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Environment · Latin America & Caribbean · High income
Costa Rica: environment and emissions
CO₂ per person is 1.63 t (2024), 122nd of 203 in the world and 28th of 39 in Latin America & Caribbean. GHG per person is 3.33 t (2024), 114th of 203 in the world and 23rd of 39 in Latin America & Caribbean. GHG emissions is 17.1 Mt (2024), 128th of 203 in the world and 20th of 39 in Latin America & Caribbean.
CO₂ per person
Costa RicaLatin America & CaribbeanHigh incomeWorld
GHG per person
Costa RicaLatin America & CaribbeanHigh incomeWorld
15 indicators
Environment: Costa Rica in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Latin America & Caribbean; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per personCO₂ emissions per capita, tonnes | 1.63 t2024 | 122/203 | 28/39 | 1.30 t | 1.59 t | 1.43 t | −3.3%since 2014 | 2.68 t | 9.75 t | 4.69 t | |
| GHG per personGreenhouse gas emissions per person, t CO₂e | 3.33 t2024 | 114/203 | 23/39 | 2.79 t | 3.10 t | 2.85 t | +8.0%since 2014 | 5.30 t | 12.50 t | 6.36 t | |
| GHG emissionsTotal greenhouse gas emissions excl. land use, Mt CO₂e | 17.1 Mt2024 | 128/203 | 20/39 | 11.0 Mt | 14.1 Mt | 14.3 Mt | +16%since 2014 | 3,510.6 Mt | 17,426.5 Mt | 53,206.4 Mt | |
| CO₂ emissionsCO₂ emissions, total excl. land use, Mt | 8.4 Mt2024 | 116/203 | 19/39 | 5.1 Mt | 7.2 Mt | 7.2 Mt | +4.1%since 2014 | 1,771.5 Mt | 13,596.6 Mt | 39,632.7 Mt | |
| MethaneMethane emissions, Mt CO₂e | 6.4 Mt2024 | 117/203 | 18/39 | 4.4 Mt | 5.3 Mt | 5.1 Mt | +31%since 2014 | 1,308.3 Mt | 2,534.1 Mt | 9,536.5 Mt | |
| Renewable energyRenewable energy, % of final energy consumption | 34.2%2021 | 72/212 | 8/41 | 33.0% | 40.4% | 36.4% | −3.8 ppsince 2011 | 34.2% | 12.8% | 19.7% | |
| Renewable powerRenewable electricity, % of output | 99.4%2021 | 4/206 | 1/41 | 98.6% | 92.5% | 98.9% | +8.8 ppsince 2011 | 56.7% | 26.7% | 27.8% | |
| PM2.5 exposurePM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure, µg/m³ | 17.7 µg/m³2023 | 100/200 | 12/35 | 20.8 µg/m³ | 20.0 µg/m³ | 18.0 µg/m³ | −7.1%since 2013 | 17.4 µg/m³ | 13.0 µg/m³ | 32.9 µg/m³ | |
| Forest coverForest area, % of land area | 59.1%2024 | 32/214 | 7/42 | 55.8% | 56.4% | 58.2% | +1.5 ppsince 2014 | 46.1% | 36.2% | 31.1% | |
| FarmlandAgricultural land, % of land area | 31.4%2024 | 120/210 | 15/39 | 35.2% | 34.1% | 34.5% | −3.5 ppsince 2014 | 32.9% | 28.2% | 36.9% | |
| Arable landArable land, % of land area | 3.3%2024 | 153/206 | 29/39 | 4.1% | 4.4% | 3.3% | −1.2 ppsince 2014 | 7.5% | 9.0% | 10.7% | |
| Protected areasTerrestrial and marine protected areas, % of territory | 28.2%2025 | 36/213 | 6/42 | · | · | 4.8% | +25.2 ppsince 2015 | 23.4% | 22.2% | 17.0% | |
| Water withdrawalsFreshwater withdrawals, % of internal resources | 3.1%2022 | 119/177 | 19/33 | · | 2.1%2012 | 2.8% | +1.0 ppsince 2012 | 2.6% | 6.4% | 9.0% | |
| Freshwater per personRenewable internal freshwater per person, m³ | 22,236 m³2022 | 29/183 | 14/34 | 28,697 m³ | 24,803 m³ | 22,446 m³ | −8.2%since 2012 | 21,253 m³ | 10,983 m³ | 5,393 m³ | |
| Cereal yieldCereal yield, kg per hectare | 3,807 kg/ha2024 | 67/179 | 15/32 | 3,626 kg/ha | 3,199 kg/ha | 3,357 kg/ha | −15%since 2014 | 4,828 kg/ha | 5,394 kg/ha | 4,229 kg/ha |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- CO₂ per person−3.3%1.63 t in 2024
- Renewable power+8.8 pp99.4% in 2021
- PM2.5 exposure−7.1%17.7 µg/m³ in 2023
- Protected areas+25.2 pp28.2% in 2025
Worse than ten years ago
- GHG per person+8.0%3.33 t in 2024
- GHG emissions+16%17.1 Mt in 2024
- CO₂ emissions+4.1%8.4 Mt in 2024
- Methane+31%6.4 Mt in 2024
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Costa Rica and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Costa Rica. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Costa Rica | Nicaragua | Panama |
|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per person | 1.63 t2024 | 0.83 t2024 | 2.74 t2024 |
| GHG per person | 3.33 t2024 | 2.77 t2024 | 4.26 t2024 |
| GHG emissions | 17.1 Mt2024 | 19.2 Mt2024 | 19.2 Mt2024 |
| CO₂ emissions | 8.4 Mt2024 | 5.7 Mt2024 | 12.4 Mt2024 |
| Methane | 6.4 Mt2024 | 10.5 Mt2024 | 4.8 Mt2024 |
| Renewable energy | 34.2%2021 | 50.4%2021 | 28.0%2021 |
| Renewable power | 99.4%2021 | 69.5%2021 | 69.0%2021 |
| PM2.5 exposure | 17.7 µg/m³2023 | 20.4 µg/m³2023 | 15.1 µg/m³2023 |
| Forest cover | 59.1%2024 | 25.8%2023 | 62.2%2024 |