2024 Edition Primary

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

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

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

10.8 births/1,000 population (2024 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

5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 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

0.7 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2019)

Infant mortality rate

female

6.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male

7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 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

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98.1% (2021)

male

98%

total population

98%

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

36.1 years

male

34.9 years

total

35.5 years (2024 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Costa Rican

noun

Costa Rican(s)

Net migration rate

1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.7% (2016)

Physician density

3.3 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

female

2,630,094 (2024 est.)

male

2,635,481

total

5,265,575

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

0.74% (2024 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

1.02 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

4.6% (2020 est.)

male

12.9% (2020 est.)

total

8.8% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.43 children born/woman (2024 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

named in honor of 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

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, 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

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%

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)

note

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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

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; 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, percentage 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

Accessibility Without Exclusion or PASEBroad Front (Frente Amplio) or PFACitizen Action Party or PACCosta Rican Renewal Party or PRCHere Costa Rica Commands Party or ACRMLiberal Progressive Party or PLP Libertarian Movement Party or MLNational Integration Party or PINNational Liberation Party or PLNNational Restoration Party or PRNNew Generation or PNGNew Republic Party or PNRSocial Christian Republican Party or PRSCSocial Christian Unity Party or PUSC of UNIDADSocial Democratic Progress Party or PPSD

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agricultural products

sugarcane, pineapples, bananas, milk, oil palm fruit, fruits, oranges, chicken, cassava, rice (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

0.7% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

31.1% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$19.799 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$20.224 billion (2022 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 2021

-$2.061 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$2.235 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$844.64 million (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

Debt - external 2022

$12.877 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

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 2019

587.295 (2019 est.)

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.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$23.609 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$29.404 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$33.699 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

medical instruments, orthopedic appliances, bananas, tropical fruits, other foods (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

US 40%, Netherlands 7%, Guatemala 5%, Belgium 5%, Nicaragua 3% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

37.3% (2023 est.)

government consumption

14.9% (2023 est.)

household consumption

65.4% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-33% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

16.2% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.8% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

3.8% (2023 est.)

industry

20.5% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

68% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$86.498 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

47.2 (2022 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

35.7% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

1.7% (2022 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

Imports 2021

$21.94 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$27.07 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$28.441 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, plastic products, medical instruments, cars, broadcasting equipment (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

US 39%, China 14%, Mexico 5%, Guatemala 3%, Brazil 3% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

8.35% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

1.73% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

8.27% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

0.53% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

2.408 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

25.5% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

Public debt 2022

71.11% of GDP (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$122.15 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$127.71 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$134.238 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

7.94% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.55% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.11% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$23,700 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$24,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$25,800 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.91% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.73% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$6.921 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$8.554 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$13.225 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

14.35% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

15.14% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

11.33% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

8.3% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

28.3% (2023 est.)

male

21% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

24.1% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

74,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

7.892 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

7.966 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption

30,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

(2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton

imports

500 metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

10.619 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

773.979 million kWh (2022 est.)

imports

54.231 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

3.692 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

1.14 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

1.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

geothermal

11.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

75% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

11% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

31.43 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

62,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

total petroleum production

400 bbl/day (2023 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

9 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

492,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

152 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

7.876 million (2022 est.)

Airports

129 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

TI

Heliports

8 (2024)

Merchant marine

by type

other 11

total

11 (2023)

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

key ports

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

ports with oil terminals

4

small

1

total ports

6 (2024)

very small

5

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 (2024)

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security: 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) (2024)

note

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

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 15,000 Ministry of Public Security personnel (2024)

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 the National Coast Guard, including secondhand US vessels and aircraft (2024)

Military expenditures

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.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

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)

29,405 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2023)

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, recently established 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, members of the European Space Agency, and members of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2024)

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 the Space Programs reference guide

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.)