Costa Rica

Presidential RepublicPop5.3MGDP (PPP)$138.4BCI74Beta CP0.0→Beta

Costa Rica

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Overview

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.

Geography

Area

Land: 51,060 sq km
Note: note: includes Isla del Coco
Water: 40 sq km
Total: 51,100 sq km

Climate: tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Terrain: coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major active volcanoes

Land Use

Other: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Forest: 58.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 33.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.)

Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Coastline: 1,290 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,819 m
Mean elevation: 746 m

Irrigated land: 1,015 sq km (2012)
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Land Boundaries

Total: 661 km
Border countries: Nicaragua 313 km; Panama 348 km

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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 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
Natural resources: hydropower
Area comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 84 00 W
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 & Society

Literacy

Female: 94.1% (2018 est.)

Languages

Languages: Spanish (official), English
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.

Religions: Roman Catholic 47.5%, Evangelical and Pentecostal 19.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, other Protestant 1.2%, other 3.1%, none 27% (2021 est.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 10.86 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 34.9 years
Total: 36 years (2025 est.)
Female: 36.1 years

Population

Male: 2,654,314
Total: 5,304,932 (2025 est.)
Female: 2,650,618

Nationality

Noun: Costa Rican(s)
Adjective: Costa Rican

Tobacco Use

Male: 12.2% (2025 est.)
Total: 8.1% (2025 est.)
Female: 4.1% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 82.6% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 18.8% (male 506,041/female 482,481)
15 64 years: 70.2% (male 1,862,872/female 1,832,024)
65 years and over: 11.1% (2024 est.) (male 266,568/female 315,589)

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.)

Child Marriage

Women married BY age 15: 2% (2018)
Women married BY age 18: 17.1% (2018)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 42.7 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 26.2 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 6.1 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 16.5 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 2.69 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 25.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 1.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural: rural: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 6.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 31.2% national budget (2021 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 7 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 0.75% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.71 (2025 est.)
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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 77.7 years
Female: 82.9 years
Total population: 80.3 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 24 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural: rural: 97.6% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 2.4% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 2.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 3.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Major urban areas population: 1.462 million SAN JOSE (capital) (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 25.7% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 41.7% (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.9% (2018 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 15 years (2019 est.)
Total: 16 years (2019 est.)
Female: 16 years (2019 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

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

Capital

Name: San José
Etymology: Spanish settlers originally named the city Villa Nueva in 1736; it was later renamed for Saint Joseph
Time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Citizenship

Citizenship BY birth: yes
Citizenship BY descent only: yes
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Constitution

History: many previous; latest effective 8 November 1949
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

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
Local long form: República de Costa Rica
Local short form: Costa Rica
Conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
Conventional short form: Costa Rica

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Legal system: civil law system based on Spanish civil code; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Government type: presidential republic

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)
Subordinate courts: appellate courts; trial courts; first instance and justice of the peace courts; Superior Electoral Tribunal
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

Executive Branch

Note: note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
Chief of state: President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022)
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%
Head of government: President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022)
Most recent election date: 6 February 2022, with a runoff on 3 April 2022
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)
Expected date of next election: 1 February 2026 (a runoff, if needed, will take place in April 2026)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
National color(s): blue, white, red

National Heritage

Total world heritage sites: 4 (1 cultural, 3 natural)
Selected world heritage site locales: Guanacaste Conservation Area (n); Cocos Island National Park (n); Precolumbian Stone Spheres (c); La Amistad International Park (n)

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

Legislative Branch

Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 57 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)
Scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative structure: unicameral
Most recent election date: 2/6/2022
Expected date of next election: February 2026
Percentage of women in chamber: 49.1%
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)

National Anthem(s)

Title: "Himno Nacional de Costa Rica" (National Anthem of Costa Rica)
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
Lyrics/music: Jose Maria ZELEDON Brenes/Manuel Maria GUTIERREZ

National symbol(s): yiguirro (clay-colored thrush)
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
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 265-4795
Chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 499-2980
Chief of mission: Ambassador Catalina CRESPO SANCHO (since 19 April 2023)
Consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington DC
Email address and website: embcr-us@rree.go.cr
https://www.embassycr.org/

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: [506] 2519-2305
Embassy: Calle 98 Via 104, Pavas, San Jose
Telephone: [506] 2519-2000
Mailing address: 3180 St. George's Place, Washington DC  20521-3180
Chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Melinda HILDEBRAND (since 3 December 2025); Chargé d’Affaires Jennifer SAVAGE (since August 2025)
Email address and website: acssanjose@state.gov

https://cr.usembassy.gov/

International organisations: 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
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Legislature

COSTA RICA · LEGISLATURE

Legislative Assembly

57 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

Sovereign People’s Party (PPSO)

Parties

All political parties5 parties · 57 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

RC
Rodrigo Chaves
- Head of StateSince 2022
- Head of GovernmentSince 2022

Economy

Budget

Note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $26.333 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $25.953 billion (2023 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $36.7B

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022: $29.392 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $33.683 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $36.77 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $31.3B

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2022: $27.095 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $28.413 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $30.459 billion (2024 est.)

Industries: medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Labor force: 2.357 million (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 48.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Public debt 2017: 48.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022: 0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024: 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 584.901 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 620.785 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 647.136 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 544.051 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 515.11 (2024 est.)

Debt External

Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Debt external 2023: $15.574 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview: trade-based upper middle-income economy; green economy leader, having reversed deforestation; investing in blue economy infrastructure; declining poverty until hard impacts of COVID-19; lingering inequality and growing government debts have prompted a liquidity crisis

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 6.8%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 11.4% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 7.9% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: USA 40%, Netherlands 6%, China 5%, Guatemala 4%, Belgium 3% (2023)
Imports partners: USA 38%, China 15%, Mexico 6%, Brazil 3%, Guatemala 3% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $31,107

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $24,800 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $26,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $27,000 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 4.3%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.3% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: sugarcane, pineapples, bananas, oil palm fruit, milk, fruits, oranges, chicken, cassava, beef (2023)
Exports commodities: medical instruments, integrated circuits, orthopedic appliances, bananas, tropical fruits (2023)
Imports commodities: refined petroleum, plastic products, cars, medical instruments, broadcasting equipment (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): -$902.4M

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2022: -$2.272 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$1.239 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024: -$1.291 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 13.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $95.35 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 63.9% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 14.7% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: -0.1% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 15.8% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 38.5% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -32.8% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line: 24.4% (2023 est.)

Average Household Expenditures

On food: 21.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): -0.4%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.3% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: -0.4% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $138.371 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $126.189 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $132.64 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $138.371 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 20.7% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 23% (2024 est.)
Female: 26.2% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $8.554 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $13.225 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $14.177 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 19.7% (2024 est.)
Services: 68.8% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 3.6% (2024 est.)

Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Lowest 10%: 1.7% (2024 est.)
Highest 10%: 34.2% (2024 est.)

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2024: 45.8 (2024 est.)

Energy

Coal

Imports: 24,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 23,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Total petroleum production: 400 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 60,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Exports: 774 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 54 million kWh (2023 est.)
Consumption: 9.957 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 3.751 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.039 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 30.725 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Wind: 12.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Solar: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Geothermal: 13.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 72.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Biomass and waste: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)

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)
Internet country code: .cr

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 610,000 (2024 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2024 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 6.98 million (2024 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 136 (2024 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 1.15 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 1
Medium: 0
Key ports: Golfito, Puerto Caldera, Puerto Limon, Puerto Moin, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas
Very small: 5
Total ports: 6 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 4

Airports: 132 (2025)

Railways

Note: note: the entire rail network fell into disrepair and out of use at the end of the 20th century; since 2005, certain sections of rail have been rehabilitated
Total: 278 km (2014)
Narrow gauge: 278 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Heliports: 8 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 11 (2023)
BY type: other 11

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TI

Environment

Climate: tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands

Land Use

Other: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Forest: 58.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 33.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 82.6% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.46 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.4% (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: deforestation, largely from clearing land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 1.109 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial: 245.34 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Agricultural: 2.093 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 7.91 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 58,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 7.852 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 15.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 113 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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
Signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Military & 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 Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures 2020: 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures 2021: 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures 2022: 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures 2024: 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

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 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 service personnel strengths: approximately 10-15,000 Ministry of Public Security personnel (2025)

Space

Space agency/agencies: Costa Rican Space Agency (ACE; established by legislation in 2021) (2025)
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)
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

Transnational Issues

Illicit Drugs

Usg identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country

major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Idps: 58 (2024 est.)
Refugees: 249,521 (2024 est.)
Stateless persons: 345 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index74.0 / 100as of 2024-Q436 / 1902024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.81as of 2024-Q410 / 1702024-Q4

Freedom House StatusFree (100/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (65/100)as of 2024—2024

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Costa Rica — vintage 2026-Q1: Costa Rica factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/costa-rica

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), OECD.Stat, UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Costa Rica

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Rodrigo Chaves

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