Demographics of Costa Rica

Demographics of Costa Rica
Costa Rica population pyramid in 2020
Population5,153,957[1][2]
Birth rate10.2 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate5.6 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Fertility rate1.29 children per woman (2022 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years18.71%
15–64 years68.44%
65 and over12.85%
Nationality
NationalityCosta Rican
Major ethnic
Minor ethnic
Language
OfficialSpanish
SpokenSpanish, English, Mekatelyu, BriBri, Patois

This is a demographic article about Costa Rica's population, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations, and other aspects of the population.

According to the United Nations, Costa Rica had an estimated population of 5,153,957 people as of 2021. White and Mestizos make up 83.4% of the population, 7% are black people (including mixed race), 2.4% Amerindians, 0.2% Chinese and 7% other/none.[4]

In 2010, just under 3% of the population was of African descent. These are called Afro-Costa Ricans or West Indians and are English-speaking descendants of 19th-century black Jamaican immigrant workers. Another 1% is composed of those of Chinese origin, and less than 1% are West Asian, mainly of Lebanese descent but also Palestinians. The 2011 Census provided the following data: whites and mestizos make up 83.4% of the population, 7% are black people (including mixed race), 2.4% Amerindians, 0.2% Chinese, and 7% other/none.[4]

There is also a community of North American retirees from the United States and Canada, followed by relatively large numbers of European Union expatriates (chiefly Scandinavians and from Germany) come to retire as well, and Australians.[5] Immigration to Costa Rica made up 9% of the population in 2012. This included permanent settlers as well as migrants who were hoping to reach the U.S.[6] In 2015, there were some 420,000 immigrants in Costa Rica[7] and the number of asylum seekers (mainly from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua) rose to more than 110,000.[8] An estimated 10% of the Costa Rican population in 2014 was made up of Nicaraguans.[9]

The indigenous population today numbers about 60,000 (just over 1% of the population), with some Miskito and Garifuna (a population of mixed African and Carib Amerindian descent) living in the coastal regions.

Costa Rica's emigration is the smallest in the Caribbean Basin and is among the smallest in the Americas. By 2015 about just 133,185 (2.77%) of the country's people live in another country as immigrants. The main destination countries are the United States (85,924), Nicaragua (10,772), Panama (7,760), Canada (5,039), Spain (3,339), Mexico (2,464), Germany (1,891), Italy (1,508), Guatemala (1,162) and Venezuela (1,127).[10]

Population and ancestry

[edit]
Costa Rican Censuses  
Year Population %±
1864 120,499 —
1883 182,073 51.1
1892 243,205 33.6
1927 471,524 93.9
1950 800,875 69.8
1963 1,336,274 66.9
1973 1,871,780 40.1
1984 2,416,809 29.1
2000 3,810,179 57.7
2011 4,301,712 12.9
2022 5,044,197 14.7
Costa Rica's population, (1961–2003).

In 2021, Costa Rica had a population of 5,153,957. The population is increasing at a rate of 1.5% per year. According to current trends, the population will increase to 9,158,000 in about 46 years.[11] The population density is 94 people per square km, the third highest in Central America.

Approximately 20% lived in rural areas and 80% in urban areas. The rate of urbanization estimated for the period 2005–2015 is 2.74% per annum,[12] one of the highest among developing countries. About 75% of the population live in the upper lands (above 500 meters), where the temperature is cooler and milder.

The 2011 census counted a population of 4.3 million people[13] distributed among the following groups: 83.6% whites or Mestizos, 6.7% black mixed race, 2.4% Native American, 1.1% Black or Afro-Caribbean; the census showed 1.1% as Other, 2.9% (141,304 people) as None, and 2.2% (107,196 people) as unspecified.[14]

In 2011, there were over 104,000 Native American or indigenous inhabitants, representing 2.4% of the population. Most of them lived in secluded reservations, distributed among eight ethnic groups: Quitirrisí (in the Central Valley), Matambú or Chorotega (Guanacaste), Maleku (northern Alajuela), Bribri (southern Atlantic), Cabécar (Cordillera de Talamanca), Guaymí (southern Costa Rica, along the Panamá border), Boruca (southern Costa Rica) and Térraba (southern Costa Rica).

Costa Ricans of European origin are primarily of Spanish descent,[15] with significant numbers of Italian, German, English, Dutch, French, Irish, Portuguese, and Polish families, as well as a sizable Jewish community. The majority of the Afro-Costa Ricans are Creole English-speaking descendants of 19th century black Jamaican immigrant workers.

Costa Rican school children

The 2011 census classified 83.6% of the population as white or Mestizo; the latter have combined European and Native American descent. The Mulatto segment (mix of white and black) represented 6.7%, and Indigenous people made up 2.4% of the population.[15] Native and European mixed blood populations are far less than in other Latin American countries. Exceptions are the Guanacaste province, where almost half the population is visibly mestizo, a legacy of the more pervasive unions between Spanish colonists and Chorotega Amerindians through several generations, and Limón, where the vast majority of the Afro-Costa Rican community lives.

Province Province population City City population
San José Province 1,345,750 San José 350,535
Alajuela Province 716,286 Alajuela 46,554
Cartago Province 432,395 Cartago 156,600
Puntarenas Province 357,483 Puntarenas 102,504
Heredia Province 354,732 Heredia 42,600
Limón Province 339,395 Puerto Limon 105,000
Guanacaste Province 264,238 Liberia 98,751

Education

[edit]

According to the United Nations, the country's literacy rate stands at 95.8%,[16] the fifth highest among American countries. Costa Rica's Education Index in 2006 was 0.882, higher than that of richer countries, such as Singapore and Mexico. The gross enrollment ratio is 73.0%, smaller than that of the neighbors countries of El Salvador and Honduras.[17]

All students must complete primary school and secondary school between 6 and 15 years. Some students drop out because they must work to help support their families. In 2007, there were 536,436 pupils enrolled in 3,771 primary schools, and 377,900 students attended public and private secondary schools.[18]

The leading universities are the University of Costa Rica, in San Pedro and the National University of Costa Rica, in Heredia. Costa Rica also has several small private universities.

Emigration

[edit]

Costa Rican emigration is among the smallest in the Caribbean Basin. About 3% of the country's population lives in another country as immigrants. The main destination countries are the United States, Spain, Mexico, and other Central American countries. In 2005, 127,061 Costa Ricans lived in another country as immigrants. Remittance s were $513,000,000 in 2006, which represented 2.3% of the national GDP.

Immigration

[edit]
Further information: Immigration to Costa Rica

Costa Rica's immigration is among the largest in the Caribbean Basin. According to the 2011 census, 385,899 residents were born abroad.[19] The vast majority were born in Nicaragua (287,766). Other countries of origin were Colombia (20,514), United States (16,898), Spain (16,482) and Panama (11,250). Outward remittances were $246,000,000 in 2006.

Migrants

[edit]

According to the World Bank, about 489,200 migrants lived in the country in 2010; mainly from Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize, while 125,306 Costa Ricans live abroad in the United States, Panama, Nicaragua, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and Ecuador.[20] The number of migrants declined in later years but in 2015, there were some 420,000 immigrants in Costa Rica[7] and the number of asylum seekers (mainly from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua) rose to more than 110,000, a fivefold increase from 2012.[8] In 2016, the country was called a "magnet" for migrants from South and Central America and other countries who were hoping to reach the U.S.[21][22]

European Costa Ricans

[edit]
European Costa Ricans
Total population
c. 3,597,000[23][24]
Languages
Costa Rican Spanish, English
Religion
Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%, Buddhism 2%[25]
Related ethnic groups
White Latin Americans, White Caribbeans

European Costa Ricans are people from Costa Rica whose ancestry lies within the continent of Europe, most notably Spain. According to DNA studies, around 75%[26] of the population have some level of European ancestry.[23]

Percentages of the Costa Rican population by race are known as the national census, which includes the question of ethnicity in its form. As of 2012, 65.80% of Costa Ricans identify themselves as white/castizo and 13.65% as mestizo, giving around 80% of the Caucasian population. This, however, is based on self-identification and not on scientific studies. According to the PLoS Genetics Geographic Patterns of Genome Admixture in Latin American Mestizos study of 2012, Costa Ricans have 73% of European ancestry, 25% Amerindian, and 2% African.[27] According to CIA Factbook, Costa Rica has a white or mestizo population of 83.6%.[15]

Cristopher Columbus and his crew were the first Europeans ever to set foot on what is now Costa Rica, having arrived at Uvita Island (modern-day Limón province) in 1502 on Columbus's last trip.[28] Costa Rica was part of the Spanish Empire and colonized by Spaniards mostly Castilians, Basque and Sephardic Jews.

After independence, large migrations of wealthy Americans, Germans, French and British businessmen[28] came to the country encouraged by the government and followed by their families and employees (many of them technicians and professionals), thus creating colonies and mixing with the population, especially the high and middle classes.[29]

Later, smaller migrations of Italians, Spaniards (mostly Catalans) and Arabs (mostly Lebanese and Syrians) took place. These migrants arrived fleeing economic crisis in their home countries, setting in large, more closed colonies.[28] Polish migrants, mostly Ashkenazi Jews who fled anti-Semitism and Nazi persecution in Europe, also arrived in large numbers.[28]

In 1901, the president Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra closed the country to all non-white immigrants. All Black, Chinese, Arab, Turkish or Gypsy migration to the country was banned. After the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, a large influx of Republican refugees settled in the country, mostly Castilians, Galicians, and Asturians,[29] as well as later Chilean, Mexican and Colombian[28] migrants who would arrive escaping from war or dictatorships, as Costa Rica is the longest running democracy in Latin America.[28][29]

Ethnic groups

[edit]

Ethnic groups in Costa Rica[3]

  European (65.8%)
  Mestizo (17.8%)
  Mulatto (6.7%)
  Indigenous (2.4%)
  African (1.1%)
  Asian (0.2%)
  Other/none (6.0%)

The following listing is taken from a publication of the Costa Rica 2011 Census:[3]

  • Mestizos and Whites - 3,597,847 = 83.64%
  • Mulatto - 289,209 = 6.72%
  • Indigenous - 104,143 = 2.42%
  • Black/Afro-Caribbean - 45,228 = 1.05%
  • Chinese - 9 170 = 0.21%
  • Other - 36 334 = 0.84%
  • Did not state - 95,140 = 2.21%

Vital statistics

[edit]
Average population [30][31] Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000) Crude migration rate (per 1000) TFR
1934 558,000 23,858 10,020 13,838 44.2 18.6 25.6
1935 572,000 24,934 12,630 12,304 45.2 22.9 22.3 2.8
1936 585,000 25,450 11,811 13,639 45.2 21.0 24.2 -1.5
1937 599,000 25,624 11,032 14,592 44.5 19.2 25.3 -1.4
1938 615,000 26,839 10,422 16,417 45.5 17.7 27.8 -1.1
1939 631,000 27,027 11,687 15,340 44.7 19.3 25.4 0.6
1940 648,000 28,004 11,211 16,793 45.3 18.1 27.2 -0.3
1941 664,000 28,823 11,429 17,394 45.5 18.1 27.4 -2.7
1942 680,000 28,263 13,559 14,704 43.7 21.0 22.7 1.4
1943 697,000 30,468 11,734 18,734 46.1 17.7 28.4 -3.4
1944 716,000 29,935 11,295 18,640 44.2 16.7 27.5 -0.2
1945 736,000 32,529 10,768 21,761 46.8 15.5 31.3 -3.4
1946 759,000 32,159 9,971 22,188 45.0 13.9 31.1 0.1
1947 787,000 32,600 10,967 21,633 44.7 14.9 29.8 7.1
1948 808,000 35,956 10,666 25,290 44.5 13.2 31.3 -4.6
1949 832,000 36,774 10,566 26,208 44.2 12.7 31.5 -1,8
1950 966,000 39,943 10,480 29,463 41.3 10.8 30.5 130.6
1951 994,000 43,068 10,390 32,678 43.3 10.5 32.9 -3.9
1952 1,025,000 45,816 10,672 35,144 44.7 10.4 34.3 -3.1
1953 1,058,000 45,697 11,353 34,344 43.2 10.7 32.5 -0.3
1954 1,093,000 48,857 10,681 38,176 44.7 9.8 34.9 -1.8
1955 1,129,000 49,800 11,000 39,269 44.1 9.7 34.8 -1.9
1956 1,167,000 51,350 10,476 40,874 44.0 9.0 35.1 -1.4
1957 1,206,000 52,860 11,544 41,316 43.9 9.6 34.3 -0.9
1958 1,246,000 53,919 10,608 43,311 43.3 8.5 34.8 --1.6
1959 1,289,000 57,801 11,160 46,641 44.8 8.7 36.2 -1.7
1960 1,334,000 59,701 11,035 48,666 44.8 8.3 36.5 -1.6
1961 1,382,000 60,641 10,644 49,997 43.9 7.7 36.2 -0.2
1962 1,431,000 60,750 11,953 48,797 42.5 8.4 34.1 1.4
1963 1,482,000 62,821 12,519 50,302 42.4 8.5 34.0 1.6
1964 1,533,000 61,870 13,527 48,343 40.4 8.8 31.6 2.8
1965 1,583,000 62,400 12,814 49,586 39.4 8.1 31.3 1.3
1966 1,633,000 62,330 11,403 50,927 38.2 7.0 31.2 0.4
1967 1,681,000 61,229 11,289 49,940 36.4 6.7 29.7 -0.3
1968 1,729,000 60,902 10,653 50,249 35.2 6.2 29.1 -0.5
1969 1,776,000 59,636 11,599 48,037 33.6 6.5 27.1 0.1
1970 1,822,000 59,557 11,504 48,053 32.7 6.3 26.4 -0.5
1971 1,867,000 58,138 10,575 47,563 31.2 5.7 25.5 -0.8
1972 1,911,000 59,274 10,855 48,419 31.0 5.7 25.4 -1.8
1973 1,956,000 58,177 9,702 48,475 29.8 5.0 24.8 -1.3
1974 2,002,000 57,749 9,512 48,237 28.9 4.8 24.1 -0.6
1975 2,052,000 59,175 9,615 49,560 28.9 4.7 24.2 0.8
1976 2,105,000 60,668 9,356 51,312 28.8 4.4 24.4 1.4
1977 2,162,000 64,190 8,907 55,283 29.7 4.1 25.6 1.5
1978 2,222,000 67,722 8,625 59,097 30.5 3.9 26.6 1.2
1979 2,284,000 69,318 9,143 60,175 30.4 4.0 26.4 1.5
1980 2,348,000 70,048 9,268 61,780 29.8 3.9 26.3 1.7 3.63
1981 2,415,000 72,294 8,990 63,304 30.0 3.7 26.2 2.3 3.62
1982 2,483,000 73,168 9,168 64,000 29.5 3.7 25.8 2.4 3.54
1983 2,554,000 72,944 9,432 63,536 28.6 3.7 24.9 3.7 3.41
1984 2,626,000 76,878 9,931 66,217 29.0 3.8 25.2 3.0 3.44
1985 2,699,000 84,337 10,493 73,841 31.3 3.9 27.4 0.4 3.72
1986 2,773,000 83,194 10,449 72,745 30.0 3.8 26.3 1.1 3.58
1987 2,848,000 80,326 10,687 69,639 28.2 3.8 24.5 2.5 3.36
1988 2,924,000 81,376 10,944 70,432 27.8 3.7 24.1 2.6 3.33
1989 3,001,000 83,460 11,272 72,188 27.8 3.8 24.1 2,2 3.35
1990 3,079,000 81,939 11,366 70,573 26.6 3.7 22.9 3.1 3.20
1991 3,156,000 81,110 11,792 69,318 25.7 3.7 22.0 3.0 3.04
1992 3,234,000 80,164 12,253 67,911 24.8 3.8 21.0 3.7 3.02
1993 3,312,000 79,714 12,544 67,170 24.1 3.8 20.3 3.8 3.02
1994 3,394,000 80,391 13,313 67,078 23.7 3.9 19.8 5.0 2.85
1995 3,478,000 80,306 14,061 66,245 23.1 4.0 19.0 5.7 2.78
1996 3,567,000 79,203 13,993 65,210 22.2 3.9 18.3 7.3 2.69
1997 3,658,000 78,018 14,260 63,758 21.3 3.9 17.4 8.1 2.68
1998 3,751,000 76,982 14,708 62,274 20.5 3.9 16.6 8.8 2.60
1999 3,842,000 78,526 15,052 63,474 20.4 3.9 16.5 7.8 2.60
2000 3,930,000 78,178 14,944 63,234 19.9 3.8 16.1 6.8 2.41
2001 4,013,000 76,401 15,608 60,793 19.0 3.9 15.1 6.0 2.28
2002 4,094,000 71,144 15,004 56,140 17.4 3.7 13.7 6.5 2.08
2003 4,171,000 72,938 15,800 57,138 17.5 3.8 13.7 5.1 2.08
2004 4,246,000 72,247 15,949 56,298 17.0 3.8 13.3 4.7 2.00
2005 4,320,000 71,548 16,139 55,409 16.6 3.7 12.8 4.6 2.00
2006 4,392,000 71,291 16,766 54,525 16.2 3.8 12.4 4.3 1.90
2007 4,463,000 73,144 17,071 56,073 16.4 3.8 12.6 3.6 1.98
2008 4,533,000 75,187 18,021 57,166 16.6 4.0 12.6 3.1 1.97
2009 4,601,000 75,000 18,560 56,440 16.2 4.0 12.2 2.8 1.95
2010 4,670,000 70,922 19,077 51,845 15.5 4.2 11.4 3.6 1.81
2011 4,738,000 73,459 18,801 54,658 15.9 4.1 11.8 2.8 1.86
2012 4,652,000 73,326 19,200 54,126 15.7 4.1 11.6 -29.8 1.84
2013 4,713,000 70,550 19,647 50,903 15.0 4.2 10.8 2.3 1.76
2014 4,773,000 71,793 20,553 51,240 15.0 4.3 10.7 2.0 1.77
2015 4,832,000 71,819 21,039 50,780 14.9 4.3 10.6 1.8 1.76
2016 4,890,000 70,004 22,603 47,401 14.3 4.6 9.7 2.3 1.71
2017 4,947,000 68,816 23,251 45,565 13.9 4.7 9.2 2.5 1.67
2018 5,003,000 68,449 23,806 44,643 13.7 4.8 8.9 2.4 1.66
2019 5,058,000 64,287 24,237 40,050 12.7 4.8 7.9 3.1 1.56
2020 5,111,200 57,848 26,209 31,639 11.4 5.1 6.3 4.2 1.41
2021 5,173,400 54,289 31,081 23,208 10.7 6.1 4.6 7.7 1.32
2022(c) 5,044,197 53,435 28,931 24,504 10.2 5.6 4.6 1.29
2023 5,136,000 50,205 29,189 21,016 9.7 5.6 4.1 1.19

(c) = Census results.

Current vital statistics

[edit]

[32]

Period Live births Deaths Natural increase
January - September 2023 37,310
January - September 2024 33,866
Difference Decrease -3,444 (-9.23%)

Structure of the population

[edit]
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2017) (Based on the national household survey of 2017.):[33]
Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 2 405 636 2 541 064 4 946 700 100
0–4 153 647 153 302 306 949 6.20
5–9 180 403 179 809 360 212 7.28
10–14 200 123 174 821 374 944 7.57
15–19 216 776 211 077 427 853 8.64
20–24 215 301 205 588 420 889 8.50
25–29 188 815 198 789 387 604 7.83
30–34 176 356 198 185 373 541 7.55
35–39 161 288 174 851 336 139 7.40
40–44 145 430 164 672 310 102 6.26
45–49 136 591 163 412 300 003 6.06
50–54 146 253 168 407 314 660 6.36
55–59 133 924 144 718 278 642 5.63
60–64 108 422 126 063 234 485 4.74
65–69 83 152 92 321 175 473 3.54
70–74 55 495 75 098 130 593 2.64
75–79 50 799 45 514 96 313 1.94
80–84 28 176 31 126 59 302 1.20
85–89 16 164 20 771 36 935 0.74
90–94 6 159 10 188 16 347 0.33
95+ 2 362 3 352 5 714 0.11
Age group Male Female Total Percent
0–14 522 072 498 520 1 020 592 21.63
15–64 1 580 192 1 676 121 3 256 313 69.02
65+ 187 174 248 444 435 618 9.23
unknown 3 000 2 158 5 158 0.10
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2021) (Based on the annual national household survey and the 2011 population census.): [34]
Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 2 482 471 2 680 942 5 163 413 100
0–4 124 613 133 474 258 087 5.00
5–9 165 238 165 966 331 204 6.41
10–14 192 664 184 342 377 006 7.30
15–19 205 825 193 150 398 975 7.73
20–24 213 937 206 672 420 609 8.15
25–29 187 872 181 842 369 714 7.16
30–34 180 627 186 317 366 944 7.11
35–39 171 681 199 074 370 755 7.18
40–44 170 025 192 808 362 833 7.03
45–49 146 946 167 271 314 217 6.09
50–54 150 529 178 318 328 847 6.37
55–59 147 298 173 022 320 320 6.20
60–64 132 034 148 439 280 473 5.43
65–69 105 615 133 821 239 436 4.64
70–74 75 845 90 945 166 790 3.23
75–79 51 931 63 090 115 021 2.23
80–84 32 001 43 126 75 127 1.45
85–89 18 172 25 283 43 455 0.84
90–94 7 628 9 021 16 649 0.32
95+ 1 990 4 961 6 951 0.13
Age group Male Female Total Percent
0–14 482 515 483 782 966 297 18.71
15–64 1 706 774 1 826 913 3 533 687 68.44
65+ 293 182 370 247 663 429 12.85

Life expectancy at birth

[edit]
Period Life expectancy in
Years 		Period Life expectancy in
Years
1950–1955 56.0 1985–1990 75.1
1955–1960 58.8 1990–1995 76.1
1960–1965 62.4 1995–2000 77.0
1965–1970 65.2 2000–2005 77.8
1970–1975 67.7 2005–2010 78.4
1975–1980 70.5 2010–2015 79.2
1980–1985 73.4

Source: UN World Population Prospects[35]

Demographic statistics

[edit]

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2022.[36]

  • One birth every 8 minutes
  • One death every 19 minutes
  • One net migrant every 131 minutes
  • Net gain of one person every 12 minutes

Demographic statistics according to the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.[37]

Population

[edit]
5,204,411 (2022 est.)
4,987,142 (July 2018 est.)
4,872,543 (July 2016 est.)

Ethnic groups

[edit]

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.)

Age structure

[edit]
Population pyramid of Costa Rica in 2020
0-14 years: 22.08% (male 575,731/female 549,802)
15-24 years: 15.19% (male 395,202/female 379,277)
25-54 years: 43.98% (male 1,130,387/female 1,111,791)
55-64 years: 9.99% (male 247,267/female 261,847)
65 years and over: 8.76% (2020 est.) (male 205,463/female 241,221)
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.)

Median age

[edit]
total: 32.6 years. Country comparison to the world: 109th
male: 32.1 years
female: 33.1 years (2020 est.)
Total: 31.7 years. Country comparison to the world: 109th
Male: 31.2 years
Female: 32.2 years (2018 est.)
Total: 30.9 years
Male: 30.4 years
Female: 31.3 years (2016 est.)

Birth rate

[edit]
14.28 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 121st
15.3 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 121st

Death rate

[edit]
4.91 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 198th
4.8 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 200th

Total fertility rate

[edit]
1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 134th
1.89 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 135th

Net migration rate

[edit]
0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 69th
0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 65th

Population growth rate

[edit]
1.01% (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 95th
1.13% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 95th

Contraceptive prevalence rate

[edit]
70.9% (2018)

Religions

[edit]

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.)

Dependency ratios

[edit]
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.)

Urbanization

[edit]
See also: Costa Rica § Largest cities
urban population: 82% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Infant mortality rate

[edit]
  • Total: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 9 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

[edit]
total population: 79.64 years. Country comparison to the world: 58th
male: 76.99 years
female: 82.43 years (2022 est.)
Total population: 78.9 years. Country comparison to the world: 55th
Male: 76.2 years
Female: 81.7 years (2018 est.)
Total population: 78.6 years
Male: 75.9 years
Female: 81.3 years (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS

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Adult prevalence rate: 0.33%
People living with HIV/AIDS: 10,000
Deaths:200 (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

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6.7% of GDP (2020) Country comparison to the world: 24th

Literacy

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total population: 97.9%
male: 97.8%
female: 97.9% (2018)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2019)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

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total: 40.7%
male: 34%
female: 50.9% (2020 est.)

Nationality

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  • Noun: Costa Rican(s)
  • Adjective: Costa Rican

Languages

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Sex ratio

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  • At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  • 0–14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  • 15–24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  • 25–54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  • 55–64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Major infectious diseases

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degree of risk: intermediate (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever

Languages

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The Basilica Los Angeles, Cartago, Costa Rica.
Main article: Languages of Costa Rica

Nearly all Costa Ricans speak Spanish, but many know English. Indigenous Costa Ricans also speak their own language, such as the case of the Ngobes.

Religions

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Main article: Religion in Costa Rica

Religion in Costa Rica (2008)[38][39]

  Catholicism (70.5%)
  Protestantism (13.8%)
  Irreligion (11.3%)
  Buddhism (2.1%)
  Other religions (2.2%)

According to the World Factbook, the main faiths are Roman Catholic (76.3%), Evangelical (13.7%), Jehovah's Witnesses (1.3%), other Protestant (0.7%), other (4.8%), and none (3.2%).

The most recent nationwide survey of religion in Costa Rica, conducted in 2007 by the University of Costa Rica, found that 70.5 percent of the population identify themselves as Roman Catholics (with 44.9 percent practicing, 25.6 percent nonpracticing), 13.8 percent are Evangelical Protestants, 11.3 percent report that they do not have a religion, and 4.3 percent declare that they belong to another religion.[40]

Apart from the dominant Catholic religion, several other religious groups exist in the country.[40] Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal, Baptist, and other Protestant groups have significant membership.[40] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) claims more than 35,000 members and has a temple in San José that served as a regional worship center for Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, and Honduras.[41]

Although they represent less than 1 percent of the population, Jehovah's Witnesses have a strong presence on the Caribbean coast.[40] Seventh-day Adventists operate a university that attracts students from throughout the Caribbean Basin.[40] The Unification Church maintains its continental headquarters for Latin America in San José.[40]

Non-Christian religious groups, including followers of Judaism, Islam, Taoism, Hare Krishna, Paganism, Wicca, Scientology, Tenrikyo, and the Baháʼí Faith, claim membership throughout the country, with the majority of worshipers residing in the Central Valley (the area of the capital).[40] While there is no general correlation between religion and ethnicity, indigenous peoples are more likely to practice animism than other religions.[40]

Article 75 of the Costa Rican Constitution states that the "Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Religion is the official religion of the Republic."[42] That same article provides for freedom of religion. The government respects this right.[40] The US government found no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice in 2007.[40]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  2. ^ "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Costa Rica: Población total por autoidentificación étnica-racial, según provincia y sexo. (Spanish)". Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (Costa Rica). Retrieved 2016-11-19.
  4. ^ a b "Costa Rica es multirracial, último censo lo pone en evidencia".
  5. ^ "23 Downsides to Living in Portugal". Portugalist. 2019-01-06. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
  6. ^ "Principal". Inec.go.cr. 27 March 2012. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  7. ^ a b "International Migrants by Country". Pewglobal.org. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  8. ^ a b Holpuch, Amanda (26 July 2016). "US partners with Costa Rica to protect Central American refugees". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  9. ^ Cherry, Andrew; Mary Dillon (2014). International Handbook of Adolescent Pregnancy: Medical, Psychosocial, and Public Health Responses. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 258. ISBN 978-1-4899-8026-7. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  10. ^ Costa Rica - Emigrantes totales (in Spanish) Según los últimos datos publicados Costa Rica tiene 133.185 emigrantes, lo que supone un 2,77% de la población de Costa Rica. Si miramos el ranking de emigrantes vemos que tiene un porcentaje de emigrantes medio, ya que está en el puesto 44º de los 195 del ranking de emigrantes.
  11. ^ "World Population Prospects: The 2006 Revision, Highlights, Working Paper No. ESA/P/WP.202" (PDF). United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. New York. 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  12. ^ "Field listing: Urbanization: Costa Rica". The World Factbook. Archived from the original on June 13, 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  13. ^ "Costa Rica Population Statistics". Costaricalaw.com. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Live Costa Rica Population Clock 2017 - Population of Costa Rica Today". Livepopulation.com. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  15. ^ a b c Central Intelligence Agency (2011). "Costa Rica". The World Factbook. Langley, Virginia: Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
  16. ^ "Human development indices" (PDF). Hdr.undp.org. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2008.
  17. ^ "Human Development Report 2009: Costa Rica". Hdrstats.undp.org. Archived from the original on 11 October 2009.
  18. ^ "Costa Rica". MSN Encarta. Archived from the original on 6 October 2009.
  19. ^ "Censo 2011". Archived from the original on November 20, 2015.
  20. ^ "Costa Rica country profile (from the Migration and Remittances Factbook 2011)" (PDF). World Bank. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  21. ^ "Costa Rica Becomes A Magnet For Migrants". Npr.org. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  22. ^ "Nicaragua, Trump, Deportations and the Affect [sic] on Family Remittances - Havana Times.org". Havanatimes.org. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  23. ^ a b "Ticos tenemos más de africanos y chinos de lo que se pensaba" [Costa Rica has more Africans and Chinese than was thought]. Nacion.com. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  24. ^ "Costa Rica es multirracial, último censo lo pone en evidencia | Crhoy.com". CRHoy.com | Periodico Digital | Costa Rica Noticias 24/7 (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  25. ^ "Costa Rica". The World Factbook. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  26. ^ "Genomic components in American demographic". Genetics. 1 (3): 25. 2015.
  27. ^ Wang, S; Ray, N; Rojas, W; et al. (March 2008). "Geographic Patterns of Genome Admixture in Latin American Mestizos Tabla". PLOS Genetics. 4 (3): e1000037. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1000037. PMC 2265669. PMID 18369456.
  28. ^ a b c d e f "Costa Rica". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  29. ^ a b c "OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION (Costa Rica)". SICREM. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  30. ^ "United Nations Demographic Yearbooks". Unstats.un.org. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  31. ^ "Principal". Inec.go.cr. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  32. ^ "Estadísticas vitales". Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos - INEC. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  33. ^ "United Nations Statistics Division - Demographic and Social Statistics" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  34. ^ "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics". unstats.un.org. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  35. ^ "World Population Prospects – Population Division – United Nations". Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  36. ^ "Costa Rica Population 2022", World Population Review
  37. ^ "World Factbook AMERICAS : COSTA RICA", The World Factbook, 2022
  38. ^ International Religious Freedom Report 2008: Costa Rica. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (September 14, 2007)
  39. ^ Johnson, Terrence (5 August 2012). "Buddhism in Costa Rica". Buddhistchannel.tv. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  40. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Costa Rica: International Religious Freedom Report 2008". United States Department of State. 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  41. ^ "Facts and Statistics", Church News, 2020. Retrieved on 30 March 2020.
  42. ^ "Title VI: Religion: Article 75 (As amended with regard to its number by Article 1, Law No. 5703)". CostaRicaLaw.com. 6 June 1975. Archived from the original on 21 April 2001.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook (2024 ed.). CIA. (Archived 2006 edition.)

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