Having been a Spanish colony since the 16th century, Costa Rica became independent in 1821. According to the Constitution of 7 November 1949, the President is elected directly and has executive power. His term of office lasts four years, like that of the National Assembly (57 members).
The army was abolished in 1948 and replaced by the Guardia Civil. In 1983, the country declared its neutrality. The judicial system is based on European Continental Civil Law.

Population by age and gender (% - 2018)
	75+ 60-74 45-59 30-44 15-29 0-14
MALE	AGE	FEMALE

The foreign-born resident population represents about 9% of the total. The majority of immigrants traditionally come from nearby Nicaragua, and the political crisis in that country has exacerbated the phenomenon.

Primary sector.
Most of the crops grown are commercial crops such as pineapples, bananas, coffee, oil palm, sugar cane and cocoa (cocoa is grown especially in the province of Limón and near Puntarenas). Crops grown for domestic consumption include rice, potatoes and cassava. Livestock farming and fishing are profitable, especially tuna fishing. There are freezing and canning facilities at Puntarenas.

Secondary and tertiary sector.
There are modest reserves of gold (at San Ramón), oil (in Valle de Talamanca) and quarry materials. There is also a small-scale production of sea salt.
Tax incentives and the creation of tax-free zones in San José have attracted foreign businesses, especially in the electronics sector (medical equipment and microprocessors).
There are processing plants for sugar, cigarettes, paper, cement and nitrogenous fertilizers. There is an oil refinery at Limón.
The main tourist attractions are the large number of country parks and the beaches at Guanacaste, Puntarenas and Limón.

Main exports
(M US$ - 2017) 
technical and 
electro-medical appliances 2 865, tropical fruit 2 203, food preparations 527, electrical and electronic equipment 479