Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Costa Rica

Costa Rica: Primary government spending as a share of original budget was 95.6% in 2021. ▬ Flat

Latest (2021)
95.6%
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
110th
of 166 countries
All-time high
101.0%
in 2019
All-time low
89.9%
in 2018
Years of data
15
2007–2021

Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Costa Rica, 2007–2021

02550751002007201420212007: 94.3 %2008: 92.9 %2009: 92.9 %2010: 95.3 %2011: 98.2 %2012: 97 %2013: 98.2 %2014: 97 %2015: 94.4 %2016: 96.3 %2017: 95.2 %2018: 89.9 %2019: 101 %2020: 92.8 %2021: 95.6 %

Source: World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for primary government spending as a share of original budget in Costa Rica is 95.6%, measured in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% on the previous year and down 2.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary government spending as a share of original budget in Costa Rica peaked at 101.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 89.9%, in 2018.

Costa Rica ranks 110th of 166 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Costa Rica, year by year

Annual values for Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Costa Rica, 2007 to 2021.
Year % Change
2007 94.3%
2008 92.9% -1.5%
2009 92.9% +0.0%
2010 95.3% +2.6%
2011 98.2% +3.0%
2012 97.0% -1.2%
2013 98.2% +1.3%
2014 97.0% -1.2%
2015 94.4% -2.7%
2016 96.3% +2.0%
2017 95.2% -1.1%
2018 89.9% -5.6%
2019 101.0% +12.3%
2020 92.8% -8.1%
2021 95.6% +3.0%

Costa Rica compared with similar countries

  • Costa Rica's 95.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 103.6%, 92% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
  • Costa Rica's 95.6% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 98.8%, 97% of the median. (28 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 93.4% 92.9% 94.3% 3
2010s 96.2% 89.9% 101.0% 10
2020s 94.2% 92.8% 95.6% 2

Countries ranked near Costa Rica

  1. 107 Laos 95.8% compare
  2. 108 Papua New Guinea 95.8% compare
  3. 109 Tonga 95.6% compare
  4. 111 Antigua and Barbuda 95.5% compare
  5. 112 Lebanon 95.3% compare
  6. 113 Palau 94.9% compare

See the full ranking of 166 places →

More reference data data for Costa Rica

All data for Costa Rica →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary government spending as a share of original budget in Costa Rica?
Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Costa Rica was 95.6% in 2021, according to World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest primary government spending as a share of original budget recorded in Costa Rica?
The highest recorded value was 101.0% in 2019.
What is the lowest primary government spending as a share of original budget recorded in Costa Rica?
The lowest recorded value was 89.9% in 2018.
How does Costa Rica rank for primary government spending as a share of original budget?
Costa Rica ranks 110th out of 166 countries with data for 2021.
Is primary government spending as a share of original budget rising or falling in Costa Rica?
Over the last ten years it is down 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
The figures come from World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary government spending as a share of original budget. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Costa Rica. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/govt-expenditure-share-budget/costa-rica/

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About this data

Indicator
Primary government spending as a share of original budget
Unit
%
Source
World Bank – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
166 places, 2,464 data points, 2004–2025
Last refreshed

Primary government expenditures as a proportion of original approved budget (%).