Location:
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total:51,100 sq km
land:51,060 sq km
water:40 sq km
note: includes Isla del Coco
country comparison to the world:130
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total:661 km
border countries (2):Nicaragua 313 km, Panama 348 km
Coastline:
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12nm
exclusive economic zone:200nm
continental shelf:200nm
Climate:
tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Terrain:
coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major active volcanoes
Elevation:
mean elevation:746 m
elevation extremes:0 mlowest point: Pacific Ocean
3819 highest point: Cerro Chirripo
Natural resources:
Land use:
agricultural land:37.1%(2011 est.)
arable land:4.9%(2011 est.)/permanent crops:6.7%(2011 est.)/permanent pasture:25.5%(2011 est.)
forest:51.5%(2011 est.)
other:11.4%(2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
Population distribution:
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:
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
volcanism: 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
Environment - current issues:
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:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
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
Population:
4,987,142(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:123
Nationality:
noun:Costa Rican(s)
adjective:Costa Rican
Ethnic groups:
white or mestizo 83.6%, mulatto 6.7%, indigenous 2.4%, black of African descent 1.1%, other 1.1%, none 2.9%, unspecified 2.2%(2011 est.)
Languages:
Spanish(official), English
Religions:
Roman Catholic 71.8%, Evangelical and Pentecostal 12.3%, other Protestant 2.6%, Jehovah's Witness 0.5%, other 2.4%, none 10.4%(2016 est.)
Demographic profile:
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.
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.
Age structure:
0-14 years:22.43%(male 572,172 /female 546,464)
15-24 years:15.94%(male 405,515 /female 389,433)
25-54 years:44.04%(male 1,105,944 /female 1,090,434)
55-64 years:9.48%(male 229,928 /female 242,696)
65 years and over:8.11%(male 186,531 /female 218,025)(2018 est.)
population pyramid:
Central America
:: Costa RicaPrint This is the population pyramid for Costa Rica. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:45.4(2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio:32.4(2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio:12.9(2015 est.)
potential support ratio:7.7(2015 est.)
Median age:
Population growth rate:
1.13%(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:95
Birth rate:
15.3 births/1,000 population(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:121
Death rate:
4.8 deaths/1,000 population(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:200
Net migration rate:
0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:59
Population distribution:
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:79.3% of total population(2018)
rate of urbanization:1.5% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
1.358 million SAN JOSE (capital)(2018)
Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
0-14 years:1.05 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
15-24 years:1.04 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
25-54 years:1.01 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
55-64 years:0.95 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
65 years and over:0.86 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
total population:1.01 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
25 deaths/100,000 live births(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:122
Infant mortality rate:
total:7.8 deaths/1,000 live births(2018 est.)
male:8.6 deaths/1,000 live births(2018 est.)
female:7.1 deaths/1,000 live births(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:153
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:78.9 years(2018 est.)
male:76.2 years(2018 est.)
female:81.7 years(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:55
Total fertility rate:
1.89 children born/woman(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:135
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Health expenditures:
9.3% of GDP(2014)
country comparison to the world:33
Physicians density:
1.15 physicians/1,000 population(2013)
Hospital bed density:
1.1 beds/1,000 population(2014)
Drinking water source:
improved:urban:99.6% of population
rural:91.9% of population
total:97.8% of population
unimproved:urban:0.4% of population
rural:8.1% of population
total:2.2% of population(2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:urban:95.2% of population(2015 est.)
rural:92.3% of population(2015 est.)
total:94.5% of population(2015 est.)
unimproved:urban:4.8% of population(2015 est.)
rural:7.7% of population(2015 est.)
total:5.5% of population(2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4%(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:70
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
13,000(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:93
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk:intermediate(2016)
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial diarrhea(2016)
vectorborne diseases:dengue fever(2016)
note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
25.7%(2016)
country comparison to the world:48
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
1.1%(2008)
country comparison to the world:121
Education expenditures:
7.1% of GDP(2016)
country comparison to the world:19
Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write(2015 est.)
total population:97.8%(2015 est.)
male:97.7%(2015 est.)
female:97.8%(2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:15 years(2015)
male:15 years(2015)
female:16 years(2015)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:20.6%(2017 est.)
male:17.6%(2017 est.)
female:25.9%(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:61
Country name:
conventional long form:Republic of Costa Rica
conventional short form:Costa Rica
local long form:Republica de Costa Rica
local short form:Costa Rica
etymology:the name means \"rich coast\" in Spanish and was first applied in the early colonial period of the 16th century
Government type:
Capital:
name:San Jose
geographic coordinates:9 56 N, 84 05 W
time difference:UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
history:many previous; latest effective 8 November 1949(2018)
amendments:proposals require the signatures of at least 10 Legislative Assembly members or by petition of at least 5% of qualified voters; consideration of proposals requires two-thirds majority approval in each of 3 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 2015(2018)
Legal system:
civil law system based on Spanish civil code; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court
International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth:yes
citizenship by descent only:yes
dual citizenship recognized:yes
residency requirement for naturalization:7 years
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Judicial branch:
highest courts: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:Supreme Court of Justice judges elected by the National Assembly for 8-year terms with renewal decided by the National Assembly
subordinate courts:appellate courts; trial courts; first instance and justice of the peace courts; Superior Electoral Tribunal
Executive branch:
chief of state:President Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (since 8 May 2018); First Vice President Epsy CAMPBELL Barr (since 8 May 2018); Second Vice President Marvin RODRIGUEZ Cordero (since 8 May 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (since 8 May 2018); First Vice President Epsy CAMPBELL Barr (since 8 May 2018); Second Vice President Marvin RODRIGUEZ Cordero (since 8 May 2018)
cabinet:Cabinet selected by the president
elections/appointments: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 4 February 2018 with a runoff on 1 April 2018 (next to be held in February 2022)
election results: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 (PRS) 4.9%, other 4.4%; percent of vote in second round - Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 60.7%; Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 39.3%
Legislative branch:
description:unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - corresponding to the country's 7 provinces - by closed list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
elections:last held on 4 February 2018 (next to be held in February 2022)
election results:percent of vote by party - PLN 19.5%, PRN 18.2%, PAC 16.3%, PUSC 14.6%, PLN 7.7%, PRS 4.2%, PFA 4%, ADC 2.5%, ML 2.3%, PASE 2.3%, PNG 2.2%, other 6.2%; seats by party - PLN 17, PRN 14, PAC 10, PUSC 9, PLN 4, PRS 2, PFA 1
Political parties and leaders:
Accessibility Without Exclusion or PASE [Oscar Andres LOPEZ Arias]
Broad Front (Frente Amplio) or PFA [Ana Patricia MORA Castellanos]
Christian Democratic Alliance or ADC [Mario REDONDO Poveda]
Citizen Action Party or PAC [Marcia GONZALEZ Aguiluz]
Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Gonzalo Alberto RAMIREZ Zamora]
Libertarian Movement Party or ML [Victor Danilo CUBERO Corrales]
National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]
National Liberation Party or PLN [Jorge Julio PATTONI Saenz]
National Restoration Party or PRN [Carlos Luis AVENDANO Calvo]
New Generation or PNG [Sergio MENA]
Patriotic Alliance [Jorge ARAYA Westover]
Social Christian Republican Party or PRS [Dragos DOLANESCU Valenciano]
Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Pedro MUNOZ Fonseca]
International organization participation:
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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Fernando LLORCA Castro (since 17 September 2018)
chancery:2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 480-2200
FAX:[1] (202) 265-4795
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington DC
consulate(s):Saint Paul (MN), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tucson (AZ)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Sharon DAY (since 5 October 2017)
embassy:Calle 98 Via 104, Pavas, San Jose
mailing address:APO AA 34020
telephone:[506] 2519-2000
FAX:[506] 2519-2305
Flag description:
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: somewhat resembles the flag of North Korea; similar to the flag of Thailand but with the blue and red colors reversed
National symbol(s):
yiguirro (clay-colored robin); national colors: blue, white, red
National anthem:
name:\"Himno Nacional de Costa Rica\" (National Anthem of Costa Rica)
lyrics/music:Jose Maria ZELEDON Brenes/Manuel Maria GUTIERREZ
note: 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
Economy - overview:
Since 2010, Costa Rica has enjoyed strong and stable economic growth - 3.8% in 2017. Exports of bananas, coffee, sugar, and beef are the backbone of its commodity exports. Various industrial and processed agricultural products have broadened exports in recent years, as have high value-added goods, including medical devices. Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity also makes it a key destination for ecotourism.
Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and relatively high education levels, as well as the incentives offered in the free-trade zones; Costa Rica has attracted one of the highest levels of foreign direct investment per capita in Latin America. The US-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which became effective for Costa Rica in 2009, helped increase foreign direct investment in key sectors of the economy, including insurance and telecommunication. However, poor infrastructure, high energy costs, a complex bureaucracy, weak investor protection, and uncertainty of contract enforcement impede greater investment.
Costa Rica’s economy also faces challenges due to a rising fiscal deficit, rising public debt, and relatively low levels of domestic revenue. Poverty has remained around 20-25% for nearly 20 years, and the government’s strong social safety net has eroded due to increased constraints on its expenditures. Costa Rica’s credit rating was downgraded from stable to negative in 2015 and again in 2017, upping pressure on lending rates - which could hurt small business, on the budget deficit - which could hurt infrastructure development, and on the rate of return on investment - which could soften foreign direct investment (FDI). Unlike the rest of Central America, Costa Rica is not highly dependent on remittances - which represented just 1 % of GDP in 2016, but instead relies on FDI - which accounted for 5.1% of GDP.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$83.94 billion(2017 est.)
$81.27 billion(2016 est.)
$77.96 billion(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world:93
GDP (official exchange rate):
$58.27 billion(2017 est.)(2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.3%(2017 est.)
4.2%(2016 est.)
3.6%(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:104
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$16,900(2017 est.)
$16,600(2016 est.)
$16,100(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world:104
Gross national saving:
15.1% of GDP(2017 est.)
16.1% of GDP(2016 est.)
15% of GDP(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:135
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:64.2%(2017 est.)
government consumption:17.3%(2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital:17.1%(2017 est.)
investment in inventories:1%(2017 est.)
exports of goods and services:33.3%(2017 est.)
imports of goods and services:-32.9%(2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:5.5%(2017 est.)
industry:20.6%(2017 est.)
services:73.9%(2017 est.)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef, poultry, dairy; timber
Industries:
medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate:
1.3%(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:147
Labor force:
2.229 million(2017 est.)
note: official estimate; excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica
country comparison to the world:121
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:14%
industry:22%
services:64%(2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.1%(2017 est.)
9.5%(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:117
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:36.9%(2014 est.)
highest 10%:36.9%(2014 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
48.5(2014)
49.2(2013)
country comparison to the world:22
Budget:
revenues:8.357 billion(2017 est.)
expenditures:11.92 billion(2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
14.3% (of GDP)(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:200
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-6.1% (of GDP)(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:185
Public debt:
48.9% of GDP(2017 est.)
44.9% of GDP(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:105
Fiscal year:
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.6%(2017 est.)
0%(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:89
Central bank discount rate:
3.5%(31 December 2016 est.)
21.5%(31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world:102
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.37%(31 December 2017 est.)
11.64%(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:71
Stock of narrow money:
$5.356 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$5.63 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:100
Stock of broad money:
$5.356 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$5.63 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:103
Stock of domestic credit:
$41.04 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$38.21 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:69
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$2.015 billion(31 December 2012 est.)
$1.443 billion(31 December 2011 est.)
$1.445 billion(31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world:99
Current account balance:
-$1.692 billion(2017 est.)
-$1.326 billion(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:160
Exports:
$10.81 billion(2017 est.)
$10.15 billion(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:92
Exports - partners:
US 40.9%, Belgium 6.3%, Panama 5.6%, Netherlands 5.6%, Nicaragua 5.1%, Guatemala 5%(2017)
Exports - commodities:
bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar; beef; seafood; electronic components, medical equipment
Imports:
$15.15 billion(2017 est.)
$14.53 billion(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:90
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum, construction materials
Imports - partners:
US 38.1%, China 13.1%, Mexico 7.3%(2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$7.15 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$7.574 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:86
Debt - external:
$26.83 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$24.3 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:86
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$33.92 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$31.84 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:68
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$4.007 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$3.781 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:78
Exchange rates:
Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar -
573.5(2017 est.)
544.74(2016 est.)
544.74(2015 est.)
534.57(2014 est.)
538.32(2013 est.)
Electricity access:
population without electricity:24,362(2013)
electrification - total population:99.5%(2013)
electrification - urban areas:99.9%(2013)
electrification - rural areas:98.3%(2013)
Electricity - production:
10.79 billion kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:100
Electricity - consumption:
9.812 billion kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:98
Electricity - exports:
643 million kWh(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:64
Electricity - imports:
807 million kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:72
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
3.584 million kW(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:94
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
18% of total installed capacity(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:196
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:72
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
64% of total installed capacity(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:25
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
18% of total installed capacity(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:48
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:123
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:109
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:115
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:120
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:134
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
53,000 bbl/day(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:100
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:147
Refined petroleum products - imports:
51,320 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:80
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:120
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:136
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:88
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:111
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m(1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:125
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
7.653 million Mt(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:120
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:843,148(2017 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:17(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:79
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:8,840,342(2017 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:179(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:88
Telephone system:
general assessment:good domestic telephone service in terms of breadth of coverage; in recent years growth has been achieve from liberalistion of the telecom sector and has seen substantial expansion in all sectors; Costa Rica's broadband market is the most advanced in Central America, with the highest broadband penetration for this sub-region; broadband penetration does lag behind many South American countries; with the implementation of number portability there is greater opportunity for increased competition in the future(2017)
domestic:point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available; 17 per 100 fixed-line, 179 per 100 mobile-cellular(2017)
international:country code - 506; landing points for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), MAYA-1, and the Pan American Crossing 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)(2015)
Broadcast media:
Internet country code:
Internet users:
total:3,217,277(July 2016 est.)
percent of population:66%(July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:95
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:744,059(2017 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:15(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:74