Costa Rica Education Spending
Government expenditure on education as % of GDP SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS
Costa Rica's education spending was 6.25% in 2021, ranked 149th globally. This represents a 5.7% decrease from 2020. Data from World Bank, covering 1980–2021.
Overview
Costa Rica's education spending stood at 6.25% in 2021, a decline of +0.38% from 2020. Costa Rica ranked 149th globally.
Costa Rica's education spending as a percentage of its GDP has exhibited significant fluctuations over the past three decades. At 6.25% in 2021, the country's education expenditure ranked 149th globally, a considerable drop from its all-time peak of 7.35% in 1980. Conversely, the lowest point was reached in 1995 with a mere 3.35%, illustrating the magnitude of the decline. Compared to its closest-ranked peer, Curaçao, which spent 6.18% of its GDP on education in 2021, Costa Rica's expenditure remains relatively high. Nevertheless, this is a far cry from the country's peak during the early 1980s. Despite the recent increase, Costa Rica still lags behind other nations in terms of education spending. To alter the trajectory of its education expenditure, Costa Rica could consider increasing public investment in education, potentially through targeted reforms or policies aimed at improving access to quality education, thereby driving economic growth and development.
Data & projection
| Year | Education Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6.25% | −0.38% | #149 |
| 2020 | 6.63% | −0.11% | #151 |
| 2019 | 6.74% | −0.03% | #155 |
| 2018 | 6.77% | −0.30% | #154 |
| 2017 | 7.07% | +0.18% | #161 |
| 2016 | 6.89% | +0.02% | #148 |
| 2015 | 6.87% | +0.19% | #150 |
| 2014 | 6.68% | −0.01% | #145 |
| 2013 | 6.69% | +0.11% | #140 |
| 2012 | 6.58% | +0.20% | #131 |
| 2011 | 6.38% | −0.19% | #124 |
| 2010 | 6.57% | +0.56% | #124 |
| 2009 | 6.01% | +1.12% | #94 |
| 2008 | 4.89% | +0.25% | #76 |
| 2007 | 4.63% | +0.02% | #66 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Costa Rica matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 1995. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw education spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Rica's education spending was 6.25% in 2021. Ranked 149th globally. This represents a 5.7% decrease from the previous year.
Costa Rica's education spending peaked at 7.35% in 1980.
The lowest education spending in Costa Rica was 3.35% in 1995.
Costa Rica ranks 149th globally in education spending as of 2021.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The education spending of Costa Rica in 2021 was 6.25%. This ranks 149th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_costa-rica_education-spending-gdp,
title = {Costa Rica Education Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/costa-rica/education-spending-gdp/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}