Countries
Costa Rica
Key Economic Indicators
$159.57 billion
$31,107
4.32%
-0.41%
6.84%
$95.35 billion (2024 est.)
48.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
$-1,248,842,816
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
All Economic Data
Agricultural products
sugarcane, pineapples, bananas, oil palm fruit, milk, fruits, oranges, chicken, cassava, beef (2023)
note:
<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Average household expenditures
On alcohol and tobacco:
1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On food:
21.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Budget
Expenditures:
$25.953 billion (2023 est.)
Note:
<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues:
$26.333 billion (2023 est.)
Currency
code:
CRC
name:
Costa Rican colón (CRC) [₡]
Current account balance
$-1,248,842,816
Current account balance 2022:
-$2.272 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023:
-$1.239 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024:
-$1.291 billion (2024 est.)
Note:
<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023:
$15.574 billion (2023 est.)
Note:
<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars
Exchange rates
Currency:
Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020:
584.901 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021:
620.785 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022:
647.136 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023:
544.051 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024:
515.11 (2024 est.)
Exports
$36.74 billion
Exports 2022:
$29.392 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023:
$33.683 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024:
$36.77 billion (2024 est.)
Note:
<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
medical instruments, integrated circuits, orthopedic appliances, bananas, tropical fruits (2023)
note:
<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners
USA 40%, Netherlands 6%, China 5%, Guatemala 4%, Belgium 3% (2023)
note:
<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Foreign direct investment
net inflows:
$5.3 billion
GDP - composition, by end use
Exports of goods and services:
38.5% (2024 est.)
Government consumption:
14.7% (2024 est.)
Household consumption:
63.9% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services:
-32.8% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital:
15.8% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories:
-0.1% (2024 est.)
Note:
<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
Agriculture:
3.6% (2024 est.)
Industry:
19.7% (2024 est.)
Note:
<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Services:
68.8% (2024 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$95.35 billion (2024 est.)
note:
<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP per capita (nominal)
$18,587
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
48.2 (2019)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024:
45.8 (2024 est.)
Note:
<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
GNI (gross national income)
$88.41 billion
GNI per capita
$15,620
Gross domestic investment
16 % of GDP
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10%:
34.2% (2024 est.)
Lowest 10%:
1.7% (2024 est.)
Note:
<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Imports
$31.27 billion
Imports 2022:
$27.095 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023:
$28.413 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024:
$30.459 billion (2024 est.)
Note:
<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, plastic products, cars, medical instruments, broadcasting equipment (2023)
note:
<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners
USA 38%, China 15%, Mexico 6%, Brazil 3%, Guatemala 3% (2023)
note:
<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Industrial production growth rate
4.1% (2024 est.)
note:
<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries
medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
-0.41%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022:
8.3% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023:
0.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024:
-0.4% (2024 est.)
Note:
<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force
2.357 million (2024 est.)
note:
<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
total:
2.43 million persons
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture:
11.49%
industry:
18.48%
services:
70.03%
Population below poverty line
24.4% (2023 est.)
note:
<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line
Public debt
Public debt 2017:
48.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$159.57 billion
Note:
<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022:
$126.189 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023:
$132.64 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024:
$138.371 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
4.32%
Note:
<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022:
4.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023:
5.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024:
4.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$31,107
Note:
<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022:
$24,800 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023:
$26,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024:
$27,000 (2024 est.)
Remittances
$724.8 million
Note:
<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022:
0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023:
0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024:
0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$14.18 billion
Note:
<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022:
$8.554 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023:
$13.225 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024:
$14.177 billion (2024 est.)
Revenue (excl grants)
29 % of GDP
Tax revenue
14 % of GDP
Taxes and other revenues
13.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note:
<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Unemployment rate
6.84%
Note:
<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022:
11.4% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023:
8.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024:
7.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
Female:
26.2% (2024 est.)
Male:
20.7% (2024 est.)
Note:
<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total:
23% (2024 est.)
Economic Rankings
Gini Index
#21
Unemployment Rate
#37
External Debt
#55
GDP per Capita
#68
GDP (Nominal)
#71
Reserves
#72
Exports
#75
Imports
#79
GDP (PPP)
#87
GDP Growth Rate
#93
Inflation Rate
#103
Quick Facts
Industries
medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Agricultural products
sugarcane, pineapples, bananas, oil palm fruit, milk, fruits, oranges, chicken, cassava, beef (2023)
Labor force
2.357 million (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 40%, Netherlands 6%, China 5%, Guatemala 4%, Belgium 3% (2023)
Imports - partners
USA 38%, China 15%, Mexico 6%, Brazil 3%, Guatemala 3% (2023)
Exchange rates
Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar -
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