Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows was 4,322 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
4,322
Change on year
up 14.1%
World rank
56th
of 222 countries
All-time high
4,322
in 2024
All-time low
162.4
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Costa Rica, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Costa Rica is 4,322, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 14.1% on the previous year and up 47.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Costa Rica peaked at 4,322 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 162.4, in 1990.
That places Costa Rica 56th out of 222 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 162.4 | — |
| 1991 | 178.4 | +9.9% |
| 1992 | 226 | +26.7% |
| 1993 | 246.7 | +9.2% |
| 1994 | 297.6 | +20.6% |
| 1995 | 336.9 | +13.2% |
| 1996 | 427 | +26.7% |
| 1997 | 406.9 | -4.7% |
| 1998 | 611.7 | +50.3% |
| 1999 | 619.47 | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 666.94 | +7.7% |
| 2001 | 608.65 | -8.7% |
| 2002 | 824.63 | +35.5% |
| 2003 | 692.11 | -16.1% |
| 2004 | 975.91 | +41.0% |
| 2005 | 1,364 | +39.8% |
| 2006 | 1,702 | +24.8% |
| 2007 | 2,088 | +22.7% |
| 2008 | 2,320 | +11.1% |
| 2009 | 1,444 | -37.8% |
| 2010 | 1,684 | +16.6% |
| 2011 | 2,461 | +46.2% |
| 2012 | 2,258 | -8.3% |
| 2013 | 2,741 | +21.4% |
| 2014 | 2,927 | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 2,752 | -6.0% |
| 2016 | 2,204 | -19.9% |
| 2017 | 2,778 | +26.1% |
| 2018 | 2,487 | -10.5% |
| 2019 | 2,812 | +13.1% |
| 2020 | 1,763 | -37.3% |
| 2021 | 3,231 | +83.3% |
| 2022 | 3,164 | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 3,788 | +19.7% |
| 2024 | 4,322 | +14.1% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 4,322 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,309, 1.3× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 4,322 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 592.29, 7.3× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 351.31 | 162.4 | 619.47 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,269 | 608.65 | 2,320 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,510 | 1,684 | 2,927 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,253 | 1,763 | 4,322 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 53 Dominican Republic 4,523 compare
- 54 Cambodia 4,395 compare
- 55 Croatia 4,377 compare
- 57 Ethiopia 3,984 compare
- 58 Côte d'Ivoire 3,802 compare
- 58 Cote d'Ivoire 3,802 compare
More economy & growth data for Costa Rica
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.74 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.3 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 466.29 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0045 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 90.49 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 5.59 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 3.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0543 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,084 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 20.52 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Costa Rica?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Costa Rica was 4,322 in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 4,322 in 2024.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 162.4 in 1990.
- How does Costa Rica rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Costa Rica ranks 56th out of 222 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States dollars). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).