Domestic private health expenditure in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Domestic private health expenditure was 32.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Domestic private health expenditure in Costa Rica, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for domestic private health expenditure in Costa Rica is 32.8%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 5.9% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, domestic private health expenditure in Costa Rica peaked at 35.9% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 26.4%, in 2017.
Costa Rica ranks 109th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Domestic private health expenditure in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 34.0% | — |
| 2001 | 33.2% | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 32.8% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 33.3% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 33.8% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 35.9% | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 33.8% | -5.8% |
| 2007 | 33.7% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 32.0% | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 28.8% | -10.2% |
| 2010 | 27.5% | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 29.7% | +8.0% |
| 2012 | 29.3% | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 29.0% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 29.0% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 27.3% | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 26.6% | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 26.4% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 27.6% | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 27.5% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 28.1% | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 29.6% | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 31.0% | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 32.8% | +5.9% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 32.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 26.8%, 1.2× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 32.8% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 39.2%, 84% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 33.1% | 28.8% | 35.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.0% | 26.4% | 29.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.4% | 28.1% | 32.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More health data for Costa Rica
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.78 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4617 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,632 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 35 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -3.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0248 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -3.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is domestic private health expenditure in Costa Rica?
- Domestic private health expenditure in Costa Rica was 32.8% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest domestic private health expenditure recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 35.9% in 2005.
- What is the lowest domestic private health expenditure recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.4% in 2017.
- How does Costa Rica rank for domestic private health expenditure?
- Costa Rica ranks 109th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is domestic private health expenditure rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Domestic private health expenditure (% of current health expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from domestic private sources. Domestic private sources include funds from households, corporations and non-profit organizations. Such expenditures can be either prepaid to voluntary health insurance or paid directly to healthcare providers.