Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Central government revenues as a share of GDP was 27.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
27.4%
Change on year
down 5.4%
World rank
64th
of 157 countries
All-time high
29.0%
in 2023
All-time low
15.2%
in 1972
Years of data
53
1972–2024
Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Costa Rica, 1972–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 27.4% for central government revenues as a share of gdp in 2024.
That represents a change of down 5.4% on the previous year and up 18.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government revenues as a share of gdp in Costa Rica peaked at 29.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 15.2%, in 1972.
Costa Rica ranks 64th of 157 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 53 years of available data.
Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 15.2% | — |
| 1973 | 15.9% | +4.8% |
| 1974 | 18.5% | +16.3% |
| 1975 | 18.0% | -3.1% |
| 1976 | 17.6% | -2.0% |
| 1977 | 16.6% | -5.5% |
| 1978 | 19.0% | +14.3% |
| 1979 | 18.2% | -4.0% |
| 1980 | 17.8% | -2.4% |
| 1981 | 17.8% | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 17.4% | -2.2% |
| 1983 | 21.7% | +24.5% |
| 1984 | 22.3% | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 20.7% | -7.2% |
| 1986 | 22.1% | +6.8% |
| 1987 | 24.6% | +11.3% |
| 1988 | 25.1% | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 24.4% | -2.6% |
| 1990 | 23.1% | -5.5% |
| 1991 | 18.4% | -20.1% |
| 1992 | 19.6% | +6.0% |
| 1993 | 20.4% | +4.3% |
| 1994 | 19.8% | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 20.5% | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 20.8% | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 20.8% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 20.9% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 22.1% | +5.6% |
| 2000 | 22.2% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 22.9% | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 22.9% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 22.9% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 22.3% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 22.8% | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 23.6% | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 24.1% | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 24.4% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 23.5% | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 22.9% | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 23.3% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 23.4% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 23.6% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 23.1% | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 23.5% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 24.0% | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 23.3% | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 24.3% | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 27.4% | +12.9% |
| 2020 | 27.0% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 27.9% | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 28.2% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 29.0% | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 27.4% | -5.4% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 27.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 33.0%, 83% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 27.4% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 23.3%, 1.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17.4% | 15.2% | 19.0% | 8 |
| 1980s | 21.4% | 17.4% | 25.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.6% | 18.4% | 23.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.1% | 22.2% | 24.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.9% | 22.9% | 27.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.9% | 27.0% | 29.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 61 Belarus 28.1% compare
- 62 Botswana 28.1% compare
- 63 Russian Federation 27.8% compare
- 65 El Salvador 27.3% compare
- 66 Jamaica 26.9% compare
- 67 Saudi Arabia 26.8% 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 central government revenues as a share of gdp in Costa Rica?
- Central government revenues as a share of gdp in Costa Rica was 27.4% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest central government revenues as a share of gdp recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 29.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest central government revenues as a share of gdp recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.2% in 1972.
- How does Costa Rica rank for central government revenues as a share of gdp?
- Costa Rica ranks 64th out of 157 countries with data for 2024.
- Is central government revenues as a share of gdp rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Central government revenues as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Taxes, social contributions, and other revenues such as fines, fees, rent, and income from property or sales included. Grants excluded.