Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 0.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Costa Rica, 1976–2025
Source: Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Costa Rica stood at 0.5%.
That represents a change of up 30.0% on the previous year and down 38.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Costa Rica peaked at 1.9% in 2012 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 1976.
Costa Rica ranks 81st of 191 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.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | -0.0% | — |
| 1977 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1978 | 0.0% | — |
| 1979 | 0.0% | -40.0% |
| 1980 | 0.1% | +241.7% |
| 1981 | 0.1% | +39.1% |
| 1982 | 0.1% | -28.9% |
| 1983 | 0.2% | +86.4% |
| 1984 | 0.1% | -37.9% |
| 1985 | 0.1% | +12.6% |
| 1986 | 0.1% | -32.1% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | +21.9% |
| 1988 | 0.0% | -80.4% |
| 1989 | 0.1% | +485.9% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | -67.8% |
| 1991 | 0.1% | +111.1% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | -33.9% |
| 1993 | 0.0% | -53.1% |
| 1994 | 0.0% | +86.3% |
| 1995 | 0.0% | +6.0% |
| 1996 | 0.0% | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 0.0% | -7.6% |
| 1998 | 0.0% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 0.0% | -23.0% |
| 2000 | 0.7% | +1937.8% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | -40.1% |
| 2002 | 0.8% | +86.4% |
| 2003 | 0.9% | +10.5% |
| 2004 | 1.1% | +25.8% |
| 2005 | 0.7% | -32.7% |
| 2006 | 1.0% | +29.1% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | +65.8% |
| 2008 | 0.6% | -60.1% |
| 2009 | 0.9% | +39.8% |
| 2010 | 0.8% | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 0.9% | +12.3% |
| 2012 | 1.9% | +99.7% |
| 2013 | 1.6% | -16.6% |
| 2014 | 0.8% | -48.3% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | -10.1% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | +14.2% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | -46.2% |
| 2018 | 0.9% | +105.9% |
| 2019 | 0.0% | -96.0% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | +1879.9% |
| 2021 | 0.7% | -6.8% |
| 2022 | 1.4% | +106.8% |
| 2023 | 1.1% | -19.9% |
| 2024 | 0.3% | -69.1% |
| 2025 | 0.5% | +30.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | -0.0% | 0.0% | 4 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.9% | 0.4% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.0% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8% | 0.3% | 1.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
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, net outflows in Costa Rica?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Costa Rica was 0.5% in 2025, according to Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 1.9% in 2012.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.0% in 1976.
- How does Costa Rica rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Costa Rica ranks 81st out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net outflows (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in an economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. This series shows net outflows of investment from the reporting economy to the rest of the world, and is divided by GDP.