Government spending vs. GDP in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Government spending vs. GDP was 11.40 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
11.40 billion constant 2015 US$
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
69th
of 166 countries
All-time high
11.40 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2025
All-time low
1.15 billion constant 2015 US$
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Government spending vs. GDP in Costa Rica, 1960–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2015 US$.
Analysis
In 2025, government spending vs. gdp in Costa Rica stood at 11.40 billion constant 2015 US$. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 19.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp in Costa Rica peaked at 11.40 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.15 billion constant 2015 US$, in 1960.
Costa Rica ranks 69th of 166 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Government spending vs. GDP in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.15 billion constant 2015 US$ | — |
| 1961 | 1.36 billion constant 2015 US$ | +17.6% |
| 1962 | 1.47 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.6% |
| 1963 | 1.76 billion constant 2015 US$ | +19.3% |
| 1964 | 1.69 billion constant 2015 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1965 | 1.94 billion constant 2015 US$ | +14.5% |
| 1966 | 2.02 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.6% |
| 1967 | 2.06 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 2.10 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1969 | 2.23 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.9% |
| 1970 | 2.49 billion constant 2015 US$ | +11.8% |
| 1971 | 2.79 billion constant 2015 US$ | +12.0% |
| 1972 | 2.98 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.0% |
| 1973 | 3.16 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.1% |
| 1974 | 3.43 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.4% |
| 1975 | 3.62 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.7% |
| 1976 | 3.91 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.8% |
| 1977 | 4.25 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.8% |
| 1978 | 4.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 4.74 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.7% |
| 1980 | 4.81 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1981 | 4.54 billion constant 2015 US$ | -5.6% |
| 1982 | 4.43 billion constant 2015 US$ | -2.5% |
| 1983 | 4.30 billion constant 2015 US$ | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 4.47 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 4.51 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 4.62 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 4.72 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 4.86 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 5.03 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 5.13 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 5.09 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 5.25 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 5.54 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1994 | 5.65 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 5.63 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 5.68 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 5.91 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 6.03 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 6.14 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 6.28 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 6.55 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 6.69 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 6.82 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 6.90 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 6.97 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 7.19 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 7.37 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 7.76 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 8.24 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.2% |
| 2010 | 8.60 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 8.69 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 8.79 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 9.08 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 9.35 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 9.57 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 9.80 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 9.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 10.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 10.64 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 10.73 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 10.91 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 11.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 10.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 11.09 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 11.40 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.78 billion constant 2015 US$ | 1.15 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.23 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.58 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.49 billion constant 2015 US$ | 4.74 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.63 billion constant 2015 US$ | 4.30 billion constant 2015 US$ | 5.03 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.61 billion constant 2015 US$ | 5.09 billion constant 2015 US$ | 6.14 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.08 billion constant 2015 US$ | 6.28 billion constant 2015 US$ | 8.24 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | 8.60 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10.64 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.03 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10.73 billion constant 2015 US$ | 11.40 billion constant 2015 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 66 Kenya 14.80 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 67 Luxembourg 14.14 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 68 Bulgaria 12.07 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 70 Slovenia 10.65 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 71 Dominican Republic 10.52 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 72 Guatemala 9.60 billion constant 2015 US$ 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)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 4.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 465.57 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 9.30 million current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), annual 4.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.7254 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per 14,486 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant LCU), annual growth 4.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant LCU), per unit of 470.61 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending vs. gdp in Costa Rica?
- Government spending vs. gdp in Costa Rica was 11.40 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending vs. gdp recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 11.40 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.15 billion constant 2015 US$ in 1960.
- How does Costa Rica rank for government spending vs. gdp?
- Costa Rica ranks 69th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending vs. GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
General government final consumption expenditure includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). Both measures are expressed in constant 2015 US$.