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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 744,059 (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2017 est.)

Broadcast media [time series]

multiple privately owned TV stations and 1 publicly owned TV station; cable network services are widely available; more than 100 privately owned radio stations and a public radio network (2017)

Internet country code [time series]

.cr

Internet users [time series]

total: 3,217,277 (July 2016 est.) | percent of population: 66% (July 2016 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: good domestic telephone service in terms of breadth of coverage; in recent years growth has been achieve from liberalistion of the telecom sector and has seen substantial expansion in all sectors; Costa Rica's broadband market is the most advanced in Central America, with the highest broadband penetration for this sub-region; broadband penetration does lag behind many South American countries; with the implementation of number portability there is greater opportunity for increased competition in the future (2017) | domestic: point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available; 17 per 100 fixed-line, 179 per 100 mobile-cellular (2017) | international: country code - 506; landing points for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), MAYA-1, and the Pan American Crossing submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 843,148 (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2017 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 8,840,342 (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 179 (2017 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef, poultry, dairy; timber

Budget [time series]

revenues: 8.357 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 11.92 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-6.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

3.5% (31 December 2016 est.) | 21.5% (31 December 2010)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

11.37% (31 December 2017 est.) | 11.64% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$1.692 billion (2017 est.) | -$1.326 billion (2016 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$26.83 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $24.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

48.5 (2014) | 49.2 (2013)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Since 2010, Costa Rica has enjoyed strong and stable economic growth - 3.8% in 2017. Exports of bananas, coffee, sugar, and beef are the backbone of its commodity exports. Various industrial and processed agricultural products have broadened exports in recent years, as have high value-added goods, including medical devices. Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity also makes it a key destination for ecotourism. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and relatively high education levels, as well as the incentives offered in the free-trade zones; Costa Rica has attracted one of the highest levels of foreign direct investment per capita in Latin America. The US-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which became effective for Costa Rica in 2009, helped increase foreign direct investment in key sectors of the economy, including insurance and telecommunication. However, poor infrastructure, high energy costs, a complex bureaucracy, weak investor protection, and uncertainty of contract enforcement impede greater investment. Costa Rica’s economy also faces challenges due to a rising fiscal deficit, rising public debt, and relatively low levels of domestic revenue. Poverty has remained around 20-25% for nearly 20 years, and the government’s strong social safety net has eroded due to increased constraints on its expenditures. Costa Rica’s credit rating was downgraded from stable to negative in 2015 and again in 2017, upping pressure on lending rates - which could hurt small business, on the budget deficit - which could hurt infrastructure development, and on the rate of return on investment - which could soften foreign direct investment (FDI). Unlike the rest of Central America, Costa Rica is not highly dependent on remittances - which represented just 1 % of GDP in 2016, but instead relies on FDI - which accounted for 5.1% of GDP.

Exchange rates [time series]

Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar - | 573.5 (2017 est.) | 544.74 (2016 est.) | 544.74 (2015 est.) | 534.57 (2014 est.) | 538.32 (2013 est.)

Exports [time series]

$10.81 billion (2017 est.) | $10.15 billion (2016 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar; beef; seafood; electronic components, medical equipment

Exports - partners [time series]

US 40.9%, Belgium 6.3%, Panama 5.6%, Netherlands 5.6%, Nicaragua 5.1%, Guatemala 5% (2017)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$58.27 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$83.94 billion (2017 est.) | $81.27 billion (2016 est.) | $77.96 billion (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 64.2% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 17.3% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 17.1% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 1% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 33.3% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -32.9% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 5.5% (2017 est.) | industry: 20.6% (2017 est.) | services: 73.9% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$16,900 (2017 est.) | $16,600 (2016 est.) | $16,100 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

3.3% (2017 est.) | 4.2% (2016 est.) | 3.6% (2015 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

15.1% of GDP (2017 est.) | 16.1% of GDP (2016 est.) | 15% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 36.9% (2014 est.) | highest 10%: 36.9% (2014 est.)

Imports [time series]

$15.15 billion (2017 est.) | $14.53 billion (2016 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum, construction materials

Imports - partners [time series]

US 38.1%, China 13.1%, Mexico 7.3% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.3% (2017 est.)

Industries [time series]

medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.6% (2017 est.) | 0% (2016 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.229 million (2017 est.) | note: official estimate; excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 14% | industry: 22% | services: 64% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$2.015 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | $1.443 billion (31 December 2011 est.) | $1.445 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

21.7% (2014 est.)

Public debt [time series]

48.9% of GDP (2017 est.) | 44.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$7.15 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $7.574 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$5.356 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $5.63 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$4.007 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $3.781 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$33.92 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $31.84 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$41.04 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $38.21 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$5.356 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $5.63 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

14.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

8.1% (2017 est.) | 9.5% (2016 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

7.653 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

9.812 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

643 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

18% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

64% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

18% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

807 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

3.584 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

10.79 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

population without electricity: 24,362 (2013) | electrification - total population: 99.5% (2013) | electrification - urban areas: 99.9% (2013) | electrification - rural areas: 98.3% (2013)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

53,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

51,320 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 51,100 sq km | land: 51,060 sq km | water: 40 sq km | note: includes Isla del Coco

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

1,290 km

Elevation [time series]

mean elevation: 746 m | elevation extremes: 0 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean | 3819 highest point: Cerro Chirripo

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling | signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates [time series]

10 00 N, 84 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65

Irrigated land [time series]

1,015 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 661 km | border countries (2): Nicaragua 313 km, Panama 348 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 37.1% (2011 est.) | arable land: 4.9% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 6.7% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 25.5% (2011 est.) | forest: 51.5% (2011 est.) | other: 11.4% (2011 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | continental shelf: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes volcanism: Arenal (1,670 m), which erupted in 2010, is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (3,432 m), situated just east of San Jose, has the potential to spew ash over the capital city as it did between 1963 and 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Miravalles, Poas, Rincon de la Vieja, and Turrialba

Natural resources [time series]

hydropower

Population distribution [time series]

roughly half of the nation's population resides in urban areas; the capital of San Jose is the largest city and home to approximately one-fifth of the population

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose

Capital [time series]

name: San Jose | geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W | time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship [time series]

citizenship by birth: yes | citizenship by descent only: yes | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Constitution [time series]

history: many previous; latest effective 8 November 1949 (2018) | amendments: proposals require the signatures of at least 10 Legislative Assembly members or by petition of at least 5% of qualified voters; consideration of proposals requires two-thirds majority approval in each of 3 readings by the Assembly, followed by preparation of the proposal as a legislative bill and its approval by simple majority of the Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership; a referendum is required only if approved by at least two-thirds of the Assembly; amended many times, last in 2015 (2018)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica | conventional short form: Costa Rica | local long form: Republica de Costa Rica | local short form: Costa Rica | etymology: the name means "rich coast" in Spanish and was first applied in the early colonial period of the 16th century

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Sharon DAY (since 5 October 2017) | embassy: Calle 98 Via 104, Pavas, San Jose | mailing address: APO AA 34020 | telephone: [506] 2519-2000 | FAX: [506] 2519-2305

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Fernando LLORCA Castro (since 17 September 2018) | chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 480-2200 | FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795 | consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington DC | consulate(s): Saint Paul (MN), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tucson (AZ)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (since 8 May 2018); First Vice President Epsy CAMPBELL Barr (since 8 May 2018); Second Vice President Marvin RODRIGUEZ Cordero (since 8 May 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (since 8 May 2018); First Vice President Epsy CAMPBELL Barr (since 8 May 2018); Second Vice President Marvin RODRIGUEZ Cordero (since 8 May 2018) | cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president | elections/appointments: president and vice presidents directly elected on the same ballot by modified majority popular vote (40% threshold) for a 4-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms); election last held on 4 February 2018 with a runoff on 1 April 2018 (next to be held in February 2022) | election results: Carlos ALVARADO Quesada elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 25%; Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 21.6%; Antonio ALVAREZ (PLN) 18.6%; Rodolfo PIZA (PUSC) 16%; Juan Diego CASTRO (PIN) 9.5%; Rodolfo HERNANDEZ (PRS) 4.9%, other 4.4%; percent of vote in second round - Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 60.7%; Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 39.3%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk placed toward the hoist side of the red band; Costa Rica retained the earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when, in response to revolutionary activity in Europe, it was decided to incorporate the French colors into the national flag and a central red stripe was added; today the blue color is said to stand for the sky, opportunity, and perseverance, white denotes peace, happiness, and wisdom, while red represents the blood shed for freedom, as well as the generosity and vibrancy of the people | note: somewhat resembles the flag of North Korea; similar to the flag of Thailand but with the blue and red colors reversed

Government type [time series]

presidential republic

Independence [time series]

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International law organization participation [time series]

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 22 judges organized into 3 cassation chambers each with 5 judges and the Constitutional Chamber with 7 judges) | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Justice judges elected by the National Assembly for 8-year terms with renewal decided by the National Assembly | subordinate courts: appellate courts; trial courts; first instance and justice of the peace courts; Superior Electoral Tribunal

Legal system [time series]

civil law system based on Spanish civil code; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court

Legislative branch [time series]

description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - corresponding to the country's 7 provinces - by closed list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 4 February 2018 (next to be held in February 2022) | election results: percent of vote by party - PLN 19.5%, PRN 18.2%, PAC 16.3%, PUSC 14.6%, PLN 7.7%, PRS 4.2%, PFA 4%, ADC 2.5%, ML 2.3%, PASE 2.3%, PNG 2.2%, other 6.2%; seats by party - PLN 17, PRN 14, PAC 10, PUSC 9, PLN 4, PRS 2, PFA 1

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Himno Nacional de Costa Rica" (National Anthem of Costa Rica) | lyrics/music: Jose Maria ZELEDON Brenes/Manuel Maria GUTIERREZ | note: adopted 1949; the anthem's music was originally written for an 1853 welcome ceremony for diplomatic missions from the US and UK; the lyrics were added in 1903

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

National symbol(s) [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Accessibility Without Exclusion or PASE [Oscar Andres LOPEZ Arias] Broad Front (Frente Amplio) or PFA [Ana Patricia MORA Castellanos] Christian Democratic Alliance or ADC [Mario REDONDO Poveda] Citizen Action Party or PAC [Marcia GONZALEZ Aguiluz] Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Gonzalo Alberto RAMIREZ Zamora] Libertarian Movement Party or ML [Victor Danilo CUBERO Corrales] National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes] National Liberation Party or PLN [Jorge Julio PATTONI Saenz] National Restoration Party or PRN [Carlos Luis AVENDANO Calvo] New Generation or PNG [Sergio MENA] Patriotic Alliance [Jorge ARAYA Westover] Social Christian Republican Party or PRS [Dragos DOLANESCU Valenciano] Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Pedro MUNOZ Fonseca]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Introduction

Background [time series]

Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. On 1 December 1948, Costa Rica dissolved its armed forces. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread. | COSTA RICA SUMMARY: PDF

Military and Security

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police (2011)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 22.43% (male 572,172 /female 546,464) | 15-24 years: 15.94% (male 405,515 /female 389,433) | 25-54 years: 44.04% (male 1,105,944 /female 1,090,434) | 55-64 years: 9.48% (male 229,928 /female 242,696) | 65 years and over: 8.11% (male 186,531 /female 218,025) (2018 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Central America :: Costa Rica Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Costa Rica. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate [time series]

15.3 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

1.1% (2008)

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

76.2% (2011)

Death rate [time series]

4.8 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic profile [time series]

Costa Rica's political stability, high standard of living, and well-developed social benefits system set it apart from its Central American neighbors. Through the government's sustained social spending - almost 20% of GDP annually - Costa Rica has made tremendous progress toward achieving its goal of providing universal access to education, healthcare, clean water, sanitation, and electricity. Since the 1970s, expansion of these services has led to a rapid decline in infant mortality, an increase in life expectancy at birth, and a sharp decrease in the birth rate. The average number of children born per women has fallen from about 7 in the 1960s to 3.5 in the early 1980s to below replacement level today. Costa Rica's poverty rate is lower than in most Latin American countries, but it has stalled at around 20% for almost two decades. Costa Rica is a popular regional immigration destination because of its job opportunities and social programs. Almost 9% of the population is foreign-born, with Nicaraguans comprising nearly three-quarters of the foreign population. Many Nicaraguans who perform unskilled seasonal labor enter Costa Rica illegally or overstay their visas, which continues to be a source of tension. Less than 3% of Costa Rica's population lives abroad. The overwhelming majority of expatriates have settled in the United States after completing a university degree or in order to work in a highly skilled field.

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 45.4 (2015 est.) | youth dependency ratio: 32.4 (2015 est.) | elderly dependency ratio: 12.9 (2015 est.) | potential support ratio: 7.7 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

7.1% of GDP (2016)

Ethnic groups [time series]

white or mestizo 83.6%, mulatto 6.7%, indigenous 2.4%, black of African descent 1.1%, other 1.1%, none 2.9%, unspecified 2.2% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.4% (2017 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

<200 (2017 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

13,000 (2017 est.)

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

9.3% of GDP (2014)

Hospital bed density [time series]

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | male: 8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | female: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.9 years (2018 est.) | male: 76.2 years (2018 est.) | female: 81.7 years (2018 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.) | total population: 97.8% (2015 est.) | male: 97.7% (2015 est.) | female: 97.8% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: intermediate (2016) | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea (2016) | vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2016) | note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

Major urban areas - population [time series]

1.358 million SAN JOSE (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

25 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 31.7 years | male: 31.2 years | female: 32.2 years (2018 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Costa Rican(s) | adjective: Costa Rican

Net migration rate [time series]

0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

25.7% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

1.15 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population [time series]

4,987,142 (July 2018 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

roughly half of the nation's population resides in urban areas; the capital of San Jose is the largest city and home to approximately one-fifth of the population

Population growth rate [time series]

1.13% (2018 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 71.8%, Evangelical and Pentecostal 12.3%, other Protestant 2.6%, Jehovah's Witness 0.5%, other 2.4%, none 10.4% (2016 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 95.2% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 92.3% of population (2015 est.) | total: 94.5% of population (2015 est.) | unimproved: urban: 4.8% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 7.7% of population (2015 est.) | total: 5.5% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 15 years (2015) | male: 15 years (2015) | female: 16 years (2015)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.89 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 20.6% (2017 est.) | male: 17.6% (2017 est.) | female: 25.9% (2017 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 79.3% of total population (2018) | rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Costa Rica and Nicaragua regularly file border dispute cases over the delimitations of the San Juan River and the northern tip of Calero Island to the International Court of Justice (ICJ); in 2009, the ICJ ruled that Costa Rican vessels carrying out police activities could not use the river, but official Costa Rican vessels providing essential services to riverside inhabitants and Costa Rican tourists could travel freely on the river; in 2011, the ICJ provisionally ruled that both countries must remove personnel from the disputed area; in 2013, the ICJ rejected Nicaragua's 2012 suit to halt Costa Rica's construction of a highway paralleling the river on the grounds of irreparable environmental damage; in 2013, the ICJ, regarding the disputed territory, ordered that Nicaragua should refrain from dredging or canal construction and refill and repair damage caused by trenches connecting the river to the Caribbean and upheld its 2010 ruling that Nicaragua must remove all personnel; in early 2014, Costa Rica brought Nicaragua to the ICJ over offshore oil concessions in the disputed region

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis in remote areas; domestic cocaine consumption, particularly crack cocaine, is rising; significant consumption of amphetamines; seizures of smuggled cash in Costa Rica and at the main border crossing to enter Costa Rica from Nicaragua have risen in recent years

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 9,655 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2018) | stateless persons: 71 (2017)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Costa Rica is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Costa Rican women and children, as well as those from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and other Latin American countries, are sex trafficked in Costa Rica; child sex tourism is a particular problem with offenders coming from the US and Europe; men and children from Central America, including indigenous Panamanians, and Asia are exploited in agriculture, construction, fishing, and commerce; Nicaraguans transit Costa Rica to reach Panama, where some are subjected to forced labor or sex trafficking | tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Costa Rica does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts declined in 2014, with fewer prosecutions and no convictions and no actions taken against complicit government personnel; some officials conflated trafficking with smuggling, and authorities reported the diversion of funds to combat smuggling hindered anti-trafficking efforts; the government identified more victims than the previous year but did not make progress in ensuring that victims received adequate protective services; specialized services were limited and mostly provided by NGOs without government support, even from a dedicated fund for anti-trafficking efforts; victims services were virtually non-existent outside of the capital (2015)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

161 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 47 (2017) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2017) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2017) | 914 to 1,523 m: 27 (2017) | under 914 m: 16 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 114 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 18 (2013) | under 914 m: 96 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

TI (2016)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 10 (2017) | by type: general cargo 2, other 8 (2017)

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 39 (2015) | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,617,075 (2015) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 9,284,160 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines [time series]

662 km refined products (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) - Puerto Limon | Pacific Ocean - Caldera

Railways [time series]

total: 278 km (2014) | narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge (2014) | note: the entire rail network fell into disrepair and out of use at the end of the 20th century; since 2005, certain sections of rail have been rehabilitated

Roadways [time series]

total: 39,018 km (2010) | paved: 10,133 km (2010) | unpaved: 28,885 km (2010)

Waterways [time series]

730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2011)