Government gross debt in Costa Rica

International Monetary Fund · Annual · Importance

IMF forecast (WEO): 2026: 61.1% 2027: 61.4% 2028: 61.4% 2029: 60.8% 2030: 59.9% 2031: 58.6%

39.0 (1999) ANUAL · % of GDP · Annual · CSV

Period	% of GDP
Jan 1999	39.0
Jan 1998	40.7
Jan 1997	30.6
Jan 1996	33.7

About this indicator

Source

International Monetary Fund

Frequency

Annual

Release

Published annually (with quarterly advance estimates in some economies), subject to revision with the national accounts.

What it is

Costa Rica's government debt is the total of the domestic and external liabilities owed by general government to its creditors. It is reported in absolute terms and, above all, as a percentage of GDP to gauge sustainability.

How it's calculated

Compiled by adding the public sector's domestic and external debt (securities, loans and deposits), from Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Costa Rica figures. Comparable series are usually taken from the IMF. The debt-to-GDP ratio relates the stock to nominal GDP.

Market implications

A high or rising debt level bears on the sustainability of the public finances and the government's funding cost. Following the IMF programme and the fiscal rule, the debt path is a key reference for markets and rating agencies.

Limitations

It is a low-frequency figure revised with the national accounts. The ratio depends on both the debt stock and nominal GDP, so it can move without any change in borrowing; foreign-currency debt and contingent liabilities add risk the headline may not show.