Costa Rica GDP: $178 billion

World Economics estimates Costa Rica's 2024 GDP at $178 billion in PPP terms (Purchasing Power Parity) and an initial estimate of $184 billion for 2025. This figure is 27% higher than the official estimate published by the World Bank.

World Economics' methodology incorporates crucial factors often overlooked in official estimates, such as:

• The size of the informal economy: It is estimated that 27% of Costa Rica's economic activity occurs outside the formal sector.
• Outdated GDP base year data: Many countries use outdated base years for their GDP calculations, leading to an underestimation of economic growth. Costa Rica uses a chain-weighted GDP base year.

By adjusting for these factors where required, World Economics provides a more accurate picture of Costa Rica's true economic size and potential.

For reference, offical data reported Costa Rica's GDP as $86 billion in 2015 constant prices and $86 billion in current prices for 2023.

Data source: World Economics Research, London