Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Personal remittances and foreign aid received was 594.13 million current US$ in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Costa Rica, 1977–2021
Source: World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 594.13 million current US$ for personal remittances and foreign aid received in 2021.
That represents a change of up 13.2% on the previous year and up 14.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances and foreign aid received in Costa Rica peaked at 617.92 million current US$ in 2007 and was at its lowest, 2.00 million current US$, in 1977.
That places Costa Rica 105th out of 193 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 2.00 million current US$ | — |
| 1978 | 2.90 million current US$ | +45.0% |
| 1979 | 2.70 million current US$ | -6.9% |
| 1980 | 4.10 million current US$ | +51.9% |
| 1981 | 2.40 million current US$ | -41.5% |
| 1982 | 5.60 million current US$ | +133.3% |
| 1983 | 5.30 million current US$ | -5.4% |
| 1984 | 6.40 million current US$ | +20.8% |
| 1985 | 7.20 million current US$ | +12.5% |
| 1986 | 7.70 million current US$ | +6.9% |
| 1987 | 7.90 million current US$ | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 9.10 million current US$ | +15.2% |
| 1989 | 10.00 million current US$ | +9.9% |
| 1990 | 12.00 million current US$ | +20.0% |
| 1991 | 13.40 million current US$ | +11.7% |
| 1992 | 14.20 million current US$ | +6.0% |
| 1993 | 16.00 million current US$ | +12.7% |
| 1994 | 17.10 million current US$ | +6.9% |
| 1995 | 123.30 million current US$ | +621.1% |
| 1996 | 130.77 million current US$ | +6.1% |
| 1997 | 130.10 million current US$ | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 128.10 million current US$ | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 126.48 million current US$ | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 135.97 million current US$ | +7.5% |
| 2001 | 198.44 million current US$ | +45.9% |
| 2002 | 250.65 million current US$ | +26.3% |
| 2003 | 320.88 million current US$ | +28.0% |
| 2004 | 319.55 million current US$ | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 420.35 million current US$ | +31.5% |
| 2006 | 513.16 million current US$ | +22.1% |
| 2007 | 617.92 million current US$ | +20.4% |
| 2008 | 604.77 million current US$ | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 513.09 million current US$ | -15.2% |
| 2010 | 530.69 million current US$ | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 520.22 million current US$ | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 562.34 million current US$ | +8.1% |
| 2013 | 596.40 million current US$ | +6.1% |
| 2014 | 593.92 million current US$ | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 551.99 million current US$ | -7.1% |
| 2016 | 545.42 million current US$ | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 560.37 million current US$ | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 533.51 million current US$ | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 553.38 million current US$ | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 524.79 million current US$ | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 594.13 million current US$ | +13.2% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 594.13 million current US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 688.87 million current US$, 86% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 594.13 million current US$ is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 416.24 million current US$, 1.4× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Costa Rica changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +621.1% | 17.10 million current US$ | 123.30 million current US$ |
| 1982 | +133.3% | 2.40 million current US$ | 5.60 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.53 million current US$ | 2.00 million current US$ | 2.90 million current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | 6.57 million current US$ | 2.40 million current US$ | 10.00 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 71.15 million current US$ | 12.00 million current US$ | 130.77 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 389.48 million current US$ | 135.97 million current US$ | 617.92 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 554.82 million current US$ | 520.22 million current US$ | 596.40 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 559.46 million current US$ | 524.79 million current US$ | 594.13 million current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 102 Togo 650.39 million current US$ compare
- 103 Cyprus 627.11 million current US$ compare
- 104 New Caledonia 621.06 million current US$ compare
- 106 Estonia 589.90 million current US$ compare
- 107 French Polynesia 581.56 million current US$ compare
- 108 Burkina Faso 570.95 million current US$ compare
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 personal remittances and foreign aid received in Costa Rica?
- Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Costa Rica was 594.13 million current US$ in 2021, according to World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 617.92 million current US$ in 2007.
- What is the lowest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.00 million current US$ in 1977.
- How does Costa Rica rank for personal remittances and foreign aid received?
- Costa Rica ranks 105th out of 193 countries with data for 2021.
- Is personal remittances and foreign aid received rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Personal remittances and foreign aid received. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Remittances are financial transfers from non-residents to residents of a country, such as a worker abroad sending money to family and friends. Foreign aid is measured as official development assistance. Both are measured in current US$.