Energy intensity in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Energy intensity was 1.91 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in Costa Rica, 2000–2022
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
In 2022, energy intensity in Costa Rica stood at 1.91 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.0% on the previous year and down 21.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Costa Rica peaked at 2.86 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2004 and was at its lowest, 1.91 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2022.
Costa Rica ranks 188th of 201 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Energy intensity in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.47 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 2.41 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 2.46 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 2.52 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 2.86 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.5% |
| 2005 | 2.75 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.8% |
| 2006 | 2.79 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 2.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 2.61 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 2.66 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 2.54 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 2.45 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 2.42 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 2.49 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 2.44 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 2.29 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 2.17 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 2.04 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.0% |
| 2018 | 1.96 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 2.03 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 2.03 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 1.99 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 1.91 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.62 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.41 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.86 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.28 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.96 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.54 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.98 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.91 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.03 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 185 Djibouti 2.03 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 186 Bangladesh 1.93 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 186 Cayman Islands 1.93 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 189 Denmark 1.83 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 190 Andorra 1.81 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 191 Luxembourg 1.71 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for Costa Rica
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -2.57 % change on previous year (2024)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 10.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Costa Rica?
- Energy intensity in Costa Rica was 1.91 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022, according to International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 2.86 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2004.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.91 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022.
- How does Costa Rica rank for energy intensity?
- Costa Rica ranks 188th out of 201 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of energy needed to produce one unit of economic output. A lower number means that economies produce economic value in a less energy-intensive way. This data is measured in megajoules per dollar, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.