Costa Rica
98% of our electricity generation is renewable, we work to be a carbon neutral country.
Location
Central America, between Nicaragua and Panama with ports in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
We are under the same time zone as Central Time of the United States (GMT – 6), thus providing a great facility for doing business.
Area
51,000 km2. We host 5% of the world’s biodiversity, with only 0.03% of the planet’s surface. About 26% of the territory is protected under conservation areas with 3 UNESCO world heritage sites.
Capital
San José, located in the center of the country, with an extension of 4,462 m2
Language
Spanish as an official language and English as a second language
Religion
Catholic as official
Government
Democratic
Army
The army was abolished in 1948
Economy
$ 16,142 GDP per capita PPP. One of the highest in the region
Commerce
Costa Rica has a business environment and legal framework open to foreign investment
Exports
92.6% of product exports are covered under free trade agreements
Airports
Two international airports with more than 1000 flights entering and leaving the country per week
Energy
99% of the energy used in the country in 2017 comes from renewable sources
Labor force
Costa Rica is recognized for the quality of its human capital and for its ability to adapt to new processes and technologies. It is one of our strongest tools for attracting foreign investment. We have the # 1 educational system in Latin America and number 27 in the world, surpassing countries such as France, India, China and the Philippines.
4.89 million
POPULATION
2,30 million
LABOR FORCE
48% population
ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE
9.3%
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER 2017
8%
SUB-EMPLOYMENT RATE FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER 2017
97.8%
PERCENTAGE OF LITERACY
218
TECHNICAL SCHOOLS
5
STATE UNIVERSITIES
57
PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES
*Source: CINDE