2023 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 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 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

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

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

37.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 25.5% (2018 est.)

forest

51.5% (2018 est.)

other

11.4% (2018 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

21.49% (male 577,782/female 552,041)

15-64 years

68.59% (male 1,813,827/female 1,791,510)

65 years and over

9.92% (2023 est.) (male 238,971/female 282,481)

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

10.7 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

2%

women married by age 18

17.1% (2018 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.9% (2018)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

70.9% (2018)

Current health expenditure

7.9% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

48.4% (2023 est.)

Death rate

5.5 deaths/1,000 population (2023 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

15.3

potential support ratio

6.5 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

45.1

youth dependency ratio

29.8

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

6.7% of GDP (2020 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

0.68 (2023 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2019)

Infant mortality rate

female

6.6 deaths/1,000 live births

male

7.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 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

82.4 years

male

77 years

total population

79.6 years (2023 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98.1% (2021)

male

98%

total population

98%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

intermediate (2023)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever

Major urban areas - population

1.462 million SAN JOSE (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

22 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

35.6 years

male

34.4 years

total

35 years (2023 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Costa Rican

noun

Costa Rican(s)

Net migration rate

2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.7% (2016)

Physicians density

3.3 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

5,256,612 (2023 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

Population growth rate

0.72% (2023 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: 97.1% of population

improved: total

total: 98.7% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 2.9% of population

unimproved: total

total: 1.3% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2019)

male

16 years

total

17 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.85 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

female

4.6% (2020 est.)

male

12.9% (2020 est.)

total

8.8% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.4 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

82.6% of total population (2023)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

56.3%

male

37%

total

45.4% (2021 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

named in honor of Saint Joseph

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 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; amended many times, last in 2020

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 and was first applied in the early colonial period of the 16th century

local long form

República de Costa Rica

local short form

Costa Rica

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Cynthia A. TELLES (since 11 March 2022)

email address and website

acssanjose@state.govhttps://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, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington DC

email address and website

embcr-us@rree.go.crhttp://www.costarica-embassy.org/index.php?q=node/21

FAX

[1] (202) 265-4795

honorary consulate(s)

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

telephone

[1] (202) 499-2980

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet selected by the president

chief of state

President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022); First Vice President Stephan BRUNNER Neibig (since 8 May 2022); Second Vice President Mary Denisse MUNIVE Angermuller (since 8 May 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

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 (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 6 February 2022 with a runoff on 3 April 2022 (next to be held in February 2026 with a runoff in April 2026)

head of government

President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022); First Vice President Stephan BRUNNER Neibig (since 8 May 2022); Second Vice President Mary Denisse MUNIVE Angermuller (since 8 May 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 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

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, 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; 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 party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PLN 24.8%, PPSD 15%, PUSC 11.4%, PNR 10.1%, PLP 9.1%, 8.3%, other 21.3%; seats by party - PLN 19,  PPSD 10, PUSC 9, PNR 7, PLP 6, PFA 6; composition - men 30, women 27, percent of women 47.4%

elections

last held on 6 February 2022 (next to be held in February 2026)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Jose Maria ZELEDON Brenes/Manuel Maria GUTIERREZ

name

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

note

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 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 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 [Marta Eugenia SOLANO Arias]Costa Rican Renewal Party or PRC [Justo OROZCO Alvarez]Liberal Progressive Party or PLP [Eliecer FEINZAIG Mintz]Libertarian Movement Party or ML [Victor Danilo CUBERO Corrales]National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]National Liberation Party or PLN [Kattia RIVERA Soto]National Restoration Party or PRN [Carlos Luis AVENDANO Calvo]New Generation or PNG [Rodolfo SOLIS Herrera]New Republic Party or PNR [Francisco Javier PRENDAS Rodriguez]Patriotic Alliance [Jorge ARAYA Westover]Social Christian Republican Party or PRS [Otto ROBERTO Vargas]Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC of UNIDAD [Randall QUIROS Bustamante]Social Democratic Progress Party or PPSD [Luz Mary ALPIZAR Loaiza]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agricultural products

sugar cane, pineapples, bananas, milk, oil palm fruit, fruit, oranges, watermelons, cassava, rice

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

1.2% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

on food

25.7% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$14.001 billion (2019 est.)

revenues

$9.664 billion (2019 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

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

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

B (2020)

Moody's rating

B2 (2020)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

B (2020)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2019

-$826.158 million (2019 est.)

Current account balance 2020

-$638.741 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$2.136 billion (2021 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$28.553 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$29.589 billion (2019 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 2017

567.513 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

576.973 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

587.295 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

584.901 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

620.785 (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2019

$22.738 billion (2019 est.)

Exports 2020

$19.996 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$23.761 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

Exports - commodities

medical instruments, bananas, pineapples, orthopedic appliances, food preparations (2021)

Exports - partners

United States 38%, Netherlands 6%, Belgium 5%, Guatemala 5%, Panama 5% (2019)

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)

$61.855 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020

49.3 (2020 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

36.9% (2014 est.)

lowest 10%

1.5%

Imports

Imports 2019

$20.314 billion (2019 est.)

Imports 2020

$17.701 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2021

$22.298 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, medical instruments, packaged medicines (2019)

Imports - partners

United States 41%, China 13%, Mexico 7% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

9.83% (2021 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

2.1% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

0.72% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

1.73% (2021 est.)

Labor force

2.426 million (2021 est.)

note

note: official estimate; excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

14%

industry

22%

services

64% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

21% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

44.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

48.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$105.85 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$101.562 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$109.26 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2019

2.42% (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-4.05% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

7.58% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2019

$20,800 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$19,800 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$21,200 (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019

$8.937 billion (31 December 2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020

$7.232 billion (31 December 2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021

$6.921 billion (31 December 2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

12.32% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2019

11.49% (2019 est.)

Unemployment rate 2020

17.41% (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate 2021

17.95% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

56.3%

male

37%

total

45.4% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

1,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

8.114 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

8.115 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

10,072,472,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports

712 million kWh (2019 est.)

imports

733 million kWh (2019 est.)

installed generating capacity

3.674 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

1,321,498,000 kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2021)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

1.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

14.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

71.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

12.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

44.899 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

production

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

0 barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

63,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

400 bbl/day (2021 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

20 (2020 est.)

total

992,725 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

over two dozen privately owned TV stations and 1 publicly owned TV station nationwide; 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

83% (2021 est.)

total

4.316 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

roughly 11 per 100 fixed-line and 152 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021)

general assessment

the fixed broadband market is one of the few parts of Costa Rica’s telecom sector to experience solid growth in recent years, both in size and revenue; the country’s fiber network expanded by 56% in 2020, reaching about 176,200km; fixed-line broadband traffic volume also increased by more than 30%, year-on-year;  other areas of the market have proven relatively lack luster, with slow or even negative growth; some of this can be attributed to the economic and social impacts of the pandemic, but the fixed-line and mobile sectors have both been struggling to produce decent results since well before the start of the crisis; the rollout of 5G network infrastructure in Costa Rica is unlikely to occur to any scale before 2023, but this may be one of the few remaining areas of opportunity open to investors outside of fixed-line internet and pay TV services (2021)

international

country code - 506; landing points for the ARCOS-1, MAYA-1, and the PAC 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) (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

11 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

553,455 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

152 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

7,834,435 (2021 est.)

Airports

161 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

47

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

114

note

note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

TI

Merchant marine

by type

other 11

total

11 (2022)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

11.13 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

1,948,546 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

39

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020)

Pipelines

662 km refined products (2013)

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Puerto Limon (1,319,372)

major seaport(s)

Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) - Puerto Limon

note

Pacific Ocean - Caldera

Railways

narrow gauge

278 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

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)

Roadways

total

5,035 km (2017)

Waterways

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

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 both Colombia and the US; since 2012, the US has also provided some military equipment, including aircraft and patrol boats (2022)

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security: the Public Force (Fuerza Pública (National Police)), Air Surveillance Service (Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea), National Coast Guard Service (Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas), Border Police (Policia de Fronteras); Ministry of Presidency: Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), Special Intervention Unit (UEI) (2023)

note

note: Costa Rica's armed forces were constitutionally abolished in 1949

Military and security service personnel strengths

12-15,000 Ministry of Public Security personnel (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Public Force is lightly armed with an inventory that includes mostly older, secondhand US equipment (2023)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2018

0.7% of GDP (2018 est.)

Military Expenditures 2019

0.7% of GDP (2019 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.)

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

Costa Rica remains a significant transshipment point for cocaine enroute to the United States from South America; a key transit point in international narcotics trafficking; transit and warehousing hub for illicit drug trafficking; growing domestic drug consumption problem; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

30,100 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2021)

stateless persons

192 (2022)

Space agency/agencies

Costa Rican Space Agency (ACE; established 2021); ACE is a non-state, public entity subject to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Telecommunications (2023)

Space program overview

has a small, new program focused on promoting the use of space to develop the country’s economy and industry, including acquiring and utilizing satellites; has built a remote sensing (RS) cube satellite; has relations with the space agencies and commercial space industries of the US and members of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) (2023)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

8.02 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

5.61 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

14.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

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

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, 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

Land use

agricultural land

37.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 25.5% (2018 est.)

forest

51.5% (2018 est.)

other

11.4% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.82% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

113 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

2.08 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

230 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

830 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

82.6% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

1.46 million tons (2014 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

18,396 tons (2014 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

1.3% (2014 est.)