factbook.json/central-america-n-caribbean/cs.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>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 from Indigenous populations, 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 was one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared 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.</p> <p>Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. General Federico TINOCO Granados led a coup in 1917, but the threat of US intervention pushed him to resign in 1919. In 1948, landowner Jose FIGUERES Ferrer raised his own army and rebelled against the government. The brief civil war ended with an agreement to allow FIGUERES to remain in power for 18 months, then step down in favor of the previously elected Otilio ULATE. FIGUERES was later elected twice in his own right, in 1953 and 1970.</p> <p>Costa Rica experienced destabilizing waves of refugees from Central American civil wars in the 1970s and 1980s, but peace in the region has since helped the economy rebound.  Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries.</p> <p> </p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "10 00 N, 84 00 W"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Central America and the Caribbean"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total ": {
        "text": "51,100 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "51,060 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "40 sq km"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> includes Isla del Coco"
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly smaller than West Virginia"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "661 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Nicaragua 313 km; Panama 348 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "1,290 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "exclusive economic zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      },
      "continental shelf": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major active volcanoes"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Cerro Chirripo 3,819 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Pacific Ocean 0 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "746 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "hydropower"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "37.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 25.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "51.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "11.4% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "1,015 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "<p>occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes</p><p><strong>volcanism:</strong> 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</p>"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "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"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "total": {
        "text": "5,265,575"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "2,635,481"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "2,630,094 (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Costa Rican(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Costa Rican"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "White or Mestizo 83.6%, Mulatto 6.7%, Indigenous 2.4%, Black or African descent 1.1%, other 1.1%, none 2.9%, unspecified 2.2% (2011 est.)"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "Languages": {
        "text": "Spanish (official), English"
      },
      "major-language sample(s)": {
        "text": "<br>La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information."
      }
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Roman Catholic 47.5%, Evangelical and Pentecostal 19.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, other Protestant 1.2%, other 3.1%, none 27% (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Demographic profile": {
      "text": "<p>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.</p><p>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.</p>"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "18.8% (male 506,041/female 482,481)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "70.2% (male 1,862,872/female 1,832,024)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "11.1% (2024 est.) (male 266,568/female 315,589)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "45.1"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "29.8"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "15.3"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "6.5 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "35.5 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "34.9 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "36.1 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.74% (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "10.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "82.6% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "1.462 million SAN JOSE (capital) (2023)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.05 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.05 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "1.02 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.84 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "22 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "6.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "7 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "6.3 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "80.3 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "77.7 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "82.9 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.43 children born/woman (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "0.7 (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "70.9% (2018)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 100% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "7.9% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physician density": {
      "text": "3.3 physicians/1,000 population (2020)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "1.1 beds/1,000 population (2019)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 99% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 97.1% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 98.7% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 1% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 2.9% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 1.3% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "25.7% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "2.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "8.8% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "12.9% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "4.6% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "2.9% (2018)"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "48.4% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Child marriage": {
      "women married by age 15": {
        "text": "2%"
      },
      "women married by age 18": {
        "text": "17.1% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "6.7% of GDP (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "98%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "98%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "98.1% (2021)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "17 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "16 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "17 years (2019)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "Marine Life Conservation"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "37.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 25.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "51.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "11.4% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "82.6% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "0.82% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "14.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "8.02 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "5.61 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "1.46 million tons (2014 est.)"
      },
      "municipal solid waste recycled annually": {
        "text": "18,396 tons (2014 est.)"
      },
      "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": {
        "text": "1.3% (2014 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "830 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "230 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "2.08 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "113 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Republic of Costa Rica"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Costa Rica"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Rep&uacute;blica de Costa Rica"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Costa Rica"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the name means \"rich coast\" in Spanish and was first applied in the early colonial period of the 16th century"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "presidential republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "San Jos&eacute;"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "9 56 N, 84 05 W"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "named in honor of Saint Joseph"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "15 September 1821 (from Spain)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Independence Day, 15 September (1821)"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "civil law system based on Spanish civil code; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "many previous; latest effective 8 November 1949"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "proposals require the signatures of at least 10 Legislative Assembly members or petition of at least 5% of qualified voters; consideration of proposals requires two-thirds majority approval in each of three 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 2020"
      }
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "yes"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "yes"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "yes"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "7 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal and compulsory"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022)&nbsp;"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Cabinet selected by the president"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "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 6 February 2022 with a runoff on 3 April 2022 (next to be held in February 2026 with a runoff in April 2026)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<br><em>2022: </em>Rodrigo CHAVES Robles elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 27.3%,<em> </em>Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 16.8%, Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PNR) 14.9%, Eliecer FEINZAIG Mintz (PLP) 12.4%, Lineth SABORIO Chaverri (PUSC) 12.4%, Jose Maria VILLALTA Florez-Estrada 8.7% (PFA), other 7.5%; percent of vote in second round - Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 52.8%, Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 47.2%<br><br><em>2018:</em> 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 (PRSC) 4.9%, other 4.4%; percent of vote in second round - Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 60.7%; Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 39.3%"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>the president is both chief of state and head of government"
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "legislature name": {
        "text": "Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)"
      },
      "legislative structure": {
        "text": "unicameral"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "57 (all directly elected)"
      },
      "electoral system": {
        "text": "proportional representation"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "4 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "2/6/2022"
      },
      "parties elected and seats per party": {
        "text": "National Liberation Party (PLN) (19); Democratic Social Progress Party (PPSD) (10); Christian Social Unity Party (USC) (9); New Republic Party (NR) (7); Broad Front (FA) (6); Progressive Liberal Party (LP) (6)"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "49.1%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "February 2026"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "Supreme Court of Justice judges elected by the National Assembly for 8-year terms with renewal decided by the National Assembly"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "appellate courts; trial courts; first instance and justice of the peace courts; Superior Electoral Tribunal"
      }
    },
    "Political parties": {
      "text": "<p>Accessibility Without Exclusion or PASE<br>Broad Front (Frente Amplio) or PFA<br>Citizen Action Party or PAC<br>Costa Rican Renewal Party or PRC<br>Here Costa Rica Commands Party or ACRM<br>Liberal Progressive Party or PLP <br>Libertarian Movement Party or ML<br>National Integration Party or PIN<br>National Liberation Party or PLN<br>National Restoration Party or PRN<br>New Generation or PNG<br>New Republic Party or PNR<br>Social Christian Republican Party or PRSC<br>Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC of UNIDAD<br>Social Democratic Progress Party or PPSD</p>"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "ACS, 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, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Catalina CRESPO SANCHO (since 19 April 2023)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 499-2980"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 265-4795"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>embcr-us@rree.go.cr<br><br>http://www.costarica-embassy.org/index.php?q=node/21"
      },
      "consulate(s) general": {
        "text": "Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington DC"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Michael (Mike) FLORES (since January 2025)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "Calle 98 Via 104, Pavas, San Jose"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "3180 St. George's Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-3180"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[506] 2519-2000"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[506] 2519-2305"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>acssanjose@state.gov<br><br>https://cr.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "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": "<strong>note:</strong> somewhat resembles the flag of North Korea; similar to the flag of Thailand but with the blue and red colors reversed"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "yiguirro (clay-colored robin); national colors: blue, white, red"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Himno Nacional de Costa Rica\" (National Anthem of Costa Rica)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Jose Maria ZELEDON Brenes/Manuel Maria GUTIERREZ"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> 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 heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "4 (1 cultural, 3 natural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "Guanacaste Conservation Area (n); Cocos Island National Park (n); Precolumbian Stone Spheres (c); La Amistad International Park (n)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "trade-based upper middle-income economy; green economy leader, having reversed deforestation; investing in blue economy infrastructure; declining poverty until hard impacts of COVID-19; lingering inequality and growing government debts have prompted a liquidity crisis"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": {
        "text": "$134.238 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": {
        "text": "$127.71 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$122.15 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2023": {
        "text": "5.11% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2022": {
        "text": "4.55% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "7.94% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2023": {
        "text": "$26,300 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2022": {
        "text": "$25,100 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$24,100 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$86.498 billion (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": {
        "text": "0.53% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": {
        "text": "8.27% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": {
        "text": "1.73% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices"
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Fitch rating": {
        "text": "B (2020)"
      },
      "Moody's rating": {
        "text": "B2 (2020)"
      },
      "Standard & Poors rating": {
        "text": "B (2020)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained."
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "3.8% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "20.5% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "68% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "64.5% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "14.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "16.2% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "-0.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "38.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-33.6% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection"
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "sugarcane, pineapples, bananas, milk, oil palm fruit, fruits, oranges, chicken, cassava, rice (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "8.35% (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "2.372 million (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2023": {
        "text": "8.3% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2022": {
        "text": "11.33% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "15.14% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment"
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "24.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "21% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "28.3% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment"
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "25.5% (2022 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023": {
        "text": "46.7 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality"
    },
    "Average household expenditures": {
      "on food": {
        "text": "21.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)"
      },
      "on alcohol and tobacco": {
        "text": "1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "1.6% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "35.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population"
    },
    "Remittances": {
      "Remittances 2023": {
        "text": "0.77% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2022": {
        "text": "0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2021": {
        "text": "0.91% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$20.224 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$19.799 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2022": {
        "text": "71.11% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "14.35% (of GDP) (2022 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2023": {
        "text": "-$1.238 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2022": {
        "text": "-$2.272 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "-$2.063 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2023": {
        "text": "$33.683 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2022": {
        "text": "$29.392 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$23.608 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "US 40%, Netherlands 7%, Guatemala 5%, Belgium 5%, Nicaragua 3% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "medical instruments, orthopedic appliances, bananas, tropical fruits, other foods (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2023": {
        "text": "$28.413 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2022": {
        "text": "$27.095 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$21.938 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "US 39%, China 14%, Mexico 5%, Guatemala 3%, Brazil 3% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, plastic products, medical instruments, cars, broadcasting equipment (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": {
        "text": "$13.225 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": {
        "text": "$8.554 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": {
        "text": "$6.921 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars"
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2023": {
        "text": "$15.89 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2023": {
        "text": "544.051 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2022": {
        "text": "647.136 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "620.785 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "584.901 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "587.295 (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "3.692 million kW (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "10.619 billion kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "773.979 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "54.231 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "1.14 billion kWh (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "solar": {
        "text": "0.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "wind": {
        "text": "11% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "75% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "geothermal": {
        "text": "11.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "1.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "consumption": {
        "text": "30,000 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "(2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "500 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "total petroleum production": {
        "text": "400 bbl/day (2023 est.)"
      },
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "62,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "7.966 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "74,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "7.892 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": {
        "text": "31.43 million Btu/person (2022 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "678,000 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "13 (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "7.44 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "152 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "the fixed broadband market is one of the few parts of Costa Rica&rsquo;s telecom sector to experience solid growth in recent years, both in size and revenue; the country&rsquo;s fiber network expanded by 56% in 2020, reaching about 176,200km; fixed-line broadband traffic volume also increased by more than 30%, year-on-year;&nbsp; other areas of the market have proven relatively lack luster, with slow or even negative growth; some of this can be attributed to the economic and social impacts of the pandemic, but the fixed-line and mobile sectors have both been struggling to produce decent results since well before the start of the crisis; the rollout of 5G network infrastructure in Costa Rica is unlikely to occur to any scale before 2023, but this may be one of the few remaining areas of opportunity open to investors outside of fixed-line internet and pay TV services (2021)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "roughly 11 per 100 fixed-line and 152 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 506; landing points for the ARCOS-1, MAYA-1, and the&nbsp;PAC 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) (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "over two dozen privately owned TV stations and 1 publicly owned TV station nationwide; cable network services are widely available; more than 100 privately owned radio stations and a public radio network (2022)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".cr"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "85% (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1.15 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "23 (2023 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "1 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "39"
      },
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "1,948,546 (2018)"
      },
      "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "11.13 million (2018) mt-km"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "TI"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "129 (2024)"
    },
    "Heliports": {
      "text": "8 (2024)"
    },
    "Pipelines": {
      "text": "662 km refined products (2013)"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "278 km (2014)"
      },
      "narrow gauge": {
        "text": "278 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> 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": {
      "total": {
        "text": "5,035 km (2017)"
      }
    },
    "Waterways": {
      "text": "730 km (2011) (seasonally navigable by small craft)"
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "11 (2023)"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "other 11"
      }
    },
    "Ports": {
      "total ports": {
        "text": "6 (2024)"
      },
      "large": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "medium": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "small": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "very small": {
        "text": "5"
      },
      "ports with oil terminals": {
        "text": "4"
      },
      "key ports": {
        "text": "Golfito, Puerto Caldera, Puerto Limon, Puerto Moin, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security: National Police (Fuerza Pública), Air Surveillance Service (Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea), National Coast Guard Service (Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas), Drug Control Police (Policía Control de Drogas), Border Police (Policia de Fronteras), Professional Migration Police (Policía Profesional de Migración); Ministry of Presidency: Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), Special Intervention Unit (UEI) (2024)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> Costa Rica's armed forces were constitutionally abolished in 1949"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2023": {
        "text": "0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2022": {
        "text": "0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "0.7% of GDP (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "approximately 15,000 Ministry of Public Security personnel (2024)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the National Police are lightly armed although small special units are trained and equipped for tactical operations; the US has provided equipment and support to forces such the National Coast Guard, including secondhand US vessels and aircraft (2024)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "Costa Rica relies on specialized paramilitary units within the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) for internal security missions and countering transnational threats such as narcotics smuggling and organized crime, as well as for participating in regional security operations and exercises; MPS forces have received advisory and training support from both Colombia and the US; since 2012, the US has also provided some military equipment, including aircraft and patrol boats (2024)"
    }
  },
  "Space": {
    "Space agency/agencies": {
      "text": "Costa Rican Space Agency (ACE; established 2021); ACE is a non-state, public entity subject to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Telecommunications (2023)"
    },
    "Space program overview": {
      "text": "has a small, recently established program focused on promoting the use of space to develop the country’s economy and industry, including acquiring and utilizing satellites; has built a remote sensing (RS) cube satellite; has relations with the space agencies and commercial space industries of the US, members of the European Space Agency, and members of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2024)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "refugees (country of origin)": {
        "text": "29,405 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2023)"
      },
      "stateless persons": {
        "text": "192 (2022)"
      }
    },
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "<br><br> <p>Costa Rica remains a significant transshipment point for cocaine enroute to the United States from South America; a key transit point in international narcotics trafficking; transit and warehousing hub for illicit drug trafficking; growing domestic drug consumption problem; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics</p>"
    }
  }
}