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Trade & investment · Latin America & Caribbean · High income
Costa Rica: trade and investment
Exports is 38.8% (2025), 88th of 184 in the world and 11th of 27 in Latin America & Caribbean. Imports is 32.6% (2025), 125th of 184 in the world and 15th of 27 in Latin America & Caribbean. Trade openness is 71.5% (2025), 111th of 184 in the world and 15th of 27 in Latin America & Caribbean.
13 indicators
Trade & investment: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 38.8%2025 | 88/184 | 11/27 | 42.9% | 32.8% | 31.7% | +8.9 ppsince 2015 | 26.1% | 31.7% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 32.6%2025 | 125/184 | 15/27 | 43.6% | 34.7% | 28.0% | +1.9 ppsince 2015 | 26.4% | 30.8% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 71.5%2025 | 111/184 | 15/27 | 86.5% | 67.5% | 59.7% | +10.7 ppsince 2015 | 49.1% | 60.5% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | -0.5%2025 | 84/185 | 14/35 | -4.6% | -3.2% | -1.0% | +2.9 ppsince 2015 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $26.4bn2025 | 76/206 | 8/39 | $5.8bn | $9.4bn | $12.3bn | +181%since 2015 | $1.7tn | $17.5tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 22.9%2024 | 27/170 | 2/32 | · | 40.1% | 15.7% | −13.6 ppsince 2014 | 13.1% | 25.8% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 0.0%2024 | 149/172 | 26/32 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.0% | ±0.0 ppsince 2014 | 8.8% | 10.4% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 32.3%2024 | 46/172 | 19/32 | 30.0% | 34.6% | 39.8% | −4.7 ppsince 2014 | 23.6% | 8.8% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 1.3%2022 | 167/184 | 33/35 | 3.7% | 2.1% | 1.5% | −0.5 ppsince 2012 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 5.4%2025 | 38/197 | 10/38 | 4.8% | 5.1% | 3.3% | +0.2 ppsince 2015 | 2.8% | 1.5% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 0.8%2025 | 125/178 | 27/35 | 0.9% | 1.4% | 0.8% | −0.2 ppsince 2015 | 2.4% | 0.3% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 1.1m2020 | 90/196 | 16/41 | 1.3m | 2.5m | 1.1m | −54%since 2010 | 202m | 1.5bn | 2.4bn | |
| Tourism receiptsInternational tourism receipts, current US$ | $1.5bn2020 | 59/177 | 8/36 | $1.6bn | $2.4bn | $1.5bn | −39%since 2010 | $105bn | $1.2tn | $1.9tn |
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 38.8%2025 | 41.6%2025 | 44.4%2024 |
| Imports | 32.6%2025 | 54.9%2025 | 39.3%2024 |
| Trade openness | 71.5%2025 | 96.4%2025 | 83.7%2024 |
| Current account | -0.5%2025 | 4.2%2024 | -0.2%2025 |
| Merchandise exports | $26.4bn2025 | $8.9bn2025 | $11.9bn2025 |
| High-tech exports | 22.9%2024 | 0.6%2024 | 1.8%2024 |
| Fuel exports | 0.0%2024 | 0.7%2024 | 0.9%2025 |
| Food exports | 32.3%2024 | 42.6%2024 | 49.6%2025 |
| Average tariff | 1.3%2022 | 2.0%2022 | 5.9%2022 |