Costa Rica has evolved beyond being a benchmark for sustainable tourism and high-quality coffee; it has firmly established itself as a world-class technological hub. According to the latest data from the Foreign Trade Corporation of Costa Rica (PROCOMER) and the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR), the country closed 2024 and began 2025 by breaking its own historical records in service exports, driven primarily by the computing and telecommunications sector.
A Historic Milestone in Figures
According to PROCOMER’s statistical year-end report, the country’s total exports of goods and services surpassed the $22.8 billion mark at the close of 2025, an unprecedented growth.
Within the specific realm of services, the Information Technology and Telecommunications sector solidified its position as one of the most dynamic pillars. According to the Central Bank (BCCR) in its Monthly Economic Outlook Report, the year-on-year growth for information and communication services reached rates exceeding 4.2%, standing out as a resilient engine against global market fluctuations.
Why Is This Growth Different?
Unlike previous years, the current boom is not just about volume, but added value. Costa Rica has shifted from providing basic technical support to leading complex processes in:
- Software Development and Cloud Computing: Solutions created by Costa Rican hands for companies in the United States and Europe.
- Cybersecurity: A niche where local talent is highly sought after.
- Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics: Services exported under the Free Trade Zone regime, which represented a substantial portion of the sector’s growth.
Tico Talent as a Value Proposition
For Laura López, General Manager of PROCOMER, these results reflect a country that “adapts and changes with the world,” offering high-complexity services thanks to a competent and multilingual workforce.
The BCCR’s study on Export of Services via ICT Networks highlights that these activities now represent nearly 18.8% of the country’s total external sales and generate employment for over 160,000 people, equivalent to almost 8% of Costa Rica’s employed population. In other words, behind every line of exported code, there is a Costa Rican family benefiting from the knowledge economy.
Challenges for the Future
Despite the optimism, official reports point to significant challenges. The Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology, and Telecommunications (MICITT) emphasizes that to maintain this leadership, Costa Rica must accelerate the deployment of 5G technology and continue closing the digital divide in rural areas, ensuring that the benefits of the technological era reach the entire national territory.
The record achieved is not just a figure on a financial balance sheet; it is confirmation that Costa Rica has evolved into a smart economy. At People of Costa Rica, we celebrate this milestone that highlights the ingenuity and capacity of our people to compete with the best in the world.
