Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP was 0.0997 kilograms per international-$ in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.0997 kilograms per international-$
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
150th
of 164 countries
All-time high
0.1836 kilograms per international-$
in 1994
All-time low
0.0001 kilograms per international-$
in 1949
Years of data
103
1920–2022
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Costa Rica, 1920–2022
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per international-$.
Analysis
In 2022, carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Costa Rica stood at 0.0997 kilograms per international-$.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and down 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Costa Rica peaked at 0.1836 kilograms per international-$ in 1994 and was at its lowest, 0.0001 kilograms per international-$, in 1949.
Costa Rica ranks 150th of 164 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | kilograms per international-$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 0.033 kilograms per international-$ | — |
| 1921 | 0.008 kilograms per international-$ | -75.7% |
| 1922 | 0.0051 kilograms per international-$ | -36.7% |
| 1923 | 0.0075 kilograms per international-$ | +47.2% |
| 1924 | 0.0074 kilograms per international-$ | -1.3% |
| 1925 | 0.0025 kilograms per international-$ | -66.1% |
| 1926 | 0.0011 kilograms per international-$ | -54.8% |
| 1927 | 0.0012 kilograms per international-$ | +10.1% |
| 1928 | 0.0157 kilograms per international-$ | +1159.9% |
| 1929 | 0.0164 kilograms per international-$ | +4.0% |
| 1930 | 0.0087 kilograms per international-$ | -46.9% |
| 1931 | 0.0045 kilograms per international-$ | -47.8% |
| 1932 | 0.0059 kilograms per international-$ | +28.9% |
| 1933 | 0.0003 kilograms per international-$ | -95.3% |
| 1934 | 0.0003 kilograms per international-$ | +13.4% |
| 1935 | 0.0057 kilograms per international-$ | +1752.1% |
| 1936 | 0.0005 kilograms per international-$ | -90.6% |
| 1937 | 0.0048 kilograms per international-$ | +798.4% |
| 1938 | 0.0004 kilograms per international-$ | -91.0% |
| 1939 | 0.0002 kilograms per international-$ | -51.6% |
| 1940 | 0.0022 kilograms per international-$ | +944.4% |
| 1941 | 0.0002 kilograms per international-$ | -91.1% |
| 1942 | 0.0004 kilograms per international-$ | +124.0% |
| 1943 | 0.0004 kilograms per international-$ | -6.8% |
| 1944 | 0.0039 kilograms per international-$ | +847.8% |
| 1945 | 0.0002 kilograms per international-$ | -94.5% |
| 1946 | 0.0002 kilograms per international-$ | -9.5% |
| 1947 | 0.0002 kilograms per international-$ | -16.0% |
| 1948 | 0.0031 kilograms per international-$ | +1795.8% |
| 1949 | 0.0001 kilograms per international-$ | -95.2% |
| 1950 | 0.1055 kilograms per international-$ | +71856.9% |
| 1951 | 0.1121 kilograms per international-$ | +6.3% |
| 1952 | 0.1244 kilograms per international-$ | +11.0% |
| 1953 | 0.1202 kilograms per international-$ | -3.4% |
| 1954 | 0.1122 kilograms per international-$ | -6.7% |
| 1955 | 0.086 kilograms per international-$ | -23.3% |
| 1956 | 0.123 kilograms per international-$ | +43.0% |
| 1957 | 0.1082 kilograms per international-$ | -12.0% |
| 1958 | 0.0933 kilograms per international-$ | -13.8% |
| 1959 | 0.0774 kilograms per international-$ | -17.0% |
| 1960 | 0.0909 kilograms per international-$ | +17.4% |
| 1961 | 0.0873 kilograms per international-$ | -4.0% |
| 1962 | 0.092 kilograms per international-$ | +5.5% |
| 1963 | 0.0927 kilograms per international-$ | +0.7% |
| 1964 | 0.0992 kilograms per international-$ | +7.0% |
| 1965 | 0.1141 kilograms per international-$ | +15.1% |
| 1966 | 0.1242 kilograms per international-$ | +8.9% |
| 1967 | 0.1032 kilograms per international-$ | -16.9% |
| 1968 | 0.1135 kilograms per international-$ | +10.0% |
| 1969 | 0.1177 kilograms per international-$ | +3.7% |
| 1970 | 0.1202 kilograms per international-$ | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 0.138 kilograms per international-$ | +14.7% |
| 1972 | 0.1462 kilograms per international-$ | +6.0% |
| 1973 | 0.1574 kilograms per international-$ | +7.6% |
| 1974 | 0.1392 kilograms per international-$ | -11.6% |
| 1975 | 0.1459 kilograms per international-$ | +4.8% |
| 1976 | 0.1415 kilograms per international-$ | -3.0% |
| 1977 | 0.1627 kilograms per international-$ | +15.0% |
| 1978 | 0.1711 kilograms per international-$ | +5.2% |
| 1979 | 0.1556 kilograms per international-$ | -9.0% |
| 1980 | 0.136 kilograms per international-$ | -12.6% |
| 1981 | 0.1271 kilograms per international-$ | -6.5% |
| 1982 | 0.1264 kilograms per international-$ | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 0.1241 kilograms per international-$ | -1.8% |
| 1984 | 0.1091 kilograms per international-$ | -12.1% |
| 1985 | 0.1225 kilograms per international-$ | +12.3% |
| 1986 | 0.1334 kilograms per international-$ | +8.9% |
| 1987 | 0.1346 kilograms per international-$ | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 0.1389 kilograms per international-$ | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 0.1325 kilograms per international-$ | -4.6% |
| 1990 | 0.127 kilograms per international-$ | -4.2% |
| 1991 | 0.1403 kilograms per international-$ | +10.5% |
| 1992 | 0.1467 kilograms per international-$ | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 0.1434 kilograms per international-$ | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 0.1836 kilograms per international-$ | +28.1% |
| 1995 | 0.1629 kilograms per international-$ | -11.3% |
| 1996 | 0.1574 kilograms per international-$ | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 0.1564 kilograms per international-$ | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 0.1558 kilograms per international-$ | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 0.1558 kilograms per international-$ | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.1489 kilograms per international-$ | -4.4% |
| 2001 | 0.151 kilograms per international-$ | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 0.1611 kilograms per international-$ | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 0.1633 kilograms per international-$ | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 0.1626 kilograms per international-$ | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 0.1534 kilograms per international-$ | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 0.1499 kilograms per international-$ | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 0.1573 kilograms per international-$ | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 0.1511 kilograms per international-$ | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 0.148 kilograms per international-$ | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 0.1365 kilograms per international-$ | -7.8% |
| 2011 | 0.1283 kilograms per international-$ | -6.0% |
| 2012 | 0.1213 kilograms per international-$ | -5.4% |
| 2013 | 0.1244 kilograms per international-$ | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 0.122 kilograms per international-$ | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 0.1124 kilograms per international-$ | -7.9% |
| 2016 | 0.1148 kilograms per international-$ | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 0.1124 kilograms per international-$ | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1093 kilograms per international-$ | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 0.1026 kilograms per international-$ | -6.1% |
| 2020 | 0.0945 kilograms per international-$ | -7.9% |
| 2021 | 0.0995 kilograms per international-$ | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 0.0997 kilograms per international-$ | +0.2% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 0.0997 kilograms per international-$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.1825 kilograms per international-$, 55% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 0.0997 kilograms per international-$ is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 0.1912 kilograms per international-$, 52% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Costa Rica changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +71856.9% | 0.0001 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1055 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1948 | +1795.8% | 0.0002 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0031 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1935 | +1752.1% | 0.0003 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0057 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1928 | +1159.9% | 0.0012 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0157 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1940 | +944.4% | 0.0002 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0022 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1944 | +847.8% | 0.0004 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0039 kilograms per international-$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 0.0098 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0011 kilograms per international-$ | 0.033 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.0031 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0002 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0087 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.0011 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0001 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0039 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.1062 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0774 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1244 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.1035 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0873 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1242 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.1478 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1202 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1711 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1285 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1091 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1389 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1529 kilograms per international-$ | 0.127 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1836 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1547 kilograms per international-$ | 0.148 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1633 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1184 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1026 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1365 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0979 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0945 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0997 kilograms per international-$ | 3 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 147 Singapore 0.106 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 148 Guinea-Bissau 0.1057 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 149 Central African Republic 0.1006 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 151 Tanzania 0.0994 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 152 Denmark 0.0972 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 153 Malta 0.097 kilograms per international-$ compare
More climate change data for Costa Rica
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 108.28 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 3,751 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 942.79 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,808 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 100.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 688.78 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 623.33 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 65.45 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.35 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Costa Rica?
- Carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Costa Rica was 0.0997 kilograms per international-$ in 2022, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 0.1836 kilograms per international-$ in 1994.
- What is the lowest carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0001 kilograms per international-$ in 1949.
- How does Costa Rica rank for carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp?
- Costa Rica ranks 150th out of 164 countries with data for 2022.
- Is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 103 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, measured in kilograms per dollar of GDP (2011 international-$).