Country Overview
Basic facts · 2025
Official name
Republic of
Costa Rica
Capital: San José · Language: Spanish · Currency: Costa Rican Colón
Land area
51,100 km²
North: Nicaragua · South & West: Pacific Ocean · East: Caribbean Sea & Panama
Form of government
Democratic Republic
Three independent branches: Legislative, Executive and Judicial. Administrative division: province, canton and district.
Human Development Index
0.833
Ranked 62nd worldwide (UNDP, 2023)
High HDINominal GDP 2024
42,755 bn ₡
Billions of colones at market prices (preliminary)
GDP Growth 2024
4.3%
Year-over-year growth compared to 2023
Agricultural share of GDP
3.6%
Share of total GDP, 2024
Population
Estimates & projections · 2025
Total population
5,191,823
As of June 30, 2025 · INEC estimates
Older adults (60+)
842,057
Representing 15.7% of total population (2025)
52.5% womenPopulation peak year
2044
After this year, population is projected to begin declining (INEC)
Distribution by sex (2025)
Most populous cantons (2025)
By 2050, Alajuela is projected to become the most populous canton.
Economy & Cost of Living
Economic indicators · 2024–2025
Micro-businesses (2024)
435,779
Active nationwide. Generating 665,665 jobs.
Self-employed workers
403,504
63.6% men · 36.4% women
Basic Food Basket (urban)
₡62,408
Average monthly cost per person in urban areas
CPI — Nov 2025
108.9
Year-over-year change: −1.3%
Micro-business activity breakdown (2024)
Employment
Continuous Employment Survey · Q3 2025
Net participation rate
54.9%
Share of population active in the labor force
Employment rate
51.7%
Population aged 15+ with a job
Unemployment rate
5.7%
Men: 5.0% · Women: 6.9%
Informal employment
38.3%
Of total employed population (2025)
Total employed population
2,206,569
Total labor force: 2,341,029 people
Unemployed population
134,460
Employment rate by gender
Female-headed households in poverty: 51.7% · In extreme poverty: 57.7%
Agricultural sector — share of employed population
Men
12.6%
Women
3.1%
National total employed in farming, ranching and fishing: 9.0%
Tourism
Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) · 2024
International arrivals 2024
2,985,000
Total tourists via all entry points: air, land and sea
Annual totalBy air
1,989,725
Tourists arriving by plane, 2024
By land & river
919,483
Primarily from neighboring countries
Tourist origin regions (2024)
Entry points
North America — predominantly the United States — accounts for over 55% of all international arrivals.
Education
National Household Survey · 2025
Primary school attendance (5–12 yrs)
99.4%
Near-universal coverage at this age range
English as 2nd language
93.5%
Of those who speak a second language, most speak English
University-level education
14.4%
Women aged 18–24 with university education vs. 11.0% men
Second language spoken
Science & Technology
National Household Survey · SUTEL · 2024–2025
Fixed internet subscriptions
1,194,637
Fiber optic leads with 54.4% of total (2024)
Mobile internet subscriptions
5,315,598
59% prepaid · 39% postpaid · 2% data card
Mobile phone in homes (Central)
98.5%
Highest mobile penetration in the country
Internet in homes (Central)
91.7%
Lowest: Chorotega region at 80.1%
Mobile phone ownership by region
Foreign Trade
Foreign Trade Statistics · 2024
Total exports
$21,846M
Millions of US dollars, 2024
Total imports
$28,406M
Millions of US dollars, 2024
Trade balance
−$6,560M
Trade deficit, 2024
Top exports (USD millions)
Top trading partners
| Export Destination | USD M | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | 10,344.7 | 47.3% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1,885.1 | 8.6% |
| 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 1,093.2 | 5.0% |
| Import Origin | USD M | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | 11,812.6 | 41.6% |
| 🇨🇳 China | 4,241.7 | 14.9% |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | 1,490.7 | 5.2% |
Gender Equality
Inequality & labor · 2024–2025
Gender pay gap
11.4%
Income difference between men and women in similar private-sector positions
Unpaid domestic work
36h /week
Average hours per week women spend on domestic and care work (Men: 14h)
Environment & Sustainability
Sustainability indicators · 2024
Forest cover
52.4%
Percentage of national territory covered by forests
Biodiversity hotspotRenewable energy
99.2%
Electricity generation from clean energy sources
Global leaderRecycling rate
6.8%
National solid waste recycling rate — one of the country’s biggest challenges
Poverty & Inequality
National Household Survey (ENAHO) · 2025
Total poverty rate
22.3%
Percentage of households living in poverty (2025)
Extreme poverty rate
6.8%
Percentage of households in extreme poverty conditions
Gini coefficient
0.496
Measure of income inequality (0 = perfect equality, 1 = maximum inequality)
Poverty levels — households by region
Construction
Building Permits · 2024
Total building permits
41,396
Costa Rica, 2024 (includes new builds, expansions, repairs)
Permits by province