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Costa Rica Economic Statistics (2026)

1980

2026

2031

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook · Updated May 2026

1980

2026

2031

What to know

Costa Rica produces $34,157 per person (PPP) in 2026, an upper-middle income level. The economy is worth about $110 billion in total. Over the past five years it has grown at about 5.1% a year. Inflation is -0.4% and unemployment 7.0%. Government debt is 61% of GDP. Its current account is in deficit, at 1.5% of GDP.

Key statistics for 2026

GDP per capita (PPP)

$34,157

GDP growth

+3.6%

Inflation rate

-0.4%

Unemployment

7.0%

Key terms

GDP: — Gross Domestic Product, the total value of goods and services produced in a country annually.
GDP PPP: — GDP adjusted for purchasing power parity, reflecting what money actually buys in each country.
GDP per capita: — GDP divided by population, a measure of average economic output per person.
Inflation rate: — Annual percentage increase in the general price level of goods and services.
Fiscal balance: — Government revenue minus expenditure. Surplus if positive, deficit if negative.
Current account: — Net flow of goods, services, and transfers with the rest of the world.

Output & Growth

Total GDP is $110 billion, with steady growth of 3.6% in 2026.

Living Standards

GDP per capita is $20,299 in nominal terms, but $34,157 when adjusted for local purchasing power, indicating lower prices than in the US.

Prices & Employment

The economy is experiencing deflation at -0.4% and high unemployment at 7.0%.

Government Finances

Government debt is elevated at 61% of GDP. The government spends more than it collects (revenue: 14.2%, expenditure: 17.9% of GDP).

External & Fiscal Balance

The country is running a fiscal deficit of 3.6% of GDP and a current-account deficit of 1.5% of GDP.

The bottom line

Costa Rica is an upper-middle income economy with GDP per capita (PPP) of $34,157. The economy has been growing rapidly, averaging 5.1% annually.

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook · Updated May 2026

What to know

Costa Rica produces $34,157 per person (PPP) in 2026, an upper-middle income level. The economy is worth about $110 billion in total. Over the past five years it has grown at about 5.1% a year. Inflation is -0.4% and unemployment 7.0%. Government debt is 61% of GDP. Its current account is in deficit, at 1.5% of GDP.

Key statistics for 2026

GDP per capita (PPP)

$34,157

GDP growth

+3.6%

Inflation rate

-0.4%

Unemployment

7.0%

Key terms

GDP: — Gross Domestic Product, the total value of goods and services produced in a country annually.
GDP PPP: — GDP adjusted for purchasing power parity, reflecting what money actually buys in each country.
GDP per capita: — GDP divided by population, a measure of average economic output per person.
Inflation rate: — Annual percentage increase in the general price level of goods and services.
Fiscal balance: — Government revenue minus expenditure. Surplus if positive, deficit if negative.
Current account: — Net flow of goods, services, and transfers with the rest of the world.

The bottom line

Costa Rica is an upper-middle income economy with GDP per capita (PPP) of $34,157. The economy has been growing rapidly, averaging 5.1% annually.

Nicaragua

Panama

What to know

Key statistics for 2026

The bottom line

Nicaragua

Panama

What to know

Key statistics for 2026

The bottom line