Costa Rica Government net lending/borrowing in Costa Rica

International Monetary Fund · Annual · Importance

IMF forecast (WEO): 2026: -3.6% 2027: -3.5% 2028: -3.2% 2029: -2.8% 2030: -2.5% 2031: -2.2%
-2.9 (1999) ANUAL · % of GDP · Annual · CSV
Period% of GDP
Jan 1999 -2.9
Jan 1998 -3.0
Jan 1997 -3.4
Jan 1996 -4.3
Jan 1995 -3.7
Jan 1994 -5.5
Jan 1993 -1.5
Jan 1992 -1.5
Jan 1991 -2.4
Jan 1990 -4.4

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 deficit is the negative balance of the public accounts when spending exceeds revenue in a given year; when revenue exceeds spending there is a surplus. It is usually expressed as a percentage of GDP.
How it's calculated
It is computed as the difference between general government revenue and expenditure over the period, following the official fiscal accounts and IMF public-finance standards, with the result expressed relative to GDP. It is an annual figure.
Market implications
The deficit drives the government's borrowing needs and the path of public debt. In Costa Rica, which introduced a fiscal rule to contain spending, it is a key benchmark for the sustainability of the accounts and for the assessment of markets and rating agencies.
Limitations
It is a low-frequency figure subject to revision. It is worth distinguishing the overall balance from the primary balance, which excludes debt interest, and from the cyclical component tied to the economic cycle.