Land covered by forest
59.1%% of land area
#27 of 2132024
186% of world average
SERIAL · 188North America
Costa Rica
CapitalSan José
CurrencyCRC · Costa Rican colón
LanguageSpanish
Area51,100 km²
Since1821
ISOCRI · CR
Population
5.2Mas of 2025
Watermark portrait: Óscar Arias Sánchez
— THE COUNTRY —
Country in Central America
Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, 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 border with Ecuador to the south of Cocos Island. It has a population of around five million in a land area of nearly 51,180 km2 (19,760 sq mi); the capital and largest city is San José, home to around 350,000 residents and two million people in the surrounding metropolitan area.
Text: Wikipedia — Costa RicaCC BY-SA 4.0 · revised 2026-10-18
— FACTS —
- Capital
- San José
- Currency
- Costa Rican colón (CRC)
- Official language
- Spanish
- Drives on the
- Right
- Calling code
- +506
- Licence plate code
- CR
- Top-level domain
- .cr
- Independence / founding
- 1821
- Highest point
- Cerro Chirripó (3,820 m)
- Lowest point
- Caribbean Sea (0 m)
- Anthem
- Noble patria, tu hermosa bandera
- Patron saint
- Virgin of the Angels
— LAND —
Forest area
29,896km²
#90 of 2132025
16% of world average
Agricultural land
31.4%% of land area
#117 of 2092024
85% of world average
Farmable (arable) land
3.3%% of land area
#152 of 2062024
24% of world average
Land area
51,100km²
#128 of 2152024
8% of world average
— PEOPLE —
Population
5.2Mpeople
#126 of 2162025
14% of world average
Population growth
0.4%% per year
#143 of 2162025
45% of world average
Population density
101people per km²
#103 of 2152024
22% of world average
People living in cities
79.7%% of population
#59 of 2162025
126% of world average
Urban population growth
1.0%% per year
#125 of 2162025
64% of world average
People living rurally
20.3%% of population
#158 of 2162025
55% of world average
Population aged 0-14
18.3%% of population
#136 of 2162025
73% of world average
Population aged 15-64
68.9%% of population
#38 of 2162025
108% of world average
Population aged 65+
12.8%% of population
#76 of 2162025
118% of world average
▸ ISSUE 7 MORE
Age dependency ratio
45.1%% of working-age population
#179 of 2162025
78% of world average
Female population
50.6%% of population
#86 of 2162025
101% of world average
Births per woman
1.32births per woman
#188 of 2162024
56% of world average
Birth rate
10.0 /1,000per 1,000 people
#158 of 2162024
58% of world average
Death rate
5.6 /1,000per 1,000 people
#175 of 2162024
72% of world average
Net migration
1,000people (5-year total)
#64 of 2162025
908% of world average
Migrants living in the country
12.2%% of population
#70 of 2152024
92% of world average
— MONEY —
GDP
$102.90Bcurrent US$
#75 of 2112025
19% of world average
GDP, purchasing power parity
$174.25Bcurrent int'l $
#84 of 1992025
17% of world average
GDP per person
$19,970current US$
#74 of 2112025
83% of world average
GDP per person, purchasing power parity
$33,815current int'l $
#76 of 1992025
101% of world average
GDP growth
4.6%% per year
#61 of 2102025
135% of world average
GDP per person growth
4.1%% per year
#48 of 2102025
172% of world average
Gross national income
$93.62Bcurrent US$
#77 of 2042025
16% of world average
Gross national income per person
$17,930current US$
#72 of 2032025
89% of world average
Gross national income per person, PPP
$30,760current int'l $
#77 of 1972025
97% of world average
▸ ISSUE 29 MORE
Inflation
-0.1%% per year
#14 of 1902025
-1% of world average
Inflation (GDP deflator)
-0.5%% per year
#19 of 2092025
-8% of world average
Real interest rate
7.5%%
#37 of 1342025
180% of world average
Lending interest rate
6.9%%
#86 of 1342025
61% of world average
Government debt
39.3%% of GDP
not enough data to rank2001
66% of world average
Government revenue
27.4%% of GDP
#61 of 1492024
105% of world average
Government spending
28.6%% of GDP
#61 of 1492023
103% of world average
Government consumption
14.0%% of GDP
#115 of 1812025
80% of world average
Household consumption
64.0%% of GDP
#89 of 1812025
99% of world average
Investment (gross capital formation)
15.8%% of GDP
#153 of 1782025
68% of world average
Fixed investment
16.3%% of GDP
#145 of 1732025
73% of world average
Gross savings
13.6%% of GDP
#134 of 1682025
62% of world average
Foreign investment inflows
$5.60Bcurrent US$
#42 of 2012025
67% of world average
Foreign investment inflows
5.4%% of GDP
#41 of 1982025
no comparison
Foreign investment outflows
0.4%% of GDP
#81 of 1792025
17% of world average
Current account balance
-0.5%% of GDP
#88 of 1912025
no comparison
Foreign reserves
$17.09Bcurrent US$
#71 of 1772025
17% of world average
Income inequality (Gini)
45.50-100
#136 of 1472025
128% of world average
People below the poverty line
0.8%% of population
#52 of 1472025
6% of world average
Income share held by richest 10%
34.3%%
#132 of 1472025
123% of world average
Income share held by poorest 10%
1.8%%
#130 of 1472025
64% of world average
Stock market value
3.1%% of GDP
#86 of 882022
4% of world average
Money sent home by workers abroad
$845.5Mcurrent US$
#99 of 1862025
16% of world average
Foreign aid received
0.2%% of GNI
#117 of 1372023
3% of world average
Exchange rate
503local currency per US$
#46 of 2112025
35% of world average
Agriculture's share of the economy
3.4%% of GDP
#125 of 1992025
34% of world average
Industry's share of the economy
19.9%% of GDP
#129 of 2022025
81% of world average
Manufacturing's share of the economy
13.6%% of GDP
#56 of 1952025
124% of world average
Services' share of the economy
69.2%% of GDP
#37 of 2022025
120% of world average
1 of 39 figures unavailable for Costa Rica.
— TRADE —
Exports
38.8%% of GDP
#89 of 1872025
90% of world average
Imports
32.6%% of GDP
#128 of 1872025
66% of world average
Trade balance
6.2%% of GDP
#28 of 1872025
no comparison
Total trade (openness)
52.4%% of GDP
#105 of 2052025
81% of world average
Goods exported
$26.43Bcurrent US$
#76 of 2072025
21% of world average
Goods imported
$27.48Bcurrent US$
#77 of 2072025
22% of world average
Services exported
$18.08Bcurrent US$
#55 of 1912025
37% of world average
Services imported
$8.62Bcurrent US$
#75 of 1912025
20% of world average
Goods and services exported
$41.62Bcurrent US$
#68 of 1912025
24% of world average
▸ ISSUE 3 MORE
Goods and services imported
$33.06Bcurrent US$
#78 of 1912025
20% of world average
High-tech share of exports
22.9%% of manufactured exports
#29 of 1792024
188% of world average
Terms of trade
99.9index
#114 of 2062024
95% of world average
— HEALTH —
Life expectancy
81.0 yrsyears
#46 of 2162024
109% of world average
Life expectancy, women
83.6 yrsyears
#42 of 2162024
109% of world average
Life expectancy, men
78.4 yrsyears
#47 of 2162024
110% of world average
Infant deaths
9.1 /1,000per 1,000 live births
#78 of 1962024
49% of world average
Deaths under age 5
10.4 /1,000per 1,000 live births
#79 of 1962024
43% of world average
Maternal deaths
24per 100,000 live births
#75 of 1942023
21% of world average
Health spending
6.9%% of GDP
#87 of 1932023
101% of world average
Health spending per person
$1,163current US$
#60 of 1932023
80% of world average
Physicians
2.7 /1,000per 1,000 people
#71 of 1872022
128% of world average
▸ ISSUE 10 MORE
Nurses and midwives
3.1 /1,000per 1,000 people
#112 of 1962022
65% of world average
Hospital beds
1.1 /1,000per 1,000 people
#118 of 1572022
39% of world average
Access to clean drinking water
99.8%% of population
#57 of 2142024
110% of world average
Access to basic sanitation
98.8%% of population
#60 of 2132024
123% of world average
Suicide rate
8.06per 100,000 people
#106 of 1852021
94% of world average
Adults who smoke
7.9%% of adults
#18 of 1662024
40% of world average
HIV prevalence
0.6%% aged 15-49
#94 of 1532024
44% of world average
Tuberculosis cases
9.3per 100,000 people
#56 of 2082024
9% of world average
Undernourishment
2.5%% of population
#1 of 1682024
25% of world average
Children vaccinated against measles
93.0%% of children 12-23 months
#74 of 1932024
108% of world average
— LEARNING —
Education spending
5.3%% of GDP
#46 of 1902023
123% of world average
Education spending
20.4%% of government spending
#17 of 1892023
151% of world average
Adult literacy
97.4%% aged 15+
not enough data to rank2011
116% of world average
Youth literacy
80.6%% aged 15-24
#107 of 1262018
88% of world average
Primary school enrolment
104.8%% gross
#57 of 2002024
104% of world average
Secondary school enrolment
121.8%% gross
#14 of 1882024
140% of world average
University enrolment
55.0%% gross
#71 of 1672019
111% of world average
Primary school completion
106.4%% of relevant age group
#16 of 1802024
118% of world average
Pupils per teacher, primary school
12.2pupils per teacher
#30 of 1602018
55% of world average
▸ ISSUE 1 MORE
Years of compulsory education
13.0 yrsyears
#17 of 1972025
129% of world average
— WORK —
Unemployment
6.8%% of labour force
#123 of 1862025
99% of world average
Youth unemployment
19.9%% of labour force aged 15-24
#137 of 1862025
127% of world average
Labour force participation
57.7%% aged 15+
#122 of 1862025
95% of world average
Women in the labour force
46.0%% of women aged 15+
#135 of 1862025
90% of world average
Men in the labour force
69.8%% of men aged 15+
#94 of 1862025
100% of world average
Labour force
2.4Mpeople
#122 of 1862025
12% of world average
Working in agriculture
11.5%% of employment
#103 of 1862025
52% of world average
Working in industry
18.5%% of employment
#101 of 1862025
94% of world average
Working in services
70.0%% of employment
#59 of 1862025
120% of world average
▸ ISSUE 3 MORE
Self-employed
26.6%% of employment
#111 of 1862025
69% of world average
Labour force with advanced education
72.5%% of labour force
#132 of 1712025
95% of world average
Employed
53.7%% aged 15+
#125 of 1862025
95% of world average
— CONNECTED —
People online
87.2%% of population
#80 of 2072024
122% of world average
Mobile phone subscriptions
136per 100 people
#47 of 2102024
117% of world average
Fixed broadband subscriptions
23.3per 100 people
#82 of 2082024
128% of world average
Fixed telephone lines
11.9per 100 people
#90 of 2132024
80% of world average
Access to electricity
99.8%% of population
#125 of 2142024
112% of world average
Access to clean cooking fuel
97.0%% of population
#77 of 1892024
139% of world average
Electricity used per person
2,382kWh per person
#83 of 1492025
56% of world average
Energy used per person
1,121kg oil equivalent per person
#87 of 1492024
50% of world average
Air passengers carried
2.0Mpassengers
#82 of 1652023
8% of world average
▸ ISSUE 8 MORE
Air freight
7.18million tonne-km
#95 of 1632023
1% of world average
Rail network
848route-km
not enough data to rank2001
8% of world average
Container port traffic
1.7MTEU
#54 of 1672024
31% of world average
Research and development spending
0.3%% of GDP
#74 of 1272023
35% of world average
Patent applications by residents
15count
#100 of 1422024
0% of world average
Scientific journal articles published
661count
#92 of 1972023
4% of world average
Tourists arriving
1.1Mcount
#90 of 1942020
22% of world average
Money earned from tourism
$1.48Bcurrent US$
#59 of 1752020
40% of world average
1 of 18 figures unavailable for Costa Rica.
— NATURE —
Carbon emissions per person
1.63tonnes per person
#82 of 2032024
36% of world average
Carbon emissions
8.38Mt CO2
#88 of 2032024
4% of world average
Greenhouse gas emissions
17.1Mt CO2-equivalent
#76 of 2032024
7% of world average
Protected land
26.6%% of land area
#55 of 2132025
141% of world average
Protected coastal waters
28.4%% of territorial waters
#18 of 1742025
275% of world average
Freshwater withdrawn
3.1%% of internal resources
#59 of 1772022
2% of world average
Renewable water available per person
22,236m³ per person
#29 of 1832022
157% of world average
Renewable energy use
34.2%% of final energy consumption
#72 of 2122021
118% of world average
Electricity from renewables
99.4%% of total
#4 of 2062021
287% of world average
▸ ISSUE 3 MORE
Electricity from fossil fuels
1.4%% of total
#17 of 2092025
2% of world average
Electricity from nuclear power
0.0%% of total
#33 of 2082021
0% of world average
Energy imported (net)
58.9%% of energy use
#38 of 1432024
no comparison
— STATE —
Military spending
0.0%% of GDP
not enough data to rank2025
0% of world average
Military spending
$0current US$
#157 of 1602025
0% of world average
Military spending
0.0%% of government spending
not enough data to rank2025
0% of world average
Armed forces personnel
10,000people
#131 of 1702020
6% of world average
Armed forces
0.4%% of labour force
#125 of 1682020
33% of world average
Tax revenue
13.5%% of GDP
#99 of 1492024
80% of world average
Homicides
17.7per 100,000 people
#137 of 1582023
227% of world average
— TRADE PARTNERS —
Loading trade partner map…
— TRADE —
No trade data available for Costa Rica.
— EXTRAS —
Anthem
Noble patria, tu hermosa banderaAudio: Wikimedia Commons
Capital time
--:--:--San José · approx. UTC-6
Landmarks
Stone spheres of Costa RicaImage: Wikimedia Commons 
Area de Conservación Guanacaste World Heritage SiteImage: Wikimedia Commons 
Cocos Island National ParkImage: Wikimedia Commons 
Talamanca Range-La Amistad ReservesImage: Wikimedia Commons
People
Óscar Arias SánchezPresident of Costa Rica (1986–1990, 2006–2010)
Laura Chinchilla46th President of Costa Rica
Keylor NavasCosta Rican association football player
Bryan RuizCosta Rican footballer
Paulo WanchopeCosta Rican association football player
Luis Guillermo SolísCosta Rican 47th president
Joel CampbellCosta Rican footballer
Celso BorgesCosta Rican association football player
Óscar Duarteassociation football player
José Figueres FerrerCosta Rican politician (1906–1990)
Marco UreñaCosta Rican footballer
Carlos Alvarado QuesadaPresident of Costa Rica (2018-2022)
History
1821Costa Rica founded as a sovereign state
02 Nov 1945Joined the United Nations
Size, side by side
Loading size comparison…
1960 → now
2026
Population5.2M2025
GDP$102.90B2025
GDP per person$19,9702025