Costa Rica — CO2 per capita
CO2 Emissions per Capita for Costa Rica, 1970–2024.
CO2 per capita for Costa Rica was 1.63 in 2024, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 55 years, from 1970 to 2024. The highest recorded value was 1.76 in 2007. The lowest was 0.77 in 1971 (about 2.1× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 1.38% per year.
Costa Rica ranks 122 of 203 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 60%. The median for Latin America & Caribbean is 2.52, so Costa Rica sits below it. It peaked in 2007 and has fallen 7% since. Over the last decade (2014–2024) the figure moved down 3%. Within Latin America & Caribbean it ranks 28 of 39 economies; El Salvador (1.51) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 31% in 1992.
Data highlights
From its 1970 level: doubled by 2006. Doubling roughly every 51 years at that pace.
World ranking. Slipped: 114th of 203 in 1970 → 114th of 203 in 1980 → 118th of 203 in 1990 → 111th of 203 in 2000 → 115th of 203 in 2010 → 125th of 203 in 2020 → 122nd of 203 in 2024.
Key figures
Full history — 1970 to 2024
| Year | metric tons per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1.63 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 1.59 | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 1.61 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 1.59 | +11.7% |
| 2020 | 1.43 | -13.0% |
| 2019 | 1.64 | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 1.7 | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 1.71 | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 1.69 | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 1.61 | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 1.69 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 1.68 | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 1.64 | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 1.67 | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 1.59 | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 1.63 | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 1.72 | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 1.76 | +10.2% |
| 2006 | 1.6 | +7.1% |
| 2005 | 1.49 | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 1.47 | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 1.47 | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 1.39 | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 1.38 | +5.9% |
| 2000 | 1.3 | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 1.34 | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 1.37 | +8.3% |
| 1997 | 1.26 | -3.6% |
| 1996 | 1.31 | -6.7% |
| 1995 | 1.41 | -3.1% |
| 1994 | 1.45 | +14.5% |
| 1993 | 1.27 | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 1.29 | +31.2% |
| 1991 | 0.98 | +5.4% |
| 1990 | 0.93 | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 0.95 | +10.1% |
| 1988 | 0.86 | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 0.83 | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 0.81 | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 0.8 | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 0.78 | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 0.77 | -1.2% |
| 1982 | 0.78 | -16.8% |
| 1981 | 0.94 | -9.9% |
| 1980 | 1.04 | -12.0% |
| 1979 | 1.18 | -2.9% |
| 1978 | 1.22 | +5.2% |
| 1977 | 1.16 | +22.7% |
| 1976 | 0.94 | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 0.94 | +6.8% |
| 1974 | 0.88 | -4.3% |
| 1973 | 0.92 | +10.1% |
| 1972 | 0.84 | +9.2% |
| 1971 | 0.77 | -1.7% |
| 1970 | 0.78 | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Costa Rica’s CO2 per capita in 1971?
0.77 (1971). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are Costa Rica’s CO2 per capita figures nominal or inflation-adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — metric tons per capita — with no inflation restatement and no PPP conversion. Years the source does not report are omitted rather than interpolated.
Is Costa Rica’s CO2 per capita growing or shrinking?
Between 1970 and 2024 the series was growing overall: +109.3% in total — about 1.4% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2024: 1.63; 2023: 1.59; 2022: 1.61; 2021: 1.59; 2020: 1.43. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5 — CO2 Emissions per Capita. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.