View source for Costa Rica

{{short description|Country in Central America}}
{{about|the country}}
{{pp-move}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Republic of Costa Rica
| common_name            = Costa Rica
| native_name            = {{native name|es|República de Costa Rica}}
| image_flag             = Flag of Costa Rica.svg
| image_coat             = Coat of arms of Costa Rica.svg
| national_motto         = 
| national_anthem        = {{native phrase|es|"[[National anthem of Costa Rica|Himno Nacional de Costa Rica]]"|italics=off}}<br />"National Anthem of Costa Rica"<div style="padding-top:0.5em">{{center|[[File:Costa Rica National Anthem.ogg]]}}</div>
| image_map              = CRI orthographic.svg
| image_map2             = 
| capital                = [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]]
| coordinates            = {{Coord|9|56|N|84|5|W|type:city}}
| largest_city           = capital
| official_languages     = [[Costa Rican Spanish|Spanish]]
| languages2             = 
| languages2_type        = Other spoken languages
| ethnic_groups          = {{vunblist
| 83.6% [[White Latin Americans|White]] or [[Mestizo]]
| 6.7% [[Mulatto]] (mixed [[Afro-Costa Rican|Black]] and [[White Latin Americans|White]])
| 2.4% [[Indigenous peoples of Costa Rica|Indigenous]]
| 1.1% [[Afro-Costa Rican|Black]]
| 6.2% others<ref name="livepopulation.com" />
}}
| ethnic_groups_year     = 2021<ref name=CIA />
| religion_year          = 2021
| religion_ref           = <ref name=ciep>{{cite news|last1=Murillo|first1=Alvaro|title=Encuesta CIEP-UCR evidencia a una Costa Rica estatista y menos religiosa|url=https://semanariouniversidad.com/pais/encuesta-ciep-ucr-evidencia-a-una-costa-rica-estatista-y-menos-religiosa/|access-date=8 July 2021|agency=Semanario Universidad|date=7 July 2021|archive-date=7 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707133949/https://semanariouniversidad.com/pais/encuesta-ciep-ucr-evidencia-a-una-costa-rica-estatista-y-menos-religiosa/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| religion               = {{unbulleted list|
{{Tree list}}
* 72.6% [[Christianity]]
** 47.5% [[Catholic Church in Costa Rica|Catholicism]] ([[State religion|official]])<ref name="irf2017">{{cite web |title=International Religious Freedom Report for 2017 |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm?year=2017&dlid=281062 |website=www.state.gov |access-date=29 December 2018 |date=2018 |archive-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323030648/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm?year=2017&dlid=281062 |url-status=live }}</ref>
** 22.5% [[Protestantism]]
** 2.6% other [[List of Christian denominations|Christian]]
{{Tree list/end}}
|27.0% [[Irreligion in Latin America|no religion]]
|0.4% others
}}
| demonym                = {{hlist|[[Costa Ricans|Costa Rican]]|Tico(a)}}
| government_type        = Unitary [[presidential republic]]
| leader_title1          = [[President of Costa Rica|President]]
| leader_name1           = [[Rodrigo Chaves Robles|Rodrigo Chaves]]
| leader_title2          = [[Vice President of Costa Rica|First Vice President]]
| leader_name2           = [[Mary Munive]]
| leader_title3          = [[Vice President of Costa Rica|Second Vice President]]
| leader_name3           = ''Vacant''
| legislature            = [[Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica|Legislative Assembly]]
| sovereignty_type       = Independence from
| established_event1     = from [[Spain]]
| established_date1      = 15 September 1821
| established_event2     = from [[First Mexican Empire]]
| established_date2      = 1 July 1823
| established_event3     = {{nowrap|from the [[Federal Republic of Central America|Federal<br />Republic of<br />Central America]]}}
| established_date3      = 14 November 1838
| established_event4     = [[Constitution of Costa Rica|Current constitution]]
| established_date4      = 7 November 1949<ref name=CIA>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Costa Rica|access-date=4 October 2011}}</ref>
| established_event5     = Recognized by Spain
| established_date5      = 10 May 1850
| area_km2               = 51179.92
| area_rank              = 126th <!-- Area rank should match [[List of countries and dependencies by area]] -->
| percent_water          = 1.05 (as of 2015)<ref>{{cite web|title=Surface water and surface water change|access-date=11 October 2020|publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD)|url=https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER|archive-date=24 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324133453/https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER|url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_census_year = 2022
| population_census      = 5,044,197<ref name="inec_cr">{{cite web|url=https://inec.cr/estimaciones-poblacion-vivienda-2022|title=National Institute of Statistics and Census of Costa Rica|website=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos de Costa Rica, or INEC|access-date=28 August 2023|date=2022|archive-date=28 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828175018/https://inec.cr/estimaciones-poblacion-vivienda-2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_estimate_year = 
| population_estimates   = 
| population_estimate_rank = 124th
| population_density_km2 = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 220 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| population_density_rank = 107th
| GDP_PPP                = {{increase}} $169.034 billion<ref name="IMFWEO.CR">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2025/april/weo-report?c=238,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2023&ey=2030&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title=World Economic Outlook Database, April 2025 Edition. (Costa Rica) |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |website=IMF.org |access-date=26 April 2025 }}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year           = 2025
| GDP_PPP_rank           = 90th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = {{increase}} $31,462<ref name="IMFWEO.CR" />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 66th
| GDP_nominal            = {{increase}} $102.591 billion<ref name="IMFWEO.CR" />
| GDP_nominal_year       = 2025
| GDP_nominal_rank       = 85th
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{increase}} $19,095<ref name="IMFWEO.CR" />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 64th
| Gini                   = 47.2 <!--number only-->
| Gini_year              = 2022
| Gini_change            = decrease <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| Gini_ref               = <ref name="wb-gini">{{cite web |url = https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI/ |title = Gini Index |publisher = World Bank |access-date = 25 November 2023 |archive-date = 8 June 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140608054636/http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI |url-status = live }}</ref>
| Gini_rank              = 
| HDI                    = 0.833
| HDI_rank               = 62nd
| HDI_year               = 2023<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year. -->
| HDI_change             = increase
| HDI_ref                = <ref name="UNHDR">{{Cite web |date=6 May 2025 |title=Human Development Report 2025 |url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2025reporten.pdf|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506051232/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2025reporten.pdf |archive-date=6 May 2025 |access-date=6 May 2025 |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]}}</ref>
| currency               = [[Costa Rican colón]]
| currency_code          = CRC
| time_zone              = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset             = −6
| date_format            = {{nowrap|dd/mm/yyyy}}
| drives_on              = right
| calling_code           = [[Telephone numbers in Costa Rica|+506]]
| cctld                  = [[.cr]]<br />.co.cr
| recognized_regional_languages = {{hlist|[[Limonese Creole|Mekatelyu]]|[[Bribri language|Bribri]]|[[Jamaican Patois|Patois]]}}
| country_code           = 
| today                  = |
}}
'''Costa Rica''',{{efn|{{IPAc-en|uk|ˌ|k|ɒ|s|t|ə|_|ˈ|r|iː|k|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|us|audio=En-us-Costa Rica.ogg|ˌ|k|oʊ|s|t|ə|-}}; {{IPA|es|ˈkosta ˈrika|lang}}; literally "Rich Coast"}} officially the '''Republic of Costa Rica''',{{efn|{{langx|es|República de Costa Rica}}, {{IPA|es|reˈpuβlika ðe ˈkosta ˈrika|}}}} is a country in [[Central America]]. It borders [[Nicaragua]] to the north, the [[Caribbean Sea]] to the northeast, [[Panama]] to the southeast, and the [[Pacific Ocean]] to the southwest, sharing a [[Maritime boundary|maritime border]] with [[Ecuador]] to the south of [[Cocos Island]]. It has a population of around five million{{UN Population|ref}} in a land area of nearly {{cvt|51,180|sqkm}};<ref name="ignlandarea">{{Cite web |author=Instituto Geográfico Nacional del Registro Nacional |date=2 July 2021 |title=Actualización en el Cálculo de las Áreas Continental e Insular de Costa Rica |trans-title=Update on the Calculation of the Continental and Insular Areas of Costa Rica |url=https://files.snitcr.go.cr/boletines/ACTUALIZACION_DE_LAS_AREAS_CONTINENTAL_E_INSULAR_DE_COSTA_RICA_02_07_2021.pdf |website=Sistema Nacional de Información Territorial |language=es |access-date=23 April 2024 |archive-date=30 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730131629/https://files.snitcr.go.cr/boletines/ACTUALIZACION_DE_LAS_AREAS_CONTINENTAL_E_INSULAR_DE_COSTA_RICA_02_07_2021.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> the capital and largest city is [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]], home to around 350,000 residents and two million people in the surrounding metropolitan area.<ref name="worldscapitalcities.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.worldscapitalcities.com/capital-facts-for-san-jose-costa-rica/|title=Capital Facts for San José, Costa Rica|date=18 October 2017 |website=World's Capital Cities |access-date=6 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413020706/https://www.worldscapitalcities.com/capital-facts-for-san-jose-costa-rica/|archive-date=13 April 2020}}{{Full citation needed|date=October 2018}}</ref>

Humans have [[Pre-Columbian history of Costa Rica|been present in Costa Rica]] since between [[7th millennium BC|7,000]] and [[10th millennium BC|10,000]] BC. Various [[Indigenous peoples of Costa Rica|indigenous peoples]] lived in the territory before it was [[Spanish Empire|colonized by Spain]] in the 16th century. Costa Rica was a peripheral colony of the Spanish Empire until independence in 1821 as part of the [[First Mexican Empire]], followed by membership in the [[Federal Republic of Central America]] in 1823, from which it formally declared independence in 1847. The country underwent gradual modernization under relatively stable authoritarian rule until the late 19th century, when it promulgated a liberal constitution and held the first free and fair national election in Central America.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 August 2025 |title=Costa Rica - Independence, Democracy, Nature  |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Costa-Rica/Independence |access-date=28 August 2025 |website=Britannica |language=en}}</ref> 

Following a [[Costa Rican Civil War|brief civil war]] in 1948, Costa Rica adopted its [[Constitution of Costa Rica|current constitution]] in 1949, which granted [[Women's suffrage|universal suffrage]], provided various social, economic, and educational guarantees for all citizens, and permanently [[Public Force of Costa Rica|abolished the army]], becoming one of the few sovereign [[List of countries without armed forces|nations without a standing military]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elespiritudel48.org/docu/h013.htm|website=El Espíritu del 48|title=Abolición del Ejército|access-date=9 March 2008|language=es|archive-date=9 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909091956/http://www.elespiritudel48.org/docu/h013.htm|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=9 June 2009 |url=http://dev.prenhall.com/divisions/hss/worldreference/CR/defense.html |title=Costa Rica |publisher=World Desk Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211185659/http://dev.prenhall.com/divisions/hss/worldreference/CR/defense.html |archive-date=11 February 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=9 June 2009|url=http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=39&regionSelect=4-Central_Americas|title=Costa Rica|publisher=Uppsala University|archive-date=10 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510015146/http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=39&regionSelect=4-Central_Americas}}</ref> Costa Rica is a [[Presidential system|presidential republic]] with a robust and stable democracy.<ref name="seattletimes.com">{{cite web |date=11 March 2017 |title=Amazon invests in Costa Rica as tiny nation carves out profitable niche in world economy |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-invests-in-costa-rica-as-it-carves-itself-a-profitable-niche-in-the-world-economy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907070223/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-invests-in-costa-rica-as-it-carves-itself-a-profitable-niche-in-the-world-economy/ |archive-date=7 September 2019 |access-date=4 August 2017}}</ref> About one-fourth of the national budget is spent on education—which has been free and compulsory since 1886—equal to about 6.2% of the country's GDP, compared to a global average of 3.8%;<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Bank Open Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/ |access-date=28 August 2025 |website=World Bank Open Data}}</ref> The [[Costa Rican economy|economy]], once heavily dependent on agriculture, has diversified to include finance, corporate services for foreign companies, pharmaceuticals, and [[ecotourism]].<ref name="cinde.org">{{cite web |title=The Investment Promotion Agency of Costa Rica |url=http://www.cinde.org/en/why/incentives |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807232641/http://www.cinde.org/en/why/incentives |archive-date=7 August 2017 |access-date=7 August 2017 |website=www.cinde.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brierley |first=Tor |date=29 September 2023 |title=Why This Popular Central American Country Is Breaking All Tourism Records Right Now |url=https://www.traveloffpath.com/why-this-popular-central-american-country-is-breaking-all-tourism-records-right-now/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117122221/https://www.traveloffpath.com/why-this-popular-central-american-country-is-breaking-all-tourism-records-right-now/ |archive-date=17 January 2024 |access-date=17 January 2024 |website=Travel Off Path |language=en-US}}</ref>

Costa Rica has consistently performed favorably in the [[Human Development Index]] (HDI), placing 62nd globally, and fifth in Latin America, in 2023. Costa Rica is classified by the World Bank as a [[World Bank high-income economy|high-income]] country<ref>{{Cite web |title=Understanding country income: World Bank Group income classifications for FY26 |url=https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/understanding-country-income--world-bank-group-income-classifica |access-date=16 September 2025 |website=World Bank Blogs |language=en}}</ref> and it is the only [[OECD]] country in [[Central America|Central America and the Caribbean]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Members and partners |url=https://www.oecd.org/en/about/members-partners.html |access-date=16 September 2025 |website=OECD |language=en}}</ref> It has also been cited by the [[United Nations Development Programme]] (UNDP) as having attained much higher [[Human development (economics)|human development]] than other countries at the same income levels, with a better record on human development and inequality than the regional median.<ref name="HDI10">{{cite book|chapter=Table 1: Human development index 2010 and its components|url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2010_EN_Complete.pdf |publisher=Human Development Reports |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108160356/http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2010_EN_Complete.pdf|archive-date=8 November 2010|access-date=6 November 2010|title=UNDP Human Development Report 2010|date=January 2010 |pages= 5, 49, 144}}</ref> Costa Rica performs well in metrics of [[Democracy Index|democratic governance]], [[World Press Freedom Index|press freedom]], [[World Happiness Report|subjective happiness]] and [[Happy Planet Index|sustainable wellbeing]];<ref>{{Cite book |date=20 March 2023 |chapter=World Happiness, Trust and Social Connections in Times of Crisis |chapter-url=https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2023/world-happiness-trust-and-social-connections-in-times-of-crisis/ |title=World Happiness Report 2023 |access-date=24 March 2023 |publisher=World Happiness Report |last1=Helliwell|first1=J. F.|last2=Huang|first2=H.|last3=Norton|first3=M.|last4=Goff|first4=L.|last5=Wang |first5=S.  |language=en |archive-date=24 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324035221/https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2023/world-happiness-trust-and-social-connections-in-times-of-crisis/ |url-status=live }}</ref> it has one of the highest literacy rates in the Americas,<ref name="britannica">{{Cite web |date=27 August 2025 |title=Costa Rica {{!}} History, Map, Flag, Climate, Population, & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Costa-Rica |access-date=28 August 2025 |website= Britannica |language=en}}</ref> and is considered a regional leader in human rights and environmentalism.<ref name="britannica"/>

== History ==
{{Main|History of Costa Rica}}
[[File:Stone spheres of Costa Rica. Museo Nacional.jpg|thumb|[[Stone spheres of Costa Rica|Stone spheres]] created by the [[Diquis]] culture at the [[Museo Nacional de Costa Rica|National Museum of Costa Rica]]. [[Stone spheres of Costa Rica|The sphere]] is the icon of the country's cultural identity.]]

=== Pre-Columbian period ===
{{Main|Pre-Columbian history of Costa Rica}}
Historians have classified the [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indigenous people]] of Costa Rica as belonging to the [[Intermediate Area]], where the peripheries of the [[Mesoamerican]] and [[Andean]] native cultures overlapped. More recently, [[Pre-Columbian era|pre-Columbian]] Costa Rica has also been described as part of the [[Isthmo-Colombian Area]].

Stone tools, the oldest evidence of human occupation in Costa Rica, are associated with the arrival of various groups of [[hunter-gatherer]]s about 10,000 to 7,000 years [[Before Common Era|BCE]] in the [[Turrialba (district)|Turrialba Valley]]. The presence of [[Clovis culture]] type spearheads and arrows from [[South America]] opens the possibility that, in this area, two different cultures coexisted.<ref name=precolumbian1>{{cite book |last1=Botey Sobrado |first1=Ana María |title=Costa Rica: estado, economía, sociedad y cultura desde las sociedades autóctonas hasta 1914 |date=2002 |publisher=Editorial Universidad de Costa Rica |edition=2a |language=es |pages=30–31 |oclc=51817062}}</ref>

Agriculture became evident in the populations that lived in Costa Rica about 5,000 years ago. They mainly grew [[tubers]] and roots. For the first and second millennia BCE there were already settled farming communities. These were small and scattered, although the timing of the transition from [[hunter-gatherer|hunting]] and gathering to agriculture as the main livelihood in the territory is still unknown.<ref name=precolumbian2>{{harvnb|Botey Sobrado|2002| p=32|sp=yes}}</ref>

The earliest use of [[pottery]] appears around 2,000 to 3,000 BCE. Shards of pots, cylindrical vases, platters, gourds, and other vases decorated with grooves, prints, and some modeled after animals have been found.<ref name=precolumban3>{{harvnb|Botey Sobrado|2002| pp=32–33|sp=sí}}</ref>

The influence of Indigenous peoples on modern Costa Rican culture has been relatively small compared to other nations since the country lacked a strong native civilization to begin with.{{clarify|date=October 2024}}{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} Most of the native population was absorbed into the Spanish-speaking [[Spanish colonization of the Americas|colonial society]] through inter-marriage,{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} except for some small remnants, the most significant of which are the [[Bribri people|Bribri]] and [[Boruca people|Boruca]] tribes who still inhabit the mountains of the [[Cordillera de Talamanca]], in the southeastern part of Costa Rica, near the frontier with [[Panama]].

=== Spanish colonization ===
The name {{lang|es|la costa rica}}, meaning "rich coast" in the Spanish language, was in some accounts first applied by [[Christopher Columbus]], who sailed to the eastern shores of Costa Rica during his final voyage in 1502,<ref name="embassy">{{cite web | title=About Costa Rica | work=Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington DC | url=http://www.costarica-embassy.org/index.php?q=node/19 | access-date=18 September 2012 | archive-date=26 July 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726030431/http://costarica-embassy.org/index.php?q=node/19 | url-status=live }}</ref> and reported vast quantities of gold jewelry worn by natives.<ref name="lp">{{cite web | title=History of Costa Rica | work=Lonely Planet | url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/history | access-date=18 September 2012 | archive-date=21 January 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121150312/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/history }}</ref> The name may also have come from conquistador [[Gil González Dávila]], who landed on the west coast in 1522, encountered natives, and obtained some of their gold, sometimes by violent theft and sometimes as gifts from local leaders.<ref>{{cite book | author=Rojas, Eugenia Ibarra | title=Fronteras etnicas en la conquista de Nicaragua y Nicoya: entre la solidaridad y el conflicto 800 d.C.-1544. | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IAcx6DtZba4C&dq=gil+gonzalez+davila+costa+rica&pg=PA89 | publisher=Universidad de Costa Rica. | year=2001 | isbn=978-9977-67-685-2 | access-date=19 March 2023 | archive-date=4 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404075152/https://books.google.com/books?id=IAcx6DtZba4C&dq=gil+gonzalez+davila+costa+rica&pg=PA89 | url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Iglesia Inmaculada Concepcion Ujarras.jpg|thumb|The {{lang|es|[[Ujarrás]]|italic=no}} historical site in the Orosí Valley, [[Cartago province]]. The church was built between 1686 and 1693.]]
During most of the colonial period, Costa Rica was the southernmost province of the [[Captaincy General of Guatemala]], nominally part of the [[New Spain|Viceroyalty of New Spain]]. The captaincy general was a largely autonomous entity within the [[Spanish Empire]]. Costa Rica's distance from the capital of the captaincy in [[Guatemala]], its legal prohibition under [[mercantilism|mercantilist]] Spanish law from trade with its southern neighbor Panama, then part of the [[Viceroyalty of New Granada]] (i.e. [[Colombia]]), and lack of resources such as gold and silver, made Costa Rica into a poor, isolated, and sparsely inhabited region within the Spanish Empire.<ref>{{cite book | title= Claudia Quirós. La Era de la Encomienda. Historia de Costa Rica. Editorial de la Universidad de Costa Rica. 1990.}}</ref> Costa Rica was described as "the poorest and most miserable Spanish colony in all America" by a Spanish governor in 1719.<ref><!--?REPEAT1?-->{{cite book |author=Shafer, D. Michael |title=Winners and losers: how sectors shape the developmental prospects of states |url=https://archive.org/details/winnerslosershow00shaf |url-access=registration |publisher=Cornell University Press |location=Ithaca, N.Y. |year=1994|isbn=978-0-8014-8188-8}}</ref>

=== Independence ===
{{See also|Free State of Costa Rica|First Costa Rican Republic}}
Like the rest of [[Central America]], Costa Rica never fought for independence from Spain. On 15 September 1821, after the final Spanish defeat in the [[Mexican War of Independence]] (1810–1821), the authorities in Guatemala declared the independence of all of Central America. That date is still celebrated as Independence Day in Costa Rica<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mep.go.cr/calendario/aniversario-independencia-nacional |title=Aniversario de la Independencia Nacional |website=Ministerio de Educación Pública |language=es |access-date=13 September 2018 |archive-date=14 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914022706/https://www.mep.go.cr/calendario/aniversario-independencia-nacional |url-status=live }}</ref> even though, technically, under the [[Spanish Constitution of 1812]] that had been readopted in 1820, [[Nicaragua]] and Costa Rica had become an autonomous province with its capital in [[León, Nicaragua|León]].<ref name="PérezBrignoli2006">{{cite book |last=Pérez Brignoli |first=Héctor |title=A Brief History of Central America |location=Madison |publisher=University of Wisconsin Press |year=2006 |pages=125–127}}</ref>

On 3 March 1824, the government of the State of Costa Rica officially proposed to the municipality of [[Nicoya]] its voluntary incorporation into the country, through a document in which it invited it "if it was convenient to join its Province without going against its will." On 4 July, an open town hall was convened in Nicoya to discuss the matter, but attendees declined the invitation under the argument "that this Party... cannot be dissident."<ref name="nacion">{{cite news |first=Soili |last=Buska |title=Una larga anexión |url=http://wvw.nacion.com/ancora/2008/julio/13/ancora1615634.html |publisher=Revista cultural Áncora, diario [[La Nación (Costa Rica)|La Nación]] |date=13 July 2008 |language=es |ref=La autora es profesora de la Escuela de Historia de la Universidad de Costa Rica e integrante del Centro de Investigaciones Históricas de América Central. }}</ref>

On 25 July 1824, a second [[plebiscite]] was called in the city of Nicoya. After deliberation, the incorporation into Costa Rica was decided in an open town hall meeting, preparing a record in which the main reasons for it were noted, pointing out the advantages in terms of trade, the desire to participate in the advances that are palpable in Costa Rica, the economic, administrative and public service benefits, the creation of schools, security and quiet, referring to the state of war that Nicaragua was experiencing at that time and the fear that it would spread to the Partido populations, in addition to point out the poverty in which its towns find themselves and the geography of the territory as justifications for the union. Three days later, another similar plebiscite was held in [[Santa Cruz (canton), Costa Rica|Santa Cruz]], with the same result. The election was by majority vote, with 77% of the Party's population in favor of incorporation, and 23% against it. The town of Guanacaste was the only one that declined annexation, due to the ties its residents had with the city of [[Rivas, Nicaragua]].<ref name="ActaNicoya1824">{{cite web |title=Acta del Cabildo de Nicoya, 25 de julio de 1824 |url=https://www.archivonacional.go.cr/web/educativo/acta_anexionpartidonicoya.pdf |publisher=Archivo Nacional de Costa Rica |accessdate=1 October 2025}}</ref>

Upon independence, Costa Rican authorities faced the issue of officially deciding the future of the country. Two bands formed: the Imperialists, defended by [[Cartago, Costa Rica|Cartago]] and [[Heredia Province|Heredia cities]], which were in favor of [[Central America under Mexican rule|joining]] the [[First Mexican Empire|Mexican Empire]], and the Republicans, represented by the cities of [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]] and [[Alajuela]] who defended full independence. Because of the lack of agreement on these two possible outcomes, the first civil war in Costa Rica occurred. The [[Battle of Ochomogo]] took place on the Hill of [[Ochomogo]], located in the [[Costa Rican Central Valley|Central Valley]] in 1823. The conflict was won by the Republicans and, as a consequence, the city of [[Cartago, Costa Rica|Cartago]] lost its status as the capital, which moved to [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]].<ref>{{Cite book|title = Cartilla Histórica de Costa Rica|publisher = EUNED|year = 2005|isbn = 978-9968-31-375-9}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title = Apuntes para la historia de la ciudad de Alajuela|last = Alarmvogel|publisher = Impr. Nacional|year = 1966|location = San José, Costa Rica|oclc = 14462048}}</ref><ref>Obregón Loría, Rafael. "Hechos Militares y Políticos de Nuestra Historia Patria". Museo Histórico Cultural Juan Santamaría, Costa Rica, 1981.</ref>
[[File:First postal stamp CR 4 Reales 1863.jpg|thumb|upright|1849 [[Coat of arms of Costa Rica|national coat of arms]] was featured in the first postal stamp issued in 1862.]]

In 1838, long after the [[Federal Republic of Central America]] ceased to function in practice, Costa Rica formally withdrew and proclaimed itself sovereign. The considerable distance and poor communication routes between [[Guatemala City]] and the Central Plateau, where most of the Costa Rican population lived then and still lives now, meant the local population had little allegiance to the federal government in Guatemala. Since colonial times, Costa Rica has been reluctant to become economically tied with the rest of Central America. Even today, despite most of its neighbors'{{Efn|Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama}} efforts to increase regional integration,<ref>{{cite web |title=Central America |url=http://www.cotf.edu/earthinfo/camerica/caeco.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802142535/http://www.cotf.edu/earthinfo/camerica/caeco.html |archive-date=2 August 2017 |access-date=12 August 2017 |website=www.cotf.edu}}</ref> Costa Rica has remained more independent.

Until 1849, when it became part of [[Panama]], [[Chiriquí province|Chiriquí]] was part of Costa Rica. Costa Rican pride was assuaged for the loss of this eastern (or southern) territory with the acquisition of [[Guanacaste Province|Guanacaste]], in the north.

=== Economic growth in the 19th century ===
{{See also|Liberal State}}
[[Coffee]] was first planted in Costa Rica in 1808,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.co.cr/costa-ricas-coffee-tradition/52303/|title=Costa Rica's Coffee Tradition – Costa Rica Star News|date=21 October 2016|access-date=12 August 2017|archive-date=13 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813103455/http://news.co.cr/costa-ricas-coffee-tradition/52303/|url-status=live}}</ref> and by the 1820s, it surpassed [[tobacco]], [[sugar]], and [[cacao bean|cacao]] as a primary [[export]]. Coffee production remained Costa Rica's principal source of wealth well into the 20th century, creating a wealthy class of growers, the so-called Coffee Barons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.travelcostarica.nu/coffee#history|title=Coffee of Costa Rica – el café|website=www.travelcostarica.nu|access-date=12 August 2017|archive-date=13 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813055045/http://www.travelcostarica.nu/coffee#history}}</ref> The revenue helped to modernize the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.embassycrsg.com/history-of-coffee-in-costa-rica.html|title=History of Coffee in Costa Rica|website=Embajada de Costa Rica en Singapur|access-date=12 August 2017|archive-date=13 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813103822/http://www.embassycrsg.com/history-of-coffee-in-costa-rica.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cafeimports.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.cafeimports.com/origin_costarica|title=Cafe Imports – Costa Rica|first=Cafe|last=Imports|website=www.cafeimports.com|access-date=4 August 2017|archive-date=5 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805015137/http://www.cafeimports.com/origin_costarica|url-status=live}}</ref>

Most of the coffee exported was grown around the main centers of population in the Central Plateau and then transported by [[Bullock cart|oxcart]] to the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] port of [[Puntarenas]] after the main road was built in 1846.<ref name="cafeimports.com"/> By the mid-1850s the main market for coffee was Britain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.anywhere.com/costa-rica/travel-guide/coffee|title=Costa Rica Coffee – Past & Present Coffee Cultivations|website=www.anywhere.com|access-date=12 August 2017|archive-date=13 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813055649/https://www.anywhere.com/costa-rica/travel-guide/coffee|url-status=live}}</ref> It soon became a high priority to develop an effective transportation route from the Central Plateau to the Atlantic Ocean. For this purpose, in the 1870s, the Costa Rican government contracted with U.S. businessman [[Minor C. Keith]] to build a railroad from San José to the [[Western Caribbean Zone|Caribbean]] port of [[Limón]]. Despite enormous difficulties with construction, disease, and financing, the railroad was completed in 1890.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l9QOAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA310|title=Coffee Production and Processing on a Large Costa Rican Finca|publisher=Bib. Orton IICA / CATIE|via=Google Books}}</ref>

Most Afro-Costa Ricans descend from [[Jamaica]]n immigrants who worked in the construction of that railway and now make up about 3% of Costa Rica's population.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}} U.S. convicts, Italians, and Chinese immigrants also participated in the construction project. In exchange for completing the railroad, the Costa Rican government granted Keith large tracts of land and a lease on the train route, which he used to produce [[banana]]s and export them to the United States. As a result, bananas came to rival coffee as the principal Costa Rican export, while foreign-owned corporations (including the [[United Fruit Company]] later) began to hold a major role in the national economy and eventually became a symbol of the exploitative export economy.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bUM8y5L1h8kC&q=costa+rica+history+united+fruit+company%27&pg=PA80|title=The History of Costa Rica|first=Monica A.|last=Rankin|date=29 December 2017|publisher=ABC-CLIO|via=Google Books|isbn=978-0-313-37944-4}}</ref> The major labor dispute between the peasants and the United Fruit Company (The Great Banana Strike) was a major event in the country's history and was an important step that would eventually lead to the formation of effective [[trade unions in Costa Rica]], as the company was required to sign a collective agreement with its workers in 1938.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YujmDAAAQBAJ&q=Great+Banana+strike+1934&pg=PT135|title=Bananas and Business: The United Fruit Company in Colombia, 1899–2000|first=Marcelo|last=Bucheli|date=1 February 2005|publisher=NYU Press|via=Google Books|isbn=978-0-8147-6987-4|access-date=16 October 2020|archive-date=3 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203170206/https://books.google.com/books?id=YujmDAAAQBAJ&q=Great+Banana+strike+1934&pg=PT135#v=snippet&q=Great%20Banana%20strike%201934&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref><ref><!--?REPEAT2?-->{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/winnerslosershow00shaf|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/winnerslosershow00shaf/page/213 213]|title=Winners and Losers: How Sectors Shape the Developmental Prospects of States|first=D. Michael|last=Shafer|date=29 December 1994|publisher=Cornell University Press|via=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-8014-8188-8}}</ref>

=== 20th century ===
{{See also|Reform State}}
Historically, Costa Rica has generally enjoyed greater peace and more consistent political stability than many of its fellow Latin American nations. During the 20th century, however, Costa Rica experienced two significant periods of violence. In 1917–1919, General [[Federico Tinoco Granados]] ruled as a military dictator until he was overthrown and forced into exile. The unpopularity of [[Dictatorship of the Tinoco Brothers|Tinoco's regime]] led, after he was overthrown, to a considerable decline in the size, wealth, and political influence of the Costa Rican military. In 1948, [[José Figueres Ferrer]] led an [[Costa Rican Civil War|armed uprising]] in the wake of a disputed presidential election between [[Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia]] (who had been president between 1940 and 1944) and [[Otilio Ulate Blanco]].<ref>See [https://archive.today/20120717062137/http://reachian.googlepages.com/seniorthesis2 Ian Holzhauer, "The Presidency of Calderón Guardia" (University of Florida History Thesis, 2004)]</ref> With more than 2,000 dead, the resulting 44-day [[Costa Rican Civil War]] was the bloodiest event in Costa Rica during the 20th century.

The victorious rebels formed a government junta that [[military of Costa Rica|abolished the military]] all together and oversaw the drafting of a new constitution by a democratically elected assembly.<ref name="nytimes-military"/> Having enacted these reforms, the junta transferred power to Ulate on 8 November 1949. After the ''coup d'état'', Figueres became a national hero, winning the country's first democratic election under the new constitution [[Costa Rican general election, 1953|in 1953]]. Since then, Costa Rica has held 15 additional presidential elections, the latest [[Costa Rican general election, 2022|in 2022]]. With uninterrupted democracy dating back to at least 1948, the country is the region's most stable.<ref name="peace"/><ref name="pacifism"/>

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Costa Rica|}}
[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map CRI present.svg|thumb|Costa Rica map of Köppen climate classification|upright=1.3]]

Costa Rica borders the [[Caribbean Sea]] to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Costa Rica also borders [[Nicaragua]] to the north and [[Panama]] to the south.

The highest point in the country is [[Cerro Chirripó]], at {{convert|3819|m|ft}}. The highest volcano in the country is the [[Irazú Volcano]] ({{convert|3431|m|ft|abbr=on|disp=or}}) and the largest lake is [[Lake Arenal]]. There are 14 known volcanoes in Costa Rica, and six of them have been active in the last 75 years.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}

=== Climate ===
Costa Rica experiences a [[tropical climate]] year-round. There are two seasons. The dry season is December to April, and the rainy season is May to November. March and April are the hottest months in the country, while December and January are the coldest. However, there are rainy days in the dry season, as well as weeks without rain in the wet season.

Costa Rica is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, which can be exacerbated by [[climate change]]. The majority of Costa Rica's population (78%) and economic activity (80% of [[Gross domestic product|GDP]]) are concentrated in regions highly vulnerable to various natural hazards, such as floods, landslides, cyclones, storm surges, and rising sea levels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=World Bank |title=Costa Rica |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/costa-rica/vulnerability |access-date=3 March 2025 |website=World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal |language=en}}</ref> The country is facing increasing temperatures (especially at higher elevations), rising sea levels on both coasts, and changing rainfall patterns resulting in increased risk of drought along the Pacific slope and flooding in all regions of the country.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=World Bank Group |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/country-profiles/15989-WB_Costa%20Rica%20Country%20Profile-WEB.pdf |title=Climate Risk Profile: Costa Rica |date=2021 |publisher=World Bank Group |location=Washington}}</ref> Increasing temperatures and extreme heat will have major consequences for human health, agriculture (particularly coffee and banana cultivation), water security, tourism, and the country's distinctive biodiversity and ecosystems.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Stan |first1=Kayla |last2=Sanchez-Azofeifa |first2=Arturo |last3=Calvo-Rodriguez |first3=Sofia |last4=Castro-Magnani |first4=Marissa |last5=Chen |first5=Jing |last6=Ludwig |first6=Ralf |last7=Zou |first7=Lidong |date=7 February 2020 |title=Climate change scenarios and projected impacts for forest productivity in Guanacaste Province (Costa Rica): lessons for tropical forest regions |url=https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10113-020-01602-z |journal=Regional Environmental Change |language=en |volume=20 |issue=1 |page=14 |doi=10.1007/s10113-020-01602-z |bibcode=2020REnvC..20...14S |issn=1436-3798|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

=== Flora and fauna ===
{{Further|Wildlife of Costa Rica|Conservation in Costa Rica}}
[[File:Red eyed tree frog edit2.jpg|thumb|Red-eyed tree frog (''[[Agalychnis callidryas]]'')]]

Despite its size, Costa Rica is one of the countries with [[Wildlife of Costa Rica|the greatest biodiversity]] in all of [[Latin America]].

One national park, the [[Corcovado National Park]], is internationally renowned among ecologists for its biodiversity (including [[big cats]] and [[tapirs]]) and is where visitors can expect to see an abundance of wildlife.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://costa-rica-guide.com/Natural/Corcovado.html|title=Corcovado National Park Costa Rica|website=costa-rica-guide.com|access-date=19 May 2012|archive-date=24 February 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040224123641/http://costa-rica-guide.com/Natural/Corcovado.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.govisitcostarica.com/region/city.asp?cID=350 |title=Diversity of Corcovado National Park |publisher=Govisitcostarica.com |access-date=26 June 2010 |archive-date=14 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614215405/http://www.govisitcostarica.com/region/city.asp?cid=350 |url-status=live }}</ref> Corcovado is the one park in Costa Rica where [[List of Costa Rican monkey species|all four Costa Rican monkey species]] can be found.<ref name=watching>{{cite book|title=Watching Wildlife Central America|author1=Hunter, L. |author2=Andrew, D.|publisher=Lonely Planet|year=2002|page=97|isbn=978-1-86450-034-9}}</ref> These include the [[white-headed capuchin]], the [[mantled howler]], the endangered [[Geoffroy's spider monkey]],<ref name=watching/><ref>{{cite iucn |author=Cortes-Ortíz, L. |author2=Solano-Rojas, D. |author3=Rosales-Meda, M. |author4=Williams-Guillén, K. |author5=Méndez-Carvajal, P.G. |author6=Marsh, L.K. |author7=Canales-Espinosa, D. |author8=Mittermeier, R.A. |date=2021 |title=''Ateles geoffroyi'' |volume=2021 |article-number=e.T2279A191688782 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T2279A191688782.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> and the [[Central American squirrel monkey]], found only on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and a small part of [[Panama]] and considered endangered until 2008 when its status was upgraded to vulnerable. [[Deforestation]], illegal pet trading, and hunting are the main reasons for its threatened status.<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Solano-Rojas, D. |date=2021 |title=''Saimiri oerstedii'' |volume=2021 |article-number=e.T19836A17940807 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T19836A17940807.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> [[La Amistad International Park|La Amistad]] and [[Chirripó National Park|Chirripó]] present the climate of the [[Costa Rican páramo|páramo]], at a height of more than 3000 meters above sea level, providing other types of flora and fauna, such as the [[white-nosed coati]], the [[sooty thrush]] and ''[[Rogiera amoena]]''. Costa Rica is the first tropical country to have stopped and reversed deforestation; it has successfully restored its forestry and developed an ecosystem service to teach biologists and ecologists about its environmental protection measures.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Nell Lewis|title=This country regrew its lost forest. Can the world learn from it?|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/27/americas/reforestation-costa-rica-c2e-spc/index.html|access-date=2 August 2020|website=CNN|date=27 July 2020|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801220254/https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/27/americas/reforestation-costa-rica-c2e-spc/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The country had a 2018 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 4.65/10, ranking it 118th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G }}</ref>

== Government and politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Costa Rica}}
{{Multiple image
| direction         = horizontal
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| image1            = Rodrigo Chaves 2022-5-16 Foto by Julieth Mendez (cropped).jpg
| caption1          = [[Rodrigo Chaves Robles]]<br />[[President of Costa Rica|President]]
| image2            = Vicepresidenta Mary Munive Angermuller (cropped).jpg
| caption2          = [[Mary Munive]]<br />[[Vice President of Costa Rica|Vice President]]
}}

Costa Rica is governed by the [[Constitution of Costa Rica|Costa Rican Constitution of 1949]] which established a [[presidential system]] and a [[unitary state]]. [[Executive power]] is exercised by the [[President of Costa Rica]], who is the [[head of state]] and [[head of government]] and is elected by direct, secret, and universal popular vote for a four-year term. Among the presidential powers are the appointment of the presidents of the Autonomous Institutions, the appointment or dismissal of Costa Rican ministers and diplomats, vetoing laws, signing decrees, pardoning sentences, establishing a national holiday, and national mourning. The current president is [[Rodrigo Chaves Robles]], since 8 May 2022. He is accompanied by two [[Vice President of Costa Rica|vice president]]s also elected by popular vote, [[Stephan Brunner]] and [[Mary Munive]], both also assuming office on 8 May 2022. Brunner stepped down on 31 July 2025.

[[Legislative power]] is vested by the [[Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica]], a unicameral body with 57 deputies, responsible for approving, amending, or repealing laws and decrees. Legislators are elected by direct, secret, and universal popular vote for a four-year term and are provincial. Its current president is [[Rodrigo Arias Sánchez]]. 

The [[judiciary]] is independent of the executive and the legislature. The country's highest court is the [[Supreme Court of Justice of Costa Rica]]. The Supreme Court of Justice is composed of 22 judges elected by the Legislative Assembly for an eight-year term. Its current president is Judge Orlando Aguirre. The Supreme Court of Justice is responsible for appointing the Magistrates who make up the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.

According to [[International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance|International IDEA]]’s Global State of Democracy (GSoD) Indices and Democracy Tracker, Costa Rica performs in the high range on overall democratic measures, with particular strengths in freedom of religion, elected government, and freedom of movement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Costa Rica {{!}} The Global State of Democracy |url=https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/country/costa-rica |access-date=6 October 2025 |website=www.idea.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Global State of Democracy Indices {{!}} The Global State of Democracy |url=https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/gsod-indices |access-date=6 October 2025 |website=www.idea.int}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} The Global State of Democracy |url=https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/ |access-date=6 October 2025 |website=www.idea.int}}</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Costa Rica}}
[[File:Provinces Costa Rica.png|thumb|Provinces 1 [[Alajuela Province|Alajuela]], 2 [[Cartago Province|Cartago]], 3 [[Guanacaste Province|Guanacaste]], 4 [[Heredia Province|Heredia]], 5 [[Limón Province|Limón]], 6 [[Puntarenas Province|Puntarenas]], 7 [[San José Province|San José]]|163x163px]]
Costa Rica is composed of seven provinces, which in turn are divided into 82 cantons ({{langx|es|link=no|cantón}}, plural {{lang|es|cantones}}), each of which is directed by a mayor. Mayors are chosen democratically every four years by each canton. There are no provincial legislatures. The cantons are further divided into 488 districts ({{lang|es|distritos}}).

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Costa Rica}}
Costa Rica is an active member of the [[United Nations]] and the [[Organization of American States]]. The [[Inter-American Court of Human Rights]] and the [[United Nations University of Peace]] are based in Costa Rica. It is also a member of many other international organizations related to [[human rights]] and democracy, such as the [[Community of Democracies]]. The main foreign policy objective of Costa Rica is to foster human rights and sustainable development as a way to secure stability and growth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rree.go.cr/?sec=ministerio&cat=politica%20exterior |title=Costa Rican Ministry of International Relations Declaration of Objectives |publisher=Costa Rican Ministry of International relations |access-date=23 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307023820/https://www.rree.go.cr/?sec=ministerio&cat=politica%20exterior |archive-date=7 March 2019}}</ref>

Costa Rica is a member of the [[International Criminal Court]], without a [[Bilateral Immunity Agreement]] of protection for the [[United States military]] (as covered under [[Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court|Article 98]]). Costa Rica is an observer of the [[Organisation internationale de la Francophonie]].

On 10 September 1961, some months after [[Fidel Castro]] declared [[Cuba]] a socialist state, Costa Rican President [[Mario Echandi]] ended diplomatic relations with Cuba through ''Executive Decree Number 2''. This freeze lasted 47 years until President [[Óscar Arias|Óscar Arias Sánchez]] re-established normal relations on 18 March 2009, saying, "If we have been able to turn the page with regimes as profoundly different to our reality as occurred with the USSR or, more recently, with the Republic of China, how would we not do it with a country that is geographically and culturally much nearer to Costa Rica?" Arias announced that both countries would exchange ambassadors.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/03/18/costa.rica.cuba.ties/|title= Costa Rica re-establishes ties with Cuba|work=CNN World|date= 18 March 2009|url-status= live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090322173735/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/03/18/costa.rica.cuba.ties/ |archive-date= 22 March 2009}}</ref>

Costa Rica has a long-term disagreement with [[Nicaragua]] over the [[Costa Rica – Nicaragua San Juan River border dispute|San Juan River]], which defines the border between the two countries, and Costa Rica's [[Freedom of navigation|rights of navigation]] on the river.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-08/ElPais/UltimaHora/UH-HAYA1.aspx|title=IJC Court Ruling|publisher=nacion.com|access-date=8 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229193653/http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-08/ElPais/UltimaHora/UH-HAYA1.aspx|archive-date=29 December 2011}}</ref> On 14 July 2009, the [[International Court of Justice]] in the Hague upheld Costa Rica's navigation rights for commercial purposes to [[artisanal fishing|subsistence fishing]] on their side of the river. An 1858 treaty extended navigation rights to Costa Rica, but Nicaragua denied passenger travel and fishing were part of the deal; the court ruled Costa Ricans on the river were not required to have Nicaraguan tourist cards or visas as Nicaragua argued, but, in a nod to the Nicaraguans, ruled that Costa Rican boats and passengers must stop at the first and last Nicaraguan port along their route. They must also have an identity document or passport. Nicaragua can also impose timetables on Costa Rican traffic. Nicaragua may require Costa Rican boats to display the [[flag of Nicaragua]] but may not charge them for departure clearance from its ports. These were all specific items of contention brought to the court in the 2005 filing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/legal-services-litigation/12579933-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511230540/http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/legal-services-litigation/12579933-1.html |archive-date=11 May 2011 |title=World Court Settles San Juan River Dispute; Nicaragua and Costa Rica Both Claim Victory |publisher=Allbusiness.com|date=16 July 2009 |access-date=21 December 2010}}</ref>

In 2010, there was also a [[Costa Rica – Nicaragua San Juan River border dispute#2010 Isla Calero dispute|dispute around Isla Calero]], and the effects of Nicaraguan [[dredging]] of the river in that area.<ref>{{cite web |title=International Court of Justice recent provisional Costa Rica-Nicaragua decision |url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/150/16324.pdf?PHPSESSID=dfc78e071a095818c7de6e8f8f29aa1b |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20160405043857/http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/150/16324.pdf |archive-date=5 April 2016 |access-date=2 November 2011}}</ref>

On 1 June 2007, Costa Rica broke diplomatic ties with [[Taiwan]], switching recognition to the People's Republic of China. Costa Rica was the first of the Central American nations to do so. President [[Óscar Arias Sánchez]] admitted the action was a response to economic exigency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/caribbean/4505299-1.html |title=Costa Rica Boots Taiwan, Welcomes China In Diplomatic Switch |access-date=20 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511230533/http://www.allbusiness.com/caribbean/4505299-1.html |archive-date=11 May 2011}}. allbusiness.com (14 June 2007). Retrieved: 20 May 2010</ref> In response, the PRC built a new, $100 million, state-of-the-art [[Association football|football]] [[Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica (2011)|stadium in Parque la Sabana]], in the province of San José. Approximately 600 Chinese engineers and laborers took part in this project, and it was inaugurated in March 2011, with a match between the national teams of [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]] and [[China national football team|China]].

Costa Rica finished a term on the [[United Nations Security Council]], having been elected for a nonrenewable, two-year term in the [[United Nations Security Council election, 2007|2007 election]]. Its term expired on 31 December 2009; this was Costa Rica's third time on the Security Council. Elayne Whyte Gómez is the Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN Office at Geneva (2017) and President of the United Nations Conference to Negotiate a Legally Binding Instrument to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=57131|title=UN News – UN Member States set to adopt 'historic' treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons|first=United Nations News Service|last=Section|date=6 July 2017|website=UN News Service Section|access-date=6 August 2017|archive-date=9 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809230448/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=57131|url-status=live}}</ref>

Costa Rica is the 58th most peaceful country in the world, according to the 2024 [[Global Peace Index]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Global Peace Index |url=https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf}}</ref>

=== Pacifism ===
On 1 December 1948, Costa Rica abolished its military force.<ref name="peace">{{cite news |title=Why getting rid of Costa Rica's army 70 years ago has been such a success |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/01/05/costa-rica-celebrate-70-years-no-army/977107001/ |work=USA Today |date=5 January 2018 |access-date=13 August 2019 |archive-date=29 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829140152/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/01/05/costa-rica-celebrate-70-years-no-army/977107001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1949, the abolition of the military was introduced in [[Article 12 of the Constitution of Costa Rica|Article 12]] of the [[Costa Rican Constitution]]. The budget previously dedicated to the military is now dedicated to providing health care services and education.<ref name="nytimes-military">{{cite web|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/opinion/07kristof.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/opinion/07kristof.html |archive-date=1 January 2022 |url-access=limited|title= The Happiest People|work= The New York Times|date= 6 January 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Costa Rica's peace dividend: How abolishing the military paid off |url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-xpm-2013-dec-15-la-oe-barash-costa-rica-demilitarization-20131208-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=15 December 2013 |access-date=13 August 2019 |archive-date=13 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813070406/https://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-xpm-2013-dec-15-la-oe-barash-costa-rica-demilitarization-20131208-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', "Costa Rica is known for its stable democracy, progressive social policies, such as free, compulsory public education, high social well-being, and emphasis on environmental protection."<ref name="pacifism">{{cite news |title=Costa Rican president backs holiday for army abolition |url=https://www.dw.com/en/costa-rican-president-backs-holiday-for-army-abolition/a-46480144 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=28 November 2018 |access-date=13 August 2019 |archive-date=13 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813070409/https://www.dw.com/en/costa-rican-president-backs-holiday-for-army-abolition/a-46480144 |url-status=live }}</ref> For law enforcement, Costa Rica has the [[Public Force of Costa Rica]] police agency.

In 2017, Costa Rica signed the UN [[treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |title=Chapter XXVI: Disarmament&nbsp;– No. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons |publisher=United Nations Treaty Collection |date=7 July 2017 |access-date=13 August 2019 |archive-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806220546/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Costa Rica, the 11th country to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons |url=https://www.pressenza.com/2018/07/costa-rica-the-11th-country-to-ratify-the-treaty-on-the-prohibition-of-nuclear-weapons/ |agency=Pressenza – International Press Agency |date=6 July 2018 |access-date=13 August 2019 |archive-date=13 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813070407/https://www.pressenza.com/2018/07/costa-rica-the-11th-country-to-ratify-the-treaty-on-the-prohibition-of-nuclear-weapons/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Leadership in World governance initiatives ===
Costa Rica has been one of the signatories of the agreement to convene a convention for drafting a [[world constitution]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Letters from Thane Read asking Helen Keller to sign the World Constitution for world peace. 1961 |url=https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK01-07-B149-F04-022.1.8 |access-date=1 July 2023 |website=Helen Keller Archive |publisher=American Foundation for the Blind |archive-date=3 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703034807/https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK01-07-B149-F04-022.1.8 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Letter from World Constitution Coordinating Committee to Helen, enclosing current materials |url=https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK01-07-B154-F05-028.1.4 |access-date=3 July 2023 |website=Helen Keller Archive |publisher=American Foundation for the Blind |archive-date=19 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719170534/https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK01-07-B154-F05-028.1.4 |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result, in 1968, for the first time in human history, a [[World Constituent Assembly]] convened to draft and adopt the [[Constitution for the Federation of Earth]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Preparing earth constitution {{!}} Global Strategies & Solutions {{!}} The Encyclopedia of World Problems |url=http://encyclopedia.uia.org/en/strategy/193465 |access-date=15 July 2023 |website=The Encyclopedia of World Problems {{!}} Union of International Associations (UIA) |archive-date=19 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719215501/http://encyclopedia.uia.org/en/strategy/193465 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Francisco Orlich Bolmarcich]], then president of Costa Rica signed the agreement to convene a World Constituent Assembly<ref>{{Cite book |last=Amerasinghe |first=Terence P. |title=Emerging World Law, Volume 1 |publisher=Institute for Economic Democracy |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-933567-16-7 |page=50 |language=en}}</ref> along with former presidents [[José Figueres Ferrer]] and [[Otilio Ulate Blanco]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

=== Environmentalism ===
In 2021, Costa Rica, alongside Denmark, launched the "Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance" (BOGA) to stop the use of fossil fuels.<ref>{{cite news |title=Climate change: Whisper it cautiously... there's been progress in run-up to COP26 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58678937 |access-date=10 October 2021 |agency=BBC |date=25 September 2021 |archive-date=21 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921171344/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58678937 |url-status=live }}</ref> The BOGA campaign was presented in the [[COP26]] Climate Summit, where Sweden joined as a core member, while New Zealand and Portugal joined as associate members.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unric.org/en/denmark-sweden-and-greenland-in-a-new-global-alliance-to-seek-an-end-to-oil-and-gas-production/|date=11 November 2021|title=Denmark, Sweden and Greenland in a new global alliance to seek an end to oil and gas production|author=[[United Nations]]|access-date=9 December 2021|website=Unric.org|archive-date=9 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209142728/https://unric.org/en/denmark-sweden-and-greenland-in-a-new-global-alliance-to-seek-an-end-to-oil-and-gas-production/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Costa Rica}}
[[File:Real GPD per capita development of Costa Rica.jpg|thumb|right|Real GDP per capita development in Costa Rica]]
[[File:Intel Costa 12 2007 SJO 105b.jpg|thumb|An [[Intel]] microprocessor facility in Costa Rica that was, at one time, responsible for 20% of Costa Rican exports and 5% of the country's GDP]]
Costa Rica's economy has shown resilience and growth in recent years. In 2024, the country's nominal GDP per capita was estimated at US$17,501, reflecting steady economic development.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Costa Rica Nominal GDP Per Capita {{!}} 2025 {{!}} Data |url=https://www.worldeconomics.com/GrossDomesticProduct/Current-GDP-Per-Capita/Myanmar.aspx/Costa%20Rica.aspx |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=World Economics |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=COSTA RICA |url=https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/e408a7e21ba62d843bdd90dc37e61b57-0500032021/related/mpo-cri.pdf}}</ref>

The unemployment rate has also seen improvement, dropping to 6.9% in December 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tasa de Desempleo Abierto |url=https://inec.cr/indicadores/tasa-desempleo-abierto |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=INEC |language=es}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> This reduction suggests a recovering labor market and increased employment opportunities. Poverty levels have decreased, with the national poverty rate falling to 10.0% in 2024, the lowest in recent years.<ref name=":3" /> This improvement reflects successful social programs and economic inclusivity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Tico |date=9 September 2024 |title=Poverty Decreases in Costa Rica, But Wage Gaps Persist |url=https://ticotimes.net/2024/09/09/poverty-decreases-in-costa-rica-but-wage-gaps-persist |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=The Tico Times {{!}} Costa Rica News {{!}} Travel {{!}} Real Estate |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2025, the [[World Bank]] reclassified Costa Rica as a [[World Bank high-income economy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Bank Country and Lending Groups – World Bank Data Help Desk |url=https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups |access-date=2 July 2025 |website=datahelpdesk.worldbank.org}}</ref>

Costa Rica continues to prioritize renewable energy, with approximately 95% of its electricity generated from renewable sources in 2023. Hydropower accounts for the majority, followed by geothermal, wind, solar, and biomass energy. However, the country faced challenges due to drought conditions, leading to electricity rationing in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murillo |first=Alvaro |date=9 May 2024 |title=Suffering worst drought in decades, Costa Rica orders electricity rationing |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/suffering-worst-drought-decades-costa-rica-orders-electricity-rationing-2024-05-09/ |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=Reuters}}</ref>

The government remains committed to environmental sustainability, implementing policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting clean energy initiatives. These efforts align with Costa Rica's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 April 2024 |title='This country is what the world would like to be': can Costa Rica's environment minister keep its green reputation intact? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/apr/22/sustainable-or-solvent-costa-rica-environment-minister-franz-tattenbach-on-balancing-green-credentials-and-growth |access-date=7 May 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

=== Trade and foreign investment ===
[[File:Costa Rica Free Trade Agreements.png|thumb|Countries (in blue) which have signed Free Trade Agreements with Costa Rica]]
Costa Rica has free trade agreements with many countries, including the US. There are no significant trade barriers that would affect imports and the country has been lowering its tariffs to other Central American countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.export.gov/article?id=Costa-Rica-Import-Tariffs|title=Costa Rica - Import Tariffs - export.gov|website=www.export.gov|access-date=7 August 2017|archive-date=5 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805023310/https://www.export.gov/article?id=Costa-Rica-Import-Tariffs|url-status=live}}</ref> The country's Free Trade Zones (FTZ) provide incentives for manufacturing and service industries to operate in Costa Rica. In 2015, the zones supported over 82 thousand direct jobs and 43 thousand indirect jobs 2015, and average wages in the FTZ were 1.8 times greater than the average for private enterprise work in the rest of the country.<ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite web |date=23 August 2016 |title=Major Business Success for Costa Rica Free Trade Zones – Costa Rica Star News |url=http://news.co.cr/major-business-success-costa-rica-free-trade-zones/50129/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807193902/http://news.co.cr/major-business-success-costa-rica-free-trade-zones/50129/ |archive-date=7 August 2017 |access-date=7 August 2017}}</ref> In 2016, [[Amazon.com]] for example, had some 3,500 employees in Costa Rica and planned to increase that by 1,500 in 2017, making it an important employer.<ref name="seattletimes.com"/>

The central location provides access to American markets and direct ocean access to Europe and Asia. The most important exports in 2015 (in order of dollar value) were medical instruments, bananas, tropical fruits, integrated circuits, and orthopedic appliances.<ref name="atlas.media.mit.edu">{{cite web|url=http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/cri/|title=OEC – Costa Rica (CRI) Exports, Imports, and Trade Partners|website=atlas.media.mit.edu|access-date=4 August 2017|archive-date=10 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810120223/http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/cri/}}</ref> Total imports in that year were US$15 billion. The most significant products imported in 2015 (in order of dollar value) were refined petroleum, automobiles, packaged medications, broadcasting equipment, and computers. The total exports were US$12.6 billion for a trade deficit of US$2.39 billion in 2015.<ref name="atlas.media.mit.edu"/>

[[File:DirkvdM orosi valley bird.jpg|thumb|A [[Coffee production in Costa Rica|coffee plantation]] in the [[Orosí|Orosí Valley]]]]
Pharmaceuticals, financial outsourcing, software development, and [[ecotourism]] have become the prime industries in Costa Rica's economy. High levels of education among its residents make the country an attractive investment location. Since 1999, tourism earns more foreign exchange than the combined exports of the country's three main [[cash crops]]: bananas and pineapples especially,<ref name="qcostarica.com">{{cite web|url=http://qcostarica.com/costa-ricas-fruits-exports-beyond-pineapples-and-bananas/|title=Costa Rica's Fruits Exports Beyond Pineapples And Bananas|date=16 May 2017|access-date=4 August 2017|archive-date=19 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619054336/http://qcostarica.com/costa-ricas-fruits-exports-beyond-pineapples-and-bananas/|url-status=live}}</ref> but also other crops, including coffee.<ref name="ICT2006">{{cite web|author=Departamento de Estadísticas ICT|url=http://www.visitcostarica.com/ict/backoffice/treeDoc/files/Anuario%20de%20Turismo%202006%20(VERSION%20FINAL).pdf|title=Anuário Estadísticas de Demanda 2006|publisher=Intituto Costarricense de Turismo|year=2006|language=es|access-date=29 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302194925/http://www.visitcostarica.com/ict/backoffice/treeDoc/files/Anuario%20de%20Turismo%202006%20(VERSION%20FINAL).pdf|archive-date=2 March 2011}} Table 44 and 45</ref> [[Coffee production in Costa Rica|Coffee production]] played a key role in Costa Rica's history and in 2006, was the third cash crop export.<ref name="ICT2006"/> As a small country, Costa Rica now provides under 1% of the world's coffee production.<ref name="cafeimports.com"/> In 2015, the value of coffee exports was US$305.9 million, a small part of the total agricultural exports of US$2.7 billion.<ref name="qcostarica.com"/> Coffee production increased by 13.7% percent in 2015–16, declined by 17.5% in 2016–17 but was expected to increase by about 15% in the subsequent year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/report/downloadreportbyfilename?filename=Coffee%20Annual_San%20Jose_Costa%20Rica_5-22-2017.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/Coffee%20Annual_San%20Jose_Costa%20Rica_5-22-2017.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live |title=Annual report |date=2017 |website=gain.fas.usda.gov}}</ref>

Costa Rica has developed a system of [[Payment for ecosystem services|payments for environmental services]].<ref name="ODI1">Jessica Brown and Neil Bird 2010. [http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=5049&title=costa-rica-sustainable-resource-management-successfully-tackling-tropical-deforestation Costa Rica sustainable resource management: Successfully tackling tropical deforestation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514083601/http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=5049&title=costa-rica-sustainable-resource-management-successfully-tackling-tropical-deforestation|date=14 May 2011}}. London: [[Overseas Development Institute]]</ref> Similarly, Costa Rica has a tax on water pollution to penalize businesses and homeowners that dump sewage, [[agrochemical|agricultural chemicals]], and other pollutants into waterways.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=331428&CategoryId=23558|title= Costa Rica taxing firms that dump wastewater into rivers|publisher= Latin American Herald Tribune|date= 7 April 2007|access-date= 19 May 2012|archive-date= 17 January 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130117025315/http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=331428&CategoryId=23558}}</ref> In May 2007, the Costa Rican government announced its intentions to become 100% [[carbon neutral]] by 2021.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007549.html |title=Bright Green: Costa Rica and New Zealand on Path to Carbon Neutrality |work=Worldchanging |access-date=5 May 2011 |date=7 November 2007 |first=Janet L. |last=Sawin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504015643/http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007549.html |archive-date=4 May 2011}}</ref> By 2015, 93 percent of the country's electricity came from [[Renewable energy in Costa Rica|renewable sources]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Costa Rica uses 100 pct. clean energy to generate power for over 90 days |work= EFE |publisher= Fox News Latino |date= 13 August 2015 |url= http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2015/08/13/costa-rica-uses-100-pct-clean-energy-to-generate-power-for-over-0-days/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150818071137/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2015/08/13/costa-rica-uses-100-pct-clean-energy-to-generate-power-for-over-0-days/ |archive-date= 18 August 2015}}</ref> In 2019, the country produced 99.62% of its electricity from renewable sources and ran completely on renewable sources for 300 continuous days.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.intelligentliving.co/costa-ricas-electricity-nearly-100-renewable-energy/|title=Costa Rica's Electricity Is Nearly At 100% Renewable Energy|date=23 February 2020|publisher=intelligentliving.co|access-date=23 February 2020|archive-date=23 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223231331/https://www.intelligentliving.co/costa-ricas-electricity-nearly-100-renewable-energy/|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Zona Franca América, Heredia, Costa Rica.jpg|thumb|An [[industrial park]] in [[Heredia, Costa Rica|Heredia]]]]
In 1996, the Forest Law was enacted to provide direct financial incentives to landowners for the provision of environmental services.<ref name=ODI1/> This helped reorient the forestry sector away from commercial timber production and the resulting [[deforestation]] and helped create awareness of the services it provides for the economy and society (i.e., [[carbon fixation]], hydrological services such as producing fresh drinking water, biodiversity protection, and provision of scenic beauty).<ref name=ODI1/>

A 2016 report by the U.S. government report identifies other challenges facing Costa Rica as it works to expand its economy by working with companies from the US (and probably from other countries).<ref name="2016.export.gov">{{cite web |last=ITA |title=Export.gov – CCG |url=http://2016.export.gov/costarica/doingbusinessincostarica/index.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418225120/http://2016.export.gov/costarica/doingbusinessincostarica/index.asp |archive-date=18 April 2017 |access-date=4 August 2017 |website=2016.export.gov}}</ref> The major concerns identified were as follows:
* The ports, roads, railways, and water delivery systems would benefit from major upgrading, a concern voiced by other reports too.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/a-bird-eye-view-of-costa-rica-s-transport-infrastructure_5jlswbwvwqjf-en|title=A bird-eye view of Costa Rica's transport infrastructure|first1=Mauro|last1=Pisu|first2=Federico|last2=Villalobos|date=3 August 2016|journal=OECD Economics Department Working Papers|doi=10.1787/5jlswbwvwqjf-en|doi-access=free|access-date=4 August 2017|archive-date=5 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805020809/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/a-bird-eye-view-of-costa-rica-s-transport-infrastructure_5jlswbwvwqjf-en|url-status=live|issn = 1815-1973 }}</ref> Attempts by China to invest in upgrading such aspects were "stalled by bureaucratic and legal concerns".
* The bureaucracy is "often slow and cumbersome".
[[Mining in Costa Rica]] contributes a small amount to the economy. In 2018 5.2 tons of gold were produced.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DGM |title=DGM |url=https://geologia.go.cr/mineria/mineria_de_costa_rica_en_datos.aspx |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=geologia.go.cr |language=es}}</ref>

=== Tourism ===
{{main|Tourism in Costa Rica}}
{{see also|List of airports in Costa Rica}}
[[File:CostaRica25 (8414513243).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Arenal Volcano National Park]] is one of the country's [[Tourism in Costa Rica|tourist attractions]].]]
Costa Rica had 2.9 million foreign visitors in 2016, up 10% from 2015.<ref name="Central America Data">{{cite news|title=Costa Rica: Flow of Visitors Up 10% in 2016|url=http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/home/Costa_Rica_Flow_of_Visitors_Up_10_in_2016|access-date=21 March 2017|work=Central America Data|date=8 February 2017|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322202746/http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/home/Costa_Rica_Flow_of_Visitors_Up_10_in_2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, the tourism sector was responsible for 5.8% of the country's GDP, or $3.4 billion.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tourism Represents 5.8% of GDP in Costa Rica – Costa Rica Star News|url=https://news.co.cr/tourism-represents-large-gdp-costa-rica/62237/|website=Costa Rica Star News|date=16 June 2017|access-date=25 February 2018|archive-date=4 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804053233/http://news.co.cr/tourism-represents-large-gdp-costa-rica/62237/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, the highest number of tourists came from the United States, with 1,000,000 visitors, followed by Europe with 434,884 arrivals.<ref name="El Financiero">{{cite news|last1=Rodriguez Valverde|first1=Andrea|title=Costa Rica alcanza cifra récord en llegadas internacionales: 2,9 millones de visitantes|url=http://www.elfinancierocr.com/economia-y-politica/Costa-Rica-internacionales-millones-visitantes_0_1118888103.html|access-date=21 March 2017|work=El Financiero|date=17 February 2017|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322202909/http://www.elfinancierocr.com/economia-y-politica/Costa-Rica-internacionales-millones-visitantes_0_1118888103.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Costa Rica Vacations, once tourists arrive in the country, 22% go to [[Tamarindo, Costa Rica|Tamarindo]], 18% go to [[Arenal, Costa Rica|Arenal]], 17% pass through [[Liberia, Costa Rica|Liberia]] (where the [[Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport]] is located), 16% go to [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]], the country's capital (passing through [[Juan Santamaría International Airport]]), while 18% choose Manuel Antonio and 7% Monteverde.<ref name="Costa RIca Vacations">{{cite web|title=Costa Rica Vacations|url=http://costaricavacations.com/|website=Costa Rica Vacations|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-date=23 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223190657/http://costaricavacations.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

By 2004, tourism was generating more revenue and [[Foreign exchange reserves|foreign exchange]] than bananas and coffee combined.<ref name="ICT2006"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elempleo.co.cr/clientes/news_cli.asp?not_id=22|language=es|date=29 December 2004|access-date=13 April 2008|newspaper=La Nación|title=Turismo, principal motor de la economía durante el 2004|author=José Enrique Rojas|archive-date=11 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411201314/http://www.elempleo.co.cr/clientes/news_cli.asp?not_id=22}}</ref> In 2016, the World Travel & Tourism Council's estimates indicated a direct contribution to the GDP of 5.1% and 110,000 direct jobs in Costa Rica; the total number of jobs indirectly supported by tourism was 271,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic-impact-research/countries-2017/costarica2017.pdf |title=Research |date=2017 |website=www.wttc.org |access-date=4 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720140155/https://www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic-impact-research/countries-2017/costarica2017.pdf |archive-date=20 July 2018 }}</ref>

[[File:Tenorio Volcano Nationalpark, Costa Rica — bright blue paradise fantasy waterfall—2021.jpg|left|thumb|Waterfall in the [[Tenorio Volcano National Park]]]]
A pioneer of [[ecotourism]], Costa Rica draws many tourists to its extensive series of national parks and other protected areas.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Honey | first = Martha | year = 1999 | title = Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise? | page = [https://archive.org/details/ecotourismsustai00hone/page/5 5] | publisher = Island Press; 1 edition, Washington, D.C. | isbn = 978-1-55963-582-0 | url = https://archive.org/details/ecotourismsustai00hone/page/5}}</ref> The trail [[Camino de Costa Rica]] supports this by allowing travelers to walk across the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. In the 2011 [[Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report|Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index]], Costa Rica ranked 44th in the world and second among Latin American countries after Mexico in 2011.<ref name="TTCI2011">{{cite web| url =http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TravelTourismCompetitiveness_Report_2011.pdf| editor =Jennifer Blanke| editor2 =Thea Chiesa| year =2011| title =Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2011| publisher =[[World Economic Forum]], Geneva, Switzerland| access-date =14 March 2011| archive-date =9 October 2022| archive-url =https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TravelTourismCompetitiveness_Report_2011.pdf| url-status =live}}</ref> By the time of the 2017 report, the country had reached 38th place, slightly behind Panama.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.co.cr/costa-rica-ranks-38-in-tourism-and-travel-competitiveness-report-2017/62394/|title=Costa Rica Ranks 38th in Tourism and Travel Competitiveness Report 2017 – Costa Rica Star News|date=23 June 2017|access-date=4 August 2017|archive-date=5 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805020359/http://news.co.cr/costa-rica-ranks-38-in-tourism-and-travel-competitiveness-report-2017/62394/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Ethical Traveler group's ten countries on their 2017 list of The World's Ten Best Ethical Destinations includes Costa Rica. The country scored highest in environmental protection among the winners.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/articles/entry/the_most_ethical_travel_destinations_for_2017/|title=The Most Ethical Travel Destinations for 2017|first1=Molly|last1=Blakemore|first2=Karen|last2=Blansfield|first3=Morgan|last3=Lance|first4=Natalie Lefevre with Jeff|last4=Greenwald|website=Earth Island Journal|access-date=22 November 2020|archive-date=29 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129173346/https://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/articles/entry/the_most_ethical_travel_destinations_for_2017/|url-status=live}}</ref> Costa Rica began reversing [[deforestation]] in the 1990s, and they are moving towards using only [[renewable energy]], with 93% of all its energy being renewable.<ref>{{Citation|last=Democracy Now!|title=Fossil-Free Costa Rica: How One Country Is Pursuing Decarbonization Despite Global Inaction|date=13 December 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy2lhbtJExg| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211027/gy2lhbtJExg| archive-date=27 October 2021|access-date=13 December 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Costa Ricans|Demographics of Costa Rica}}
{{Costa Rican censuses}}
{{Pie chart|thumb=right|caption = Racial groups in Costa Rica (2011 census)<ref name="inec.go.cr">{{cite web|title=Costa Rica: Población total por autoidentificación étnica-racial, según provincia y sexo. (Spanish)|url=http://www.inec.go.cr/social/grupos-etnicos-raciales|website=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (Costa Rica)|access-date=19 November 2016}}</ref>
|label1 = Undeclared
|value1 = 83.64
|color1 = White
|label2 = [[Mulattos]]
|value2 = 6.72
|color2 = #AA7E54
|label3 = [[Indigenous peoples of Costa Rica|Indigenous]]
|value3 = 2.42
|color3 = #BE7343
|label4 = [[Black Costa Ricans|Blacks]]
|value4 = 1.05
|color4 = #62402F
|label5 = [[East Asian people|East Asians]]
|value5 = 0.21
|color5 = #E8BF88
|label6 = Not specified
|value6 = 5.95
|color6 = Lightgray
}}

The [[2022 Costa Rica census|2022 census]] counted a total population of 5,044,197 people.<ref name="inec_cr" /> In 2022, the census also recorded ethnic or racial identity for all groups separately for the first time in more than ninety-five years since the 1927 census. Options included Indigenous, Black or Afro-descendant, Mulatto, Chinese, [[Mestizo]], white and other on section IV: question 7.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://admin.inec.cr/sites/default/files/media/_por_que_se_hacen_estas_preguntas_1.pdf|title=INEC Cuestionario Censo 2022|website=INEC|date=2022|access-date=6 April 2023|archive-date=6 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406043328/https://admin.inec.cr/sites/default/files/media/_por_que_se_hacen_estas_preguntas_1.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2011 data for the following groups were: 83.6% whites or [[mestizo]]s, 6.7% [[mulatto]]es, 2.4% [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]], 1.1% black or [[Afro-Costa Rican|Afro-Caribbean]]; the census showed 1.1% as Other, 2.9% (141,304 people) as None, and 2.2% (107,196 people) as unspecified.<ref name="livepopulation.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.livepopulation.com/country/costa-rica.html|title=Live Costa Rica Population Clock 2017 – Population of Costa Rica Today|website=www.livepopulation.com|access-date=6 August 2017|archive-date=4 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104210502/https://www.livepopulation.com/country/costa-rica.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:CostaRicaPOP2024.png|thumb|Population pyramid of Costa Rica for 2024]]
In 2011, there were over 104,000 Native American or indigenous inhabitants, representing 2.4% of the population. Most of them live in secluded reservations, distributed among eight ethnic groups: [[Quitirrisí]] (in the Central Valley), Matambú or [[Chorotega people|Chorotega]] (Guanacaste), [[Maleku people|Maleku]] (northern Alajuela), [[Bribri people|Bribri]] (southern Atlantic), [[Cabécar people|Cabécar]] (Cordillera de Talamanca), [[Ngäbe]] (southern Costa Rica, along the Panamá border), [[Boruca people|Boruca]] (southern Costa Rica) and {{Ill|Térraba people|es|Térraba|lt=Térraba}} (southern Costa Rica).

The population includes [[European Costa Ricans]] (of European ancestry), primarily of [[Spanish people|Spanish]] descent,<ref name=CIA/> with significant numbers of Italian, German, English, Dutch, French, Irish, Portuguese, and Polish families, as well a sizable Jewish community. The majority of the Afro-Costa Ricans are [[Creole English]]-speaking descendants of 19th century black [[Jamaicans|Jamaican]] immigrant workers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schulman |first=Bob |title='Little Jamaica' Rocks on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/little-jamaica-rocks-on-t_b_8100114 |work=Huffington Post |access-date=22 January 2019 |archive-date=25 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125020543/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/little-jamaica-rocks-on-t_b_8100114 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Koch |first=Charles W. |title=Jamaican Blacks and Their Descendants in Costa Rica |journal=Social and Economic Studies |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=339–361 |location=Jamaica |publisher=Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, University of the West Indies |jstor=27861669 |year=1977}}</ref>

The 2011 census classified 83.6% of the population as white or [[Mestizo]]; the latter are persons of combined European and Amerindian descent. The [[Mulatto]] segment (mix of white and black) represented 6.7% and Indigenous people made up 2.4% of the population.<ref name=CIA/> Native and European mixed-blood populations are far less than in other Latin American countries. Exceptions are [[Guanacaste Province|Guanacaste]], where almost half the population is visibly mestizo, a legacy of the more pervasive unions between Spanish colonists and Chorotega Amerindians through several generations, and [[Limón]], where the vast majority of the Afro-Costa Rican community lives.

Costa Rica hosts many refugees, mainly from [[Colombia]] and [[Nicaragua]]. As a result of that and illegal immigration, an estimated 10–15% (400,000–600,000) of the Costa Rican population is made up of Nicaraguans.<ref>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2019.htm www.state.gov "Background Note: Costa Rica – People"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121153104/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2019.htm |date=21 January 2017 }}, United States Department of State.</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-mar-23-fg-costa23-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | title=Costa Rica Seeks to Shut Its Doors to Illegal Migrants From Nicaragua | first1=Marla | last1=Dickerson | first2=Rebecca | last2=Kimitch | date=23 March 2006 | access-date=2 May 2010 | archive-date=6 December 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206141240/http://articles.latimes.com/2006/mar/23/world/fg-costa23 | url-status=live }}</ref> Some Nicaraguans migrate for seasonal work opportunities and then return to their country. Costa Rica took in many refugees from a range of other Latin American countries fleeing civil wars and dictatorships during the 1970s and 1980s, notably from [[Chile]] and [[Argentina]], as well as people from [[El Salvador]] who fled from [[guerrillas]] and government [[death squad]]s.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Biesanz, Karen Zubris |title=The Ticos: Culture and Social Change in Costa Rica |author2=Biesanz, Mavis Hiltunen |author3=Biesanz, Richard |publisher=[[Lynne Rienner Publishers]] |year=1998 |isbn=978-1-55587-737-8 |location=Boulder, CO |page=118 |author-link2=Mavis Biesanz}}</ref>

[[File:Niños costarricenses.JPG|thumb|Costa Rican school children|200x200px]]According to the [[World Bank]], in 2010 about 489,200 immigrants lived in the country, many from Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize, while 125,306 Costa Ricans live abroad in the United States, Panama, Nicaragua, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Venezuela, [[Dominican Republic]], and [[Ecuador]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPROSPECTS/Resources/334934-1199807908806/CostaRica.pdf|title=Costa Rica country profile (from the Migration and Remittances Factbook 2011)|publisher=World Bank|access-date=17 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103144309/http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPROSPECTS/Resources/334934-1199807908806/CostaRica.pdf|archive-date=3 November 2011}}</ref> The number of migrants declined in later years but in 2015, there were some 420,000 immigrants in Costa Rica<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pewglobal.org/interactives/migration-tables/|title=International Migrants by Country|date=10 November 2016|access-date=7 August 2017|archive-date=7 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807194636/http://www.pewglobal.org/interactives/migration-tables/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the number of asylum seekers (mostly from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua) rose to more than 110,000, a fivefold increase from 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/26/central-american-refugees-costa-rica-obama-administration|title=US partners with Costa Rica to protect Central American refugees|first=Amanda|last=Holpuch|newspaper=The Guardian |date=26 July 2016|via=www.theguardian.com|access-date=7 August 2017|archive-date=7 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807232235/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/26/central-american-refugees-costa-rica-obama-administration|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, the country was called a "magnet" for migrants from South and Central America and other countries who were hoping to reach the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Kahn |first1=Carrie |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/09/01/492066728/costa-rica-becomes-a-magnet-for-migrants|title=Costa Rica Becomes A Magnet For Migrants|website=NPR.org|date=September 2016 |access-date=3 April 2018|archive-date=3 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503023802/https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/09/01/492066728/costa-rica-becomes-a-magnet-for-migrants|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://havanatimes.org/interviews/nicaragua-trump-deportations-and-the-affect-on-family-remittances/|title=Nicaragua, Trump, Deportations and the {{sic|Affect|expected=Effect|nolink=y}} on Family Remittances|first=Circles|last=Robinson|date=5 December 2016|access-date=22 November 2020|archive-date=30 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130130203/https://havanatimes.org/interviews/nicaragua-trump-deportations-and-the-affect-on-family-remittances/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Largest cantons ===
{{Further|Cantons of Costa Rica}}
{{Largest cities
| country      = Costa Rica
| kind         = cantons
| stat_ref     = Estimations from 2022<ref name="2022popest">{{Cite web |author=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos |author-link=National Institute of Statistics and Census of Costa Rica |date=2023 |title=Resultados Estimacion de Poblacion y Vivienda 2022 |trans-title=2022 Population and Housing Estimate Results |url=https://admin.inec.cr/sites/default/files/2023-11/reResultadosEstimacionPoblacionVivienda2022_3.xlsx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604233425/https://admin.inec.cr/sites/default/files/2023-11/reResultadosEstimacionPoblacionVivienda2022_3.xlsx |archive-date=4 June 2024 |access-date=21 April 2024 |language=es |format=XLSX}}</ref>
| list_by_pop  = Cantons of Costa Rica
| div_name     = Province

|city_1 = San José, Costa Rica{{!}}San José
|div_1  = San José Province{{!}}San José
|pop_1  = 352 381
|city_2 = Alajuela (canton){{!}}Alajuela
|div_2  = Alajuela Province{{!}}Alajuela
|pop_2  = 322 143
|city_3 = Desamparados, Costa Rica{{!}}Desamparados
|div_3  = San José Province{{!}}San José
|pop_3  = 223 226
|city_4 = San Carlos (canton){{!}}San Carlos
|div_4  = Alajuela Province{{!}}Alajuela
|pop_4  = 198 742
|city_5 = Cartago (canton){{!}}Cartago
|div_5  = Cartago Province{{!}}Cartago
|pop_5  = 165 417

|city_6 = Pérez Zeledón (canton){{!}}Pérez Zeledón
|div_6  = San José Province{{!}}San José
|pop_6  = 156 917

|city_7 = Pococí {{!}}Pococí
|div_7  = Limón Province{{!}}Limón
|pop_7  = 146 320

|city_8 = Puntarenas (canton){{!}}Puntarenas
|div_8  = Puntarenas Province{{!}}Puntarenas
|pop_8  = 141 697

|city_9 = Goicoechea (canton){{!}}Goicoechea
|div_9  = San José Province{{!}}San José
|pop_9  = 132 104

|city_10 = Heredia (canton){{!}}Heredia
|div_10  = Heredia Province{{!}}Heredia
|pop_10  = 131 901
}}

=== Languages ===
{{Main|Languages of Costa Rica}}
The primary language spoken in Costa Rica is Spanish, which features characteristics [[Costa Rican Spanish|distinct to the country]], a form of Central American Spanish. Costa Rica is a linguistically diverse country and home to at least five living local indigenous languages spoken by the descendants of pre-Columbian peoples: Maléku, Cabécar, Bribri, Guaymí, and Buglere.

Of native languages still spoken, primarily in indigenous reservations, the most numerically important are the [[Bribri language|Bribri]], [[Maléku language|Maléku]], [[Cabécar language|Cabécar]] and [[Ngäbere language]]s; some of these have several thousand speakers in Costa Rica while others have a few hundred. Some languages, such as [[Teribe language|Teribe]] and [[Boruca language|Boruca]], have fewer than a thousand speakers. The [[Buglere]] language and the closely related [[Guaymí language|Guaymí]] are spoken by some in southeast Puntarenas.<ref name="worldatlas.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-languages-are-spoken-in-costa-rica.html|title=What Languages Are Spoken In Costa Rica?|website=WorldAtlas|date=17 July 2019|access-date=22 November 2020|archive-date=8 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608113503/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-languages-are-spoken-in-costa-rica.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

A [[English-based creole language|Creole-English]] language, [[Jamaican Patois|Jamaican ''patois'']] (also known as [[Limonese Creole|Mekatelyu]]), is an English-based Creole language spoken by the Afro-Carib immigrants who have settled primarily in Limón Province along the Caribbean coast.<ref name="worldatlas.com"/>

About 10.7% of Costa Rica's adult population (18 or older) also speaks English, 0.7% French, and 0.3% speaks [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] or German as a second language.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/marzo/11/pais1457622.html|title=Solo 1 de cada 10 adultos habla un segundo idioma|publisher=[[La Nación (Costa Rica)]]|author=Jairo Villegas|date=13 March 2008|access-date=22 July 2010|archive-date=17 July 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717122852/http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/marzo/11/pais1457622.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Costa Rica}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Costa Rica (CIEP 2018)<ref name=ciep/>
|label1 = [[Catholic Church|Catholicism]]
|value1 = 52
|color1 = DarkOrchid
|label2 = [[Protestantism]]
|value2 = 25
|color2 = DodgerBlue
|label3 = [[Irreligion|No religion]]
|value3 = 17
|color3 = LightGray
|label4 = Other religions
|value4 = 3
|color4 = Gold
|label5 = No answer
|value5 = 3
|color5 = Black
}}

[[File:Basilica de los Angeles 2007.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles ([[Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, Cartago]]), during the 2007 pilgrimage]]
Most Costa Ricans identify with a Christian religion, with [[Catholicism]] being the one with the largest number of members and also the official [[state religion]] according to the 1949 Constitution, which at the same time guarantees [[freedom of religion]]. Costa Rica is the only modern state in the [[Americas]] which currently has Catholicism as its state religion; other countries with state religions (Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Orthodox) are in Europe: [[Liechtenstein]], [[Monaco]], the [[Vatican City]], [[Malta]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Denmark]], [[Iceland]], and [[Greece]].<ref>Travis Mitchell, "Many Countries Favor Specific Religions, Officially and Unofficially", Pew Research Center, 3 October 2017.</ref>

The Latinobarómetro survey of 2017 found that 57% of the population identify themselves as [[Roman Catholics]], 25% are [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] [[Protestants]], 15% report that they [[Nonreligious|do not have a religion]], and 2% declare that they belong to another religion.<ref name="latbar">{{cite web|title=Latinobarómetro 1995 – 2017: El Papa Francisco y la Religión en Chile y América Latina|url=http://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/site/artic/20180112/asocfile/20180112124342/f00006494_religion_chile_america_latina_2017.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/site/artic/20180112/asocfile/20180112124342/f00006494_religion_chile_america_latina_2017.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live|access-date=30 August 2018|language=es|date=January 2018}}</ref> This survey indicated a decline in the share of Catholics and rise in the share of Protestants and irreligious.<ref name="latbar"/> A University of Costa Rica survey of 2018 showed similar rates; 52% Catholics, 22% Protestants, 17% irreligious, and 3% other.<ref name=ciep /> The rate of secularism is high by Latin American standards.

Due to small, but continuous, immigration from Asia and the Middle East, other religions have grown. The most popular is [[Buddhism]], with about 100,000 practitioners (over 2% of the population).<ref name="buddhistchannel.tv">{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=71,11009,0,0,1,0|title=World – Buddhism in Costa Rica|website=www.buddhistchannel.tv|access-date=16 June 2013|archive-date=16 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616032140/http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=71,11009,0,0,1,0|url-status=live}}</ref> Most Buddhists are members of the [[Han Chinese]] community of about 40,000 with some new local converts. There is also a small [[Islam in Costa Rica|Muslim]] community of about 500 families or 0.001% of the population.<ref>{{cite news|title=Navidad se vive diferente en hogares ticos no cristianos|first=Adriana|last=Quirós|language=es|newspaper=La Nación|date=24 December 2010|url=http://www.nacion.com/2010-12-25/AldeaGlobal/FotoVideoDestacado/AldeaGlobal2626179.aspx|trans-title=Christmas is lived differently in non-Christian Costa Rican homes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228232240/http://www.nacion.com/2010-12-25/AldeaGlobal/FotoVideoDestacado/AldeaGlobal2626179.aspx|archive-date=28 December 2010}}</ref>

The Sinagoga Shaarei Zion synagogue<ref>[http://www.centroisraelita.com/ Centro Israelita de Costa Rica, Comunidad Judía de Costa Rica] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100226183123/http://www.centroisraelita.com/ |date=26 February 2010 }}, Costa Rican Jewish Community</ref> is near [[La Sabana Metropolitan Park]] in [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]]. Several homes in the neighborhood east of the park display the [[Star of David]] and other Jewish symbols.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jcpa.org/dje/articles2/costarica.htm |title=Jewish Community in Costa Rica |publisher=Jcpa.org |access-date=26 June 2010 |archive-date=27 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727140623/http://www.jcpa.org/dje/articles2/costarica.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] claims more than 35,000 members, and has a [[San José Costa Rica Temple|temple in San José]] that served as a regional worship center for Costa Rica.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/contact-us/costa-rica |title=Costa Rica |access-date=13 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825062417/http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/contact-us/costa-rica |archive-date=25 August 2010}}. LDS Newsroom. Retrieved on 13 December 2008</ref> However, they represent less than 1% of the population.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/san-jose-costa-rica-temple/ |title=San José Costa Rica LDS (Mormon) Temple |publisher=Ldschurchtemples.com |access-date=26 June 2010 |archive-date=23 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323181446/https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/san-jose-costa-rica-temple/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lds.org/temples/geographical/0,11380,1899-1---19,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020308040039/http://www.lds.org/temples/geographical/0,11380,1899-1---19,00.html |archive-date=8 March 2002 |title=List of LDS (Mormon) temples in Central America and the Caribbean |publisher=Lds.org |access-date=26 June 2010}}</ref>

=== Education ===
{{Main|Education in Costa Rica}}
[[File:Estudios Generales.jpg|thumb|The [[University of Costa Rica]] is the largest university in the country and one of the most recognizable across [[Central America]].]]
The literacy rate in Costa Rica is approximately 97 percent and English is widely spoken primarily due to Costa Rica's tourism industry.<ref name="2016.export.gov"/> When the army was abolished in 1949, it was said that the "army would be replaced with an army of teachers".<ref>[http://www.sinabi.go.cr/Biblioteca%20Digital/BIBLIOGRAFIA/Bibliografias/Bib%20Abolicion%20ejercito.pdf Abolición del Ejército en Costa Rica] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035643/http://www.sinabi.go.cr/Biblioteca%20Digital/BIBLIOGRAFIA/Bibliografias/Bib%20Abolicion%20ejercito.pdf |date=4 March 2016 }}. Ministerio de Cultura, Juventud y Deportes, San José, Costa Rica. 2004. {{ISBN|9968-856-21-5}}</ref> Universal [[public education]] is guaranteed in the constitution; primary education is obligatory, and both preschool and secondary school are free. Students who finish 11th grade receive a Costa Rican Bachillerato Diploma accredited by the Costa Rican Ministry of Education.

There are both state and private universities. The state-funded [[University of Costa Rica]] has been awarded the title "Meritorious Institution of Costa Rican Education and Culture" and hosts around 25,000 students who study at numerous campuses established around the country.

A 2016 report by the U.S. government report identifies the current challenges facing the education system, including the high dropout rate among secondary school students. The country needs even more workers who are fluent in English and languages such as Portuguese, Mandarin, and French. It would also benefit from more graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs, according to the report.<ref name="2016.export.gov"/> Costa Rica was ranked 72nd in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GII Innovation Ecosystems & Data Explorer 2025 |url=https://www.wipo.int/gii-ranking/en/costa-rica |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=WIPO}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Dutta |first1=Soumitra |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2025/en/index.html |title=Global Innovation Index 2025: Innovation at a Crossroads |last2=Lanvin |first2=Bruno |publisher=[[World Intellectual Property Organization]] |year=2025 |isbn=978-92-805-3797-0 |page=19 |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.58864 |access-date=2025-10-17}}</ref>

=== Health ===
{{Main|Healthcare in Costa Rica}}
[[File:Life expectancy in Costa Rica.svg|thumb|Development of life expectancy in Costa Rica]]
[[File:Hospital Calderón Guardia, Costa Rica.JPG|thumb|Hospital Calderón Guardia, named after the [[Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia|president]] who instituted [[universal health care]] across the country in 1941]]
According to the [[UNDP]], in 2010, the [[life expectancy]] at birth for Costa Ricans was 79.3 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/CRI.html |author=Human Development Report |author-link=Human Development Report |publisher=[[UNDP]] |title=International Human Development Indicators |access-date=18 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625092634/http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/CRI.html |archive-date=25 June 2012}}</ref> The [[Nicoya Peninsula]] is considered one of the [[Blue Zone]]s in the world, where people commonly live active lives past the age of 100 years.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080414-longest-lived.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416114031/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080414-longest-lived.html|archive-date=16 April 2008|title=Long-Lived Costa Ricans Offer Secrets to Reaching 100|magazine=[[National Geographic Magazine|National Geographic]] News|date=14 April 2008|author=Anne Casselman|access-date=4 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/LivingLonger/story?id=2843049&page=1|title=Report from the 'Blue Zone': Why Do People Live Long in Costa Rica?|work=ABC News|author=Dan Buettner|author-link=Dan Buettner|date=2 February 2007|access-date=4 March 2011|archive-date=11 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511054437/https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/LivingLonger/story?id=2843049&page=1|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[New Economics Foundation]] (NEF) ranked Costa Rica first in its 2009 [[Happy Planet Index]], and once again in 2012. The index measures the health and happiness they produce per unit of environmental input.<ref name=HPI01>{{cite news|url=http://www.nacion.com/2012-06-14/AldeaGlobal/Costa-Rica-es-nuevamente-el-pais-mas-feliz-del-mundo--segun-indice--Happy-Planet-.aspx|title=Costa Rica es nuevamente el país más feliz del mundo, según índice 'Happy Planet'|language=es|trans-title=Costa Rica once again the happiest nation of the world, according to the Happy Planet Index|author=Irene Rodríguez|work=[[La Nación (San José)|La Nación]]|date=14 June 2012|access-date=14 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504202401/http://www.nacion.com/2012-06-14/AldeaGlobal/Costa-Rica-es-nuevamente-el-pais-mas-feliz-del-mundo--segun-indice--Happy-Planet-.aspx|archive-date=4 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="HPI02">{{cite news |author=Harvey |first=Fiona |author-link=Fiona Harvey |date=14 June 2012 |title=UK citizens better off than EU counterparts, says happiness index |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jun/14/uk-happy-index-developed-world |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019203216/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jun/14/uk-happy-index-developed-world |archive-date=19 October 2013 |access-date=14 June 2012 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> According to NEF, Costa Rica's lead is due to its very high [[life expectancy]] which is second highest in [[the Americas]], and higher than the United States. The country also experienced well-being higher than many richer nations and a per capita [[ecological footprint]] one-third the size of the United States'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neweconomics.org/blog/2012/06/14/measuring-what-matters-the-happy-planet-index-2012|title=Measuring what matters: the Happy Planet Index 2012|author=Nic Marks|publisher=[[New Economics Foundation]]|date=14 June 2012|access-date=17 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618032057/http://www.neweconomics.org/blog/2012/06/14/measuring-what-matters-the-happy-planet-index-2012|archive-date=18 June 2012}}</ref>

In 2002, there were 0.58 new general practitioner (medical) consultations 0.33 new specialist consultations per capita, and a hospital admission rate of 8.1%. Preventive health care is also successful. In 2002, 96% of Costa Rican women used some form of contraception, and [[antenatal care]] services were provided to 87% of all pregnant women. All children under one have access to well-baby clinics, and the immunization coverage rate in 2020 was above 95% for all antigens.<ref name=measles-vaccine>{{Cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.IMM.HEPB?locations=CR|access-date=21 July 2022|website=[[The World Bank|World Bank]]|title=Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12–23 months) – Costa Rica|archive-date=21 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721211539/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.IMM.HEPB?locations=CR|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=hepb-vaccine>{{Cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.IMM.HEPB?locations=CR|access-date=21 July 2022|website=[[The World Bank|World Bank]]|title=Immunization, HepB3 (% of one-year-old children) – Costa Rica|archive-date=21 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721211539/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.IMM.HEPB?locations=CR|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=dpt-vaccine>{{Cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.IMM.IDPT?locations=CR|access-date=21 July 2022|website=[[The World Bank|World Bank]]|title=Immunization, DPT (% of children ages 12–23 months) – Costa Rica|archive-date=21 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721211538/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.IMM.IDPT?locations=CR|url-status=live}}</ref> Costa Rica has a very low [[malaria]] incidence of 48 per 100,000 in 2000 and no reported cases of [[measles]] in 2002. The perinatal mortality rate dropped from 12.0 per 1000 in 1972 to 5.4 per 1000 in 2001.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.2105/AJPH.2006.099598 |last1=Unger |first1=Jean-Pierre |last2=Buitrón |first2=René |last3=Soors |first3=Werner |last4=Soors |pmc=2376989 |year=2008 |first4=W. |title=Costa Rica: Achievements of a Heterodox Health Policy |journal=American Journal of Public Health |volume=98 |issue=4 |pages=636–643 |url=http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/content/full/98/4/636 |pmid=17901439 |access-date=21 September 2010 |archive-date=11 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511103340/http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/content/full/98/4/636 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Hospital CIMA. Escazú. Costa Rica.JPG|thumb|[[Hospital CIMA]] in Escazú]]
Costa Rica has been cited as Central America's great health success story.<ref>{{Cite book|last=OECD|date=22 November 2017|chapter=Executive summary|chapter-url=https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/oecd-reviews-of-health-systems-costa-rica-2017/executive-summary_9789264281653-3-en|language=en|pages=11–12|doi=10.1787/9789264281653-3-en|title=OECD Reviews of Health Systems: Costa Rica 2017|isbn=978-92-64-28163-9|access-date=22 January 2019|archive-date=23 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123075826/https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/oecd-reviews-of-health-systems-costa-rica-2017/executive-summary_9789264281653-3-en|url-status=live}}</ref> Its healthcare system is ranked higher than that of the United States, despite Costa Rica's much lower GDP.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jacob |first1=Brian |year=2009 |title=CLOSING THE GAPS: The Challenge to Protect Costa Rica's Health Care System |journal=The Georgetown Public Policy Review |issue=77 |url=https://litigation-essentials.lexisnexis.com/webcd/app?action=DocumentDisplay&crawlid=1&doctype=cite&docid=15+Geo.+Public+Pol%27y+Rev.+77&srctype=smi&srcid=3B15&key=c9ac6e737b89580642db61a5300fe8fc |access-date=19 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117025358/https://litigation-essentials.lexisnexis.com/webcd/app?action=DocumentDisplay&crawlid=1&doctype=cite&docid=15+Geo.+Public+Pol%27y+Rev.+77&srctype=smi&srcid=3B15&key=c9ac6e737b89580642db61a5300fe8fc |archive-date=17 January 2013 }}</ref> Before 1940, government hospitals and charities provided most health care. But since the 1941 creation of the Social Insurance Administration (''Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social'' – CCSS), Costa Rica has provided [[universal health care]] to its wage-earning residents, with coverage extended to dependants over time. In 1973, the CCSS took over administration of all 29 of the country's public hospitals and all health care, also launching a Rural Health Program (''Programa de Salud Rural'') for primary care in rural areas, later extended to primary care services nationwide. In 1993, laws were passed to enable elected health boards that represented health consumers, social insurance representatives, employers, and social organizations. By 2000, social health insurance coverage was available to 82% of the Costa Rican population. Each health committee manages an area equivalent to one of the 83 administrative cantons of Costa Rica. There is limited use of private, for-profit services (around 14.4% of the national total health expenditure). About 7% of GDP is allocated to the health sector, and over 70% is government-funded.

Primary health care facilities in Costa Rica include health clinics, with a [[general practitioner]], nurse, clerk, pharmacist, and a primary health technician<!---, around one per two population--- Clarify?---->. In 2008, there were five specialty national hospitals, three general national hospitals, seven regional hospitals, 13 peripheral hospitals, and 10 major clinics serving as referral centers for primary care clinics, which also deliver biopsychosocial services, family and community medical services, and promotion and prevention programs. Patients can choose private health care to avoid waiting lists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mateo |first=Don |date=21 July 2023 |title=Costa Rica Expat Living: Healthcare |url=https://ticotimes.net/2023/07/21/costa-rica-expat-living-healthcare?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=1 April 2025 |website=The Tico Times {{!}} Costa Rica News {{!}} Travel {{!}} Real Estate |language=en-US}}</ref>

Costa Rica is among the Latin American countries that have become popular destinations for [[medical tourism]].<ref name=Herrick>{{Cite book|last= Herrick|first=Devon M.|title=Medical Tourism: Global Competition in Health Care|year =2007|pages= 4–6, 9|publisher=National Center for Policy Analysis, Dallas, Texas| isbn =978-1-56808-178-6|url=http://www.unf.edu/brooks/center/pdfs/Medical%20Tourism%20Herrick.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720093845/http://www.unf.edu/brooks/center/pdfs/Medical%20Tourism%20Herrick.pdf|archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref><ref name=Bookman>{{Cite book|last1=Bookman| first1=Milica Z.|last2=Bookman |first2=Karla R.| title =Medical Tourism in Developing Countries| year =2007| pages= 3–4, 58, 95, and 134–135|publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]], New York|isbn =978-0-230-60006-5}}</ref> In 2006, Costa Rica received 150,000 foreigners that came for medical treatment.<ref name=Herrick/><ref name=Bookman/><ref name=Stats>{{cite web|url=http://www.health-tourism.com/medical-tourism/statistics/|title=Medical Tourism Statistics and Facts|publisher=Health-Tourism.com|access-date=2 March 2011|archive-date=2 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302083839/http://www.health-tourism.com/medical-tourism/statistics|url-status=live}}</ref> Costa Rica is particularly attractive to Americans due to geographic proximity, high quality of medical services, and lower medical costs.<ref name=Bookman/>

In the 2024 Global Hunger Index, Costa Rica is one of 22 countries with a GHI score of less than 5.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Hunger Index Scores by 2024 GHI Rank |url=https://www.globalhungerindex.org/ranking.html |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=Global Hunger Index (GHI) - peer-reviewed annual publication designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at the global, regional, and country levels |language=en}}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Costa Rica}}
[[File:Costa Rica Sarchi ox drawn cart.jpg|thumb|[[Las Carretas, Costa Rican Oxcarts|Las Carretas (oxcarts)]] are a national symbol.]]
Costa Rica was the point where the [[Mesoamerican]] and South American native cultures met. The northwest of the country, the Nicoya peninsula, was the southernmost point of [[Nahuatl]] cultural influence when the Spanish conquerors ([[conquistadores]]) came in the 16th century. The central and southern portions of the country had [[Chibcha]] influences. The Atlantic coast, meanwhile, was populated with African workers during the 17th and 18th centuries.

As a result of the immigration of Spaniards, their 16th-century Spanish culture and its evolution marked everyday life and culture until today, with the Spanish language and the Catholic religion as primary influences.

The Department of Culture, Youth, and Sports is in charge of the promotion and coordination of cultural life. The work of the department is divided into the Direction of Culture, Visual Arts, Scenic Arts, Music, Patrimony, and the System of Libraries. Permanent programs, such as the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica and the Youth Symphony Orchestra, are conjunctions of two areas of work: Culture and Youth.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}

Dance-oriented genres, such as ''[[Soca music|soca]]'', ''[[Salsa music|salsa]]'', ''[[Bachata (music)|bachata]]'', ''[[Merengue music|merengue]]'', ''[[cumbia]]'' and Costa Rican swing, are enjoyed increasingly by older rather than younger people. The guitar is popular, especially as an accompaniment to folk dances; however, the marimba was made the national instrument.

In November 2017, ''[[National Geographic]]'' magazine named Costa Rica as the happiest country in the world,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/11/worlds-happiest-places/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019011402/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/11/worlds-happiest-places/|archive-date=19 October 2017|title=These Are the World's Happiest Places|website=[[National Geographic Society]]|date=16 October 2017}}</ref> and the country routinely ranks high in various happiness metrics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/01/sun-sea-and-stable-democracy-what-s-the-secret-to-costa-rica-s-success/|title=Costa Rica is one of the world's happiest countries. Here's what it does differently|date=31 January 2019 |access-date=30 October 2020|publisher=World Economic Forum|archive-date=4 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104041601/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/01/sun-sea-and-stable-democracy-what-s-the-secret-to-costa-rica-s-success/|url-status=live}}</ref> The article included this summary: "Costa Ricans enjoy the pleasure of living daily life to the fullest in a place that mitigates stress and maximizes joy".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.todayincostarica.com/costa-rica-is-the-happiest-places-in-the-world-according-to-national-geographic/|title=Costa Rica is the Happiest Places in the World According to National Geographic..|date=9 November 2017|access-date=7 December 2017|archive-date=7 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207140456/http://www.todayincostarica.com/costa-rica-is-the-happiest-places-in-the-world-according-to-national-geographic/|url-status=live}}</ref> It is not surprising then that one of the most recognizable phrases among "Ticos" is "''Pura Vida''", pure life in a literal translation. It reflects the inhabitant's philosophy of life,<ref name="elementonatural.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.elementonatural.com/2016/08/12/what-does-pura-vida-mean/|title=What does Pura Vida mean...|date=12 August 2016|access-date=7 December 2017|archive-date=7 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207140930/http://www.elementonatural.com/2016/08/12/what-does-pura-vida-mean/|url-status=live}}</ref> denoting a simple life, free of stress, a positive, relaxed feeling.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bUM8y5L1h8kC&q=costa+rica+meaning+of+pura+vida&pg=PA1|title=The History of Costa Rica|first=Monica A.|last=Rankin|date=29 December 2017|publisher=ABC-CLIO|via=Google Books|isbn=978-0-313-37944-4|access-date=16 October 2020|archive-date=3 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203170333/https://books.google.com/books?id=bUM8y5L1h8kC&q=costa+rica+meaning+of+pura+vida&pg=PA1|url-status=live}}</ref> The expression is used in various contexts in conversation.<ref name="speakinglatino.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.speakinglatino.com/pura-vida-the-most-important-phrase-in-costa-rica/|title=PURA VIDA: The Most Important Costa Rica Spanish Expression|date=21 August 2012|website=Speaking Latino|access-date=7 December 2017|archive-date=25 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825031424/https://www.speakinglatino.com/pura-vida-the-most-important-phrase-in-costa-rica/|url-status=live}}</ref> Often, people walking down the streets, or buying food at shops say hello by saying ''Pura Vida''. It can be phrased as a question or as an acknowledgment of one's presence. A recommended response to "How are you?" would be "''Pura Vida''."<ref>{{Cite book|title=Selected Proceedings of the First Workshop on Spanish Sociolinguistics|last=Trester|first=Anna Marie|publisher=Cascadilla Proceedings Project|year=2003|isbn=978-1-57473-400-3|editor-last=Sayahi|editor-first=Lotfi|location=Somerville, MA|pages=61–69|chapter=Bienvenidos a Costa Rica, la tierra de la pura vida: A Study of the Expression "pura vida" in the Spanish of Costa Rica|chapter-url=http://www.lingref.com/cpp/wss/1/paper1008.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.lingref.com/cpp/wss/1/paper1008.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> In that usage, it might be translated as "awesome", indicating that all is very well.<ref name="speakinglatino.com"/> When used as a question, the connotation would be "everything is going well?" or "how are you?".<ref name="elementonatural.com"/>

Costa Rica rates 12th on the 2017 [[Happy Planet Index]] in the World Happiness Report by the UN;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldhappiness.report/ed/2017/|title=World Happiness Report 2017 – World Happiness Report|website=worldhappiness.report|date=20 March 2017|access-date=6 August 2017|archive-date=20 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320110735/http://worldhappiness.report/ed/2017/|url-status=live}}</ref> however, the country is said to be the happiest in Latin America. Reasons include the high level of social services, the caring nature of its inhabitants, long life expectancy and relatively low corruption.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/world-happiness-report-happiest-countries-2017-3|title=The 21 happiest countries in the world|first=Erin|last=Brodwin|website=Business Insider|access-date=22 November 2020|archive-date=20 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320095419/https://www.businessinsider.com/world-happiness-report-happiest-countries-2017-3|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/galleries/worlds-happiest-countries/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/galleries/worlds-happiest-countries/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Revealed: The world's 10 happiest countries for 2019|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=20 March 2017|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{Further|Costa Rican cuisine}}
[[File:Gallo pinto cr.jpg|thumb|Costa Rican breakfast with [[gallo pinto]]]]
Costa Rican cuisine is a blend of [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]], Spanish, African, and many other cuisines. Dishes such as the very traditional [[Tamal (dish)|tamale]] and many others made of corn are the most representative of its indigenous inhabitants, and similar to other neighboring Mesoamerican countries. Spaniards brought many new ingredients to the country from other lands, especially spices and domestic animals. Later in the 19th century, the African flavor lent its presence with influence from other Caribbean mixed flavors. This is how Costa Rican cuisine today is very varied, with every new ethnic group who had recently become part of the country's population influencing the country's cuisine.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southerncostarica.biz/General/cat-others/Costarican-Typical-Food/179/ |title=Costa Rican Typical Food |publisher=Southerncostarica.biz |access-date=2 November 2011 |archive-date=15 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115142555/http://www.southerncostarica.biz/General/cat-others/Costarican-Typical-Food/179/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=February 2011}}

=== Sports ===
{{main|Costa Rica at the Olympics|Football in Costa Rica}}
[[File:Uruguay - Costa Rica FIFA World Cup 2014 (29).jpg|thumb|Costa Rica supporters at the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]] in Brazil]]

Costa Rica entered the [[Summer Olympics]] for the first time in 1936.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mallon |first=Bill |title=Historical dictionary of the Olympic movement |date=2006 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |others=Ian Buchanan |isbn=978-0-8108-6524-2 |edition=3rd |location=Lanham, Md. |page=58 |oclc=301358310 }}</ref> The sisters [[Silvia Poll|Silvia]] and [[Claudia Poll]] have won all four of the country's [[Olympic Medals]] for swimming; one Gold, one Silver, and two Bronze.<ref>{{cite web |title=Costa Rican Medals and Results in the Olympic Games |url=https://www.olympiandatabase.com/index.php?id=28331&L=1 |website=Olympian Data Base |access-date=16 February 2022 |archive-date=17 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217032801/https://www.olympiandatabase.com/index.php?id=28331&L=1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Costa Rican Olympic Medalists – list of medalists from Costa Rica |url=https://www.olympiandatabase.com/index.php?id=28333&L=1 |access-date=19 April 2022 |website=www.olympiandatabase.com |archive-date=17 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034756/https://www.olympiandatabase.com/index.php?id=28333&L=1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Tcrn |date=21 September 2018 |title=Sylvia Poll's Record: 30 Years of A Historical Feat |url=https://thecostaricanews.com/sylvia-polls-record-30-years-of-a-historical-feat/ |access-date=19 April 2022 |website=The Costa Rica News |language=en-us |archive-date=18 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518042743/https://thecostaricanews.com/sylvia-polls-record-30-years-of-a-historical-feat/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Association football|Football]] is the most popular sport in Costa Rica. The [[Costa Rica national football team|national team]] has played in five [[FIFA World Cup]] tournaments and reached the quarter-finals for the first time in [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]].<ref>{{cite news|title=World Cup: Costa Rica defies the odds in winning Group D|author=Griffiths, F.|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2014/06/24/world_cup_costa_rica_defies_the_odds_in_winning_group_d.html|date=24 June 2014|access-date=29 June 2014|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|archive-date=27 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627132821/http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2014/06/24/world_cup_costa_rica_defies_the_odds_in_winning_group_d.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Navas Carries Costa Rica to World Cup Quarters|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|author=Martel, B.|date=29 June 2014|access-date=29 June 2014|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/navas-carries-costa-rica-world-cup-quarters-24358976|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630082929/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/navas-carries-costa-rica-world-cup-quarters-24358976|archive-date=30 June 2014}}</ref> Its best performance in the regional [[CONCACAF Gold Cup]] was runner-up in [[2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2002]]. [[Paulo Wanchope]], a forward who played for three clubs in England's [[Premier League]] in the late 1990s and early 2000s, is credited with enhancing foreign recognition of Costa Rican football.<ref>{{cite news|title=World Cup 2014: Paulo Wanchope, the player who put Costa Rica on the map, has warning for England|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/costa-rica/10681889/World-Cup-2014-Paulo-Wanchope-the-player-who-put-Costa-Rica-on-the-map-has-warning-for-England.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/costa-rica/10681889/World-Cup-2014-Paulo-Wanchope-the-player-who-put-Costa-Rica-on-the-map-has-warning-for-England.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=4 June 2019|newspaper=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Costa Rica, along with [[Panama]], was granted the hosting rights of 2020 [[FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup]], which was postponed until 2021, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/womens-football/news/costa-rica-and-panama-to-host-fifa-u-20-women-s-world-cup-2020|title=Costa Rica and Panama to host FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2020|access-date=20 December 2019|website=FIFA.com|archive-date=20 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120185402/https://www.fifa.com/womens-football/news/costa-rica-and-panama-to-host-fifa-u-20-women-s-world-cup-2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/bureau-of-the-fifa-council-decisions-on-fifa-events|title=Bureau of the FIFA Council decisions on FIFA events|access-date=12 May 2020|website=FIFA.com|archive-date=12 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512172426/https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/bureau-of-the-fifa-council-decisions-on-fifa-events|url-status=live}}</ref> On 17 November 2020, [[FIFA]] announced that the event would be held in Costa Rica in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/update-on-fifa-club-world-cup-2020-and-women-s-youth-tournaments|title=Update on FIFA Club World Cup 2020 and women's youth tournaments|access-date=17 November 2020|website=FIFA.com|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127094253/https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/update-on-fifa-club-world-cup-2020-and-women-s-youth-tournaments|url-status=live}}</ref>

As of late 2021, [[Costa Rica's women's national volleyball team]] has been the top team in [[Central America]]'s AFECAVOL (Asociación de Federaciones CentroAmericanas de Voleibol) zone.<ref>{{cite news |title=Belize drops game to Nicaragua, drops to 1–4 at Central American Senior Women's Volleyball Championship |url=https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2021/10/23/belize-drops-game-to-nicaragua-drops-to-1-4-at-central-american-senior-womens-volleyball-championship/ |access-date=28 December 2021 |work=[[Breaking Belize News]] |date=23 October 2021 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404035656/https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2021/10/23/belize-drops-game-to-nicaragua-drops-to-1-4-at-central-american-senior-womens-volleyball-championship/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Costa Rica featured a women's national team in [[beach volleyball]] that competed at the [[2018–2020 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Continental Cup Finals start in Africa |url=https://www.fivb.com/en/about/news/continental-cup-finals-start-in-africa?id=94414 |access-date=7 August 2021 |work=[[FIVB]] |date=22 June 2021 |archive-date=7 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807141038/https://www.fivb.com/en/about/news/continental-cup-finals-start-in-africa?id=94414 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Costa Rica}}
* [[Index of Costa Rica-related articles]]
* [[Outline of Costa Rica]]
* [[Camino de Costa Rica]] (trail across the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast)

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Blake, Beatrice. ''The New Key to Costa Rica'' (Berkeley: Ulysses Press, 2009).
* Chase, Cida S. "Costa Rican Americans". ''Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America,'' edited by Thomas Riggs, (3rd ed., vol. 1, Gale, 2014), pp.&nbsp;543–551. [https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3273300053/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=be35522c online]
* Edelman, Marc. ''Peasants Against Globalization: Rural Social Movements in Costa Rica''. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1999.
* {{cite news
|last=Eisenberg
|first=Daniel
|title=In Costa Rica
|magazine=Journal of Hispanic Philology
|volume=10
|year=1985
|pages=1–6
|url=https://www.academia.edu/31761991}}
* Huhn, Sebastian: ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20110514041457/http://www.giga-hamburg.de/dl/download.php?d=%2Fcontent%2Fpublikationen%2Fpdf%2Fwp101_huhn.pdf Contested Cornerstones of Nonviolent National Self-Perception in Costa Rica: A Historical Approach]'', 2009.
* Keller, Marius; Niestroy, Ingeborg; García Schmidt, Armando; Esche, Andreas. "[https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/en/publications/publication/did/winning-strategies-for-a-sustainable-future-1 Costa Rica: Pioneering Sustainability]". Excerpt (pp.&nbsp;81–102) from Bertelsmann Stiftung (ed.). ''Winning Strategies for a Sustainable Future''. Gütersloh, Germany: Verlag Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2013.
* Lara, Sylvia Lara, Tom Barry, and Peter Simonson. ''Inside Costa Rica: The Essential Guide to Its Politics, Economy, Society and Environment''. London: Latin America Bureau, 1995.
* Lehoucq, Fabrice E. and Ivan Molina. ''Stuffing the Ballot Box: Fraud, Electoral Reform, and Democratization in Costa Rica''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002.
* Lehoucq, Fabrice E. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20110302194925/http://www.iadb.org/res/publications/pubfiles/pubS-306.pdf Policymaking, Parties, and Institutions in Democratic Costa Rica]'', 2006.
* Longley, Kyle. ''Sparrow and the Hawk: Costa Rica and the United States during the Rise of José Figueres''. (University of Alabama Press, 1997).
* Mount, Graeme S. "Costa Rica and the Cold War, 1948–1990". ''Canadian Journal of History'' 50.2 (2015): 290–316.
* Palmer, Steven and Iván Molina. ''The Costa Rica Reader: History, Culture, Politics''. Durham and London: Duke University Press, 2004.
* Sandoval, Carlos. ''Threatening Others: Nicaraguans and the Formation of National Identities in Costa Rica''. Athens: Ohio University Press, 2004.
* Wilson, Bruce M. ''Costa Rica: Politics, Economics, and Democracy: Politics, Economics, and Democracy.'' Boulder, London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1998.

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|voy=Costa Rica}}
* {{Official website|https://www.presidencia.go.cr/}} President of the Government of Costa Rica {{in lang|es}}
** [https://www.presidencia.go.cr/gabinete Cabinet of Costa Rica] {{in lang|es}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Costa Rica | volume= 7 | pages = 219–222 |short= 1}}
* {{Wikiatlas|Costa Rica}}
* [https://www.rree.go.cr/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship] {{in lang|es}}
* [https://www.asamblea.go.cr/ The Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica] {{in lang|es}}
* [https://www.visitcostarica.com/ Costa Rica Tourism Board], Tourism site
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