What is free and fair elections index in Costa Rica?

Free and fair elections index in Costa Rica was 0.944 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest free and fair elections index recorded in Costa Rica?

The highest recorded value was 0.959 in 2015.

What is the lowest free and fair elections index recorded in Costa Rica?

The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1848.

How does Costa Rica rank for free and fair elections index?

Costa Rica ranks 16th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is free and fair elections index rising or falling in Costa Rica?

Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Costa Rica data come from?

The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Free and Fair Elections Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Free and Fair Elections Index in Costa Rica

Name: Free and Fair Elections Index in Costa Rica
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Costa Rica: Free and Fair Elections Index was 0.944 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.944

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

16th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.959

in 2015

All-time low

in 1848

Years of data

188

1838–2025

Free and Fair Elections Index in Costa Rica, 1838–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

Costa Rica recorded 0.944 for free and fair elections index in 2025.

The figure is down 1.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, free and fair elections index in Costa Rica peaked at 0.959 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1848.

That places Costa Rica 16th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1830s	0.435	0.435	0.435	2
1840s	0.3113	0	0.446	10
1850s	0	0	0	10
1860s	0	0	0	10
1870s	0.1842	0	0.371	10
1880s	0.3507	0.338	0.361	10
1890s	0.2445	0.18	0.285	10
1900s	0.2799	0.276	0.307	10
1910s	0.2385	0	0.35	10
1920s	0.2827	0.254	0.306	10
1930s	0.2997	0.296	0.306	10
1940s	0.331	0.138	0.54	10
1950s	0.7803	0.595	0.869	10
1960s	0.8795	0.865	0.891	10
1970s	0.8796	0.875	0.884	10
1980s	0.9023	0.881	0.909	10
1990s	0.9326	0.93	0.934	10
2000s	0.9442	0.932	0.955	10
2010s	0.9581	0.957	0.959	10
2020s	0.9493	0.944	0.959	6

Countries ranked near Costa Rica

13 Ireland 0.945 compare
13 Italy 0.945 compare
13 Sweden 0.945 compare
16 Canada 0.944 compare
16 Greece 0.944 compare
16 Luxembourg 0.944 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for Costa Rica

Spring temperature anomalies 0.2864 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 0.8623 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 0.1052 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 0.3865 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 0.3144 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 143 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for Costa Rica →

Frequently asked questions

What is free and fair elections index in Costa Rica?: Free and fair elections index in Costa Rica was 0.944 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest free and fair elections index recorded in Costa Rica?: The highest recorded value was 0.959 in 2015.
What is the lowest free and fair elections index recorded in Costa Rica?: The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1848.
How does Costa Rica rank for free and fair elections index?: Costa Rica ranks 16th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is free and fair elections index rising or falling in Costa Rica?: Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Costa Rica data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Free and Fair Elections Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 188 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Free and Fair Elections Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,402 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which registration fraud, systematic irregularities, government intimidation of the opposition, vote buying, and election violence are absent, and the election management body is autonomous and has enough staff and resources.