Health spending as a share of total government spending in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Health spending as a share of total government spending was 24.9% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Health spending as a share of total government spending in Costa Rica, 2000–2023
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for health spending as a share of total government spending in Costa Rica is 24.9%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 3.5% on the previous year and down 15.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, health spending as a share of total government spending in Costa Rica peaked at 33.5% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 24.2%, in 2019.
Costa Rica ranks 2nd of 195 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Health spending as a share of total government spending in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 25.3% | — |
| 2001 | 24.6% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 24.8% | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 26.3% | +6.4% |
| 2004 | 25.7% | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 26.8% | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 30.3% | +12.8% |
| 2007 | 31.7% | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 33.4% | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 33.5% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 32.2% | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 33.2% | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 31.7% | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 29.5% | -7.2% |
| 2014 | 29.6% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 29.4% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 28.6% | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 27.0% | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 27.9% | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 24.2% | -13.5% |
| 2020 | 25.2% | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 25.8% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 25.8% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 24.9% | -3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28.2% | 24.6% | 33.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.3% | 24.2% | 33.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.4% | 24.9% | 25.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 1 San Marino 26.2% compare
- 3 Japan 23.3% compare
- 4 United States of America 23.0% compare
- 5 Ireland 22.2% compare
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)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0282 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0256 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is health spending as a share of total government spending in Costa Rica?
- Health spending as a share of total government spending in Costa Rica was 24.9% in 2023, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest health spending as a share of total government spending recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 33.5% in 2009.
- What is the lowest health spending as a share of total government spending recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.2% in 2019.
- How does Costa Rica rank for health spending as a share of total government spending?
- Costa Rica ranks 2nd out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is health spending as a share of total government spending rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Health spending as a share of total government spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Domestic general government health expenditure expressed as a percentage of total expenditure of the general government.