Costa Rica

Quick Facts

🇨🇷
Capital:
San José
Official Language(s):
Spanish
Currency:
Costa Rican colón (₡)
Population:
5,094,114

Overview

Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in the Central American region of North America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as 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). An estimated 352,381 people live in the capital and largest city, San José, with around two million people in the surrounding metropolitan area.

Institutional Framework

The strength of a country's institutions directly impacts its economic development and stability. Strong institutions reduce uncertainty, protect property rights, and enable efficient markets through:
  • Rule of law and contract enforcement
  • Control of corruption
  • Government effectiveness and regulatory quality

* Indicators normalized to 0-100 scale

Economic Structure

The composition of an economy reveals its strengths, vulnerabilities, and potential for growth. Understanding the balance between sectors (agriculture, industry, services) and their sophistication helps assess economic resilience and development opportunities.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic Scale & Power

An economy with $64,960,725,734.197B(2021) GDP, showing strong growth at 7.9%(2021). Developing economy with moderate income levels.

GDP Growth
7.9%(2021)
GDP PPP
$120,743,279,901.813

Economic Structure

Economic structure shows 67.1%(2021) in services, 20.6%(2021) in industry, and 4.4%(2021) in agriculture. Balanced economic structure.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic health indicators show 15.1%(2021) unemployment and 1.7%(2021) inflation. Trade profile with 36.2%(2021) exports and 34.6%(2021) imports as % of GDP.

Unemployment
15.1%(2021)
Inflation
1.7%(2021)
Exports/GDP
36.2%(2021)
Imports/GDP
34.6%(2021)

Innovation & Competitiveness

Innovation capacity determines a country's ability to compete in the global knowledge economy. Key indicators like R&D investment, patent applications, and high-tech exports reveal the potential for sustainable economic growth and value creation.

High-Tech Exports

17.0

% of manufactured exports

ICT Exports

0.8

% of total goods exports

Digital Adoption

82.7

% of population using internet

Mobile Connectivity

152.0

Subscriptions per 100 people

Manufacturing Value

13.7

% of GDP

International Position

A country's integration into global markets affects its economic opportunities and risks. Trade relationships, financial flows, and geographic advantages or constraints shape its development trajectory and resilience to external shocks.

Financial & Trade Geography

Trade Profile

Trade represents 70.78%(2021) of GDP, with a trade balance of 1.57%(2021).

FDI Inflows
5.53%(2021)
FDI Outflows
0.69%(2021)

Financial Security

External Debt

55.45%(2021)

Foreign Reserves

$6.92B(2021)(3.1 months of imports)

Supply Chain & Technology

Technology Trade

ICT Imports
7.11%(2021)
High-Tech Exports
16.97%(2021)

Economic Structure

Manufacturing
13.73%(2021)
Services
67.08%(2021)

Trade Agreements & Dependencies

Trade Agreements

No major trade agreements

Critical Dependencies

    Growth Trajectory

    Understanding growth patterns helps predict future economic performance and development challenges. Key factors include productivity trends, investment levels, and structural transformation progress, which together determine long-term prosperity potential.

    Growth Potential Indicators

    Human Capital

    Education and workforce development

    54.2/100

    Trade Position

    International trade and competitiveness

    25.7/100

    Economic Structure

    Sectoral balance and sophistication

    37.1/100

    Demographics & Human Capital

    Demographics are fundamental to understanding a country's economic potential and challenges. The population structure influences everything from labor force availability to social security systems and public spending priorities.

    Demographics

    Population Overview

    Total population of 5,059,988(2021) with 0.5%(2021) annual growth. Median age is N/A with fertility rate at 1.533 births/woman(2021).

    Life Expectancy
    77.023 years(2021)
    Birth Rate
    11.873 per 1,000(2021)

    Age Structure

    Working-age population (68.8%(2021)) with youth at 20.3%(2021) and elderly at 10.9%(2021). Total dependency ratio: 45.3%(2021).

    Young Dependency
    29.5%(2021)
    Old Dependency
    15.8%(2021)

    Gender & Migration

    Population is 50.5%(2021) female and 49.5%(2021) male, with sex ratio of 1.044 males/female(2021) at birth. Net migration: 1,018(2021).

    Male Mortality
    134.444/1,000(2021)
    Female Mortality
    67.167/1,000(2021)

    Development Indicators

    Urban population growing at 1.3%(2021) annually, with 18.6%(2021) in rural areas. Literacy rate: 98.0%(2021).

    Urbanization
    81.4%(2021)
    Infant Mortality
    6.9 per 1,000(2021)

    Population Structure

    The population pyramid visualizes the age and gender distribution, revealing crucial insights about economic sustainability. A balanced pyramid with a strong working-age population (typically ages 15-64) indicates greater economic potential, as this group supports both the younger and older generations through:
    • Labor force participation and productivity
    • Tax contributions to support social services
    • Innovation and economic growth

    An aging population (top-heavy pyramid) or youth bulge (bottom-heavy) can create demographic pressures on social systems and economic stability.

    Source: World Bank Development Indicators

    Security Context

    Security considerations fundamentally affect economic development and investment attractiveness. Both geographic factors and military capabilities influence a country's stability and its ability to protect economic interests and maintain sustainable growth.

    Geographic & Resource Security

    Food & Agriculture

    Arable land comprises 3.9%(2021) of territory, with 34.7%(2021) total agricultural land. Cereal yield: 4,672.8 kg/hectare(2021).

    Food Production Index
    101.32(2021)
    Cereal Production
    210,981.17 MT(2021)

    Energy Security

    Net energy imports at N/A of consumption. Renewable energy makes up 100.0%(2021) of total. Electricity access: N/A.

    Resource Rents
    N/A

    Water Resources

    Fresh water resources of 2,926 m³/capita(2021) per person. Annual precipitation: 59.758 mm(2021).

    Forest Area
    N/A

    Environmental Vulnerability

    22332.1%(2021) of population affected by climate disasters. Forest coverage at N/A providing natural buffer.

    Annual Rainfall
    59.758 mm(2021)

    Military & Security

    Military Capabilities

    Military expenditure at N/A of GDP. Armed forces personnel: N/A ( N/A of labor force).

    Arms Exports
    10,224 USD(2021)
    Arms Imports
    N/A

    Strategic Status

    Military Alliances

    No major military alliances

    Nuclear Status

    Non-Nuclear State

    Security Environment

    Refugee population: 160,782(2021)Internally displaced: 179,452(2021)

    Strategic Geography

    Strategic Features

    • Borders 2 countries