Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita was 24.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita in Costa Rica, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 24.1% for share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in 2023.
The figure is up 7.5% on the previous year and up 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Costa Rica peaked at 32.8% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 20.3%, in 2020.
Costa Rica ranks 117th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 31.6% | — |
| 2001 | 31.6% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 30.7% | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 30.8% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 32.1% | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 32.8% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 31.1% | -5.2% |
| 2007 | 30.9% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 29.5% | -4.5% |
| 2009 | 26.4% | -10.5% |
| 2010 | 25.4% | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 25.8% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 24.5% | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 23.2% | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 24.4% | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 22.6% | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 22.2% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 21.3% | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 22.4% | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 22.3% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 20.3% | -9.1% |
| 2021 | 20.5% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 22.4% | +9.3% |
| 2023 | 24.1% | +7.5% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 24.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 16.8%, 1.4× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 24.1% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 29.3%, 82% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.7% | 26.4% | 32.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.4% | 21.3% | 25.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.8% | 20.3% | 24.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
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 share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Costa Rica?
- Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Costa Rica was 24.1% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 32.8% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.3% in 2020.
- How does Costa Rica rank for share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita?
- Costa Rica ranks 117th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Out-of-pocket spending on healthcare as percent of total current healthcare expenditure vs. GDP per capita, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.