Costa Rica

Location

• Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
• 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

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
San José	335,007	Capital
Limón	63,081
San Francisco	55,923
Alajuela	47,494
Liberia	45,380
Paraíso	39,702
Puntarenas	35,650
San Isidro	34,877
Curridabat	34,586
San Vicente	34,447

Size

• 19,730 square miles
• 51,100 square kilometers
• slightly smaller than West Virginia

History

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.

Climate

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

Terrain

coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major active volcanoes

Languages

Spanish (official), Englishmajor-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

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.)

Government

presidential republic

• Constitution: history: many previous; latest effective 8 November 1949amendment 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
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
• Legal System: civil law system based on Spanish civil code; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022)head of government: President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022)cabinet: Cabinet selected by the presidentelection/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)most recent election date: 6 February 2022, with a runoff on 3 April 2022election 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%expected date of next election: February 2026 (a runoff, if needed, will take place in April 2026)note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
• 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 Assemblysubordinate courts: appellate courts; trial courts; first instance and justice of the peace courts; Superior Electoral Tribunal
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 57 (all directly elected)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 4 yearsmost recent election date: 2/6/2022parties 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%expected date of next election: February 2026

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• 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
• Budget: revenues: $26.333 billion (2023 est.)expenditures: $25.953 billion (2023 est.)note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: hydropower
• Industries: medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
• Agricultural Products: sugarcane, pineapples, bananas, oil palm fruit, milk, fruits, oranges, chicken, cassava, beef (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 34.7% (2022 est.)arable land: 3.8% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 6.4% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 24.4% (2022 est.)forest: 60.1% (2022 est.)other: 5.3% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: refined petroleum, plastic products, cars, medical instruments, broadcasting equipment (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: USA 38%, China 15%, Mexico 6%, Brazil 3%, Guatemala 3% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: medical instruments, integrated circuits, orthopedic appliances, bananas, tropical fruits (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: USA 40%, Netherlands 6%, China 5%, Guatemala 4%, Belgium 3% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports