Costa Rica: Government spending, percent of GDP

The latest value from 2023 is 14.87 percent, a decline from 15.4 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 16.14 percent, based on data from 130 countries. Historically, the average for Costa Rica from 1960 to 2023 is 14.63 percent. The minimum value, 10.35 percent, was reached in 1960 while the maximum of 18.22 percent was recorded in 1980. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

The government size of Costa Rica and other countries is calculated as the total government spending as percent of GDP.

Definition: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation.