Costa Rica Income Share Top 10%
Income share held by highest 10% SI.DST.10TH.10
Costa Rica's income share top 10% was 33.53% in 2025, ranked 10th globally. This represents a 2.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1981–2025.
Overview
Costa Rica's income share top 10% stood at 33.53% in 2025, a decline of +0.67pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 33.53% by 2025. Costa Rica ranked 10th globally.
Costa Rica's income share held by the top 10% of earners has exhibited a relatively stable trend over the past 39 years, with some fluctuations. The latest available data from 2025 indicates that this share stands at 33.53%, ranking Costa Rica #10 globally. This value is lower than the all-time peak of 40.40% recorded in 2002, but higher than the trough of 23.10% experienced in 1986. Notably, Costa Rica's income share is comparable to that of Chile, with which it ranks closely, at 34.53% in 2025. In contrast, Ecuador's share of 32.31% in 2025 is slightly lower, while Guatemala's share of 35.01% is higher. The relatively stable trend in Costa Rica's income share may suggest a moderate level of income inequality, but continued economic growth and urbanization could potentially exacerbate this issue in the coming years, potentially shifting the trajectory of Costa Rica's income distribution.
Data & projection
| Year | Income Share Top 10% | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 31.99% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 32.76% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 33.53% | - | - |
| 2025 | 33.53% | −0.67pp | #10 |
| 2024 | 34.20% | −0.90pp | #11 |
| 2023 | 35.10% | −0.60pp | #50 |
| 2022 | 35.70% | −1.50pp | #65 |
| 2021 | 37.20% | +0.20pp | #75 |
| 2020 | 37.00% | +0.30pp | #65 |
| 2019 | 36.70% | +0.40pp | #73 |
| 2018 | 36.30% | −0.70pp | #88 |
| 2017 | 37.00% | −0.30pp | #74 |
| 2016 | 37.30% | +0.50pp | #76 |
| 2015 | 36.80% | −0.10pp | #78 |
| 2014 | 36.90% | −0.10pp | #74 |
| 2013 | 37.00% | +0.40pp | #69 |
| 2012 | 36.60% | −0.30pp | #81 |
| 2011 | 36.90% | +0.10pp | #74 |
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 top 10% improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Rica's income share top 10% was 33.53% in 2025. Ranked 10th globally. This represents a 2.0% decrease from the previous year.
Costa Rica's income share top 10% peaked at 40.40% in 2002.
The lowest income share top 10% in Costa Rica was 23.10% in 1986.
Costa Rica ranks 10th globally in income share top 10% as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.DST.10TH.10. Data sourced from World Bank.
Costa Rica's income share top 10% is projected to reach 33.53% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The income share top 10% of Costa Rica in 2025 was 33.53%. This ranks 10th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_costa-rica_income-top-10,
title = {Costa Rica Income Share Top 10%},
url = {https://historysaid.com/costa-rica/income-top-10/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}