Corruption in Costa Rica
The "Corruption Perceptions Index" for the public sector showed 46 points in Costa Rica for 2022. The scale has a range from 0 to 100. The more corruption rises, the higher the number is. With this result Costa Rica ranks 48th. So, compared to other countries, it is at an average.Compared to the previous year, in 2022, the level of corruption slightly raised. In the long term, it has declined moderately in recent years.
The United States are in 24th place with a score of 31. The ranking is led by Denmark, with a value of 10. The sad last place is occupied by Somalia (88 points).
You can find the complete country comparison here: International Ranking of Corruption
Back to overview: Costa Rica
Corruption in Costa Rica 2003 - 2022
The causes of corruption lie in part in political and cultural reasons. Ineffective law enforcement may further promote it. It is striking that it is regularly lower in democratically governed countries (form of government in Costa Rica: Presidential republic). Similarly, higher corruption occurs predominantly in low-income countries. In Costa Rica, per capita income is 12,310 USD annually, which puts it in the middle of the global comparison. The cost of living is in the unremarkable middle range, but does not indicate either great poverty or great prosperity.
Development of the corruption index in Costa Rica 2003 - 2022
| Year | Costa Rica | Ø America | Ø worldwide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 46 | 58.3 | 57.0 |
| 2021 | 42 | 57.8 | 56.8 |
| 2020 | 43 | 57.9 | 56.7 |
| 2019 | 44 | 58.1 | 56.8 |
| 2018 | 44 | 57.0 | 56.9 |
| 2017 | 41 | 56.7 | 56.9 |
| 2016 | 42 | 56.7 | 57.1 |
| 2015 | 45 | 64.4 | 57.5 |
| 2014 | 46 | 54.1 | 56.8 |
| 2013 | 47 | 54.9 | 57.4 |
| 2012 | 46 | 53.8 | 56.8 |
| 2011 | 52 | 57.7 | 59.7 |
| 2010 | 47 | 61.2 | 59.9 |
| 2009 | 47 | 57.6 | 59.7 |
| 2008 | 49 | 58.4 | 59.8 |
| 2007 | 50 | 60.6 | 60.1 |
| 2006 | 59 | 65.4 | 59.1 |
| 2005 | 58 | 64.5 | 59.1 |
| 2004 | 51 | 64.1 | 58.3 |
| 2003 | 57 | 65.7 | 57.6 |
Note on the Corruption Perceptions Index
The data is determined annually by Transparency International. In 2022, the index was calculated for 180 countries from all continents. The original index shows the figures exactly the other way round and assigns higher values for lower corruption. So the official score for Costa Rica is 54 points in 2022, which would actually make it an anti-corruption index because as the score increases, corruption decreases. These numbers have been inverted here for better comprehensibility and easier visual acquisition of the graphs. 
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