What is strong elected local governments index in Costa Rica?

Strong elected local governments index in Costa Rica was 0.973 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest strong elected local governments index recorded in Costa Rica?

The highest recorded value was 0.985 in 2018.

What is the lowest strong elected local governments index recorded in Costa Rica?

The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1838.

How does Costa Rica rank for strong elected local governments index?

Costa Rica ranks 29th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.

Is strong elected local governments index rising or falling in Costa Rica?

Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

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 Strong Elected Local Governments Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Strong Elected Local Governments Index in Costa Rica

Name: Strong Elected Local Governments 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: Strong Elected Local Governments Index was 0.973 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.973

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

29th

of 175 countries

All-time high

0.985

in 2018

All-time low

in 1838

Years of data

188

1838–2025

Strong Elected Local Governments Index in Costa Rica, 1838–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, strong elected local governments index in Costa Rica stood at 0.973.

That represents a change of down 0.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, strong elected local governments index in Costa Rica peaked at 0.985 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1838.

Costa Rica ranks 29th of 175 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 188 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1830s	0	0	0	2
1840s	0.0481	0	0.45	10
1850s	0.3939	0.263	0.45	10
1860s	0.286	0.263	0.493	10
1870s	0.513	0.513	0.513	10
1880s	0.513	0.513	0.513	10
1890s	0.5238	0.513	0.525	10
1900s	0.513	0.513	0.513	10
1910s	0.513	0.513	0.513	10
1920s	0.513	0.513	0.513	10
1930s	0.513	0.513	0.513	10
1940s	0.5172	0.513	0.555	10
1950s	0.956	0.956	0.956	10
1960s	0.956	0.956	0.956	10
1970s	0.956	0.956	0.956	10
1980s	0.956	0.956	0.956	10
1990s	0.9665	0.956	0.977	10
2000s	0.977	0.977	0.977	10
2010s	0.9771	0.973	0.985	10
2020s	0.973	0.973	0.973	6

Countries ranked near Costa Rica

26 Estonia 0.979 compare
27 United States 0.975 compare
28 Denmark 0.974 compare
30 Brazil 0.972 compare
30 Poland 0.972 compare
32 Peru 0.971 compare
32 Zambia 0.971 compare

See the full ranking of 175 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 strong elected local governments index in Costa Rica?: Strong elected local governments index in Costa Rica was 0.973 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest strong elected local governments index recorded in Costa Rica?: The highest recorded value was 0.985 in 2018.
What is the lowest strong elected local governments index recorded in Costa Rica?: The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1838.
How does Costa Rica rank for strong elected local governments index?: Costa Rica ranks 29th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
Is strong elected local governments index rising or falling in Costa Rica?: Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
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 Strong Elected Local Governments 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: Strong Elected Local Governments Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 175 places, 25,933 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which elected local governments exist, and they operate without interference from local unelected bodies.