GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) was 9.57 million current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
9.57 million current LCU
Change on year
up 3.9%
World rank
17th
of 211 countries
All-time high
9.57 million current LCU
in 2024
All-time low
3,548 current LCU
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
GDP per capita in Costa Rica, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gdp per capita in Costa Rica is 9.57 million current LCU, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 63.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in Costa Rica peaked at 9.57 million current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3,548 current LCU, in 1970.
That places Costa Rica 17th out of 211 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3,548 current LCU | — |
| 1971 | 3,779 current LCU | +6.5% |
| 1972 | 4,239 current LCU | +12.2% |
| 1973 | 5,111 current LCU | +20.6% |
| 1974 | 6,479 current LCU | +26.8% |
| 1975 | 8,030 current LCU | +23.9% |
| 1976 | 9,627 current LCU | +19.9% |
| 1977 | 11,941 current LCU | +24.0% |
| 1978 | 13,334 current LCU | +11.7% |
| 1979 | 14,866 current LCU | +11.5% |
| 1980 | 17,320 current LCU | +16.5% |
| 1981 | 23,244 current LCU | +34.2% |
| 1982 | 38,619 current LCU | +66.1% |
| 1983 | 49,829 current LCU | +29.0% |
| 1984 | 61,108 current LCU | +22.6% |
| 1985 | 72,184 current LCU | +18.1% |
| 1986 | 87,526 current LCU | +21.3% |
| 1987 | 98,363 current LCU | +12.4% |
| 1988 | 117,834 current LCU | +19.8% |
| 1989 | 139,926 current LCU | +18.7% |
| 1990 | 167,488 current LCU | +19.7% |
| 1991 | 275,138 current LCU | +64.3% |
| 1992 | 350,739 current LCU | +27.5% |
| 1993 | 404,585 current LCU | +15.4% |
| 1994 | 477,272 current LCU | +18.0% |
| 1995 | 588,334 current LCU | +23.3% |
| 1996 | 670,273 current LCU | +13.9% |
| 1997 | 792,649 current LCU | +18.3% |
| 1998 | 930,374 current LCU | +17.4% |
| 1999 | 1.05 million current LCU | +13.3% |
| 2000 | 1.18 million current LCU | +11.4% |
| 2001 | 1.31 million current LCU | +11.5% |
| 2002 | 1.46 million current LCU | +11.7% |
| 2003 | 1.66 million current LCU | +13.7% |
| 2004 | 1.94 million current LCU | +16.6% |
| 2005 | 2.25 million current LCU | +15.8% |
| 2006 | 2.69 million current LCU | +19.6% |
| 2007 | 3.17 million current LCU | +18.0% |
| 2008 | 3.65 million current LCU | +15.1% |
| 2009 | 3.92 million current LCU | +7.3% |
| 2010 | 4.35 million current LCU | +11.0% |
| 2011 | 4.69 million current LCU | +7.9% |
| 2012 | 5.09 million current LCU | +8.6% |
| 2013 | 5.40 million current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2014 | 5.87 million current LCU | +8.8% |
| 2015 | 6.26 million current LCU | +6.6% |
| 2016 | 6.59 million current LCU | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 6.99 million current LCU | +6.1% |
| 2018 | 7.26 million current LCU | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 7.57 million current LCU | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 7.25 million current LCU | -4.2% |
| 2021 | 7.97 million current LCU | +9.9% |
| 2022 | 8.82 million current LCU | +10.6% |
| 2023 | 9.22 million current LCU | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 9.57 million current LCU | +3.9% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 9.57 million current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 67,855 current LCU, 141.1× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 9.57 million current LCU is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 62,771 current LCU, 152.5× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where GDP per capita (current LCU) (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | +66.1% | 23,244 current LCU | 38,619 current LCU |
| 1991 | +64.3% | 167,488 current LCU | 275,138 current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8,095 current LCU | 3,548 current LCU | 14,866 current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 70,595 current LCU | 17,320 current LCU | 139,926 current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 571,128 current LCU | 167,488 current LCU | 1.05 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.32 million current LCU | 1.18 million current LCU | 3.92 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.01 million current LCU | 4.35 million current LCU | 7.57 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.57 million current LCU | 7.25 million current LCU | 9.57 million current LCU | 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 per capita in Costa Rica?
- Gdp per capita in Costa Rica was 9.57 million current LCU in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 9.57 million current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,548 current LCU in 1970.
- How does Costa Rica rank for gdp per capita?
- Costa Rica ranks 17th out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 63.0%. 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 per capita (current LCU). 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