Trust in government in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Trust in government was 49.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Trust in government in Costa Rica, 2007–2024
Source: OECD (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for trust in government in Costa Rica is 49.5%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of up 21.7% on the previous year and up 72.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, trust in government in Costa Rica peaked at 49.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 28.7%, in 2013.
Costa Rica ranks 15th of 47 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Trust in government in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 41.5% | — |
| 2010 | 47.0% | +13.3% |
| 2013 | 28.7% | -39.0% |
| 2016 | 31.3% | +9.3% |
| 2019 | 39.0% | +24.5% |
| 2022 | 40.7% | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 49.5% | +21.7% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 49.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 42.8%, 1.2× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 49.5% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 34.5%, 1.4× the median. (7 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41.5% | 41.5% | 41.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 36.5% | 28.7% | 47.0% | 4 |
| 2020s | 45.1% | 40.7% | 49.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 12 Netherlands 51.0% compare
- 13 Belgium 50.5% compare
- 13 New Zealand 50.5% compare
- 16 Australia 49.0% compare
- 17 Canada 47.5% compare
- 17 South Africa 47.5% compare
More social development data for Costa Rica
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 36,395 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 367 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 367 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0071 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is trust in government in Costa Rica?
- Trust in government in Costa Rica was 49.5% in 2024, according to OECD (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest trust in government recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 49.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest trust in government recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.7% in 2013.
- How does Costa Rica rank for trust in government?
- Costa Rica ranks 15th out of 47 countries with data for 2024.
- Is trust in government rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 72.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Trust in government. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of respondents replying "yes" to the question "In this country, do you have confidence in national government, or not?"