2020 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 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.

Area

land

51,060 sq km

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

highest point

Cerro Chirripo 3,819 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

746 m

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

Nicaragua 313 km; Panama 348 km

total

661 km

Land use

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.)

forest

58.4% (2023 est.)

other

8.4% (2023 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 (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

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

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

2.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

3.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

10.86 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

2% (2018)

women married by age 18

17.1% (2018)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.9% (2018 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

41.7% (2022 est.)

Death rate

5.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

16.5 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

6.1 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

42.7 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

26.2 (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.)

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.71 (2025 est.)

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.)

Hospital bed density

1.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

6.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male

7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 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.

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.9 years

male

77.7 years

total population

80.3 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

94.1% (2018 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.462 million SAN JOSE (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

24 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

36.1 years

male

34.9 years

total

36 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Costa Rican

noun

Costa Rican(s)

Net migration rate

1.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.7% (2016)

Physician density

2.69 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

female

2,650,618

male

2,654,314

total

5,304,932 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

0.75% (2025 est.)

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.)

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.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2019 est.)

male

15 years (2019 est.)

total

16 years (2019 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.84 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

4.1% (2025 est.)

male

12.2% (2025 est.)

total

8.1% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.45 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

82.6% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

Spanish settlers originally named the city Villa Nueva in 1736; it was later renamed for Saint Joseph

geographic coordinates

9 56 N, 84 05 W

name

San José

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

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

history

many previous; latest effective 8 November 1949

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Costa Rica

conventional short form

Costa Rica

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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/

embassy

Calle 98 Via 104, Pavas, San Jose

FAX

[506] 2519-2305

mailing address

3180 St. George's Place, Washington DC 20521-3180

telephone

[506] 2519-2000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

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/

FAX

[1] (202) 265-4795

telephone

[1] (202) 499-2980

Executive branch

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%

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)

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

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 type

presidential republic

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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

Legal system

civil law system based on Spanish civil code; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts

Legislative branch

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

February 2026

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)

most recent election date

2/6/2022

number of seats

57 (all directly elected)

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)

percentage of women in chamber

49.1%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

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

lyrics/music

Jose Maria ZELEDON Brenes/Manuel Maria GUTIERREZ

title

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

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

National color(s)

blue, white, red

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)

total World Heritage Sites

4 (1 cultural, 3 natural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

National symbol(s)

yiguirro (clay-colored thrush)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agricultural products

sugarcane, pineapples, bananas, oil palm fruit, milk, fruits, oranges, chicken, cassava, beef (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

21.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$25.953 billion (2023 est.)

revenues

$26.333 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

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.)

Debt - external

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

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.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$29.392 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$33.683 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$36.77 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

medical instruments, integrated circuits, orthopedic appliances, bananas, tropical fruits (2023)

Exports - partners

USA 40%, Netherlands 6%, China 5%, Guatemala 4%, Belgium 3% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

38.5% (2024 est.)

government consumption

14.7% (2024 est.)

household consumption

63.9% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-32.8% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

15.8% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.1% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

3.6% (2024 est.)

industry

19.7% (2024 est.)

services

68.8% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$95.35 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024

45.8 (2024 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

34.2% (2024 est.)

lowest 10%

1.7% (2024 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$27.095 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$28.413 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$30.459 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, plastic products, cars, medical instruments, broadcasting equipment (2023)

Imports - partners

USA 38%, China 15%, Mexico 6%, Brazil 3%, Guatemala 3% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

4.1% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (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.)

Labor force

2.357 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

24.4% (2023 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2017

48.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

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.)

Real GDP growth rate

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.)

Real GDP per capita

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.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

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.)

Taxes and other revenues

13.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

11.4% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

8.4% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

7.9% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

26.2% (2024 est.)

male

20.7% (2024 est.)

total

23% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

23,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

24,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

9.957 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

774 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports

54 million 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.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

geothermal

13.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

72.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

12.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

30.725 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

60,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

400 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

23 (2023 est.)

total

1.15 million (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

Internet users

percent of population

85% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

610,000 (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

136 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

6.98 million (2024 est.)

Airports

132 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

TI

Heliports

8 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

other 11

total

11 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Golfito, Puerto Caldera, Puerto Limon, Puerto Moin, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

4

small

1

total ports

6 (2024)

very small

5

Railways

narrow gauge

278 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

total

278 km (2014)

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 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 service personnel strengths

approximately 10-15,000 Ministry of Public Security personnel (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 expenditures

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.)

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.)

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 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)

Carbon dioxide emissions

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.)

total emissions

7.91 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 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

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

Particulate matter emissions

15.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

113 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

2.093 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

245.34 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

1.109 billion cubic meters (2022 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.)