2018 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. On 1 December 1948, 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

elevation extremes

0 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean

mean elevation

746 m

note

3819 highest point: Cerro Chirripo

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

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

1,015 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

border countries (2)

Nicaragua 313 km, Panama 348 km

total

661 km

Land Use

arable land: 4.9% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 6.7% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 25.5% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

37.1% (2011 est.)

forest

51.5% (2011 est.)

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 volcanoesvolcanism: Arenal (1,670 m), which erupted in 2010, 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

Natural Resources

hydropower

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

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0-14 years

22.43% (male 572,172 /female 546,464)

15-24 years

15.94% (male 405,515 /female 389,433)

25-54 years

44.04% (male 1,105,944 /female 1,090,434)

55-64 years

9.48% (male 229,928 /female 242,696)

65 years and over

8.11% (male 186,531 /female 218,025) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

15.3 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

1.1% (2008)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

76.2% (2011)

Death Rate

4.8 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic Profile

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.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.

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

12.9 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

7.7 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

45.4 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

32.4 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 99.6% of population

rural: 91.9% of population

total: 97.8% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population

rural: 8.1% of population

total: 2.2% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

7.1% of GDP (2016)

Ethnic Groups

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

Health Expenditures

9.3% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

0.4% (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids Deaths

<200 (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

13,000 (2017 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), English

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

81.7 years (2018 est.)

male

76.2 years (2018 est.)

total population

78.9 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

female

97.8% (2015 est.)

male

97.7% (2015 est.)

total population

97.8% (2015 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases

degree of risk

intermediate (2016)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea (2016)

note

active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

1.358 million SAN JOSE (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

25 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

32.2 years (2018 est.)

male

31.2 years

total

31.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Costa Rican

noun

Costa Rican(s)

Net Migration Rate

0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

25.7% (2016)

Physicians Density

1.15 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

4,987,142 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.13% (2018 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 71.8%, Evangelical and Pentecostal 12.3%, other Protestant 2.6%, Jehovah's Witness 0.5%, other 2.4%, none 10.4% (2016 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 95.2% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 92.3% of population (2015 est.)

total: 94.5% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 4.8% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 7.7% of population (2015 est.)

total: 5.5% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

16 years (2015)

male

15 years (2015)

total

15 years (2015)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.86 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.89 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

25.9% (2017 est.)

male

17.6% (2017 est.)

total

20.6% (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.5% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

79.3% of total population (2018)

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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent only

yes

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

7 years

Constitution

amendments

proposals require the signatures of at least 10 Legislative Assembly members or by petition of at least 5% of qualified voters; consideration of proposals requires two-thirds majority approval in each of 3 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; amended many times, last in 2015 (2018)

history

many previous; latest effective 8 November 1949 (2018)

Country Name

conventional long form

Republic of Costa Rica

conventional short form

Costa Rica

etymology

the name means "rich coast" in Spanish and was first applied in the early colonial period of the 16th century

local long form

Republica de Costa Rica

local short form

Costa Rica

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Ambassador Sharon DAY (since 5 October 2017)

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 Fernando LLORCA Castro (since 17 September 2018)

consulate(s)

Saint Paul (MN), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tucson (AZ)

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington DC

FAX

[1] (202) 265-4795

telephone

[1] (202) 480-2200

Executive Branch

cabinet

Cabinet selected by the president

chief of state

President Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (since 8 May 2018); First Vice President Epsy CAMPBELL Barr (since 8 May 2018); Second Vice President Marvin RODRIGUEZ Cordero (since 8 May 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

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 (PRS) 4.9%, other 4.4%; percent of vote in second round - Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 60.7%; Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 39.3%

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 4 February 2018 with a runoff on 1 April 2018 (next to be held in February 2022)

head of government

President Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (since 8 May 2018); First Vice President Epsy CAMPBELL Barr (since 8 May 2018); Second Vice President Marvin RODRIGUEZ Cordero (since 8 May 2018)

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

presidential 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 courts

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; trial 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 closed list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PLN 19.5%, PRN 18.2%, PAC 16.3%, PUSC 14.6%, PLN 7.7%, PRS 4.2%, PFA 4%, ADC 2.5%, ML 2.3%, PASE 2.3%, PNG 2.2%, other 6.2%; seats by party - PLN 17, PRN 14, PAC 10, PUSC 9, PLN 4, PRS 2, PFA 1

elections

last held on 4 February 2018 (next to be held in February 2022)

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 US and UK; 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 Castellanos]Christian Democratic Alliance or ADC [Mario REDONDO Poveda]Citizen Action Party or PAC [Marcia GONZALEZ Aguiluz]Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Gonzalo Alberto RAMIREZ Zamora]Libertarian Movement Party or ML [Victor Danilo CUBERO Corrales]National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]National Liberation Party or PLN [Jorge Julio PATTONI Saenz]National Restoration Party or PRN [Carlos Luis AVENDANO Calvo]New Generation or PNG [Sergio MENA]Patriotic Alliance [Jorge ARAYA Westover]Social Christian Republican Party or PRS [Dragos DOLANESCU Valenciano]Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Pedro MUNOZ Fonseca]

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

11.92 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

8.357 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-6.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

3.5% (31 December 2016 est.)

21.5% (31 December 2010)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

11.37% (31 December 2017 est.)

11.64% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

-$1.692 billion (2017 est.)

-$1.326 billion (2016 est.)

Debt External

$26.83 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$24.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

48.5 (2014)

49.2 (2013)

Economy Overview

Since 2010, Costa Rica has enjoyed strong and stable economic growth - 3.8% in 2017. Exports of bananas, coffee, sugar, and beef are the backbone of its commodity exports. Various industrial and processed agricultural products have broadened exports in recent years, as have high value-added goods, including medical devices. Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity also 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; Costa Rica has attracted one of the highest levels of foreign direct investment per capita in Latin America. The US-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which became effective for Costa Rica in 2009, helped increase foreign direct investment in key sectors of the economy, including insurance and telecommunication. However, poor infrastructure, high energy costs, a complex bureaucracy, weak investor protection, and uncertainty of contract enforcement impede greater investment.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 government’s strong social safety net has eroded due to increased constraints on its expenditures. Costa Rica’s credit rating was downgraded from stable to negative in 2015 and again in 2017, upping pressure on lending rates - which could hurt small business, on the budget deficit - which could hurt infrastructure development, and on the rate of return on investment - which could soften foreign direct investment (FDI). Unlike the rest of Central America, Costa Rica is not highly dependent on remittances - which represented just 1 % of GDP in 2016, but instead relies on FDI - which accounted for 5.1% of GDP.

Exchange Rates

Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar -

573.5 (2017 est.)

544.74 (2016 est.)

544.74 (2015 est.)

534.57 (2014 est.)

538.32 (2013 est.)

Exports

$10.81 billion (2017 est.)

$10.15 billion (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

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

Exports Partners

US 40.9%, Belgium 6.3%, Panama 5.6%, Netherlands 5.6%, Nicaragua 5.1%, Guatemala 5% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

33.3% (2017 est.)

government consumption

17.3% (2017 est.)

household consumption

64.2% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-32.9% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

17.1% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

1% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

5.5% (2017 est.)

industry

20.6% (2017 est.)

services

73.9% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$58.27 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$16,900 (2017 est.)

$16,600 (2016 est.)

$16,100 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$83.94 billion (2017 est.)

$81.27 billion (2016 est.)

$77.96 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

3.3% (2017 est.)

4.2% (2016 est.)

3.6% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

15.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

16.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

15% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

36.9% (2014 est.)

lowest 10%

36.9% (2014 est.)

Imports

$15.15 billion (2017 est.)

$14.53 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

US 38.1%, China 13.1%, Mexico 7.3% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

1.3% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

1.6% (2017 est.)

0% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

2.229 million (2017 est.)

note

official estimate; excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica

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 est.)

$1.445 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

21.7% (2014 est.)

Public Debt

48.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

44.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

$7.15 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$7.574 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$5.356 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$5.63 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

$4.007 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.781 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$33.92 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$31.84 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$41.04 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$38.21 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$5.356 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$5.63 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

14.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

8.1% (2017 est.)

9.5% (2016 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

7.653 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

98.3% (2013)

electrification - total population

99.5% (2013)

electrification - urban areas

99.9% (2013)

population without electricity

24,362 (2013)

Electricity Consumption

9.812 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

643 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

18% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

64% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

18% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

807 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

3.584 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

10.79 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

53,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

51,320 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

15 (2017 est.)

total

744,059 (2017 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 (2017)

Internet Country Code

.cr

Internet Users

percent of population

66% (July 2016 est.)

total

3,217,277 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available; 17 per 100 fixed-line, 179 per 100 mobile-cellular (2017)

general assessment

good domestic telephone service in terms of breadth of coverage; in recent years growth has been achieve from liberalistion of the telecom sector and has seen substantial expansion in all sectors; Costa Rica's broadband market is the most advanced in Central America, with the highest broadband penetration for this sub-region; broadband penetration does lag behind many South American countries; with the implementation of number portability there is greater opportunity for increased competition in the future (2017)

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) (2015)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

17 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

843,148 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

179 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

8,840,342 (2017 est.)

Airports

161 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

2 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m

2 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m

27 (2017)

total

47 (2017)

under 914 m

16 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 to 1,523 m

18 (2013)

total

114 (2013)

under 914 m

96 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

TI (2016)

Merchant Marine

by type

general cargo 2, other 8 (2017)

total

10 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

9,284,160 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

1,617,075 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

39 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

1 (2015)

Pipelines

662 km refined products (2013)

Ports And Terminals

major seaport(s)

Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) - Puerto Limon

note

Pacific Ocean - Caldera

Railways

narrow gauge

278 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

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)

Roadways

paved

10,133 km (2010)

total

39,018 km (2010)

unpaved

28,885 km (2010)

Waterways

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

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

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

refugees (country of origin)

9,655 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2018)

stateless persons

71 (2017)

Trafficking In Persons

current situation

Costa Rica is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Costa Rican women and children, as well as those from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and other Latin American countries, are sex trafficked in Costa Rica; child sex tourism is a particular problem with offenders coming from the US and Europe; men and children from Central America, including indigenous Panamanians, and Asia are exploited in agriculture, construction, fishing, and commerce; Nicaraguans transit Costa Rica to reach Panama, where some are subjected to forced labor or sex trafficking

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Costa Rica does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts declined in 2014, with fewer prosecutions and no convictions and no actions taken against complicit government personnel; some officials conflated trafficking with smuggling, and authorities reported the diversion of funds to combat smuggling hindered anti-trafficking efforts; the government identified more victims than the previous year but did not make progress in ensuring that victims received adequate protective services; specialized services were limited and mostly provided by NGOs without government support, even from a dedicated fund for anti-trafficking efforts; victims services were virtually non-existent outside of the capital (2015)