Introduction

flag Costa Rica Costa Rica: Introduction

Capital: San Jose

Population

Total Population: 5,152,950
Natural Increase: 0.4%
Density: 100 Inhabitants/km²
Urban Population: 79.7%
Ethnic Origins: Population of European, North American and Mestizo origin nearly 84%, mulattoes about 7%, indigenous populations a little over 2%, of African origin about 1% and finally other ethnic groups (including Asians, notably Chinese) represent 6% of the total population. (National Institute of Statistics and Census)
Official Language: Spanish
Other Languages Spoken: Creole English
Business Language(s): English
Literacy Rate: 94.9%

Local Time:

It is %T:%M %A In San Jose

Country Overview

Area: 51,100 km²
Type of State: Presidential republic
Type of Economy: Variable income, mixed economy based on resources and services.
Costa Rica's economy is growing steadily, driven mainly by the technology sector and foreign direct investment, although fiscal policy remains a challenge for the government.
HDI*: 0.833/1
HDI (World Rank): 65/192

Note: (*) The HDI, Human Development Index, measures a country's development in terms of quality of life. It mainly takes into account life expectancy, level of education and GDP per capita.

Telecommunication

Telephone Code:
To call from Costa Rica, dial 00
To call Costa Rica, dial +506
Internet Suffix: .cr
Households with a computer: 46.3 per 100 Inhabitants
Mobile phone subscriptions: 145.8 per 100 Inhabitants
Internet Users: 85.4 per 100 Inhabitants
Access to Electricity: 100% of the Population

Foreign Trade in Figures

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20212022202320242025
Imports of Goods (million USD) 20,72822,68524,03926,48427,482
Exports of Goods (million USD) 15,49416,59719,02521,68826,431
Imports of Services (million USD) 4,2695,8866,8797,7088,637
Exports of Services (million USD) 9,16413,63415,55717,07318,083

Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation, Latest data available.

 
See the latest updates in the Country Profile for Costa Rica.

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Latest Update: July 2026

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