Costa Rica Electricity: Generation Mix, Demand and Emissions
Costa Rica generated 12.9 TWh of electricity in 2025, according to Ember. Hydro was the largest source at 74.9%, followed by wind (12.0%) and other renewables (11.9%). Demand was 12.6 TWh and each kWh generated emitted 25 gCO2/kWh. These are annual statistics for 2025, with monthly figures through October 2026; they are compiled from national sources and are not real time.
Key Facts
- Costa Rica generated 12.9 TWh of electricity in 2025.
- Hydro supplied 74.9% of Costa Rica's electricity in 2025.
- Wind supplied 12.0% of Costa Rica's electricity in 2025.
- Other renewables supplied 11.9% of Costa Rica's electricity in 2025.
- Low carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) supplied 100.0% of Costa Rica's generation in 2025.
- The carbon intensity of Costa Rica's electricity was 25 gCO2/kWh in 2025.
- Costa Rica's carbon intensity in 2025 was 22% lower than in 2000, when it was 31 gCO2/kWh.
- Costa Rica had the 82nd highest electricity demand among the 96 countries with Ember data for 2025.
Key Figures, 2025
| Measure | Value | As of / source |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 12.9 TWh | 2025 · Ember |
| Electricity demand | 12.6 TWh | 2025 · Ember |
| Demand per person | 2.42 MWh | 2025 · Ember |
| Net imports | -360 GWh | 2025 · Ember |
| Carbon intensity | 25 gCO2/kWh | 2025 · Ember |
| Power sector emissions | 0.32 MtCO2 | 2025 · Ember |
| Demand rank (countries with 2025 data) | 82 of 96 | 2025 · Ember |
Generation Mix, 2025
| Source | Generation | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 9.69 TWh | 74.9% |
| Wind | 1.55 TWh | 12.0% |
| Other renewables | 1.53 TWh | 11.9% |
| Solar | 110 GWh | 0.8% |
| Bioenergy | 60.0 GWh | 0.4% |
| Other fossil | 0 TWh | 0.0% |
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Year by Year
Ember annual statistics, 2000 to 2025| Year | Hydro | Wind | Other renewables | Solar | Bioenergy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.62 TWh | 180 GWh | 980 GWh | 0 TWh | 20.0 GWh |
| 2001 | 5.60 TWh | 190 GWh | 990 GWh | 0 TWh | 20.0 GWh |
| 2002 | 5.87 TWh | 260 GWh | 1.12 TWh | 0 TWh | 50.0 GWh |
| 2003 | 5.86 TWh | 310 GWh | 920 GWh | 0 TWh | 50.0 GWh |
| 2004 | 6.42 TWh | 260 GWh | 1.21 TWh | 0 TWh | 20.0 GWh |
| 2005 | 6.50 TWh | 200 GWh | 1.15 TWh | 0 TWh | 70.0 GWh |
| 2006 | 6.53 TWh | 270 GWh | 1.22 TWh | 0 TWh | 70.0 GWh |
| 2007 | 6.70 TWh | 240 GWh | 1.24 TWh | 0 TWh | 80.0 GWh |
| 2008 | 7.31 TWh | 200 GWh | 1.13 TWh | 0 TWh | 80.0 GWh |
| 2009 | 7.15 TWh | 330 GWh | 1.19 TWh | 0 TWh | 120 GWh |
| 2010 | 7.19 TWh | 360 GWh | 1.18 TWh | 0 TWh | 140 GWh |
| 2011 | 7.06 TWh | 410 GWh | 1.28 TWh | 0 TWh | 140 GWh |
| 2012 | 7.16 TWh | 530 GWh | 1.40 TWh | 10.0 GWh | 180 GWh |
| 2013 | 6.78 TWh | 490 GWh | 1.52 TWh | 20.0 GWh | 180 GWh |
| 2014 | 6.65 TWh | 740 GWh | 1.54 TWh | 20.0 GWh | 180 GWh |
| 2015 | 7.99 TWh | 1.08 TWh | 1.38 TWh | 30.0 GWh | 180 GWh |
| 2016 | 7.95 TWh | 1.15 TWh | 1.34 TWh | 30.0 GWh | 200 GWh |
| 2017 | 8.59 TWh | 1.29 TWh | 1.12 TWh | 40.0 GWh | 200 GWh |
| 2018 | 8.26 TWh | 1.80 TWh | 970 GWh | 60.0 GWh | 190 GWh |
| 2019 | 7.75 TWh | 1.80 TWh | 1.51 TWh | 70.0 GWh | 190 GWh |
| 2020 | 8.29 TWh | 1.46 TWh | 1.69 TWh | 70.0 GWh | 190 GWh |
| 2021 | 9.29 TWh | 1.57 TWh | 1.60 TWh | 80.0 GWh | 190 GWh |
| 2022 | 9.45 TWh | 1.37 TWh | 1.48 TWh | 80.0 GWh | 60.0 GWh |
| 2023 | 8.54 TWh | 1.49 TWh | 1.53 TWh | 90.0 GWh | 60.0 GWh |
| 2024 | 8.00 TWh | 1.24 TWh | 1.60 TWh | 90.0 GWh | 60.0 GWh |
| 2025 | 9.69 TWh | 1.55 TWh | 1.53 TWh | 110 GWh | 60.0 GWh |
| Year | Generation | Demand | Carbon intensity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12.9 TWh | 12.6 TWh | 25 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 11.0 TWh | 11.2 TWh | 26 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 11.7 TWh | 12.1 TWh | 25 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 12.4 TWh | 11.7 TWh | 25 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 12.7 TWh | 11.7 TWh | 27 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 11.7 TWh | 11.2 TWh | 28 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 11.4 TWh | 11.4 TWh | 32 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 11.4 TWh | 11.2 TWh | 35 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 11.3 TWh | 11.1 TWh | 29 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 10.9 TWh | 11.0 TWh | 38 gCO2/kWh |
Full year by year history for Costa Rica, 2000 to 2025
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.
Month by Month
Ember monthly statistics through October 2026| Month | Demand | Generation |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 1.02 TWh | 1.04 TWh |
| 2024-12 | 1.04 TWh | 1.12 TWh |
| 2025-01 | 1.06 TWh | 1.22 TWh |
| 2025-02 | 990 GWh | 1.02 TWh |
| 2025-03 | 1.13 TWh | 1.05 TWh |
| 2025-04 | 1.08 TWh | 1.08 TWh |
| 2025-05 | 1.12 TWh | 1.19 TWh |
| 2025-06 | 1.07 TWh | 1.13 TWh |
| 2025-07 | 1.11 TWh | 1.20 TWh |
| 2025-08 | 1.10 TWh | 1.11 TWh |
| 2025-09 | 1.07 TWh | 1.04 TWh |
| 2025-10 | 1.10 TWh | 1.09 TWh |
| 2025-11 | 1.07 TWh | 1.10 TWh |
| 2025-12 | 1.08 TWh | 1.05 TWh |
| 2026-01 | 1.10 TWh | 1.06 TWh |
| 2026-02 | 1.02 TWh | 1.07 TWh |
| 2026-03 | 1.18 TWh | 1.11 TWh |
| 2026-04 | 1.12 TWh | 1.07 TWh |
| 2026-05 | 1.19 TWh | 1.19 TWh |
| 2026-06 | 1.14 TWh | 1.12 TWh |
| 2026-07 | 1.18 TWh | 1.19 TWh |
| 2026-08 | 1.17 TWh | 1.22 TWh |
| 2026-09 | 1.13 TWh | 1.17 TWh |
| 2026-10 | 1.18 TWh | 1.19 TWh |
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of October 2026.
Seasonal Patterns in Costa Rica
Ember monthly statistics, complete years only, through October 2026Electricity demand by month
Look for the brightest columns. Averaged over 2019 to 2025, demand is highest in March and lowest in July, and the busiest month uses 5% more electricity per day than the quietest.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.06 | 0.99 | 1.13 | 1.08 | 1.12 | 1.07 | 1.11 | 1.10 | 1.07 | 1.10 | 1.07 | 1.08 |
| 2024 | 1.07 | 1.02 | 1.11 | 1.07 | 1.11 | 1.03 | 1.07 | 1.07 | 1.05 | 1.07 | 1.02 | 1.04 |
| 2023 | 1.01 | 0.93 | 1.04 | 0.99 | 1.07 | 1.00 | 1.01 | 1.05 | 1.01 | 1.04 | 1.01 | 1.03 |
| 2022 | 0.97 | 0.91 | 1.02 | 0.97 | 0.97 | 0.92 | 0.94 | 1.00 | 0.95 | 1.00 | 0.98 | 0.99 |
| 2021 | 0.92 | 0.88 | 0.99 | 0.93 | 0.96 | 0.94 | 0.96 | 0.97 | 0.93 | 0.98 | 0.96 | 0.96 |
| 2020 | 0.96 | 0.93 | 0.98 | 0.87 | 0.87 | 0.89 | 0.89 | 0.90 | 0.88 | 0.93 | 0.91 | 0.92 |
| 2019 | 0.95 | 0.89 | 0.99 | 0.96 | 0.99 | 0.94 | 0.95 | 0.96 | 0.92 | 0.94 | 0.92 | 0.92 |
- Lower demand per day
- Higher demand per day
- No data
- Each cell shows the month's total demand in TWh, and colour compares demand per day so short months are not shaded as quiet. Lowest cell 0.87 TWh, highest 1.13 TWh. Colours are relative to Costa Rica alone.
Low carbon share of generation by month
Look for the brightest columns. Averaged over 2019 to 2025, the low carbon share is highest in November (100%) and lowest in May (94%), a gap of 5.9 points.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 100% | 100% | 90% | 96% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 98% | 100% | 100% | 98% |
| 2024 | 83% | 84% | 79% | 75% | 74% | 94% | 97% | 94% | 93% | 99% | 100% | 100% |
| 2023 | 100% | 100% | 99% | 95% | 84% | 94% | 96% | 87% | 95% | 96% | 99% | 95% |
| 2022 | 100% | 98% | 94% | 99% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| 2021 | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| 2020 | 100% | 100% | 99% | 99% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| 2019 | 100% | 95% | 99% | 95% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
- Lower low carbon share
- Higher low carbon share
- No data
- Each cell shows the low carbon share. Lowest cell 74%, highest 100%. Colours are relative to Costa Rica alone.
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of October 2026. Complete calendar years only.
Countries With a Similar Electricity Mix
Ember annual, 2025Costa Rica's closest match is Norway, 83.9% the same.
- Norway 83.9% the same Norway generates 15.1 points more hydro than Costa Rica
- Iceland 83.2% the same Iceland generates 16.8 points more other renewables than Costa Rica
- Ethiopia 78.4% the same Ethiopia generates 21.6 points more hydro than Costa Rica
- New Zealand 76.7% the same New Zealand generates 20.9 points less hydro than Costa Rica
- Sudan 76.2% the same Sudan generates 20.3 points more other fossil than Costa Rica
How close: the share of generation that would have to change fuel for one mix to match the other (half the sum of the fuel share differences); 100% minus that is "the same". Grids under 1 TWh are skipped. Grid twins: the 25 closest pairs and every country's nearest match
Costa Rica Electricity FAQ
What is the main source of electricity in Costa Rica?
Hydro was the largest source of electricity in Costa Rica in 2025, supplying 74.9% of generation, followed by wind (12.0%) and other renewables (11.9%). Figures are Ember annual statistics.
How much electricity does Costa Rica use?
Costa Rica used 12.6 TWh of electricity in 2025, about 2.42 MWh per person.
How clean is Costa Rica's electricity?
Generating a kilowatt hour of electricity in Costa Rica emitted 25 gCO2/kWh in 2025, and low carbon sources supplied 100.0% of generation. That is 95% below the world average of 460 gCO2/kWh.
Does Costa Rica import electricity?
No. Costa Rica was a net exporter in 2025, exporting 360 GWh more than it imported.
When does Costa Rica use the most electricity?
Averaged over 2019 to 2025, Costa Rica's electricity demand is highest in March and lowest in July. The busiest month uses 5% more electricity per day than the quietest (Ember monthly data).
Related
Cite this page
World Power Monitor. (2026). Costa Rica Electricity: Generation Mix, Demand and Emissions. https://worldpowermonitor.com/countries/costa-rica/
World Power Monitor. Costa Rica Electricity: Generation Mix, Demand and Emissions. Data as of 2026-10. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/countries/costa-rica/
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author = {{World Power Monitor}},
year = {2026},
note = {Data as of 2026-10. Data from Ember.},
url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/countries/costa-rica/}
} Permalink: https://worldpowermonitor.com/countries/costa-rica/
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