GDP per capita in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: GDP per capita was 9,316 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
9,316 international-$ in 1990 prices
World rank
60th
of 162 countries
All-time high
9,316 international-$ in 1990 prices
in 2020
All-time low
1,535 international-$ in 1990 prices
in 1913
Years of data
20
1913–2020
GDP per capita in Costa Rica, 1913–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 1990 prices.
Analysis
In 2020, gdp per capita in Costa Rica stood at 9,316 international-$ in 1990 prices. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.
That represents a change of up 18.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in Costa Rica peaked at 9,316 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1,535 international-$ in 1990 prices, in 1913.
Costa Rica ranks 60th of 162 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.
GDP per capita in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 1990 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1913 | 1,535 international-$ in 1990 prices | — |
| 1925 | 1,635 international-$ in 1990 prices | +6.5% |
| 1929 | 1,555 international-$ in 1990 prices | -4.9% |
| 1933 | 1,677 international-$ in 1990 prices | +7.8% |
| 1938 | 1,844 international-$ in 1990 prices | +10.0% |
| 1950 | 1,930 international-$ in 1990 prices | +4.6% |
| 1955 | 2,463 international-$ in 1990 prices | +27.6% |
| 1960 | 2,783 international-$ in 1990 prices | +13.0% |
| 1965 | 3,022 international-$ in 1990 prices | +8.6% |
| 1970 | 3,650 international-$ in 1990 prices | +20.8% |
| 1975 | 4,345 international-$ in 1990 prices | +19.0% |
| 1980 | 4,902 international-$ in 1990 prices | +12.8% |
| 1985 | 4,327 international-$ in 1990 prices | -11.7% |
| 1990 | 4,747 international-$ in 1990 prices | +9.7% |
| 1995 | 5,445 international-$ in 1990 prices | +14.7% |
| 2000 | 6,003 international-$ in 1990 prices | +10.3% |
| 2005 | 6,698 international-$ in 1990 prices | +11.6% |
| 2010 | 7,898 international-$ in 1990 prices | +17.9% |
| 2015 | 8,944 international-$ in 1990 prices | +13.2% |
| 2020 | 9,316 international-$ in 1990 prices | +4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 1,535 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,535 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,535 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1920s | 1,595 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,555 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,635 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1930s | 1,760 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,677 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,844 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1950s | 2,196 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,930 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2,463 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1960s | 2,903 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2,783 international-$ in 1990 prices | 3,022 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1970s | 3,998 international-$ in 1990 prices | 3,650 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,345 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1980s | 4,615 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,327 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,902 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1990s | 5,096 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,747 international-$ in 1990 prices | 5,445 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2000s | 6,350 international-$ in 1990 prices | 6,003 international-$ in 1990 prices | 6,698 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2010s | 8,421 international-$ in 1990 prices | 7,898 international-$ in 1990 prices | 8,944 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2020s | 9,316 international-$ in 1990 prices | 9,316 international-$ in 1990 prices | 9,316 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 57 Saudi Arabia 9,766 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 58 Uzbekistan 9,723 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 59 Russian Federation 9,599 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 61 Kuwait 9,036 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 62 Argentina 8,980 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 63 Barbados 8,204 international-$ in 1990 prices 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)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 20.52 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.166 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 3,316 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 5.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1401 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 2,798 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 3.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 70.55 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp per capita in Costa Rica?
- Gdp per capita in Costa Rica was 9,316 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 9,316 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,535 international-$ in 1990 prices in 1913.
- How does Costa Rica rank for gdp per capita?
- Costa Rica ranks 60th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
GDP per capita expressed in international-$ at 1990 prices to account for inflation and differences in the cost of living between countries.