Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
23 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
1.15 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
over two dozen privately owned TV stations and 1 publicly owned TV station; cable network services are widely available; more than 100 privately owned radio stations and a public radio network (2022)
Communications: Internet country code
.cr
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
87.17% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
12 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
610,000 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
136 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
6.98 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
sugarcane, pineapples, bananas, oil palm fruit, milk, fruits, oranges, chicken, cassava, beef (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
21.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$25.953 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$26.333 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$2.431 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$2.453 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$1.921 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$1.257 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$2.189 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$1.867 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$766.6 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$652.1 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$2.063 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$2.272 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$1.239 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$1.291 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$15.574 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
515.110 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
499.767 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
538.317 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
534.566 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
544.739 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
567.513 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
576.973 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
587.295 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
584.901 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
620.785 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
647.136 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
544.051 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
515.110 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
medical instruments, integrated circuits, orthopedic appliances, bananas, tropical fruits (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$13.886 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$16.314 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$16.930 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$18.396 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$19.827 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$21.060 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$22.112 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$19.908 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$23.500 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$29.392 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$33.683 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$36.77 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
38.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
14.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
63.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-32.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
15.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
-0.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
3.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
19.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
68.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$31,107 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$95.35 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$159.575 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
48.4 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
48.7 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
48.3 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
48.0 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
48.2 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
49.2 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
48.7 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
47.2 (2022 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
46.7 (2023 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024
45.8 (2024 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
34.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
1.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, plastic products, cars, medical instruments, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$13.061 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$17.360 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$18.195 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$19.552 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$20.728 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$20.250 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$17.616 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$22.480 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$27.095 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$28.413 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$30.459 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
4.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
0.80% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
-0.02% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
1.63% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
2.22% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
2.10% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
0.72% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
1.73% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
8.27% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
0.53% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
-0.41% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
2.357 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
17.10% (2025 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
48.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$78.151 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$84.437 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$93.455 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$100.717 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$116.688 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$111.258 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$120.696 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$126.189 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$132.64 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$138.371 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
3.65% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
4.20% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
4.16% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
2.62% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
2.42% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-4.27% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
7.94% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.55% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
5.11% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.32% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$16,394 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$17,525 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$19,202 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$20,499 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$23,340 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$22,100 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$23,853 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$26,226 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$28,909 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$596.4 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$593.9 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$552.0 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$524.8 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$594.1 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$7.834 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$7.574 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$7.150 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$7.501 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$8.937 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$7.232 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$6.921 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$8.554 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$13.225 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$14.177 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
13.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
10.81% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
16.43% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
15.14% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
11.32% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
8.32% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
6.94% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
26.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
20.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
23% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
23,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
24,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: geothermal
13.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
72.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
12.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
9.957 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
774 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
54 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
3.751 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
1.039 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
30.725 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
60,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
400 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
58,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
7.852 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
7.91 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation, largely from clearing land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Marine Life Conservation
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
33.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
58.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
8.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
15.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
113 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
2.093 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
245.34 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
1.109 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
79.31% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
1.46 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
5.4% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Geography: Area: land
51,060 sq km
Geography: Area: water
40 sq km
Geography: Coastline
1,290 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Cerro Chirripo 3,819 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
746 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
10 00 N, 84 00 W
Geography: Geography - note
four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65
Geography: Irrigated land
1,015 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Nicaragua 313 km; Panama 348 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
661 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
33.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
58.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
8.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes volcanism: Arenal (1,670 m) is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (3,432 m), situated just east of San Jose, has the potential to spew ash over the capital city, as it did between 1963 and 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Miravalles, Poas, Rincon de la Vieja, and Turrialba
Geography: Population distribution
roughly half of the nation's population resides in urban areas; the capital of San Jose is the largest city and home to approximately one fifth of the population
Geography: Terrain
coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major active volcanoes
Government: Administrative divisions
7 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Government: Capital: etymology
Spanish settlers originally named the city Villa Nueva in 1736; it was later renamed for Saint Joseph
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
9 56 N, 84 05 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
7 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposals require the signatures of at least 10 Legislative Assembly members or petition of at least 5% of qualified voters; consideration of proposals requires two-thirds majority approval in each of three readings by the Assembly, followed by preparation of the proposal as a legislative bill and its approval by simple majority of the Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership; a referendum is required only if approved by at least two thirds of the Assembly
Government: Constitution: history
many previous; latest effective 8 November 1949
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Costa Rica
Government: Country name: etymology
the name means "rich coast" in Spanish; Christopher COLUMBUS named it in 1502, referring to the region's abundant vegetation and water
Government: Country name: local long form
República de Costa Rica
Government: Country name: local short form
Costa Rica
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador-designate Melinda HILDEBRAND (since 3 December 2025); Chargé d’Affaires Jennifer SAVAGE (since August 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
acssanjose@state.gov https://cr.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Calle 98 Via 104, Pavas, San Jose
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[506] 2519-2305
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
3180 St. George's Place, Washington DC 20521-3180
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[506] 2519-2000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Catalina CRESPO SANCHO (since 19 April 2023)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington DC
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
embcr-us@rree.go.cr https://www.embassycr.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 265-4795
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 499-2980
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet selected by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2022: Rodrigo CHAVES Robles elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 27.3%, Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 16.8%, Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PNR) 14.9%, Eliecer FEINZAIG Mintz (PLP) 12.4%, Lineth SABORIO Chaverri (PUSC) 12.4%, Jose Maria VILLALTA Florez-Estrada 8.7% (PFA), other 7.5%; percent of vote in second round - Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 52.8%, Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 47.2% 2018: Carlos ALVARADO Quesada elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 25%; Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 21.6%; Antonio ALVAREZ (PLN) 18.6%; Rodolfo PIZA (PUSC) 16%; Juan Diego CASTRO (PIN) 9.5%; Rodolfo HERNANDEZ (PRSC) 4.9%, other 4.4%; percent of vote in second round - Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 60.7%; Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 39.3%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president and vice presidents directly elected on the same ballot by modified majority popular vote (40% threshold) for a 4-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
1 February 2026 (a runoff, if needed, will take place in April 2026)
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
6 February 2022, with a runoff on 3 April 2022
Government: Flag
description: five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double-width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk placed toward the left side of the red band meaning: the blue is said to stand for the sky, opportunity, and perseverance; the white for peace, happiness, and wisdom; and the red for the blood shed for freedom, as well as Costa Ricans' generosity and vibrancy history: Costa Rica retained the earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when, in response to revolutions in Europe, it was decided to incorporate the French colors by adding a central red stripe
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ACS, BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 22 judges organized into 3 cassation chambers each with 5 judges and the Constitutional Chamber with 7 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court of Justice judges elected by the National Assembly for 8-year terms with renewal decided by the National Assembly
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
appellate courts; trial courts; first instance and justice of the peace courts; Superior Electoral Tribunal
Government: Legal system
civil law system based on Spanish civil code; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
February 2026
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
2/6/2022
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
57 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
National Liberation Party (PLN) (19); Democratic Social Progress Party (PPSD) (10); Christian Social Unity Party (USC) (9); New Republic Party (NR) (7); Broad Front (FA) (6); Progressive Liberal Party (LP) (6)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
49.1%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1949; the music was originally written for a welcome ceremony in 1852 for the US and UK diplomatic missions; the lyrics were added in 1900
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Jose Maria ZELEDON Brenes/Manuel Maria GUTIERREZ
Government: National coat of arms
the Costa Rican coat of arms highlights the country’s natural beauty and history; three volcanoes, each topped with a white cloud, are surrounded with water, symbolizing the seaports of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans; the rising sun in the background stands for the birth of a new nation, and the seven white stars for the country's provinces; the two merchant ships carrying Costa Rica’s flag are a reminder of the maritime trade that shaped the country's history
Government: National color(s)
blue, white, red
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Guanacaste Conservation Area (n); Cocos Island National Park (n); Precolumbian Stone Spheres (c); La Amistad International Park (n)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
4 (1 cultural, 3 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Government: National symbol(s)
yiguirro (clay-colored thrush)
Government: Political parties
Accessibility Without Exclusion or PASE Broad Front (Frente Amplio) or PFA Citizen Action Party or PAC Costa Rican Renewal Party or PRC Here Costa Rica Commands Party or ACRM Liberal Progressive Party or PLP Libertarian Movement Party or ML National Integration Party or PIN National Liberation Party or PLN National Restoration Party or PRN New Generation or PNG New Republic Party or PNR Social Christian Republican Party or PRSC Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC of UNIDAD Social Democratic Progress Party or PPSD
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Introduction: Background
Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance from Indigenous populations, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two-and-a-half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica was one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. General Federico TINOCO Granados led a coup in 1917, but the threat of US intervention pushed him to resign in 1919. In 1948, landowner Jose FIGUERES Ferrer raised his own army and rebelled against the government. The brief civil war ended with an agreement to allow FIGUERES to remain in power for 18 months, then step down in favor of the previously elected Otilio ULATE. FIGUERES was later elected twice in his own right, in 1953 and 1970. Costa Rica experienced destabilizing waves of refugees from Central American civil wars in the 1970s and 1980s, but peace in the region has since helped the economy rebound. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries.
Military and Security: Military - note
Costa Rica relies on specialized paramilitary units within the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) for internal security missions and countering transnational threats such as narcotics smuggling and organized crime, as well as for participating in regional security operations and exercises; MPS forces have received advisory and training support from the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Ministry of Public Security (Ministerio de Seguridad Pública de Costa Rica): National Police (Fuerza Pública), Air Surveillance Service (Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea), National Coast Guard Service (Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas), Drug Control Police (Policía Control de Drogas), Border Police (Policia de Fronteras), Professional Migration Police (Policía Profesional de Migración) Ministry of Presidency: Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), Special Intervention Unit (UEI) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 10-15,000 Ministry of Public Security personnel (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the National Police are lightly armed although small special units are trained and equipped for tactical operations; the US has provided equipment and support to forces such as the Coast Guard, including secondhand US vessels and aircraft (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
18.8% (male 506,041/female 482,481)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
70.2% (male 1,862,872/female 1,832,024)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
11.1% (2024 est.) (male 266,568/female 315,589)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
2.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
3.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
10.86 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
2% (2018)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
17.1% (2018)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.9% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
6.87% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
41.7% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
5.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
16.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
6.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
42.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
26.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
6.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
31.2% national budget (2021 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
5.31% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
White or Mestizo 83.6%, Mulatto 6.7%, Indigenous 2.4%, Black or African descent 1.1%, other 1.1%, none 2.9%, unspecified 2.2% (2011 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.71 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
7.6% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
25.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.60% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.1 beds/1,000 population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
6.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
7 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Spanish (official), English
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
83.6 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
78.4 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
94.1% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
97.41% (2011 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
1.462 million SAN JOSE (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
24 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
36.1 years
People and Society: Median age: male
34.9 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Costa Rican
People and Society: Net migration rate
1.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
25.7% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
2.69 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
5,129,910 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
roughly half of the nation's population resides in urban areas; the capital of San Jose is the largest city and home to approximately one fifth of the population
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.75% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
2,650,618
People and Society: Population: male
2,654,314
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 97.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 2.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
16 years (2019 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
15 years (2019 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
16 years (2019 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.84 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
4.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
12.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
8.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.32 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
79.31% (2024 est.)
Space: Key space-program milestones
2018 - first domestically produced remote sensing cube satellite (Irazú) for monitoring tropical forests and climate change launched by US and deployed from the International Space Station 2021 - signed protocols for newly established Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency; opened US commercial company’s space radar facility for mapping and space situational awareness 2022 - domestically produced scientific device (Proyecto Musa or Musa Project) launched on European rocket 2024 - participated in first China-Latin America and the Caribbean Space Cooperation Forum
Space: Space agency/agencies
Costa Rican Space Agency (ACE; established by legislation in 2021) (2025)
Space: Space program overview
has a small, recently established program focused on using space to develop the country’s economy and industry, including acquiring and using satellites; has built a remote sensing (RS) cube satellite; has relations with US space agencies and commercial space industries, as well as with the ESA and the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2025)
Transnational Issues: Illicit drugs: USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
58 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
249,521 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
345 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
132 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
TI
Transportation: Heliports
8 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
other 11
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
11 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Golfito, Puerto Caldera, Puerto Limon, Puerto Moin, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
4
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
6 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
5
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
278 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
278 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.