Country Details
Costa Rica
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
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Economy
Detailed information and insights
Economic overview
trade-based upper middle-income economy; green economy leader, having reversed deforestation; investing in blue economy infrastructure; declining poverty until hard impacts of COVID-19; lingering inequality and growing government debts have prompted a liquidity crisis
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$138.371 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$132.64 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$126.189 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
5.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2024
$27,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$26,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022
$24,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$95.35 billion (2024 est.)
Note
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
-0.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
0.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
8.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
Agriculture
3.6% (2024 est.)
Industry
19.7% (2024 est.)
Services
68.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
Household consumption
63.9% (2024 est.)
Government consumption
14.7% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital
15.8% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories
-0.1% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services
38.5% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services
-32.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
sugarcane, pineapples, bananas, oil palm fruit, milk, fruits, oranges, chicken, cassava, beef (2023)
Note
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate
4.1% (2024 est.)
Note
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Labor force
2.357 million (2024 est.)
Note
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2024
7.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
8.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022
11.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
Total
23% (2024 est.)
Male
20.7% (2024 est.)
Female
26.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
24.4% (2023 est.)
Note
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024
45.8 (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures
On food
21.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco
1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10%
1.7% (2024 est.)
Highest 10%
34.2% (2024 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2024
0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023
0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022
0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget
Revenues
$26.333 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures
$25.953 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2017
48.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
13.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Current account balance
Current account balance 2024
-$1.291 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$1.239 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022
-$2.272 billion (2022 est.)
Exports
Exports 2024
$36.77 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023
$33.683 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022
$29.392 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 40%, Netherlands 6%, China 5%, Guatemala 4%, Belgium 3% (2023)
Note
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
medical instruments, integrated circuits, orthopedic appliances, bananas, tropical fruits (2023)
Note
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
Imports 2024
$30.459 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023
$28.413 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022
$27.095 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners
USA 38%, China 15%, Mexico 6%, Brazil 3%, Guatemala 3% (2023)
Note
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, plastic products, cars, medical instruments, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Note
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$14.177 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$13.225 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$8.554 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$15.574 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024
515.11 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
544.051 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
647.136 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
620.785 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
584.901 (2020 est.)