Imports of goods and services in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Imports of goods and services was 32.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Imports of goods and services in Costa Rica, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, imports of goods and services in Costa Rica stood at 32.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 6.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Costa Rica peaked at 48.2% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 25.1%, in 1961.
Costa Rica ranks 132nd of 193 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.
Imports of goods and services in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 26.1% | — |
| 1961 | 25.1% | -3.9% |
| 1962 | 26.0% | +4.0% |
| 1963 | 27.1% | +4.1% |
| 1964 | 28.6% | +5.3% |
| 1965 | 33.2% | +16.2% |
| 1966 | 30.8% | -7.3% |
| 1967 | 31.2% | +1.4% |
| 1968 | 32.5% | +4.0% |
| 1969 | 32.0% | -1.6% |
| 1970 | 34.6% | +8.2% |
| 1971 | 37.1% | +7.3% |
| 1972 | 36.6% | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 36.9% | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 48.1% | +30.5% |
| 1975 | 38.5% | -19.9% |
| 1976 | 34.9% | -9.4% |
| 1977 | 36.3% | +4.1% |
| 1978 | 36.0% | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 37.2% | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 36.8% | -1.0% |
| 1981 | 48.2% | +30.8% |
| 1982 | 42.2% | -12.5% |
| 1983 | 36.8% | -12.8% |
| 1984 | 34.0% | -7.6% |
| 1985 | 32.5% | -4.4% |
| 1986 | 30.5% | -6.1% |
| 1987 | 35.8% | +17.3% |
| 1988 | 35.8% | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 38.7% | +8.2% |
| 1990 | 41.1% | +6.1% |
| 1991 | 38.0% | -7.4% |
| 1992 | 40.8% | +7.3% |
| 1993 | 43.3% | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 42.1% | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 41.6% | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 44.0% | +5.8% |
| 1997 | 46.0% | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 48.1% | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 45.0% | -6.4% |
| 2000 | 43.6% | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 40.3% | -7.5% |
| 2002 | 41.2% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 42.7% | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 43.0% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 45.8% | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 46.5% | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 45.9% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 47.6% | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 35.1% | -26.2% |
| 2010 | 34.7% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 36.2% | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 35.4% | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 33.5% | -5.4% |
| 2014 | 33.8% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 30.8% | -9.1% |
| 2016 | 30.9% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 32.3% | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 33.1% | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 31.3% | -5.6% |
| 2020 | 28.0% | -10.3% |
| 2021 | 34.3% | +22.2% |
| 2022 | 38.5% | +12.2% |
| 2023 | 33.3% | -13.3% |
| 2024 | 32.3% | -3.1% |
| 2025 | 32.6% | +1.0% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 32.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 51.2%, 64% of the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 32.6% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 39.3%, 83% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 29.2% | 25.1% | 33.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 37.6% | 34.6% | 48.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 37.1% | 30.5% | 48.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 43.0% | 38.0% | 48.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 43.2% | 35.1% | 47.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.2% | 30.8% | 36.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.2% | 28.0% | 38.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 129 Sao Tome and Principe 33.3% compare
- 130 Madagascar 32.9% compare
- 131 Spain 32.8% compare
- 133 Canada 32.2% compare
- 134 United Kingdom 31.9% compare
- 135 Qatar 31.6% 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 imports of goods and services in Costa Rica?
- Imports of goods and services in Costa Rica was 32.6% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 48.2% in 1981.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.1% in 1961.
- How does Costa Rica rank for imports of goods and services?
- Costa Rica ranks 132nd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.