Political Polarization Score in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Political Polarization Score was -0.266 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-0.266
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
105th
of 174 countries
All-time high
1.91
in 1947
All-time low
-2.02
in 2000
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Political Polarization Score in Costa Rica, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded -0.266 for political polarization score in 2025.
That represents a change of up 81.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, political polarization score in Costa Rica peaked at 1.91 in 1947 and was at its lowest, -2.02, in 2000.
Costa Rica ranks 105th of 174 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.
Political Polarization Score in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | -0.268 | — |
| 1901 | -0.268 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -0.268 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -0.268 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -0.268 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -0.268 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -0.268 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -0.268 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -0.268 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -0.268 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -0.268 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -0.268 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -0.268 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -0.268 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -0.268 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -0.268 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -0.268 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.026 | -109.7% |
| 1918 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | -0.423 | -1726.9% |
| 1921 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1922 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1923 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1926 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -0.423 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | 1.32 | -412.1% |
| 1941 | 1.32 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 1.59 | +20.2% |
| 1943 | 1.59 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 1.59 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 1.59 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 1.59 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 1.91 | +20.4% |
| 1948 | 1.91 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 1.91 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.693 | -63.7% |
| 1951 | 0.693 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.693 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.693 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.693 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.693 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.693 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.693 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.693 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.325 | -53.1% |
| 1960 | -0.374 | -215.1% |
| 1961 | -0.374 | -0.0% |
| 1962 | -0.374 | -0.0% |
| 1963 | -1.52 | +306.7% |
| 1964 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1965 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -1.33 | -12.7% |
| 1981 | -1.33 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -1.33 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -1.33 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -1.33 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -1.33 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -1.33 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -1.33 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -1.33 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -1.33 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -1.64 | +23.7% |
| 1991 | -1.64 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | -1.64 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -1.64 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -1.64 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -1.64 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -1.64 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -1.64 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -1.64 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -1.64 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -2.02 | +22.9% |
| 2001 | -2.02 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -2.02 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -2.02 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -0.68 | -66.3% |
| 2005 | -0.68 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -0.68 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -0.68 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -2.01 | +196.2% |
| 2009 | -2.01 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -1.4 | -30.3% |
| 2011 | -1.4 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -1.4 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -1.4 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -1.4 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -1.4 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -1.4 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -1.4 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | -1.4 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -1.4 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | -1.4 | -0.0% |
| 2021 | -1.74 | +23.8% |
| 2022 | -0.711 | -59.1% |
| 2023 | -0.711 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -0.266 | -62.6% |
| 2025 | -0.266 | -0.0% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's -0.266 is above the median for high income countries, which is -0.532, 50% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's -0.266 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 0.682. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -0.268 | -0.268 | -0.268 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.1798 | -0.268 | 0.026 | 10 |
| 1920s | -0.423 | -0.423 | -0.423 | 10 |
| 1930s | -0.423 | -0.423 | -0.423 | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.63 | 1.32 | 1.91 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.6562 | 0.325 | 0.693 | 10 |
| 1960s | -1.18 | -1.52 | -0.374 | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.52 | -1.52 | -1.52 | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.33 | -1.33 | -1.33 | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.64 | -1.64 | -1.64 | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.48 | -2.02 | -0.68 | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.4 | -1.4 | -1.4 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.8493 | -1.74 | -0.266 | 6 |
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 political polarization score in Costa Rica?
- Political polarization score in Costa Rica was -0.266 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest political polarization score recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 1.91 in 1947.
- What is the lowest political polarization score recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.02 in 2000.
- How does Costa Rica rank for political polarization score?
- Costa Rica ranks 105th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is political polarization score rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 81.1%. 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 Political Polarization Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which society is divided into hostile political camps, where political differences undermine social relationships and discourage interaction across ideological lines.