Who Leads Costa Rica?

Leadership

Rodrigo Chaves Robles

President of Costa Rica

Political Party

Social Democratic Progress

Inaugurated

May 8, 2022

Term Ends

May 2026

Next Election

Feb 2026

Born

Aug 10, 1961 in San Jose, Costa Rica

Country Population

5.2M

Continent

North America

Rodrigo Chaves Robles became president in May 2022. A former World Bank economist with over two decades of international experience, he entered politics just two years before winning the presidency. He ran on an anti-establishment platform and has focused on fighting corruption, digitizing government services, and attracting foreign investment.

Government

Capital

San Jose

Official Language(s)

Spanish

Currency

Colon (CRC)

Government Type

Presidential Republic

Area

51,100 km²

Costa Rica is a Central American country known for abolishing its army in 1948, its commitment to environmental conservation, and the highest happiness rankings in Latin America. Over 25% of the country is protected national parks and reserves. It generates nearly all its electricity from renewable sources. The 'Pura Vida' lifestyle attracts millions of tourists and expatriates.

Costa Rica is a presidential republic. President Rodrigo Chaves Robles of the Progreso Social Democrático party was inaugurated on May 8, 2022, winning a second-round runoff with 52.8% of the vote. He has no military background, no political family dynasty, and entered politics directly from a World Bank economics career. His presidency ends in May 2026 (Costa Rica has one 4-year term with no re-election). The next election is scheduled for February 2026. The Legislative Assembly has 57 seats. Costa Rica abolished its military in December 1948, becoming one of the world's few constitutionally demilitarized states.

Economic Snapshot

GDP

$68.4B

GDP Per Capita

$13,000

Income Group

Upper-middle income

Trade Balance

Variable

Inflation

0.54% (BCCR, 2023; extremely low)

Costa Rica's economic transformation from a banana and coffee exporter to a medical device and eco-tourism economy is one of Latin America's most impressive development stories. The inflection point was Intel's decision to build a semiconductor plant near San José in 1997, which catalyzed foreign direct investment in tech manufacturing. Intel later closed its chip fabrication (2014) but medical device companies filled the gap: Boston Scientific (largest global plant), Abbott, Edwards Lifesciences, and others have made Costa Rica a world leader in medical device exports. The 1948 abolition of the army (under President Figueres Ferrer, who burned the keys to the army barracks) freed defense spending for education and healthcare. Costa Rica consistently ranks among Latin America's most educated and healthiest populations. Life expectancy is comparable to the United States despite lower GDP. Eco-tourism has been Costa Rica's brand since the 1980s. The Payments for Ecosystem Services program (paying landowners to protect forests) helped reverse deforestation: forest cover went from 21% in 1987 to approximately 54% by 2019. This policy innovation has been replicated globally and was a major factor in Costa Rica winning the UN's Champions of the Earth Award.

Major Industries

• Medical Devices (world's largest per capita; Intel, Boston Scientific, Abbott)
• Tourism (eco-tourism: Arenal; Manuel Antonio; Monteverde; Corcovado)
• Agriculture (pineapples: world's largest exporter; bananas; coffee: 'Café de Costa Rica')
• Technology & Software (growing tech sector; San José hub)
• Pharmaceuticals
• Financial Services

Costa Rica is known for: Costa Rica is the world's largest pineapple exporter and one of the world's top coffee origins. Costa Rica generates approximately 99%+ of its electricity from renewables (primarily hydropower with significant wind and geothermal). Costa Rica's biodiversity is extraordinary: it contains approximately 5% of the world's species in 0.03% of Earth's landmass, including resplendent quetzals, jaguars, sea turtles, and over 900 bird species. Costa Rica has run on 99-100% renewable electricity for multiple consecutive years.

Trade Profile

Costa Rica's trade balance in goods is typically a deficit (large petroleum and machinery imports), offset by services surpluses (tourism revenues; business process outsourcing) and medical device exports. The medical device and pharmaceutical export sector has transformed Costa Rica from a banana republic into a mid-tech economy.

Top Exports

• Medical devices
• Pineapples
• Bananas
• Coffee
• Pharmaceuticals
• Integrated circuits

Top Imports

• Petroleum
• Machinery
• Consumer goods
• Vehicles
• Chemicals
• Electronics

Export Destinations

• United States
• Netherlands
• Belgium
• Mexico

Import Partners

• United States
• China
• Mexico
• Guatemala

The world depends on Costa Rica for: Medical devices (top global exporter per capita), pineapples (world's largest exporter), specialty coffee, and eco-tourism services

Costa Rica depends on the world for: Petroleum, machinery, consumer goods, vehicles, and electronics

Global Role

Costa Rica's global significance is defined by its model of demilitarization and development (no army since 1948; high human development), eco-tourism leadership, 99%+ renewable electricity, extraordinary biodiversity, and as a pioneer of environmental diplomacy (forests, carbon credits).

• Costa Rica abolished its military on December 1, 1948 (75+ years ago) under President José Figueres Ferrer; it is one of the world's few countries with a constitutional prohibition on a standing army
• Costa Rica generates approximately 99-100% of its electricity from renewables (hydropower, wind, geothermal); it ran on 100% renewable electricity for over 300 consecutive days
• Costa Rica contains approximately 5% of the world's species in only 0.03% of Earth's surface area; one of the world's top 5 most biodiverse countries per square kilometer
• Costa Rica is the world's largest pineapple exporter and a top producer of specialty coffee ('Café de Costa Rica'; Tarrazú highland coffee is internationally prized)
• Costa Rica has been a pioneer in environmental diplomacy: the Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) program reversed deforestation (forest cover went from 21% in 1987 to 54% by 2019)
• Costa Rica had the 6th highest Human Development Index in Latin America as of 2023; life expectancy is approximately 80 years
• Boston Scientific's largest manufacturing plant globally is in Costa Rica

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the current President of Costa Rica?

Rodrigo Chaves Robles has been President since May 8, 2022. A former World Bank economist who entered politics just two years before winning the presidency, he ran on an anti-corruption platform and won with 52.8% in a second-round runoff. Costa Rica has a single 4-year term with no re-election, so Chaves's term ends in May 2026.

Why does Costa Rica have no army?

Costa Rica abolished its military on December 1, 1948, following a brief civil war. President José Figueres Ferrer (elected after the war) famously burned the keys to the army barracks and declared the military abolished. The 1949 constitution codified this, stating that 'the Army as a permanent institution is proscribed.' The savings from military spending were redirected to education and healthcare, contributing to Costa Rica's high development indicators. December 1 is celebrated as a national holiday ('Day of Abolition of the Army').

What makes Costa Rica a biodiversity leader?

Costa Rica contains approximately 5% of the world's known species in only 0.03% of Earth's surface area, including over 900 bird species, 200 mammal species, 220 reptile species, and over 9,000 plant species. This is due to its location at the land bridge between North and South America, its varied elevation (sea level to 3,821 m at Chirripó), Pacific and Caribbean coasts, and its commitment to conservation: over 25% of territory is protected as national parks, reserves, or wildlife refuges.

Related Countries

• Panama: Southern neighbor; both Central American democracies; Darién Gap separates Central from South America
• Nicaragua: Northern neighbor; Costa Rica has taken a contrasting democratic path vs. Ortega's Nicaragua
• United States: Largest trade partner; CAFTA-DR; major medical device sector anchor (Boston Scientific, Abbott)
• Colombia: Shared biodiversity region; OECD partnership; Pacific coast connection
• Germany: OECD partner; European green policy alignment; German tourists are major eco-tourism market
• Chile: Fellow OECD member from Latin America; both showcase Latin American development models