Government spending by function as a share of GDP in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Government spending by function as a share of GDP was 8.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Government spending by function as a share of GDP in Costa Rica, 2012–2021
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2021, government spending by function as a share of gdp in Costa Rica stood at 8.1%.
The figure is down 13.8% on the previous year and up 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending by function as a share of gdp in Costa Rica peaked at 9.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 7.6%, in 2012.
That places Costa Rica 35th out of 37 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Government spending by function as a share of GDP in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 7.6% | — |
| 2013 | 8.1% | +6.6% |
| 2014 | 8.1% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 8.0% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 8.3% | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 8.3% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 8.6% | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 7.8% | -9.8% |
| 2020 | 9.4% | +21.8% |
| 2021 | 8.1% | -13.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 8.1% | 7.6% | 8.6% | 8 |
| 2020s | 8.8% | 8.1% | 9.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 32 Australia 10.6% compare
- 33 South Korea 9.3% compare
- 34 Chile 8.6% compare
- 36 United States 7.9% compare
- 37 Ireland 7.8% 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)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 1.60 million constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 7.55 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.1988 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 3,970 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 5.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 100.1 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 2.00 million current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 8.07 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending by function as a share of gdp in Costa Rica?
- Government spending by function as a share of gdp in Costa Rica was 8.1% in 2021, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending by function as a share of gdp recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 9.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest government spending by function as a share of gdp recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.6% in 2012.
- How does Costa Rica rank for government spending by function as a share of gdp?
- Costa Rica ranks 35th out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government spending by function as a share of gdp rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending by function as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
General government expenditure on social protection. This data is divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.