Costa Rica

Population

5.1M

Rank #126

Source: World Bank

Capital

San Jose

Source: REST Countries

Region

Americas

Latin America & Caribbean

Source: REST Countries

GDP (Nominal)

$95.35B

Rank #73

Source: World Bank

Land Area

51.1K km²

Rank #127

Source: REST Countries

Life Expectancy

80.799 yrs

Source: World Bank

Historical Trends

Population Trend (5-Year)

Source: World Bank

GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)

Source: World Bank

Geography

Area: 51,100 km²

Landlocked: No

Independent: Yes

Climate: tropical

Terrain: sand and coral reefs and islands (cays)

Elevation: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 9 m

Natural Hazards: occasional tropical cyclones

Environmental Issues: no permanent freshwater resources; damaging activities include coral mining, destructive fishing practices (overfishing, blast fishing)

Land Use: agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.) forest: 0% (2011 est.) other: 100% (2011 est.)

Geography Note: important nesting area for birds and turtles

Natural Resources

fish

People & Society

Fertility Rate

1.33

Population

5.1M

Ethnic Groups

White or Mestizo (83.6%)Mulatto (6.7%)Indigenous (2.4%)Black of African descent (1.1%)other (1.1%)none (2.9%)unspecified (2.2%)

Religions

Roman Catholic (71.8%)Evangelical and Pentecostal (12.3%)other Protestant (2.6%)Jehovah's Witness (0.5%)other (2.4%)none (10.4%)

Economy

GDP per Capita

$18,587.153

GDP per Capita PPP

31,106.764
(2024)

GNI per Capita

15,620
(2024)

Gini Index

45.8
(2024)

Unemployment

6.936%
(2024)

Inflation

0.525%
(2023)

Public Debt

Not Available

Energy

Electricity Access

100%
(2023)

Renewable Energy

34.2%
(2021)

CO₂ Emissions

8.376 Mt
(2024)

Energy Intensity

1.91 MJ/$
(2022)

Renewable Electricity

99.367%
(2021)

Environment

Forest Coverage

60.399% of land
(2023)

Communications

Internet Users

85.395%
(2023)

Mobile Penetration

145.789%
(2023)

Broadband Subscribers

22.523%
(2023)

Transportation

Air Transport Freight

7.176 M ton-km
(2023)

Container Port Traffic

1,594,323 TEU
(2022)

Airports

15,698

Rail Lines

N/A

Roads Total

45,898 km(©IRF)

Military

Military Forces

no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security commands the Public Forces of Costa Rica, which includes the Public Force (National Police), Anti-Drug Police, and National Coast Guard Service...

Personnel Strength

the Public Forces of Costa Rica have approximately 12,000 personnel

Military Expenditure (USD)

$0.00B

Equipment & Inventories

the Public Forces' inventory includes mostly second-hand US equipment; since 2000, the only reported major equipment deliveries were from the US (light helicopters in 2012 and 2014 and second-hand...

Education

Pre-Primary Enrollment

95.235%
(2021)

Primary Enrollment

106.157%
(2023)

Secondary Enrollment

125.51%
(2023)

Tertiary Enrollment

55.02%
(2019)

Education Spending

6.248% of GDP
(2021)

Adult Literacy Rate

97.41%
(2011)

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

12.205:1
(2018)

Health

Physicians per 1,000

2.687
(2022)

Safe Water Access

99.815%
(2024)

Safe Drinking Water

80.5%
(2024)

Under-5 Mortality

10.5 per 1,000
(2023)

Maternal Mortality (World Bank)

23.496 per 100,000
(2021)

Hospital Beds per 1,000

81.506
(2021)

UHC Coverage Index

84
(2023)

Measles Immunization

99%
(2024)

Social Indicators

Extreme Poverty Rate

1.3%
(2024)

Food Insecurity

2.5%
(2023)

Youth NEET Rate

20.673%
(2024)

Governance

Women in Government

49.123%
(2024)

Voice & Accountability

1.07
(Strong)
(2023)

Political Stability

0.98
(Above Average)
(2023)

Government Effectiveness

0.26
(Above Average)
(2023)

Regulatory Quality

0.54
(Above Average)
(2023)

Rule of Law

0.39
(Above Average)
(2023)

Control of Corruption

0.65
(Above Average)
(2023)

Government

Government Type

presidential republic

Legal System

the common law legal system of Australia applies where applicable

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (since 8 May 2018); First Vice President Epsy CAMPBELL Barr (since 8 May 2018); Second Vice President Marvin RODRIGUEZ Cordero (since 8 May 2018);...

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 list...

Judicial Branch

highest courts: 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...

International Organizations

BCIECACM CD CELAC FAOG-77IADBIAEA

National Symbols

Flag Description

the flag of Australia is used

National Symbols

yiguirro (clay-colored robin); national colors: blue, white, red

National Anthem

name: "Himno Nacional de Costa Rica" (National Anthem of Costa Rica) lyrics/music: Jose Maria ZELEDON Brenes/Manuel Maria GUTIERREZ note: adopted 1949; the anthem's music was originally written for...

Safety

Homicide Rate

17.745 per 100,000
(2023)

Travel Information

Language(s): Spanish

Currency: CRC (₡)

Timezone(s): UTC-06:00

Landlocked: No

Independent: Yes

Driving Side: Right

Calling Code: +506

Car Sign: CR

Week Starts: Monday

Photos

This view of the Queensland coast of northeast Australia taken by the Aqua satellite vividly shows the many offshore reefs that together form the Great Barrier Reef. The various white specks in the deeper blue waters of the Coral Sea to the east are some of the reefs, cays, and islets that make up the Coral Sea Islands. Image courtesy of NASA.

Mist rising over the rainforest near Gulfito on the Pacific coast near the border of Panama. This region is one of the wettest spots in the world.

Mountainous countryside along the road to the capital of San Jose.

14 photos available

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Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data

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Costa Rica