THE WORLD, CONNECTEDGeopolitical Relationship Atlas
BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP

Slovenia and Costa Rica

Slovenia and Costa Rica cooperate in environmental diplomacy, research and human rights. The first visit by a Costa Rican foreign minister to Slovenia, in February 2026, sought to expand multilateral coordination towards more regular bilateral ties.

Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08

History and institutional framework

Tanja Fajon received Arnold André Tinoco on 16 February 2026.

What merchandise trade shows

In 2025, goods trade between Slovenia and Costa Rica totalled 21.3 million current USD.

Documented trade sectors

Within the selected chapters, electrical and electronic equipment stands out in shipments from Slovenia to Costa Rica, at 0.707 million USD in 2025.

Bilateral indicators

Blank cells: data unavailable.

Indicators of the relationship between Slovenia and Costa Rica
IndicatorValuePeriod
Goods trade21.27 M USD2025 · Comtrade
Goods: Slovenia to Costa Rica3.09 M USD2025 · Comtrade
Goods: Costa Rica to Slovenia18.18 M USD2025 · Comtrade
Services trade
Export share: Slovenia to Costa Rica0.00383 %2025 · Comtrade
Export share: Costa Rica to Slovenia
Investment stock: Slovenia in Costa Rica
Investment stock: Costa Rica in Slovenia
Definitions and sources

Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.

Goods trade
2025 · UN Comtrade; reporters SVN, SWZ, SYC, TCD, TJK, TKM, TUR, UGA, UZB · Goods; full calendar year; reporter SVN. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF; no addition of mirror declarations. Both directions are identified from the same customs authority.
Goods: Slovenia to Costa Rica
2025 · UN Comtrade; reporters SVN, SWZ, SYC, TCD, TJK, TKM, TUR, UGA, UZB · Goods; full calendar year; reporter SVN. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF; no addition of mirror declarations. Both directions are identified from the same customs authority.
Goods: Costa Rica to Slovenia
2025 · UN Comtrade; reporters SVN, SWZ, SYC, TCD, TJK, TKM, TUR, UGA, UZB · Goods; full calendar year; reporter SVN. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF; no addition of mirror declarations. Both directions are identified from the same customs authority.
Export share: Slovenia to Costa Rica
2025 · UN Comtrade; reporters SVN, SWZ, SYC, TCD, TJK, TKM, TUR, UGA, UZB · Exports to the partner / worldwide exports by the same reporter; same year and coverage.

Country comparison

Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.

Economic and demographic comparison of Slovenia and Costa Rica
IndicatorSloveniaCosta Rica
Nominal GDP79.65 billion USD2025 · WB102.9 billion USD2025 · WB
GDP per capita37,376.22 USD2025 · WB19,970.1 USD2025 · WB
GDP growth1.06 %2025 · WB4.56 %2025 · WB
Policy interest rate
Inflation · annual average2.37 %Annual average · 2025 · WB-0.07 %Annual average · 2025 · WB
Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
Unemployment3.18 %ILO est.2025 · WB6.84 %ILO est.2025 · WB
Budget balance (% of GDP)-2.4 %IMF est.2025 · IMF-3.4 %IMF est.2025 · IMF
Gross public debt (% of GDP)65.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF60.4 %IMF est.2025 · IMF
Current account balance (% of GDP)3.55 %2025 · WB-0.67 %2025 · WB
Population2,130,9862025 · WB5,152,9502025 · WB
Area20,480 km²2023 · WB51,100 km²2023 · WB
Military expenditure
Military expenditure (% of GDP)
Definitions, dates and sources

Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.

Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0

Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.

Nominal GDP
Current USDSlovenia: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Costa Rica: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
GDP per capita
Current USD per personSlovenia: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Costa Rica: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
GDP growth
Annual real change (%)Slovenia: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Costa Rica: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
Policy interest rate
Central bank instrument (%)
Inflation · annual average
Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Slovenia: 2025 · Annual average CPI change (%) · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Costa Rica: 2025 · Annual average CPI change (%) · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency stated
Unemployment
% of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionSlovenia: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Costa Rica: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
Budget balance
General government (% of GDP)Slovenia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.Costa Rica: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
Gross public debt
General government (% of GDP)Slovenia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.Costa Rica: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
Current account balance
% of GDPSlovenia: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Costa Rica: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
Population
PeopleSlovenia: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Costa Rica: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
Area
Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceSlovenia: 2023 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Costa Rica: 2023 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
Military expenditure
Current USD per year; SIPRI series
Military expenditure (% of GDP)
Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship

What they buy and sell

Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.

Slovenia to Costa Rica

2025

Selected products exported from Slovenia to Costa Rica
Product or sectorValue / share
Electrical and electronic equipment0.707 M USD2025 · Source
Vehicles and components0.153 M USD2025 · Source
Machinery and mechanical appliances0.0842 M USD2025 · Source
Pharmaceutical products0.000462 M USD2025 · Source

Selection of eight chapters, not an exhaustive ranking. Same reporter, year and coverage as the total. Unpublished chapters are not imputed. UN Comtrade; reporters SVN, SWE

Costa Rica to Slovenia

2025

Selected products exported from Costa Rica to Slovenia
Product or sectorValue / share
Pharmaceutical products1 M USD2025 · Source
Electrical and electronic equipment0.627 M USD2025 · Source
Machinery and mechanical appliances0.00986 M USD2025 · Source
Vehicles and components0.00183 M USD2025 · Source

Selection of eight chapters, not an exhaustive ranking. Same reporter, year and coverage as the total. Unpublished chapters are not imputed. UN Comtrade; reporters SVN, SWE

How trade has changed

Millions of current USD · full calendar years

TotalSlovenia to Costa RicaCosta Rica to Slovenia
Goods trade between Slovenia and Costa RicaGoods; full calendar years 2021–2025; same reporter SVN; current USD without inflation adjustment. Complete data in the table following the chart.07.51522.53020212022202320242025

Goods; full calendar years 2021–2025; same reporter SVN; current USD without inflation adjustment. UN Comtrade / SVN · Accessed: 2026-10-08.

View chart figures
Millions of current USD
PeriodTotalSlovenia to Costa RicaCosta Rica to Slovenia
202113.9310.9
202215.53.112.4
202320.42.517.9
202421.7417.7
202521.33.118.2

Connections between people

Both supported a woman becoming the next UN Secretary-General; Tinoco reported Rebeca Grynspan's planned candidacy. [1]

Residents, study and travel

Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.

Indicators of human connections between Slovenia and Costa Rica
IndicatorValuePeriod / source
Residents from Slovenia living in Costa Rica
Residents from Costa Rica living in Slovenia
Study and training: Slovenia in Costa Rica
Study and training: Costa Rica in Slovenia
Academic stays: Slovenia in Costa Rica
Academic stays: Costa Rica in Slovenia
Travel: Slovenia to Costa Rica
Travel: Costa Rica to Slovenia
What each figure measures

Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.

Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.

Underlying ties

History, institutions and long-standing issues.

History and institutional framework

Tanja Fajon received Arnold André Tinoco on 16 February 2026. They highlighted Green Group collaboration, established on Slovenia's initiative in 2009, and work on the right to a healthy environment. [1]

The scale of both economies

Nominal GDP for Slovenia is 79.6 billion USD (2025), compared with 102.9 for Costa Rica (2025). The reference populations are 2.13 and 5.15 million, respectively. In the same year, the economy of Slovenia was 0.774 times that of Costa Rica in nominal GDP. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [5] [6]

Recent developments

Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08

Cooperation and bilateral issues

National Institute of Biology researchers and Slovenian students were already participating in environmental missions in Costa Rica. They examined opportunities in water, waste, forest and disaster management and establishing regular political consultations. They also exchanged Human Rights Council experience following Costa Rica's 2023–2025 term. Both supported a woman becoming the next UN Secretary-General; Tinoco reported Rebeca Grynspan's planned candidacy. [1]

What merchandise trade shows

In 2025, merchandise trade between the two countries (Slovenia and Costa Rica) totalled 21.3 million current USD. Shipments from the first to the second were 3.1 million; those in the opposite direction, 18.2 million. The difference between the two flows was 15.1 million, in favour of Costa Rica. This is a goods balance, not the total balance of the economic relationship: it excludes services, income and transfers. Both directions come from a single customs reporter to avoid adding mirror records. [2]

The partner's share of exports

Sales from Slovenia to the partner represented 0.00383% of its worldwide goods exports in 2025. The share compares the same reporter, year and coverage. It measures export concentration, not the percentage of GDP dependent on this relationship. A partner may be important in a specific sector even if its share of total goods trade is small. [2]

Five years of trade trends

The consistent series shows 13.9 million USD in 2021 and 21.3 million in 2025. The change between the two endpoints was +53.5 % in current dollars. The highest annual value in the period was recorded in 2024, at 21.7 million. The chart allows the two directions to be compared to see whether they moved together or differently. The change combines quantities, prices and exchange rates; it is not automatically attributed to a treaty, a visit or a political decision. The same reporter is retained and missing years are not interpolated. [3]

Documented trade sectors

Within the selected chapters, electrical and electronic equipment stands out in shipments from Slovenia to Costa Rica, at 0.707 million USD in 2025. Within the selected chapters, pharmaceutical products stands out in shipments from Costa Rica to Slovenia, at 1 million USD in 2025. The table compares eight selected chapters with the same coverage as the trade total. It is not a complete list or proof that the first item in this selection is the leading product across the entire relationship. A chapter groups numerous goods: machinery and components, for example, do not describe a single business transaction. [4]

Sources and data

Periods and scope of the figures

Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.

  1. Bilateral relations — SVN-CRI

    www.gov.si · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08

  2. Bounded matrix; reporter, partner, year, chapter and direction identified in each record

    UN Comtrade; reporters SVN, SWZ, SYC, TCD, TJK, TKM, TUR, UGA, UZB · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08

  3. Trade series 2021–2025

    UN Comtrade / SVN · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08

  4. Bounded matrix; reporter, partner, year, chapter and direction identified in each record

    UN Comtrade; reporters SVN, SWE · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08

  5. Official series — gdp

    World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

  6. Official series — population

    World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

Additional sources on products and human connections
  • UN Comtrade; reporters SVN, SWE

    2026-10-08 · Accessed: 2026-10-08 · Bounded matrix; reporter, partner, year, chapter and direction identified in each record.