What is the highest centralization of political power index recorded in Costa Rica?

The highest recorded value was 0.654 in 1918.

What is the lowest centralization of political power index recorded in Costa Rica?

The lowest recorded value was 0.024 in 1990.

How does Costa Rica rank for centralization of political power index?

Costa Rica ranks 163rd out of 173 countries with data for 2025.

Is centralization of political power index rising or falling in Costa Rica?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. 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 Centralization of Political Power Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Centralization of Political Power Index in Costa Rica

Name: Centralization of Political Power 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: Centralization of Political Power Index was 0.033 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.033

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

163rd

of 173 countries

All-time high

0.654

in 1918

All-time low

0.024

in 1990

Years of data

188

1838–2025

Centralization of Political Power Index in Costa Rica, 1838–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for centralization of political power index in Costa Rica is 0.033, measured in 2025.

The figure is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, centralization of political power index in Costa Rica peaked at 0.654 in 1918 and was at its lowest, 0.024, in 1990.

That places Costa Rica 163rd out of 173 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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	0.493	0.493	0.493	2
1840s	0.4793	0.451	0.493	10
1850s	0.451	0.451	0.451	10
1860s	0.484	0.484	0.484	10
1870s	0.4918	0.484	0.51	10
1880s	0.4636	0.452	0.51	10
1890s	0.4704	0.452	0.475	10
1900s	0.4546	0.439	0.475	10
1910s	0.4881	0.435	0.654	10
1920s	0.421	0.421	0.421	10
1930s	0.423	0.423	0.423	10
1940s	0.3902	0.214	0.413	10
1950s	0.0538	0.053	0.055	10
1960s	0.053	0.053	0.053	10
1970s	0.0527	0.05	0.053	10
1980s	0.0419	0.029	0.047	10
1990s	0.027	0.024	0.033	10
2000s	0.0333	0.033	0.034	10
2010s	0.0322	0.031	0.033	10
2020s	0.0323	0.031	0.033	6

Countries ranked near Costa Rica

160 Czechia 0.036 compare
160 Netherlands 0.036 compare
162 Brazil 0.034 compare
164 Chile 0.031 compare
165 Germany 0.03 compare
166 Norway 0.027 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 centralization of political power index in Costa Rica?: Centralization of political power index in Costa Rica was 0.033 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest centralization of political power index recorded in Costa Rica?: The highest recorded value was 0.654 in 1918.
What is the lowest centralization of political power index recorded in Costa Rica?: The lowest recorded value was 0.024 in 1990.
How does Costa Rica rank for centralization of political power index?: Costa Rica ranks 163rd out of 173 countries with data for 2025.
Is centralization of political power index rising or falling in Costa Rica?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. 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 Centralization of Political Power 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: Centralization of Political Power Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 29,802 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which the executive is unconstrained by the legislature, judiciary, electoral management body, and other oversight.