Expenditure on education (public, households, ODA) as a percentage of in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Expenditure on education (public, households, ODA) as a percentage of was 9.0% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
9.0%
Change on year
down 4.5%
World rank
1st
of 70 countries
All-time high
10.0%
in 2017
All-time low
8.9%
in 2013
Years of data
12
2010–2021
Expenditure on education (public, households, ODA) as a percentage of in Costa Rica, 2010–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 9.0% for expenditure on education (public, households, oda) as a percentage of in 2021.
The figure is down 4.5% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education (public, households, oda) as a percentage of in Costa Rica peaked at 10.0% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 8.9%, in 2013.
Costa Rica ranks 1st of 70 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Expenditure on education (public, households, ODA) as a percentage of in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 9.3% | — |
| 2011 | 9.2% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 9.0% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 8.9% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 9.1% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 9.3% | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 9.6% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 10.0% | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 9.9% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 9.5% | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 9.5% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 9.0% | -4.5% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 9.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.9%, 1.5× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 9.0% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5.9%, 1.5× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 9.4% | 8.9% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.2% | 9.0% | 9.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More education data for Costa Rica
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 37,015 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14,772 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 62,694 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 61,047 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 464,490 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 460,126 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -3.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0897 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education (public, households, oda) as a percentage of in Costa Rica?
- Expenditure on education (public, households, oda) as a percentage of in Costa Rica was 9.0% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education (public, households, oda) as a percentage of recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 10.0% in 2017.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education (public, households, oda) as a percentage of recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.9% in 2013.
- How does Costa Rica rank for expenditure on education (public, households, oda) as a percentage of?
- Costa Rica ranks 1st out of 70 countries with data for 2021.
- Is expenditure on education (public, households, oda) as a percentage of rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Expenditure on education (public, households, ODA) as a percentage of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release