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Latin America & Caribbean

Costa Rica

Trade data only

GDP of $103 bn in 2025, real growth of 4.6% and inflation of −0.1%, by the IMF’s figures.

In January–August 2026 the U.S. bought $8.0B of goods from Costa Rica and sold it $7.3B, a deficit of $619.7M, and Miami International Airport, FL handled the most of it (20.6% of the trade through listed ports).

Trade

U.S. trade with Costa Rica

U.S. Census Bureau goods trade between Costa Rica and the United States, by month, U.S. port and product.

National totals · January–August 2026

All U.S. customs districts. Imports are general imports; exports are total exports.

Imports
$8.0B
−13.3% y/y
Exports
$7.3B
+6.5% y/y
Total trade
$15.3B
−4.8% y/y
U.S. deficit
$619.7M
$1.7B smaller than a year earlier
Share of U.S. trade
0.38%
35th of 233 partners

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API (goods trade by country, national and by U.S. port); released 2026-10-16; retrieved 2026-10-16. Not seasonally adjusted.

Official statisticCK estimateSource figures as of October 16, 2026Sources & methods
Period covered
January–August 2026
Source figures as of
October 16, 2026
Geography
U.S. trade with Costa Rica, all U.S. customs districts
Sector
International trade in goods
Seasonal adjustment
Not seasonally adjusted
Transformations
Monthly values summed over the period by CK Economics. Total trade (imports + exports), balance, share of U.S. trade, rank and year-on-year changes calculated by CK Economics
Revisions
When Census publishes a new month, CK re-collects the previous 12; older months are re-collected after Census’s annual revision each June, or sooner if Census’s totals for them change. Revised figures replace earlier ones.
Data status
Each month passes CK’s release checks (complete, totals reconcile with Census’s, no sharp jumps) before it is published.
Limitations
Goods only, not services. General imports at customs value, total exports at f.a.s. value.

Full method · Research standards

Port subtotals

U.S. ports handling trade with Costa Rica

Download these rows (CSV)

The 150 ports listed cover 96.8% of national trade ($14.8B of $15.3B). Another 3.2% went by mail, low-value shipments or through ports Census doesn’t name.

U.S. goods trade with Costa Rica by U.S. port, January–August 2026
U.S. port, activate to sortImports, activate to sortExports, activate to sortTotal trade, sorted descending; activate to reverseBalance, activate to sortShare of listed-port trade, activate to sortTrade y/y, activate to sort
Chattanooga, TN2008Mainly land/other$0$10.6M$10.6M$10.6M0.07%+443.1%
Otay Mesa, CA2506Mainly land/other$10.5M$88.0K$10.6M−$10.4M0.07%+135.8%
Portland, OR2904Mainly vessel$27.4K$10.5M$10.5M$10.4M0.07%+11.0%
Calexico-East, CA2507Mainly land/other$9.3M$0$9.3M−$9.3M0.06%+50.9%
Crockett, CA2815Mainly vessel$8.2M$0$8.2M−$8.2M0.06%−62.9%
El Paso, TX2402Mainly land/other$2.7M$4.7M$7.4M$2.0M0.05%−68.3%
San Francisco, CA2809Mainly vessel$187.7K$6.6M$6.7M$6.4M0.05%+724.6%
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY0901Mainly land/other$1.5M$3.2M$4.7M$1.8M0.03%−69.1%
Mobile, AL1901Mainly vessel$0$4.4M$4.4M$4.4M0.03%−83.3%
Santa Teresa, NM2408Mainly land/other$4.2M$0$4.2M−$4.2M0.03%+9.6%
Denver, CO3307Mainly land/other$1.6M$2.4M$4.0M$764.6K0.03%−26.6%
Galveston, TX5310Mainly vessel$162.2K$3.7M$3.9M$3.6M0.03%−86.3%
Charlotte, NC1512Mainly air$1.2M$2.6M$3.9M$1.4M0.03%+293.8%
Louisville, KY4115Mainly air$1.2M$2.4M$3.6M$1.2M0.02%−60.4%
Ysleta, TX2401Mainly land/other$3.6M$0$3.6M−$3.6M0.02%−91.0%
Boston, MA0401Mainly vessel$267.0K$3.2M$3.5M$3.0M0.02%−14.0%
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, WA3029Mainly air$65.4K$3.1M$3.2M$3.1M0.02%+118.1%
San Juan International Airport, PR4913Mainly air$234.4K$2.8M$3.1M$2.6M0.02%−10.8%
Blaine, WA3004Mainly land/other$2.3M$452.6K$2.7M−$1.8M0.02%−25.1%
Ft. Lauderdale International Airport, FL5210Mainly air$234.7K$2.5M$2.7M$2.3M0.02%−63.4%
Longview, WA2905Mainly vessel$44.8K$2.6M$2.7M$2.6M0.02%None a year earlier
Detroit, MI3801Mainly land/other$2.4M$149.4K$2.6M−$2.3M0.02%−24.8%
Port Huron, MI3802Mainly land/other$1.5M$903.7K$2.4M−$590.1K0.02%−76.1%
Portland International Airport, WA2910Mainly air$0$2.3M$2.3M$2.3M0.02%+246.6%
Philadelphia International Airport, PA1108Mainly air$714.7K$1.6M$2.3M$898.7K0.02%+23.3%
Sacramento International Airport, CA2835Mainly air$0$2.2M$2.2M$2.2M0.01%+350.8%
Pittsburgh, PA1104Mainly air$82.0K$1.8M$1.8M$1.7M0.01%+17.9%
Indianapolis, IN4110Mainly air$364.7K$1.4M$1.7M$1.0M0.01%−0.3%
Phoenix, AZ2605Mainly air$13.0K$1.4M$1.4M$1.4M0.01%−82.1%
Port Arthur, TX2101Mainly vessel$0$1.3M$1.3M$1.3M0.01%−99.7%
Washington, DC5401Mainly air$851.2K$312.1K$1.2M−$539.1K0.01%+104.5%
Orlando, FL1808Mainly air$524.2K$608.6K$1.1M$84.4K0.01%−90.8%
Honolulu International Airport, HI3205Mainly air$1.1M$0$1.1M−$1.1M0.01%+3147.0%
Champlain-Rouses Point, NY0712Mainly land/other$966.8K$97.9K$1.1M−$868.9K0.01%−13.0%
Lake Charles, LA2017Mainly vessel$1.0M$0$1.0M−$1.0M0.01%−38.7%
Gloucester, MA0404Mainly vessel$0$974.3K$974.3K$974.3K0.01%−7.0%
Columbus, OH4103Mainly land/other$0$905.3K$905.3K$905.3K0.01%+5.0%
West Palm Beach, FL5204Mainly vessel$0$809.9K$809.9K$809.9K0.01%−93.0%
Pembina, ND3401Mainly land/other$594.1K$0$594.1K−$594.1K<0.01%+133.0%
Salt Lake City, UT3303Mainly air$447.8K$100.3K$548.1K−$347.5K<0.01%−80.2%
Aguadilla, PR4901Mainly air$8.5K$482.6K$491.1K$474.1K<0.01%−28.8%
Richmond-Petersburg, VA1404Mainly land/other$430.8K$0$430.8K−$430.8K<0.01%None a year earlier
Daytona Beach International Airport, FL1884Mainly air$0$427.7K$427.7K$427.7K<0.01%−38.9%
Presidio, TX2403Mainly land/other$0$388.1K$388.1K$388.1K<0.01%+166.3%
Salem, MA0408Mainly air$343.5K$0$343.5K−$343.5K<0.01%None a year earlier
Nogales, AZ2604Mainly land/other$286.9K$46.7K$333.6K−$240.2K<0.01%+40.1%
Douglas, AZ2601Mainly land/other$220.5K$0$220.5K−$220.5K<0.01%−87.1%
Sumas, WA3009Mainly land/other$211.5K$0$211.5K−$211.5K<0.01%−35.4%
Ontario International Airport, CA2721Mainly air$0$193.1K$193.1K$193.1K<0.01%−67.5%
Manchester User Fee Airport, NH0182Mainly air$0$182.9K$182.9K$182.9K<0.01%+12.8%

Port figures are subtotals: they add up to the listed-port total, not the national total above. Shares are of trade through the ports listed. Main mode is each port’s mode by trade value over the latest twelve months, not its gateway type. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API (goods trade by country, national and by U.S. port); released 2026-10-16; retrieved 2026-10-16. Not seasonally adjusted.

Official statisticCK estimateSource figures as of October 16, 2026Sources & methods
Period covered
January–August 2026
Source figures as of
October 16, 2026
Geography
Listed U.S. ports of entry and exit handling trade with Costa Rica
Sector
International trade in goods
Seasonal adjustment
Not seasonally adjusted
Transformations
Monthly values summed over the period by CK Economics. Total trade (imports + exports), balance, shares of the listed-port total, ranks and year-on-year changes calculated by CK Economics
Revisions
When Census publishes a new month, CK re-collects the previous 12; older months are re-collected after Census’s annual revision each June, or sooner if Census’s totals for them change. Revised figures replace earlier ones.
Data status
Each month passes CK’s release checks (complete, totals reconcile with Census’s, no sharp jumps) before it is published.
Limitations
Goods only, not services. General imports at customs value, total exports at f.a.s. value. Port figures are subtotals and don’t add up to the national total. Listed ports only: Census’s pseudo-ports (mail, low-value shipments, vessels under their own power) and unnamed ports are left out.

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Largest ports for trade with Costa Rica, by trade

U.S. dollars · January–August 2026 · port subtotals

  • Imports
  • Exports
  • Miami International Airport, FL
    Imports: $1.8B
    Exports: $1.2B
  • New Orleans, LA
    Imports: $993.0M
    Exports: $966.6M
  • Philadelphia, PA
    Imports: $1.6B
    Exports: $208.9M
  • Houston, TX
    Imports: $302.4M
    Exports: $929.2M
  • Port Everglades, FL
    Imports: $254.4M
    Exports: $607.2M
  • Miami, FL
    Imports: $178.0M
    Exports: $464.1M
  • Los Angeles International Airport, CA
    Imports: $448.6M
    Exports: $68.0M
  • Baton Rouge, LA
    Imports: $0
    Exports: $474.7M
  • Jacksonville, FL
    Imports: $296.7M
    Exports: $124.8M
  • Wilmington, DE
    Imports: $283.7M
    Exports: $93.2M

Top 10 = 76.9% of U.S. trade with Costa Rica through the ports listed.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API (goods trade by country, national and by U.S. port); released 2026-10-16; retrieved 2026-10-16. Not seasonally adjusted.

Official statisticCK estimateSource figures as of October 16, 2026Sources & methods
Period covered
January–August 2026
Source figures as of
October 16, 2026
Geography
Listed U.S. ports of entry and exit handling trade with Costa Rica
Sector
International trade in goods
Seasonal adjustment
Not seasonally adjusted
Transformations
Monthly values summed over the period by CK Economics. Total trade (imports + exports), balance, shares of the listed-port total, ranks and year-on-year changes calculated by CK Economics
Revisions
When Census publishes a new month, CK re-collects the previous 12; older months are re-collected after Census’s annual revision each June, or sooner if Census’s totals for them change. Revised figures replace earlier ones.
Data status
Each month passes CK’s release checks (complete, totals reconcile with Census’s, no sharp jumps) before it is published.
Limitations
Goods only, not services. General imports at customs value, total exports at f.a.s. value. Port figures are subtotals and don’t add up to the national total. Listed ports only: Census’s pseudo-ports (mail, low-value shipments, vessels under their own power) and unnamed ports are left out.

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Largest ports for trade with Costa Rica, by trade, U.S. dollars · January–August 2026 · port subtotals
PortImportsExports
Miami International Airport, FL$1.8B$1.2B
New Orleans, LA$993.0M$966.6M
Philadelphia, PA$1.6B$208.9M
Houston, TX$302.4M$929.2M
Port Everglades, FL$254.4M$607.2M
Miami, FL$178.0M$464.1M
Los Angeles International Airport, CA$448.6M$68.0M
Baton Rouge, LA$0$474.7M
Jacksonville, FL$296.7M$124.8M
Wilmington, DE$283.7M$93.2M

Trade with Costa Rica by the ports’ main mode

U.S. dollars · January–August 2026 · every listed port

  • Imports
  • Exports
  • Mainly vessel
    Imports: $4.0B
    Exports: $4.4B
  • Mainly air
    Imports: $3.8B
    Exports: $2.5B
  • Mainly land/other
    Imports: $88.4M
    Exports: $56.0M
  • Mixed
    Imports: $11.9K
    Exports: $0

Ports grouped by their main mode by trade value over the latest twelve months (vessel or air at least half; land/other when vessel and air together are under half; otherwise mixed). A port’s group says how most of its trade moves, not what kind of gateway it is.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API (goods trade by country, national and by U.S. port); released 2026-10-16; retrieved 2026-10-16. Not seasonally adjusted.

Official statisticCK estimateSource figures as of October 16, 2026Sources & methods
Period covered
January–August 2026
Source figures as of
October 16, 2026
Geography
Listed U.S. ports handling trade with Costa Rica
Sector
International trade in goods
Seasonal adjustment
Not seasonally adjusted
Transformations
Monthly values summed over the period by CK Economics. Ports grouped by their main mode over the latest twelve months, and each group summed, by CK Economics
Revisions
When Census publishes a new month, CK re-collects the previous 12; older months are re-collected after Census’s annual revision each June, or sooner if Census’s totals for them change. Revised figures replace earlier ones.
Data status
Each month passes CK’s release checks (complete, totals reconcile with Census’s, no sharp jumps) before it is published.
Limitations
Goods only, not services. General imports at customs value, total exports at f.a.s. value. A port’s group says how most of its trade moves, not what kind of gateway it is.

Full method · Research standards

View data table
Trade with Costa Rica by the ports’ main mode, U.S. dollars · January–August 2026 · every listed port
Main mode by valueImportsExports
Mainly vessel$4.0B$4.4B
Mainly air$3.8B$2.5B
Mainly land/other$88.4M$56.0M
Mixed$11.9K$0

Monthly U.S. imports from and exports to Costa Rica

U.S. dollars · January 2025–August 2026 · national totals

  • Imports
  • Exports

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API (goods trade by country, national and by U.S. port); released 2026-10-16; retrieved 2026-10-16. Not seasonally adjusted.

Official statisticSource figures as of October 16, 2026Sources & methods
Period covered
January 2025–August 2026
Source figures as of
October 16, 2026
Geography
U.S. trade with Costa Rica, all U.S. customs districts
Sector
International trade in goods
Seasonal adjustment
Not seasonally adjusted
Transformations
None: figures as published
Revisions
When Census publishes a new month, CK re-collects the previous 12; older months are re-collected after Census’s annual revision each June, or sooner if Census’s totals for them change. Revised figures replace earlier ones.
Data status
Each month passes CK’s release checks (complete, totals reconcile with Census’s, no sharp jumps) before it is published.
Limitations
Goods only, not services. General imports at customs value, total exports at f.a.s. value.

Full method · Research standards

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Monthly U.S. imports from and exports to Costa Rica, U.S. dollars · January 2025–August 2026 · national totals
MonthImportsExports
Jan 2025$815.0M$850.2M
Feb 2025$1.1B$809.7M
Mar 2025$1.3B$922.2M
Apr 2025$1.2B$899.8M
May 2025$1.2B$892.4M
Jun 2025$1.3B$802.0M
Jul 2025$1.2B$878.1M
Aug 2025$1.2B$840.0M
Sep 2025$1.2B$778.0M
Oct 2025$1.1B$881.1M
Nov 2025$1.2B$783.0M
Dec 2025$1.2B$851.3M
Jan 2026$758.3M$853.6M
Feb 2026$940.2M$834.3M
Mar 2026$1.1B$900.3M
Apr 2026$944.6M$954.6M
May 2026$1.0B$1.0B
Jun 2026$1.1B$912.6M
Jul 2026$1.0B$997.3M
Aug 2026$1.0B$863.6M

Monthly U.S. goods balance with Costa Rica

U.S. dollars, exports − imports · January 2025–August 2026 · national totals

  • Deficit (below zero)
  • Surplus (above zero)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API (goods trade by country, national and by U.S. port); released 2026-10-16; retrieved 2026-10-16. Not seasonally adjusted.

Official statisticCK estimateSource figures as of October 16, 2026Sources & methods
Period covered
January 2025–August 2026
Source figures as of
October 16, 2026
Geography
U.S. trade with Costa Rica, all U.S. customs districts
Sector
International trade in goods
Seasonal adjustment
Not seasonally adjusted
Transformations
Balance (exports − imports) calculated by CK Economics
Revisions
When Census publishes a new month, CK re-collects the previous 12; older months are re-collected after Census’s annual revision each June, or sooner if Census’s totals for them change. Revised figures replace earlier ones.
Data status
Each month passes CK’s release checks (complete, totals reconcile with Census’s, no sharp jumps) before it is published.
Limitations
Goods only, not services. General imports at customs value, total exports at f.a.s. value.

Full method · Research standards

View data table
Monthly U.S. goods balance with Costa Rica, U.S. dollars, exports − imports · January 2025–August 2026 · national totals
MonthBalance
Jan 2025$35.2M
Feb 2025−$271.5M
Mar 2025−$365.9M
Apr 2025−$265.7M
May 2025−$270.0M
Jun 2025−$466.9M
Jul 2025−$367.4M
Aug 2025−$316.1M
Sep 2025−$469.6M
Oct 2025−$233.7M
Nov 2025−$380.1M
Dec 2025−$340.8M
Jan 2026$95.3M
Feb 2026−$105.9M
Mar 2026−$245.7M
Apr 2026$10.0M
May 2026−$12.7M
Jun 2026−$192.2M
Jul 2026−$16.3M
Aug 2026−$152.2M

Products · live from Census

What moves

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Overview

Costa Rica in figures

The latest figure each source reports, from the IMF’s World Economic Outlook. Annual figures come from one international source on one definition for every country, so they compare across this site’s country pages.

Output

IMF World Economic Outlook, annual

GDP, current U.S. dollars
$103 bn
2025 · +6.4% on 2024
IMF ›
Real GDP growth
4.6%
2025 · +0.5 pp on 2024
IMF ›
GDP per person
$19,162
2025 · +5.5% on 2024
IMF ›
GDP per person, PPP
$32,320 PPP
2025 · +6.4% on 2024
IMF ›

Prices and jobs

IMF, annual

Inflation, annual average
−0.1%
2025 · +0.3 pp on 2024
IMF ›
Unemployment rate
6.3%
2025 · −0.6 pp on 2024
IMF ›

Public finances and the external account

IMF, annual, % of GDP

Government gross debt
60.4%
2025 · +1.5 pp on 2024
IMF ›
Government balance
−3.4%
2025 · +0.3 pp on 2024
IMF ›
Current account balance
−0.6%
2025 · +0.3 pp on 2024
IMF ›

Outlook

Where the IMF sees it going

The IMF’s World Economic Outlook projections next to the last two years it reports.

IMF forecast

World Economic Outlook, October 2026. Shaded columns from 2026 on are the IMF’s projections, not CK Economics’.

IMF World Economic Outlook figures and projections
Indicator202420252026IMF forecast →2027 (IMF forecast)2028 (IMF forecast)2029 (IMF forecast)2030 (IMF forecast)Trend
Real GDP growth, %4.14.63.33.53.53.53.5
Inflation, annual average, %−0.4−0.1−0.82.22.32.62.8
Unemployment rate, %6.96.37.07.27.58.08.0
Government balance, % of GDP−3.7−3.4−3.7−3.9−3.8−3.5−3.2
Government gross debt, % of GDP58.960.461.862.863.363.363.0
Current account balance, % of GDP−0.9−0.6−1.5−1.6−1.4−1.3−1.3

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook, via the IMF DataMapper. Years before 2026 are the IMF’s reported series, which for some countries include staff estimates.

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Costa Rica: Real GDP growth

Annual percentage change in gross domestic product at constant prices.

Official statisticIMF forecastSource figures as of October 8, 2026 · International Monetary Fund’s own, as published, To 2031Sources & methods
Period covered
1980 – 2025
Source figures as of
October 8, 2026
Geography
Costa Rica
Sector
Whole economy (not a single sector)
Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable
Transformations
None: figures as published
Forecast method
International Monetary Fund’s own, as published
Assumptions
International Monetary Fund’s own
Horizon
To 2031
Interval
Not recorded
Backtest
See the publisher
Revisions
Replaced with the source’s latest figures whenever it revises them.
Data status
Current

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Definitions

Read the figures alike

Every figure keeps its source’s definition; where two sound alike but are measured differently, the difference is here.

GDP in dollars
The IMF converts GDP at current prices at each year’s market exchange rate, so the dollar figure moves with the currency. GDP per person at purchasing power parity converts at the cost of the same basket of goods in every country instead, which suits comparisons of living standards.
Unemployment
The IMF’s annual unemployment rate follows each country’s national definition (age limits, what counts as looking for work), so levels are not strictly comparable across countries.
Trade
The Trade section is U.S. Census Bureau goods trade between this country and the United States only, month by month. The current account (IMF) is the balance of goods and services trade with every partner plus income flows.
Latest values and forecasts
Each latest figure is the most recent period the source does not label a projection; for some countries the IMF’s latest years are its staff estimates. Values the IMF projects are labelled “IMF forecast” wherever they appear. They are the IMF’s, not CK Economics’.

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