2015 Edition

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 by natives, 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 became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their 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. In 1949, Costa Rica dissolved its armed forces. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.

Area

land

51,060 sq km

note

includes Isla del Coco

total

51,100 sq km

water

40 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Climate

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

Coastline

1,290 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Marine Life Conservation

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

1,582 cu m/yr (2006)

total

5.77 cu km/yr (15%/9%/77%)

Geographic coordinates

10 00 N, 84 00 W

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

Irrigated land

1,031 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (2)

Nicaragua 313 km, Panama 348 km

total

661 km

Land use

arable land 4.9%; permanent crops 6.7%; permanent pasture 25.5%

agricultural land

37.1%

forest

51.5%

other

11.4% (2011 est.)

Location

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes

volcanism

Arenal (elev. 1,670 m), which erupted in 2010, is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (elev. 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

Natural resources

hydropower

Terrain

coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major active volcanoes

Total renewable water resources

112.4 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

23.12% (male 569,181/female 543,835)

15-24 years

17.1% (male 419,712/female 403,668)

25-54 years

43.9% (male 1,062,378/female 1,051,058)

55-64 years

8.6% (male 202,401/female 211,709)

65 years and over

7.27% (male 161,831/female 188,371) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

15.91 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

5% (2002 est.)

total number

39,082

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.1% (2009)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

76.2% (2011)

Death rate

4.55 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Demographic profile

Costa Rica is a popular regional immigration destination because of its job opportunities and social programs. Almost 9% of the population is foreign-born, with Nicaraguans comprising nearly three-quarters of the foreign population. Many Nicaraguans who perform unskilled seasonal labor enter Costa Rica illegally or overstay their visas, which continues to be a source of tension. Less than 3% of Costa Rica's population lives abroad. The overwhelming majority of expatriates have settled in the United States after completing a university degree or in order to work in a highly skilled field.

Costa Rica's political stability, high standard of living, and well-developed social benefits system set it apart from its Central American neighbors. Through the government's sustained social spending - almost 20% of GDP annually - Costa Rica has made tremendous progress toward achieving its goal of providing universal access to education, healthcare, clean water, sanitation, and electricity. Since the 1970s, expansion of these services has led to a rapid decline in infant mortality, an increase in life expectancy at birth, and a sharp decrease in the birth rate. The average number of children born per women has fallen from about 7 in the 1960s to 3.5 in the early 1980s to below replacement level today. Costa Rica's poverty rate is lower than in most Latin American countries, but it has stalled at around 20% for almost two decades.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

12.9%

potential support ratio

7.7% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

45.4%

youth dependency ratio

32.4%

Drinking water source

urban: 99.6% of population

rural: 91.9% of population

total: 97.8% of population

urban: 0.4% of population

rural: 8.1% of population

total: 2.2% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

6.9% of GDP (2013)

Ethnic groups

white or mestizo 83.6%, mulato 6.7%, indigenous 2.4%, black of African descent 1.1%, other 1.1%, none 2.9%, unspecified 2.2% (2011 est.)

Health expenditures

9.9% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.26% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

200 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

8,800 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

7.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

9.25 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.46 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official), English

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.19 years (2015 est.)

male

75.75 years

total population

78.4 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

97.8% (2015 est.)

male

97.7%

total population

97.8%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

intermediate

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever (2013)

Major urban areas - population

SAN JOSE (capital) 1.17 million (2015)

Median age

female

30.9 years (2015 est.)

male

30 years

total

30.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Costa Rican

noun

Costa Rican(s)

Net migration rate

0.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24% (2014)

Physicians density

1.11 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

4,814,144 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.22% (2015 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 95.2% of population

rural: 92.3% of population

total: 94.5% of population

urban: 4.8% of population

rural: 7.7% of population

total: 5.5% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2013)

male

13 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.01 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.86 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

24.2% (2012 est.)

male

15%

total

18.4%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.74% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

76.8% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose

Capital

geographic coordinates

9 56 N, 84 05 W

name

San Jose

time difference

UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

previous 1825; latest adopted 7 November 1949; amended many times, last in 2005; note - amendment declaring Costa Rica a multicultural, multiethnic country pending final Legislative Assembly approval (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Costa Rica

conventional short form

Costa Rica

local long form

Republica de Costa Rica

local short form

Costa Rica

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Gonzalo GALLEGOS (since July 2013)

embassy

Calle 98 Via 104, Pavas, San Jose

FAX

[506] 2519-2305

mailing address

APO AA 34020

telephone

[506] 2519-2000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Roman MACAYA Hayes (since 18 September 2014)

consulate(s)

San Francisco

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa (FL), Washington DC; note - honorary consulates: Boston, Dallas, Denver, Tucson (AZ)

FAX

[1] (202) 265-4795

telephone

[1] (202) 480-2200

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet selected by the president

chief of state

President Luis Guillermo SOLIS Rivera (since 8 May 2014); First Vice President Helio FALLAS Venega (since 8 May 2014); Second Vice President Ana Helena CHACON Echeverria (since 8 May 2014); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Luis Guillermo SOLIS Rivera elected president; percent of vote - Luis Guillermo SOLIS Rivera (PAC) 77.8%; Johnny ARAYA (PLN) 22.2%

elections/appointments

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); election last held on 2 February 2014 with a runoff on 6 April 2014 (next to be held in February 2018)

head of government

President Luis Guillermo SOLIS Rivera (since 8 May 2014); First Vice President Helio FALLAS Venega (since 8 May 2014); Second Vice President Ana Helena CHACON Echeverria (since 8 May 2014)

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 hoist side of the red band; Costa Rica retained the earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when, in response to revolutionary activity in Europe, it was decided to incorporate the French colors into the national flag and a central red stripe was added; today the blue color is said to stand for the sky, opportunity, and perseverance, white denotes peace, happiness, and wisdom, while red represents the blood shed for freedom, as well as the generosity and vibrancy of the people

note

somewhat resembles the flag of North Korea; similar to the flag of Thailand but with the blue and red colors reversed

Government type

democratic republic

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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)

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

subordinate courts

appellate courts; first instance and justice of the peace courts; Superior Electoral Tribunal

Legal system

civil law system based on Spanish civil code; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - corresponding to the country's 7 provinces - by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLN 18, PAC 13, FA 9, PUSC 8, PML 4, other 5

elections

last held on 2 February 2014 (next to be held in February 2018)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Jose Maria ZELEDON Brenes/Manuel Maria GUTIERREZ

name

"Himno Nacional de Costa Rica" (National Anthem of Costa Rica)

note

adopted 1949; the anthem's music was originally written for an 1853 welcome ceremony for diplomatic missions from the United States and United Kingdom; the lyrics were added in 1903

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

National symbol(s)

yiguirro (clay-colored robin); national colors: blue, white, red

Political parties and leaders

Accessibility Without Exclusion or PASE [Oscar Andres LOPEZ Arias]

Broad Front (Frente Amplio) or PFA [Ana Patricia MORA]

Citizen Action Party or PAC [Olivier PEREZ Gonzalez]

Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Gerardo Justo OROZCO Alvarez]

Libertarian Movement Party or ML [Victor Danilo CUBERO Corrales]

National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]

National Liberation Party or PLN [Bernal JIMENEZ]

National Restoration Party or PRN [Carlos AVENDANO]

Patriotic Alliance [Jorge ARAYA Westover]

Popular Vanguard [Humberto VARGAS]

Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Gerardo VARGAS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist Party affiliate)

Chamber of Coffee Growers

Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate)

Confederation of Workers Rerum Novarum or CTRN (National Libertion Party affiliate)

Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (National Libertion Party affiliate)

Costa Rican Exporter's Chamber or CADEXCO

Costa Rican Solidarity Movement

Costa Rican Union of Private Sector Enterprises or UCCAEP

Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP

National Association for Economic Development or ANFE

National Association of Educators or ANDE

National Association of Public and Private Employees or ANEP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef, poultry, dairy; timber

Budget

expenditures

$9.728 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$6.931 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

21.5% (31 December 2010)

23% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.4% (31 December 2014 est.)

15.19% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$2.151 billion (2014 est.)

-$2.529 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$18.37 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$17.19 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.3 (2009)

45.9 (1997)

Economy - overview

Prior to the global economic crisis, Costa Rica enjoyed stable economic growth. The economy contracted 1.3% in 2009 but resumed growth at about 4% per year in 2010-14. While the traditional agricultural exports of bananas, coffee, sugar, and beef are still the backbone of commodity export trade, a variety of industrial and specialized agricultural products have broadened export trade in recent years. High value-added goods and services, including medical devices, have further bolstered exports. Tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange, as Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity makes it a key destination for ecotourism. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and relatively high education levels, as well as the incentives offered in the free-trade zones; and Costa Rica has attracted one of the highest levels of foreign direct investment per capita in Latin America. However, poor infrastructure, high energy costs, bureaucracy, weak investor protection, and legal uncertainty due to difficulty of enforcing contracts and overlapping and at times conflicting responsibilities between agencies, remain impediments to greater competitiveness. Costa Rica’s economy also faces challenges due to a rising fiscal deficit, rising public debt, and relatively low levels of domestic revenue. Poverty has remained around 20-25% for nearly 20 years, and the strong social safety net that had been put into place by the government has eroded due to increased financial constraints on government expenditures. Unlike the rest of Central America, Costa Rica is not highly dependent on remittances, which in 2013 represented 1.1% of GDP. Immigration from Nicaragua has increasingly become a concern for the government.

The estimated 300,000-500,000 Nicaraguans in Costa Rica, legally and illegally, are an important source of mostly unskilled labor, but also place heavy demands on the social welfare system. The US-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force on 1 January 2009 after significant delays within the Costa Rican legislature. CAFTA-DR has increased foreign direct investment in key sectors of the economy, including the insurance and telecommunications sectors recently opened to private investors.

Exchange rates

Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar -

539.3 (2014 est.)

499.77 (2013 est.)

502.9 (2012 est.)

505.66 (2011 est.)

525.83 (2010 est.)

Exports

$11.75 billion (2014 est.)

$11.53 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar; beef; seafood; electronic components, medical equipment

Exports - partners

US 38.4%, Netherlands 6.2%, Panama 5.3%, Nicaragua 4.4%, Guatemala 4.1% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

36.2%

government consumption

18.1%

household consumption

64.9%

imports of goods and services

-41.8%

investment in fixed capital

22%

investment in inventories

0.6%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

6%

industry

20.5%

services

73.4% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$14,900 (2014 est.)

$14,400 (2013 est.)

$13,900 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.5% (2014 est.)

3.4% (2013 est.)

5.2% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$48.14 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$70.97 billion (2014 est.)

$68.57 billion (2013 est.)

$66.29 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

14.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

15.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

16.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

39.5% (2009 est.)

lowest 10%

1.2%

Imports

$17.91 billion (2014 est.)

$17.15 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum, construction materials

Imports - partners

US 44.4%, China 10%, Mexico 6.7% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

4.7% (2014 est.)

Industries

medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.2% (2014 est.)

5.2% (2013 est.)

Labor force

2.257 million

note

this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

14%

industry

22%

services

64% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$2.015 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$1.443 billion (31 December 2011)

$1.445 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

24.8% (2011 est.)

Public debt

59.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

54.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$7.067 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$7.331 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$17.41 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$17.15 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$2.492 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.292 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$24.71 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$22.25 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$26.95 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$24.94 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$4.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.599 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

13.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

8.2% (2014 est.)

8.5% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

7.29 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

10,040 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

400 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

8.792 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

402 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

29.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

57.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

13.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

419 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.944 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

9.889 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

54,170 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

1,898 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

40,290 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

10,630 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

multiple 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 (2007)

Internet country code

.cr

Internet users

percent of population

50.9% (2014 est.)

total

2.4 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002)

Telephone system

domestic

point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available

general assessment

good domestic telephone service in terms of breadth of coverage; under the terms of CAFTA-DR, the state-run telecommunications monopoly is scheduled to be opened to competition from domestic and international firms, but has been slow to open to competition

international

country code - 506; landing points for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), MAYA-1, and the Pan American Crossing submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

19 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

880,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

149 (2014 est.)

total

7.1 million

Television broadcast stations

20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)

Airports

161 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

2

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

27

total

47

under 914 m

16 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

96 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

18

total

114

Merchant marine

by type

passenger/cargo 1 (2010)

total

1

Pipelines

refined products 662 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) - Puerto Limon; Pacific Ocean - Caldera

Railways

narrow gauge

278 km 1.067-m gauge

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 (2014)

total

278 km

Roadways

paved

10,133 km

total

39,018 km

unpaved

28,885 km (2010)

Waterways

730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

1,230,202 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,255,798

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

1,037,053 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,058,419

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

40,444 (2010 est.)

male

42,201

Military branches

no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police (2011)

Disputes - international

Costa Rica and Nicaragua regularly file border dispute cases over the delimitations of the San Juan River and the northern tip of Calero Island to the International Court of Justice (ICJ); in 2009, the ICJ ruled that Costa Rican vessels carrying out police activities could not use the river, but official Costa Rican vessels providing essential services to riverside inhabitants and Costa Rican tourists could travel freely on the river; in 2011, the ICJ provisionally ruled that both countries must remove personnel from the disputed area; in 2013, the ICJ rejected Nicaragua's 2012 suit to halt Costa Rica's construction of a highway paralleling the river on the grounds of irreparable environmental damage; in 2013, the ICJ, regarding the disputed territory, ordered that Nicaragua should refrain from dredging or canal construction and refill and repair damage caused by trenches connecting the river to the Caribbean and upheld its 2010 ruling that Nicaragua must remove all personnel; in early 2014, Costa Rica brought Nicaragua to the ICJ over offshore oil concessions in the disputed region

Illicit drugs

transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis in remote areas; domestic cocaine consumption, particularly crack cocaine, is rising; significant consumption of amphetamines; seizures of smuggled cash in Costa Rica and at the main border crossing to enter Costa Rica from Nicaragua have risen in recent years (2008)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

16,623 (Colombia) (2014)

stateless persons

1,200 (2014)