Costa Rica Income Share Bottom 10%
Income share held by lowest 10% SI.DST.FRST.10
Costa Rica's income share bottom 10% was 1.78% in 2025, ranked 63rd globally. This represents a 4.7% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1981–2025.
Overview
Costa Rica's income share bottom 10% stood at 1.78% in 2025, a rise of +0.08pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.78% by 2025. Costa Rica ranked 63rd globally.
Costa Rica's income share of the bottom 10% has exhibited a moderate level of inequality, with a relatively stable trend over the past four decades. The latest data from the World Bank indicates a value of 1.78% in 2025, ranking Costa Rica 63rd globally. This figure is slightly lower than that of its peer countries, such as the United States (1.84%) and Guatemala (1.69%). The country's income share of the bottom 10% reached an all-time peak in 2025, matching its historical high, after previously experiencing a trough of 1.00% in 1991. This indicates that Costa Rica has maintained a relatively steady level of income inequality since the early 1990s. To mitigate this trend and improve the income share of the bottom 10%, Costa Rica would benefit from targeted policies aimed at reducing income disparities, such as progressive taxation and increased social spending, potentially leading to a shift in the country's global ranking in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Income Share Bottom 10% | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 1.90% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 1.84% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.78% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.78% | +0.08pp | #63 |
| 2024 | 1.70% | +0.10pp | #10 |
| 2023 | 1.60% | −0.10pp | #47 |
| 2022 | 1.70% | +0.10pp | #63 |
| 2021 | 1.60% | +0.20pp | #73 |
| 2020 | 1.40% | −0.20pp | #66 |
| 2019 | 1.60% | +0.10pp | #72 |
| 2018 | 1.50% | −0.10pp | #86 |
| 2017 | 1.60% | +0.10pp | #68 |
| 2016 | 1.50% | +0.00pp | #76 |
| 2015 | 1.50% | +0.00pp | #75 |
| 2014 | 1.50% | +0.10pp | #75 |
| 2013 | 1.40% | −0.10pp | #71 |
| 2012 | 1.50% | +0.00pp | #76 |
| 2011 | 1.50% | −0.10pp | #73 |
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 income share bottom 10% improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Rica's income share bottom 10% was 1.78% in 2025. Ranked 63rd globally. This represents a 4.7% increase from the previous year.
Costa Rica's income share bottom 10% peaked at 1.78% in 2025.
The lowest income share bottom 10% in Costa Rica was 1.00% in 1989.
Costa Rica ranks 63rd globally in income share bottom 10% as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.DST.FRST.10. Data sourced from World Bank.
Costa Rica's income share bottom 10% is projected to reach 1.78% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The income share bottom 10% of Costa Rica in 2025 was 1.78%. This ranks 63rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_costa-rica_income-bottom-10,
title = {Costa Rica Income Share Bottom 10%},
url = {https://historysaid.com/costa-rica/income-bottom-10/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}