From the world’s most biologically diverse location to a renewable energy record, these are the most interesting facts about Costa Rica.
Fast facts
Official name: Republic of Costa Rica
Population: 5,265,575
Area: 51,100 sq km
Capital city: San Jose
Major languages: Spanish (official), English
Major religions: Christianity (47.5% Catholic, 21% Protestant)
Time zone: UTC-6 (Central Standard Time)
Interesting facts about Costa Rica
1. Costa Rica is located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama, bounded by the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
2. Most Costa Ricans are of European descent, particularly Spanish. Few Indigenous people survived, with less than 1% making up the entire population today.
3. Christopher Colombus discovered Costa Rica in 1502 on his last voyage to the New World.
4. In 1821, Costa Rica was among several countries in Latin America to declare independence from Spain and joined the United Provinces of Central America, which was an alliance with the four present-day states of El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala.
5. Disputes within the Federation broke out, and Costa Rica declared independence in 1848.
6. Costa Rica abolished its army in 1949, the first in the world to do so. The country is one of the few countries without an army.
7. Costa Rica achieved a staggering 99.78% renewable energy for the entire nation in 2020, a 1.78% increase from 2018.
8. Costa Rica has only two seasons: dry and rainy. The dry season lasts from December to April, and the rainy season lasts from May to November.
9. 53% of Costa Rica is covered in forests.
10. Costa Rica set a world record in 2018 by using only renewable energy for 300 consecutive days.
11. Costa Rica has one of the higher average life expectancies in Central America at 77 years.
12. Costa Rica ranks as the 12th happiest country in the world, according to The World Happiness Report 2024.
13. The Costa Rican flag consists of five horizontal stripes: blue at the top and bottom, followed by white, with a red stripe in the center that is double the width of the blue and white stripes. This vibrant red stripe is a significant feature, symbolizing the warmth of the Costa Rican people, their love for life, and the blood shed for freedom. The blue represents the sky, opportunities, and perseverance; white stands for peace, wisdom, and happiness.
14. Costa Rica boasts one of the highest percentages of protected land globally, with 26% of its territory dedicated to preservation.
15. Costa Rica has 29 national parks.
16. Costa Rica has four UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Precolumbian Chiefdom Settlements with Stone Spheres of the Diquís, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Cocos Island National Park, and La Amistad National Park.
17. Costa Rica is sometimes referred to as the “Land of Fire.” It is located in the Ring of Fire and the Central American Volcanic Arc.
18. Costa Rica has over 200 volcanic cones, several of which are active.
19. Indigenous peoples in Costa Rica left behind at least 235 stone spheres they crafted from 400 AD until the colonization of the Spanish.
20. The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica is recognized as one of the world’s Blue Zones, areas where people live notably longer lives. Researchers attribute this longevity to the local lifestyle, diet, social structure, and physical activity.
21. Despite its small size, Costa Rica is one of the 20 richest countries in terms of biodiversity per area.
22. Costa Rica’s national saying is “pura vida”, which means “pure life” in English. Enjoy the simple things in life, live in the moment, let go of stress and be grateful.
23. National Geographic magazine has described the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica as the most biologically diverse place on Earth. It is estimated that over 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity can be found in this small but thriving area.
24. The Latin American Economic Outlook 2023 by OECD reveals that in 2022, poverty in Costa Rica stood at 16.6%, lower than the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) average of 24.1%.
25. Costa Rica has approximately 500,000 species found within its borders and is home to 5% of the global diversity of mammals. The country also has approximately 8,500 plant species, 220 reptile species, 160 amphibian and 850 bird species.
Every effort has been made to verify these facts about Costa Rica using primary sources. However, if you find an error or have any questions, please contact us.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.