Total debt service in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Total debt service was 6.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
6.3%
Change on year
up 56.1%
World rank
35th
of 119 countries
All-time high
25.6%
in 1983
All-time low
2.7%
in 2010
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Total debt service in Costa Rica, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 6.3% for total debt service in 2023.
That represents a change of up 56.1% on the previous year and down 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in Costa Rica peaked at 25.6% in 1983 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 2010.
Costa Rica ranks 35th of 119 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total debt service in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 6.4% | — |
| 1971 | 5.8% | -8.9% |
| 1972 | 6.0% | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 5.7% | -4.3% |
| 1974 | 7.0% | +22.5% |
| 1975 | 7.8% | +11.7% |
| 1976 | 7.6% | -2.8% |
| 1977 | 7.4% | -3.1% |
| 1978 | 12.4% | +67.8% |
| 1979 | 10.3% | -16.6% |
| 1980 | 8.0% | -22.2% |
| 1981 | 14.7% | +83.4% |
| 1982 | 11.9% | -19.2% |
| 1983 | 25.6% | +115.7% |
| 1984 | 13.1% | -48.9% |
| 1985 | 15.1% | +15.3% |
| 1986 | 12.7% | -16.0% |
| 1987 | 8.2% | -35.3% |
| 1988 | 9.8% | +19.9% |
| 1989 | 7.3% | -25.3% |
| 1990 | 9.4% | +28.1% |
| 1991 | 6.1% | -35.3% |
| 1992 | 6.6% | +8.5% |
| 1993 | 6.0% | -9.3% |
| 1994 | 5.0% | -16.8% |
| 1995 | 5.8% | +15.9% |
| 1996 | 5.2% | -9.3% |
| 1997 | 4.6% | -12.1% |
| 1998 | 4.1% | -10.3% |
| 1999 | 4.1% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 4.5% | +11.1% |
| 2001 | 4.6% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | -6.8% |
| 2003 | 5.0% | +17.7% |
| 2004 | 5.1% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 4.3% | -14.7% |
| 2006 | 3.6% | -18.1% |
| 2007 | 3.4% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 5.2% | +51.3% |
| 2009 | 4.2% | -19.0% |
| 2010 | 2.7% | -35.1% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | +43.6% |
| 2012 | 5.0% | +27.2% |
| 2013 | 6.7% | +33.9% |
| 2014 | 6.9% | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 5.1% | -26.3% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 5.2% | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 5.8% | +12.1% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | -10.3% |
| 2020 | 5.6% | +8.8% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | -18.5% |
| 2022 | 4.0% | -12.1% |
| 2023 | 6.3% | +56.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7.6% | 5.7% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.7% | 7.3% | 25.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.7% | 4.1% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.4% | 3.4% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.2% | 2.7% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.2% | 4.0% | 6.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 32 Turkey 6.9% compare
- 33 Cape Verde 6.5% compare
- 34 Gabon 6.3% compare
- 36 Bosnia and Herzegovina 6.1% compare
- 37 South Africa 6.1% compare
- 38 Cambodia 5.9% 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)
- World population growth -1.0% (2100)
- Population density 73.96 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 123,827 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total debt service in Costa Rica?
- Total debt service in Costa Rica was 6.3% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total debt service recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 25.6% in 1983.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 2010.
- How does Costa Rica rank for total debt service?
- Costa Rica ranks 35th out of 119 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.8%. 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 Total debt service (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release