From a press release by the Ministry of Finance of Costa Rica:

In June, 2013, primary expenditure, ie total expenditure excluding interest, grew by 8.8%, significantly less than the 11.2% recorded last year. The main elements which contributed to this slowdown were continued control of payroll spending and a slow down on the part of current transfers.

Meanwhile, interest expense increased by 24% compared with 5% in the first half of last year. This behavior caused the Central Government's total expenditure to register a growth rate of 10.6% (slightly higher than the 10.4% observed last June).

"The high interest rates observed during the first half of 2012 and the steady increase in public debt produced higher interest expense in the first half of 2013. The cost of acquisition of the Central Government has been reduced significantly since then and this will slow the interest expense at the end of this year or early next year. However, with the continued growth of public debt and the possible increase in international interest rates in the next few years, increased interest expense is almost inevitable in the medium term, and there is a clear need to find a solution to the fiscal deficit," said Finance Minister/1} José Luis Araya.

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Costa Rica: Fiscal Deficit Closes 2016 at 5.2% of GDP

January 2017

In comparison to 2015 revenue grew by 9% and expenses by 6%, and total public debt as a proportion of GDP reached 45%.

From a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance:

The figures for income and expenditure of the central government indicate that by the end 2016, the shortfall of government revenue to cover expenses was 5.2% of GDP, less than the 6% calculated at the beginning of the year and less than the amount that was observed in 2015 (5.7%). This result represents a reduction of 2% (equivalent to ¢32 billion) from the deficit of 2015, which makes it the lowest deficit in the last four years.

Costa Rica: Fiscal Figures - September 2016

October 2016

Although the growth rate of government expenditure has slowed, it is above inflation, while rising incomes have allowed for a reduction of the fiscal deficit compared to last year.

From a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance:

A reduction of ¢168,742 million in the financial deficit (revenues minus expenses), and a difference of seven percentage points between increased income and expenses, are the fiscal figures for the Central Government recorded with just three months to go until the end of the year.

Costa Rica: Fiscal Figures - June 2016

July 2016

The weight of interest from debts as a share of GDP went from 1.3% to 1.4% between June 2015 and December 2016.

From a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance:

A reduction of ¢121,358 million in the financial deficit (revenues minus expenses), was recorded in fiscal figures from the Central Government at the end of the first half of this year.

Costa Rica's Fiscal Deficit Will Be 6% of GDP in 2014

August 2013

The country ranks third in Latin America in terms of the difference between income and expenditure in relation to GDP.

In 2012, government revenues totaled 14.4% of GDP while expenditures were 18.8%.

Data from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), reveals that compared with 2007 figures the country shows a significant deterioration .