GDP per capita (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: GDP per capita (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) was 18,587 current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
18,587 current US$
Change on year
up 9.7%
World rank
75th
of 211 countries
All-time high
18,587 current US$
in 2024
All-time low
535.54 current US$
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
GDP per capita in Costa Rica, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, gdp per capita in Costa Rica stood at 18,587 current US$. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 9.7% on the previous year and up 70.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in Costa Rica peaked at 18,587 current US$ in 2024 and was at its lowest, 535.54 current US$, in 1970.
That places Costa Rica 75th out of 211 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP per capita (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 535.54 current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 570.36 current US$ | +6.5% |
| 1972 | 638.85 current US$ | +12.0% |
| 1973 | 768.95 current US$ | +20.4% |
| 1974 | 817.08 current US$ | +6.3% |
| 1975 | 936.99 current US$ | +14.7% |
| 1976 | 1,123 current US$ | +19.9% |
| 1977 | 1,393 current US$ | +24.0% |
| 1978 | 1,556 current US$ | +11.7% |
| 1979 | 1,735 current US$ | +11.5% |
| 1980 | 2,021 current US$ | +16.5% |
| 1981 | 1,068 current US$ | -47.2% |
| 1982 | 1,032 current US$ | -3.3% |
| 1983 | 1,213 current US$ | +17.4% |
| 1984 | 1,372 current US$ | +13.2% |
| 1985 | 1,429 current US$ | +4.2% |
| 1986 | 1,569 current US$ | +9.7% |
| 1987 | 1,567 current US$ | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 1,555 current US$ | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 1,725 current US$ | +11.0% |
| 1990 | 1,830 current US$ | +6.1% |
| 1991 | 2,253 current US$ | +23.2% |
| 1992 | 2,612 current US$ | +15.9% |
| 1993 | 2,840 current US$ | +8.7% |
| 1994 | 3,040 current US$ | +7.0% |
| 1995 | 3,275 current US$ | +7.8% |
| 1996 | 3,227 current US$ | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 3,408 current US$ | +5.6% |
| 1998 | 3,617 current US$ | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 3,691 current US$ | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 3,813 current US$ | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 3,985 current US$ | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 4,068 current US$ | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 4,173 current US$ | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 4,431 current US$ | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 4,703 current US$ | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 5,257 current US$ | +11.8% |
| 2007 | 6,138 current US$ | +16.8% |
| 2008 | 6,937 current US$ | +13.0% |
| 2009 | 6,833 current US$ | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 8,266 current US$ | +21.0% |
| 2011 | 9,276 current US$ | +12.2% |
| 2012 | 10,127 current US$ | +9.2% |
| 2013 | 10,803 current US$ | +6.7% |
| 2014 | 10,912 current US$ | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 11,715 current US$ | +7.4% |
| 2016 | 12,091 current US$ | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 12,317 current US$ | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 12,590 current US$ | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 12,885 current US$ | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 12,394 current US$ | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 12,838 current US$ | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 13,626 current US$ | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 16,942 current US$ | +24.3% |
| 2024 | 18,587 current US$ | +9.7% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 18,587 current US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 38,080 current US$, 49% of the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 18,587 current US$ is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 14,008 current US$, 1.3× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where GDP per capita (current US$) (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | -47.2% | 2,021 current US$ | 1,068 current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1,007 current US$ | 535.54 current US$ | 1,735 current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,455 current US$ | 1,032 current US$ | 2,021 current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,979 current US$ | 1,830 current US$ | 3,691 current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,034 current US$ | 3,813 current US$ | 6,937 current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,098 current US$ | 8,266 current US$ | 12,885 current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 14,877 current US$ | 12,394 current US$ | 18,587 current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 72 Romania 20,072 current US$ compare
- 73 Trinidad and Tobago 19,315 current US$ compare
- 74 Panama 19,103 current US$ compare
- 76 American Samoa 18,018 current US$ compare
- 77 Seychelles 17,859 current US$ compare
- 78 Bulgaria 17,412 current US$ compare
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 18,587 current US$ in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 18,587 current US$ in 2024.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 535.54 current US$ in 1970.
- How does Costa Rica rank for gdp per capita?
- Costa Rica ranks 75th 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 70.3%. 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 US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release