Photo: Henry Zbyszynski from Capitola California, USA · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 16 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Costa Rica: Energy
Where does a country’s electricity come from, and who can get it?
Costa Rica is placed 12th of 165 countries on energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Carbon Intensity of Electricity 25.82 (2024); Renewable Share of Electricity Generation 99.91 (2024).
Share
Energy
12th
of 165 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Costa Rica on energy — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
25.82
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)
Lower is better
Costa Rica: 25.82. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 23.73 (Bhutan) to 1,306 (Turkmenistan); the world median is 433.75.
- World median
- 433.75
- Best in Central America
- 25.82 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Nicaragua 300.44 · Panama 220.33
99.91
Renewables (% of electricity generated)
Higher is better
Costa Rica: 99.91. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Gambia) to 100 (Paraguay); the world median is 32.06.
- World median
- 32.06
- Best in Central America
- 99.91 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Nicaragua 62.39 · Panama 67.98
Key 3 of 3
World Energy Trilemma Index
World Energy Council
2023 edition · data for 2023 · Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
69.7
Trilemma score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 33rd of 99 by World Energy Council
Costa Rica: 69.7. Across the 126 countries in this edition, values run from 27.7 (Niger) to 83.2 (Denmark); the world median is 63.8.
- World median
- 63.8
- Best in Central America
- 69.7 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Nicaragua 52.9 · Panama 67
02Over time
Which way Costa Rica is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Carbon Intensity of Electricity
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) · lower is better
Costa RicaWorld median
Costa Rica fell from 31.49 in 2000 to 25.82 in 2024; the world median went from 540.34 to 433.75.
Every year’s figures
Year Costa Rica World median 2024 25.8 433.7 2023 25.3 452.7 2022 24.8 476.3 2021 26.6 469.0 2020 28.1 482.0 2019 32.0 488.2 2018 34.6 500.4 2017 29.1 506.3 2016 38.5 521.9 2015 33.7 524.8 2014 93.0 522.3 2013 103.2 508.8 2012 80.3 525.4 2011 83.6 521.4 2010 70.3 515.5 2009 58.3 533.6 2008 72.6 517.2 2007 77.8 535.3 2006 65.8 537.5 2005 47.9 521.4 2004 31.3 523.1 2003 40.0 543.1 2002 36.8 551.3 2001 35.1 559.3 2000 31.5 540.3 Renewable Share of Electricity Generation
Renewables (% of electricity generated) · higher is better
Costa RicaWorld median
Costa Rica rose from 99.13 in 2000 to 99.91 in 2024; the world median went from 15.61 to 32.06.
Every year’s figures
Year Costa Rica World median 2024 99.909 32.062 2023 99.915 28.000 2022 100.000 28.881 2021 100.000 28.286 2020 99.829 27.125 2019 99.124 26.296 2018 98.601 25.505 2017 99.645 24.023 2016 98.250 22.218 2015 98.979 21.915 2014 89.774 21.151 2013 88.224 21.593 2012 91.790 19.869 2011 91.179 18.584 2010 93.270 18.572 2009 95.130 17.886 2008 92.766 15.923 2007 91.982 15.586 2006 93.852 15.392 2005 96.703 16.438 2004 99.123 16.445 2003 97.808 16.339 2002 98.383 13.826 2001 98.551 14.023 2000 99.125 15.612
03In context
Costa Rica beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 165 countries on energy, never a place within the region.
Costa Rica and the countries it borders
Standing among all 165; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Carbon Intensity of ElectricityCarbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) | Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationRenewables (% of electricity generated) | World Energy Trilemma IndexTrilemma score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 12th | 25.82 | 99.91 | 69.7 |
 Panama | =42nd | 220.33 | 67.98 | 67 |
 Nicaragua | 73rd | 300.44 | 62.39 | 52.9 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Central America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 165.
Placed either side on energy
The countries immediately above and below Costa Rica in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Costa Rica is ahead of the world, and behind
23 more statistics filed under energy, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median6
Statistics on which Costa Rica does better than the middle country measured.
Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 37.3299.9137.32▲ Improved since 2014
Costa Rica: 99.91 · world median 37.32 · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Position 7th of 162 · derived.
Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7381.3642.738▲ Improved since 2014
Costa Rica: 1.364 · world median 2.738 · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.666 to 17.45; lower is better.
RISE Renewable Energy Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 33.2652.2433.26▼ Worsened since 2013
Costa Rica: 52.24 · world median 33.26 · Renewable energy policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.056 to 89.52; higher is better.
Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 5.27912.095.279▼ Worsened since 2014
Costa Rica: 12.09 · world median 5.279 · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 69.12; higher is better.
CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · 2024 · world median 3.211.7083.21No real change since 2014
Costa Rica: 1.708 · world median 3.21 · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person). Global Carbon Project, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.054 to 41.27; lower is better.
Position 136th of 210 · derived, 1st = worst.
RISE Energy Efficiency Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 48.2359.2248.23▼ Worsened since 2013
Costa Rica: 59.22 · world median 48.23 · Energy efficiency policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.975 to 95.93; higher is better.
Behind the world median3
Statistics on which Costa Rica does worse than the middle country measured.
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10099.8100▼ Worsened since 2014
Costa Rica: 99.8 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10099.4100▼ Worsened since 2014
Costa Rica: 99.4 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.
Firms Identifying Electricity as a Major ConstraintWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 25.7739.0425.77No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 39.04 · world median 25.77 · Firms rating electricity a major or very severe constraint (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 84.77; lower is better.
Position 46th of 179 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Costa Rica: 0 · world median 0 · Coal (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 98.25; lower is better.
Firms Owning or Sharing a GeneratorWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 24.8524.8524.85No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 24.85 · world median 24.85 · Firms owning or sharing a generator (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.158 to 90.51; lower is better.
No better end12
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Hydro Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 12.8572.7312.85Moved since 2014
Costa Rica: 72.73 · world median 12.85 · Hydropower (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100.
Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · 2024 · world median 020No real change since 2014
Costa Rica: 2 · world median 0 · Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -70.16 to 707.07.
Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 100426.6100No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 426.6 · world median 100 · Wind farm capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 542,758.
Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Costa Rica: 0 · world median 0 · Nuclear (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 67.4.
Primary Energy ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 0.0770.0380.077No real change since 2014
Costa Rica: 0.038 · world median 0.077 · Primary energy produced (quadrillion Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 130.76.
Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.1440.0730.144Moved since 2014
Costa Rica: 0.073 · world median 0.144 · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 886.66.
Primary Energy Consumption per CapitaEIA · 2024 · world median 49.532.8549.5No real change since 2014
Costa Rica: 32.85 · world median 49.5 · Energy use per person (million Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.95 to 766.07.
Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis · 2020 · world median 4.2734.0934.273No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 4.093 · world median 4.273 · Practical solar power potential (kWh per kWp per day, long-term average). World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.513 to 5.379.
Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 3.0490.8183.049Moved since 2014
Costa Rica: 0.818 · world median 3.049 · Solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50.
Natural Gas ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Costa Rica: 0 · world median 0 · Dry natural gas produced (billion cubic metres). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,069.
Crude Oil ProductionEIA · 2025 · world median 000No real change since 2015
Costa Rica: 0 · world median 0 · Crude oil produced (thousand barrels per day). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 13,586.
Gas Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 2.58502.585Moved since 2014
Costa Rica: 0 · world median 2.585 · Natural gas (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.97.
No current reading for Costa Rica
Operating Coal Power Capacity, Primary Schools with Electricity (last 2020), RISE Clean Cooking Policy Score and RISE Electricity Access Policy Score. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Energy among Costa Rica’s 16 topics
Energy is Costa Rica’s 3rd best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Peace & Security2nd of 1773/4 keys
- Gender & Equality5th of 1834/4 keys
- Energy12th of 1653/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties31st of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions32nd of 1944/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge53rd of 1984/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing60th of 2004/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 57th of 1764/4 keys
- Digital & Technology67th of 1984/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital70th of 1963/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture80th of 1844/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability84th of 1864/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade84th of 1774/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 92nd of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 104th of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality110th of 1593/3 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on energy
The three countries placed highest of 165, and the leaders Costa Rica can most readily be measured against.
1
BhutanSouthern Asia
1st of 165 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 165 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
UgandaEastern Africa
3rd of 165 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
Venezuela=8th2/3 keysHighest in Central America
Costa Rica12th3/3 keys
Positions out of 165 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Costa Rica on energy: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Costa Rica rank on energy?
Costa Rica is placed 12th of 165 countries on Energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Carbon Intensity of Electricity, Renewable Share of Electricity Generation and World Energy Trilemma Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Carbon Intensity of Electricity figure for Costa Rica?
25.82 in 2024 (carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 433.75.
What is the latest Renewable Share of Electricity Generation figure for Costa Rica?
99.91 in 2024 (renewables (% of electricity generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 32.06.
How does Costa Rica compare with Nicaragua on energy?
Nicaragua is placed 73rd of 165, and Costa Rica 12th. Carbon Intensity of Electricity: Nicaragua 300.44, Costa Rica 25.82; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation: Nicaragua 62.39, Costa Rica 99.91; World Energy Trilemma Index: Nicaragua 52.9, Costa Rica 69.7.
How have Costa Rica’s energy figures changed?
Carbon Intensity of Electricity fell from 31.49 in 2000 to 25.82 in 2024; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation rose from 99.13 in 2000 to 99.91 in 2024.
Which energy statistics are missing for Costa Rica?
No current reading is published for Costa Rica on Operating Coal Power Capacity, Primary Schools with Electricity, RISE Clean Cooking Policy Score and RISE Electricity Access Policy Score. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
This is deliberately the electricity and energy-system subject, not an infrastructure one: roads, railways, ports, water and telecommunications would each need a global series this site does not hold. Emissions are under Environment & Sustainability. Access to electricity is published here in full but takes no part in any ranking — more than half the world’s countries now report 100%, and a position derived from that would read “1, 1, 1 … 123”, which is noise rather than information.
How the Energy standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The energy method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Carbon Intensity of Electricity — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- Renewable Share of Electricity Generation — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- World Energy Trilemma Index — World Energy Council, Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
The other 23 statistics on this page come from 7 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Costa Rica’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Costa Rica (banner) — Henry Zbyszynski from Capitola California, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Bhutan — VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Uganda — Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Costa Rica: Energy — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/costa-rica/energy