |
| Food Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 100.4 | 2022 |
| Crop Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 96.1 | 2022 |
| Livestock Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 113.4 | 2022 |
| Land Under Cereal Production (hectares) | 18,758 | 2023 |
| Total Fisheries Production (metric tonnes) | 33,935 | 2023 |
| Fertilizer Consumption (kg per hectare) | 1,024.5 | 2023 |
| Prevalence of Undernourishment (%) | 2.5% | 2023 |
| Annual Freshwater Withdrawals (% of internal) | 3.1% | 2022 |
| Cereal Production (metric tons) | 83,440 | 2023 |
Technology
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Users (%) | 85.4% | 2023 |
| Mobile Subscriptions (per 100 people) | 146 | 2023 |
| Fixed Broadband Subscriptions (per 100) | 22.5 | 2023 |
| Secure Internet Servers (per million) | 1,999.8 | 2024 |
| R&D Spending (% of GDP) | 0.34% | 2022 |
| Patent Applications, Residents | 15 | 2021 |
| Patent Applications, Non-Residents | 566 | 2021 |
| Scientific Journal Articles | 711 | 2022 |
| High-Technology Exports (USD) | $2.95B | 2024 |
| ICT Service Exports (% of service exports) | 14.9% | 2024 |
| ICT Service Exports (USD) | $2.43B | 2024 |
| Industrial Design Applications, Resident | 9 | 2021 |
| Researchers in R&D (per million) | 462 | 2022 |
Infrastructure
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Air Transport, Passengers Carried | 2.0M | 2023 |
| Air Transport, Freight (million ton-km) | 7.2 | 2023 |
| Container Port Traffic (TEU) | 1.6M | 2022 |
| Rail Lines (total km) | 848 | 2001 |
| Logistics Performance Index (1–5) | 2.90 | 2022 |
| Electricity from Oil (%) | 5.1% | 2023 |
| Electricity from Nuclear (%) | 0.0% | 2021 |
Gender
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Women in Parliament (%) | 49.1% | 2024 |
| Female Labor Force Participation, 15+ (%) | 45.8% | 2024 |
| Female Wage & Salaried Workers (%) | 76.7% | 2025 |
| Girls Out-of-School Rate (%) | 111.1% | 2018 |
| Adolescent Fertility Rate (per 1,000) | 26.3 | 2023 |
| Gender Parity Index, Primary | 110.77 | 2018 |
| Gender Parity Index, Secondary | 1.09 | 2020 |
| Gender Parity in Primary Education | 0.99 | 2021 |
Governance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Control of Corruption | 0.65 | 2023 |
| Government Effectiveness | 0.26 | 2023 |
| Political Stability | 0.98 | 2023 |
| Regulatory Quality | 0.54 | 2023 |
| Rule of Law | 0.39 | 2023 |
| Voice & Accountability | 1.07 | 2023 |
| Control of Corruption (percentile rank) | 72.6% | 2023 |
| Government Effectiveness (percentile rank) | 60.8% | 2023 |
| Rule of Law (percentile rank) | 60.4% | 2023 |
| Political Stability (percentile rank) | 83.9% | 2023 |
Military
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Military Expenditure (USD) | $0 | 2024 |
| Armed Forces Personnel | 10,000 | 2020 |
| Armed Forces (% of labor force) | 0.4% | 2020 |
| Intentional Homicides (per 100,000) | 17.7 | 2023 |
Poverty & Inequality
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Poverty at $2.15/day (%) | 1.3% | 2024 |
| Poverty at $3.65/day (%) | 2.6% | 2024 |
| Poverty at $6.85/day (%) | 12.6% | 2024 |
| Poverty Headcount, National (%) | 20.3% | 2024 |
| Gini Index | 45.8 | 2024 |
| Income Share, Top 10% | 34.2% | 2024 |
| Income Share, Bottom 10% | 1.7% | 2024 |
| Income Share, Top 20% | 51.1% | 2024 |
| Income Share, Bottom 20% | 4.6% | 2024 |
| Shared Prosperity Premium (%) | 1.9% | 2024 |
| Survey Mean Consumption (2017 PPP $ per day) | 30.73 | 2024 |
| Poverty Gap at $2.15/day (%) | 0.4% | 2024 |
Social Protection
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Social Insurance Coverage (%) | 21.7% | 2022 |
| Social Assistance Coverage (%) | 49.1% | 2022 |
| Labor Market Programs Coverage (%) | 19.0% | 2022 |
| Social Protection Coverage (%) | 70.9% | 2022 |
| Human Capital Index (0–1) | 0.63 | 2020 |
| Human Capital Index, Female | 0.64 | 2020 |
| Human Capital Index, Male | 0.62 | 2020 |
| Learning-Adjusted Years of School | 9.0 years | 2020 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| International Tourism, Arrivals | 1.1M | 2020 |
| International Tourism, Departures | 324,000 | 2020 |
| Tourism Receipts (USD) | $1.48B | 2020 |
| Tourism Expenditures (USD) | $697.0M | 2020 |
| Tourism Receipts (% of total exports) | 7.4% | 2020 |
| International Tourism, Transport Services (USD) | $123.0M | 2020 |
Urban Development
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Population Growth (%) | 1.0% | 2024 |
| Population in Largest City | 1.5M | 2025 |
| Population in Largest City (% of urban) | 36.6% | 2025 |
| Population in Agglomerations >1M (% of total) | 29.2% | 2025 |
| Population in Slums (% of urban) | 3.5% | 2022 |
| Rural Population Growth (%) | -1.6% | 2024 |
| Access to Safely Managed Drinking Water (%) | 80.5% | 2024 |
| Access to Safely Managed Sanitation (%) | 26.3% | 2024 |
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