Air passengers in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Air passengers was 1.97 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Costa Rica, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for air passengers in Costa Rica is 1.97 million, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 27.0% on the previous year and up 31.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Costa Rica peaked at 2.03 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 255,900, in 1970.
Costa Rica ranks 84th of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 255,900 | — |
| 1971 | 280,400 | +9.6% |
| 1972 | 307,300 | +9.6% |
| 1973 | 314,400 | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 374,300 | +19.1% |
| 1975 | 371,800 | -0.7% |
| 1976 | 390,500 | +5.0% |
| 1977 | 326,800 | -16.3% |
| 1978 | 321,300 | -1.7% |
| 1979 | 366,000 | +13.9% |
| 1980 | 431,200 | +17.8% |
| 1981 | 427,600 | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 458,600 | +7.2% |
| 1983 | 379,600 | -17.2% |
| 1984 | 322,500 | -15.0% |
| 1985 | 310,000 | -3.9% |
| 1986 | 334,700 | +8.0% |
| 1987 | 347,600 | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 400,600 | +15.2% |
| 1989 | 440,800 | +10.0% |
| 1990 | 467,000 | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 507,600 | +8.7% |
| 1992 | 622,800 | +22.7% |
| 1993 | 690,300 | +10.8% |
| 1994 | 773,200 | +12.0% |
| 1995 | 870,400 | +12.6% |
| 1996 | 917,900 | +5.5% |
| 1997 | 991,500 | +8.0% |
| 1998 | 1.17 million | +18.0% |
| 1999 | 1.06 million | -9.8% |
| 2000 | 877,833 | -16.8% |
| 2001 | 737,895 | -15.9% |
| 2002 | 675,146 | -8.5% |
| 2003 | 749,885 | +11.1% |
| 2004 | 901,402 | +20.2% |
| 2005 | 953,217 | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 943,143 | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 1.02 million | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 1.02 million | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 932,581 | -8.9% |
| 2010 | 1.70 million | +82.1% |
| 2011 | 1.83 million | +7.8% |
| 2012 | 1.77 million | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 1.50 million | -15.3% |
| 2014 | 1.43 million | -4.8% |
| 2015 | 1.53 million | +6.9% |
| 2016 | 1.57 million | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 1.82 million | +15.9% |
| 2018 | 1.95 million | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 2.03 million | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 455,831 | -77.6% |
| 2021 | 669,298 | +46.8% |
| 2022 | 1.55 million | +131.9% |
| 2023 | 1.97 million | +27.0% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 1.97 million is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.14 million, 22% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 1.97 million is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1.23 million, 1.6× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Costa Rica changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +131.9% | 669,298 | 1.55 million |
| 2020 | -77.6% | 2.03 million | 455,831 |
| 2010 | +82.1% | 932,581 | 1.70 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 330,870 | 255,900 | 390,500 | 10 |
| 1980s | 385,320 | 310,000 | 458,600 | 10 |
| 1990s | 806,550 | 467,000 | 1.17 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 881,181 | 675,146 | 1.02 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.71 million | 1.43 million | 2.03 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.16 million | 455,831 | 1.97 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More reference data data for Costa Rica
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2987 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.406 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0167 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.3161 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0907 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Costa Rica?
- Air passengers in Costa Rica was 1.97 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 2.03 million in 2019.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 255,900 in 1970.
- How does Costa Rica rank for air passengers?
- Costa Rica ranks 84th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.