CountriesIndicatorsThis week
Country page · Updated 13 Nov 2026

Costa Rica

Costa Rica has 5.2 m people (World Bank, 2025) and an economy of $103 bn a year (World Bank, 2025). It imports all of its potash supply (FAOSTAT, 2024, estimated) and 99% of the oil it uses (EIA, 2024).

Written automatically from the figures on this page.

Population
5.2 m (2025)
Member of
OECD (as of 10 Nov 2026)

Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:50m, which shows who controls an area in practice. Borders shown do not imply endorsement.

1

Dependencies at a glance

Costa Rica imports all of its potash supply and 99% of the oil it uses.

Imports mostImports someLow net tradeExporter
Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).
ResourceDependencePositionMain partners
OilImports mostImports 99% of the oil it usesEIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025United States, Spain, China
Natural gasUses no gas, by this source PreliminaryEIA, 2024No partner data from the source
WheatNot reported by this source–
MaizeImports mostImports 99% of the maize it usesFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023United States, Brazil
RiceImports mostImports 82% of the rice it usesFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina
SoybeansNot reported by this source–
PotashImports mostImports all of its potash supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025Canada, Russia, United States
PhosphateImports mostImports all of its phosphate supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025Russia, China, Guatemala
ArmsSupplier concentration onlyNo major arms imports recorded, 2021–2025SIPRI, 2021–2025–
ChipsSupplier concentration onlyMain supplier: United States, 55% of importsUN Comtrade, 2025United States, China, Malaysia

Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).

  • OilImports most

    Imports 99% of the oil it uses

    Main partners: United States, Spain, China

    EIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • Natural gas

    Uses no gas, by this source Preliminary

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    EIA, 2024

  • Wheat

    Not reported by this source

  • MaizeImports most

    Imports 99% of the maize it uses

    Main partners: United States, Brazil

    FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023

  • RiceImports most

    Imports 82% of the rice it uses

    Main partners: Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina

    FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023

  • Soybeans

    Not reported by this source

  • PotashImports most

    Imports all of its potash supply Estimate

    Main partners: Canada, Russia, United States

    FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • PhosphateImports most

    Imports all of its phosphate supply Estimate

    Main partners: Russia, China, Guatemala

    FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • ArmsSupplier concentration only

    No major arms imports recorded, 2021–2025

    SIPRI, 2021–2025

  • ChipsSupplier concentration only

    Main supplier: United States, 55% of imports

    Main partners: United States, China, Malaysia

    UN Comtrade, 2025

Source: EIA; FAOSTAT; UN Comtradeyear in each rowUpdated 13 Nov 2026

Dependencies tool
2

Money and reserves

Costa Rica’s economy produced $103 bn in 2025.

GDP, 2000–2025

$0$25 bn$50 bn$75 bn$100 bn$125 bn200020052010201520202025

Source: World Bank Indicators2000–2025Updated 13 Nov 2026

Economic growth4.6%2025 · 54th of 186 · World Bank
Inflation−0.1%2025 · 158th of 169 · World Bank
Unemployment6.8%2025 · 59th of 181 · World Bank
ReservesUS$14.2billion2024 · 71st of 164 · World Bank
Trade70% of GDP2024 · 104th of 172 · World Bank
Foreign investment inUS$5.60billion2025 · 46th of 200 · World Bank
3

People

Costa Rica had 5.2 m people in 2025.

Population, 1950–2100

02.0 m4.0 m6.0 m195019701990200020102030205020702100Projection
Projection: UN projection, medium variant, after 2023Range between the UN low- and high-fertility scenarios

Source: UN World Population ProspectsUpdated 13 Nov 2026Projection

Costa Rica’s population by age

1950200020502100
MenWomen01020304050607080901000m00m
Millions of people in each five-year age group, men left and women right. Years after 2023 are UN projections (medium variant).

Source: UN World Population Prospects1950–2100Updated 13 Nov 2026Projection

Births per woman1.332023 · 209th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Median age34.12023 · 104th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Aged 65 and over13%2025, Projection, medium variant · UN WPP 2024
4

Climate and hazards

Costa Rica emitted 8.8 Mt of CO2 from fossil fuels and cement in 2024.

Costa Rica’s CO2 emissions, million tonnes, 1990–2024

0 Mt2 Mt4 Mt6 Mt8 Mt10 Mt1990199520002005201020152024

Source: Our World in Data CO21990–2024Updated 13 Nov 2026

CO2 emissions9Mt2024 · 114th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person1.7t2024 · 139th of 213 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 since 1750286Mt2024 · 120th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
Water stress0.62023 · 123rd of 164 · WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)
5

More figures

Shown only where a source covers Costa Rica.

Refugees

233,727refugees and others in need of protection hosted, 2025
2,187from it, abroad, 2025

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder2025

Sanctions

17entries on the US, EU and UK lists give it as an address or nationality: US 17

Counts entries (people, companies, ships and aircraft), not how strict the measures are.

Source: US CSL; EU sanctions list; UK Sanctions ListUpdated 13 Nov 2026

Chinese loans and grants

US$1.08billioncommitted by Chinese state lenders, 2000–2021

Source: AidData Chinese development finance2000–2021

Cyber incidents

5publicly known incidents affecting Costa Rica, 2000–2024

Counts compare documented incidents, not how often a country is targeted. Who they were attributed to

Source: EuRepoC Global Dataset of Cyber Incidents 1.3.2 (4 Mar 2025), CC BY-NC 4.02000–2024

6

All figures

50 measures on this site have a recent figure for Costa Rica.

GDP$103 bn202573rd of 186World Bank
GDP per person$19,970202555th of 186World Bank
Economic growth4.6%202554th of 186World Bank
Inflation−0.1%2025158th of 169World Bank
Government debt60%202574th of 191IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Government budget balance−3.4%2025119th of 195IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Current account balance−0.6%202585th of 194IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Unemployment6.8%202559th of 181World Bank
Reserves, including gold$14 bn202471st of 164World Bank
Trade70%2024104th of 172World Bank
Foreign investment in$5.6 bn202546th of 200World Bank
Remittances received0.7%2024113th of 162World Bank
Population5.2 m2025126th of 216World Bank
Population with UN projections5.1 m2023125th of 237UN WPP 2024
Births per woman1.332023209th of 237UN WPP 2024
Median age34.12023104th of 237UN WPP 2024
Life expectancy80.8202351st of 237UN WPP 2024
Refugees from the country2,1872025112th of 206UNHCR
Refugees and others needing protection, by host233,727202540th of 176UNHCR
Refugees hosted per 1,000 people45.4202511th of 176UNHCR
Crude oil production0 kb/d2025100th of 214EIA
Oil consumption65 kb/d202499th of 212EIA
Natural gas productionPreliminary202497th of 213EIA
Natural gas consumption0.0 bcm2024126th of 213EIA
Electricity generated11 TWh2024105th of 193Ember
Low-carbon electricity99.9%20248th of 193Ember
Electricity from coal0%202482nd of 193Ember
Electricity from wind and solar12%202462nd of 193Ember
Wheat imports0.3 Mt202477th of 180FAOSTAT
Maize production0.0 Mt2024133rd of 169FAOSTAT
Maize imports1.1 Mt202437th of 196FAOSTAT
Rice production0.0 Mt202480th of 135FAOSTAT
Rice imports0.2 Mt202458th of 197FAOSTAT
Soybean imports0.3 Mt202435th of 179FAOSTAT
Potash fertiliser use0.10 Mt202431st of 199FAOSTAT
Phosphate fertiliser use0.02 Mt202477th of 199FAOSTAT
CO2 emissions9 Mt2024114th of 214Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person1.7 t2024139th of 213Global Carbon Budget
CO2 emitted since 1750286 Mt2024120th of 214Global Carbon Budget
Net CO2 imports through trade73%202315th of 120Global Carbon Budget
Water stress0.62023123rd of 164WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)
Water from abroad0%2023125th of 193FAO AQUASTAT
Military spending, share of GDP0.0%2025148th of 150World Bank
Military spending$02025148th of 150World Bank
Deaths in organised violence142202534th of 61UCDP
People using the internet87%202473rd of 182World Bank
ICT service exports$2.4 bn202447th of 162World Bank
ICT service exports, share of service exports14%202436th of 162World Bank
Sanctions list entries (US, EU, UK)17202694th of 181US CSL
Chinese loans and grants committed$5 m202197th of 122AidData, Global Chinese Development Finance Dataset 3.0

Sources for this page

  • World Bank IndicatorsGDP, GDP per person, Economic growth, Inflation, Unemployment, Reserves, …
  • IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026Debt, Budget balance, Current account
  • UN World Population ProspectsPopulation (UN), Births per woman, Median age, Life expectancy
  • UNHCR Refugee Data FinderRefugees from, Refugees hosted, Refugees per 1,000
  • U.S. Energy Information AdministrationOil output, Oil use, Gas output, Gas use, Dependencies at a glance
  • Ember electricity dataElectricity, Low-carbon electricity, Electricity from coal, Electricity from wind and solar
  • FAOSTATWheat imports, Maize production, Maize imports, Rice production, Rice imports, Soybean imports, …
  • Our World in Data CO2CO2 emissions, CO2 per person, CO2 since 1750, Net CO2 imports through trade
  • WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)Water stress
  • FAO AQUASTATWater from abroad
  • UCDP Georeferenced Event DatasetConflict deaths
  • US Consolidated Screening ListSanctions list entries, Sanctions
  • AidData Chinese development financeChinese loans and grants
  • UN ComtradeDependencies at a glance
  • EU financial sanctions listSanctions
  • UK Sanctions ListSanctions
  • EuRepoC cyber incidentsCyber incidents

Page last updated 13 Nov 2026How we measure

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