GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 4.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
GDP growth in Costa Rica, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gdp growth in Costa Rica is 4.3%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 15.5% on the previous year and up 22.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp growth in Costa Rica peaked at 9.2% in 1992 and was at its lowest, -7.3%, in 1982.
That places Costa Rica 59th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 7.5% | — |
| 1971 | 6.8% | -9.7% |
| 1972 | 8.2% | +20.6% |
| 1973 | 7.7% | -5.7% |
| 1974 | 5.5% | -28.1% |
| 1975 | 2.1% | -62.1% |
| 1976 | 5.5% | +162.7% |
| 1977 | 8.9% | +61.4% |
| 1978 | 6.3% | -29.6% |
| 1979 | 4.9% | -21.2% |
| 1980 | 0.8% | -84.8% |
| 1981 | -2.3% | -400.8% |
| 1982 | -7.3% | +222.1% |
| 1983 | 2.9% | -139.3% |
| 1984 | 8.0% | +180.3% |
| 1985 | 0.7% | -91.0% |
| 1986 | 5.5% | +667.2% |
| 1987 | 4.8% | -13.9% |
| 1988 | 3.4% | -28.0% |
| 1989 | 5.7% | +65.1% |
| 1990 | 3.6% | -37.3% |
| 1991 | 2.3% | -36.2% |
| 1992 | 9.2% | +306.1% |
| 1993 | 7.1% | -22.9% |
| 1994 | 4.5% | -36.3% |
| 1995 | 4.2% | -8.1% |
| 1996 | 1.4% | -67.5% |
| 1997 | 5.5% | +305.5% |
| 1998 | 7.2% | +30.7% |
| 1999 | 4.2% | -41.1% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | -8.2% |
| 2001 | 3.5% | -9.8% |
| 2002 | 3.4% | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 4.3% | +26.3% |
| 2004 | 4.4% | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 4.0% | -10.1% |
| 2006 | 7.3% | +84.2% |
| 2007 | 8.2% | +12.1% |
| 2008 | 4.7% | -42.3% |
| 2009 | -0.9% | -118.4% |
| 2010 | 5.4% | -713.7% |
| 2011 | 4.4% | -17.9% |
| 2012 | 4.9% | +10.9% |
| 2013 | 2.5% | -48.9% |
| 2014 | 3.5% | +42.0% |
| 2015 | 3.7% | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 4.2% | +15.1% |
| 2017 | 4.2% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | -37.1% |
| 2019 | 2.4% | -7.6% |
| 2020 | -4.3% | -276.8% |
| 2021 | 7.9% | -285.7% |
| 2022 | 4.6% | -42.6% |
| 2023 | 5.1% | +12.3% |
| 2024 | 4.3% | -15.5% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 4.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.3%, 1.9× the median. (83 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 4.3% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 3.4%, 1.3× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Costa Rica changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +713.7% | -0.9% | 5.4% |
| 1986 | +667.2% | 0.7% | 5.5% |
| 1981 | -400.8% | 0.8% | -2.3% |
| 1992 | +306.1% | 2.3% | 9.2% |
| 1997 | +305.5% | 1.4% | 5.5% |
| 2021 | +285.7% | -4.3% | 7.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.3% | 2.1% | 8.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.2% | -7.3% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.9% | 1.4% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.3% | -0.9% | 8.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 2.4% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.5% | -4.3% | 7.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More population data for Costa Rica
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.9965 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.2884 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.9965 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6681 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,703 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5224 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7399 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -1 (2100)
- Population density 73.96 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 123,827 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp growth in Costa Rica?
- Gdp growth in Costa Rica was 4.3% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp growth recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 9.2% in 1992.
- What is the lowest gdp growth recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.3% in 1982.
- How does Costa Rica rank for gdp growth?
- Costa Rica ranks 59th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp growth rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of GDP growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release