Form of Government: Presidential republic
Area: 51 100 sq km
Population: 5 163 021 inhab. (estimate 2021)
Density: 101.04 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 11° - 8° N; long. 87° - 83° W
Capital: San José (capital) 349 678 inhab. (2021); San José 1 453 500 inhab. (2020), urban agglomeration
Currency: colón (100 céntimos)
Human development index: 0.81 (rank: 62)
President and head of government: Carlos Alvarado Quesada (PAC), elected 1 April 2018, in office since 8 May 2018
National Assembly: seats based on the elections of 4 February 2018: PLN (National Liberal Party, conservative), 17; PRN (National Restoration Party, right-wing), 14; PAC (Citizens’ Action Party, centre-left), 10; PUSC (Social Christian Unity Party, centre-right), 9; others, 7
Internet: www.inec.go.cr (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos)
Member of DR-CAFTA, OAS, OECD, UN, WTO
Costa Rica

International license plate code CR
International dialling code 00506
Travel vaccinations requirement yellow fever (required only if traveling from a country with risk of transmission, including travelers having transited more than 12 hours through the airport of a country with risk of transmission); malaria prophylaxis (recommended for some areas)
Electricity (Voltage) 120
Driving side rigth
Internet code .cr
GMT -6
DST not applied
Annual average temperature (°C) San José 20.5
Average temperature in January/July (°C) San José 19/21
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) San José 4/6
Annual average precipitation (mm) San José 1805
Days of rainfall (annual average) San José 148
Geography.
Costa Rica is bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south-east. The Caribbean Sea lies off its north-east coast and the Pacific Ocean off its south-west and west coasts. Two mountain chains extend down the length of the country from north to south. Between them lies the inland plain known as the Meseta Central. The country has a tropical climate. The islands of Chira (45 km², Coco (24 km²) and other islands with a total surface area of 100 km² belong to Costa Rica. In 2009 the International Court of Justice declared in favour of Costa Rica with regard to a dispute with Nicaragua about freedom of navigation on the River San Juan.
Government
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.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Paramilitary expenditure | 0.9 | % of GDP | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Crimes | 1 231.7 | per 100 000 pop. | 2006 |
Homicides | 11.9 | per 100 000 pop. | 2016 |
Administrative division
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
San José | 349 678 | inhab. | 2021 |
Liberia | 66 040 | inhab. | 2021 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
San José | 1 453 500 | inhab. | 2020 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
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.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 13.689 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 5.152 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
white and mestizo | 83.6 | % | 2011 |
mulatto | 6.7 | % | 2011 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 69.7 | % | 2016 |
Protestant | 15.2 | % | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
Spanish |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 22$ | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 23.5 | % | 2020 |
Economy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 129.41 | index | 2016 |
Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 106.91 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 2 406 532 | units | 2020 |
Active population, Females | 39.8 | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 19.5 | % | 2020 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 52$ | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 7 682 246 | M LCU | 2020 |
Revenues | 4 776 053 | M LCU | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 12.808 | % | 2020 |
industry | 18.489 | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 4.599 | % | 2019 |
industry | 20.007 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Currency in circulation | 1 498.209 | BN LCU | 2020 |
International reserves | 7 231.534 | M US$ | 2020 |
Agriculture
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.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
arable land | 11.408 | % | 2018 |
forests | 58.796 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cereals, total | 160.046 | 1000 t | 2019 |
maize | 6.241 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 159.861 | 1000 t | 2019 |
potatoes | 83.811 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
artichokes | 0.018 | 1000 t | 2019 |
asparagus | 0.157 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 8.352 | 1000 t | 2019 |
beans, green | 0.541 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
groundnuts | 0.225 | 1000 t | 2019 |
sesame seed | 0.165 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
oil palm fruits | 1 081.8 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 15.062 | 1000 t | 2019 |
copra | 0.3 | 1000 t | 2006 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cocoa | 0.5 | 1000 t | 2019 |
coffee | 84.096 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar cane | 4 421.21 | 1000 t | 2019 |
tobacco | 0.018 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
seed cotton | 0.616 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fruits, total | 7 009.841 | 1000 t | 2019 |
strawberries | 4.462 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 287.613 | 1000 t | 2019 |
grapefruits | 21.192 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
avocados | 16.746 | 1000 t | 2019 |
bananas | 2 437.381 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
maize | 3.46 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
rice | 31.657 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 10.672 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
potatoes | 3.328 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
artichokes | 0.004 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
cabbages | 0.823 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 16.729 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
beans, green | 0.545 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
groundnuts | 0.206 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
sesame seed | 0.273 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
oil palm fruit | 76.72 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 1.404 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cocoa | 4.024 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
coffee | 93.697 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar cane | 62.63 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
tobacco | 0.009 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
seed cotton | 0.87 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
strawberries | 0.152 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 27.685 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
grapefruits | 2.784 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
avocados | 3.18 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
bananas | 43.169 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
timber | 4 478 540 | m³ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cattle | 1 465.867 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
cattle and buffaloes | 1 465.867 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
pigs | 493 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sheep | 2.826 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
goats | 5.821 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
asses | 8.324 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
asses and mules | 13.716 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
birds | 25 811 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
honey | 1.18 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
butter | 8.311 | 1000 t | 2018 |
cheese | 25.753 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
crustaceans and molluscs | 3 040 | t | 2019 |
freshwater fishes | 18 980 | t | 2019 |
Minerals
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.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
diatomite | 7$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
limestone | 1 900 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
gold | 3 699 | kg | 2018 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- hydro | 7 748.73 | M kWh | 2019 |
- other renew. | 3 547 | M kWh | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- hydro | 2 343 | 1000 kW | 2019 |
- other renew. | 799 | 1000 kW | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total net generation | 11 385.97 | M kWh | 2019 |
total installed capacity | 3 659.77 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
Industry
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bitumen | 1.6 | 1000 t | 2011 |
petrol | 168.1 | 1000 t | 2010 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beer of barley | 62.169 | 1000 t | 2018 |
coconut oil | 0.231 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
mechanical pulp | 2.8 | 1000 t | 2017 |
newsprint | 32.731 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cement | 1 900 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chemicals production | 592.183 | M US$ | 2018 |
food, beverages and tobacco production | 2 971.23 | M US$ | 2018 |
Trade
Main exports
(M US$ - 2017)
technical and
electro-medical appliances 2 865, tropical fruit 2 203, food preparations 527, electrical and electronic equipment 479
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
manufactures | 57.398 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
food products | 39.122 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
United States | 5 057 | M US$ | 2020 |
Netherlands | 896 | M US$ | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
United States | 5 401 | M US$ | 2020 |
China | 2 091 | M US$ | 2020 |
Tourism
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 1 393 | M US$ | 2019 |
Number of arrivals | 3 139 000 | units | 2019 |
Communications
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Civil aviation, km flown | 24 100 000 | km flown | 2009 |
Civil aviation, passengers carried | 2 033.1 | 1000 units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Broadband subscribers | 179.242 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
Computers | 231 | per 1000 pop. | 2005 |
Social and welfare
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 16.546 | years | 2019 |
Gradautes, percentage | 25.067 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 497 065 | units | 2019 |
Students, secondary level | 504 316 | units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Social protection spending | 31.26 | % of total expenses | 2019 |
Social protection spending | 12.229 | % of GDP | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 1.1 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
Physicians | 3.07 | per 1000 pop. | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
HIV | 0.4 | % of adults | 2019 |
HIV, total | 0.3 | % | 2001 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Research and development spending | 0.383 | % of GDP | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 95.5 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 99.71 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
clothing, footwear | 5.4 | % | 2012-13 |
education | 5.1 | % | 2012-13 |