Costa Rica Interest Rate Spread
Interest rate spread (lending rate minus deposit rate) FR.INR.LNDP
Costa Rica's interest rate spread was 3.77% in 2025, ranked 67th globally. This represents a 3.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1982–2025.
Overview
Costa Rica's interest rate spread stood at 3.77% in 2025, a rise of +0.13pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 3.77% by 2025. Costa Rica ranked 67th globally.
Costa Rica’s interest‑rate spread, measured as the gap between lending and deposit rates, has narrowed markedly since the early 1990s. After reaching an all‑time peak of 15.30% in 1994, the spread fell to a trough of 3.50% in 1984 and has hovered in a tight band for the past four decades, registering 3.77% in 2025, which places the country 67th globally. This recent figure is closely aligned with peers such as Indonesia (3.76%) and slightly above the Bahamas (3.68%), suggesting that Costa Rica’s financial intermediation costs are comparable to other emerging economies with modest inflationary pressures. The sustained compression of the spread reflects a combination of improved monetary policy transmission, deeper domestic capital markets, and a relatively stable macro‑economic environment. Should external shocks raise risk premia or if credit growth accelerates sharply, the spread could widen; otherwise the current downward trajectory is likely to continue, reinforcing the country’s reputation for a well‑functioning banking sector.
Data & projection
| Year | Interest Rate Spread | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 3.63% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 3.70% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 3.77% | - | - |
| 2025 | 3.77% | +0.13pp | #67 |
| 2024 | 3.64% | −0.38pp | #21 |
| 2023 | 4.02% | −0.27pp | #24 |
| 2022 | 4.29% | +0.38pp | #30 |
| 2021 | 3.91% | −0.15pp | #33 |
| 2020 | 4.05% | −0.06pp | #36 |
| 2019 | 4.11% | −3.00pp | #38 |
| 2018 | 7.11% | −1.46pp | #72 |
| 2017 | 8.57% | −1.86pp | #96 |
| 2016 | 10.43% | −1.44pp | #107 |
| 2015 | 11.86% | +0.28pp | #111 |
| 2014 | 11.58% | +0.27pp | #110 |
| 2013 | 11.31% | −2.16pp | #112 |
| 2012 | 13.47% | +1.34pp | #118 |
| 2011 | 12.14% | +0.37pp | #111 |
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 interest rate spread improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Rica's interest rate spread was 3.77% in 2025. Ranked 67th globally. This represents a 3.5% increase from the previous year.
Costa Rica's interest rate spread peaked at 15.30% in 1994.
The lowest interest rate spread in Costa Rica was 3.50% in 1984.
Costa Rica ranks 67th globally in interest rate spread as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is FR.INR.LNDP. Data sourced from World Bank.
Costa Rica's interest rate spread is projected to reach 3.77% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The interest rate spread of Costa Rica in 2025 was 3.77%. This ranks 67th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_costa-rica_interest-rate-spread,
title = {Costa Rica Interest Rate Spread},
url = {https://historysaid.com/costa-rica/interest-rate-spread/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}