Costa Rica continues to show positive signs in its public finances as of the end of February 2026.
The Ministry of Finance reports that the central government's debt fell to 58.31% of gross domestic product, representing a decline of 2.1 percentage points compared with the end of 2025.
In addition, the country achieved a primary surplus of over 86 billion colones, marking the fifth consecutive year in which revenues have exceeded the state's basic expenses.
At the same time, interest payments also fell by 7.41% in the third quarter, reflecting lower costs for both domestic and foreign debt.
However, not all revenue growth reflects structural improvement. Part of the increase is explained by an extraordinary income associated with the sale of a private company, which authorities describe as a temporary effect.
Expenditures fell by 31% year-over-year in the third quarter, driven primarily by lower interest payments and a reduction in transfers to the public sector.
These results have been well-received by international markets, evidenced by an improvement in the country risk indicator, which positions Costa Rica with a lower perceived risk compared to other countries in the region.
In summary, the country is moving towards greater fiscal stability, although there are pending challenges to consolidate sustainable revenue growth.
This is a news service prepared by ICS. For more information about the story, write to info@ics.cr or call 2519-9992 ICS, tax specialists.