Costa Rica vs. Nicaragua
Introduction
| Costa Rica | Nicaragua | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. On 1 December 1948, Costa Rica dissolved its armed forces. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread. | The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought a civic-military coalition, spearheaded by the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas led by Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador prompted the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. After losing free and fair elections in 1990, 1996, and 2001, former Sandinista President Daniel ORTEGA was elected president in 2006, 2011, and most recently in 2016. Municipal, regional, and national-level elections since 2008 have been marred by widespread irregularities. Democratic institutions have weakened under the ORTEGA administration as the president has garnered full control over all branches of government, especially after cracking down on a nationwide antigovernment protest movement in 2018. |
Geography
| Costa Rica | Nicaragua | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama | Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras |
| Geographic coordinates | 10 00 N, 84 00 W | 13 00 N, 85 00 W |
| Map references | Central America and the Caribbean | 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 | total: 130,370 sq km land: 119,990 sq km water: 10,380 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly smaller than West Virginia | slightly larger than Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than New York state |
| Land boundaries | total: 661 km border countries (2): Nicaragua 313 km, Panama 348 km | total: 1,253 km border countries (2): Costa Rica 313 km, Honduras 940 km |
| Coastline | 1,290 km | 910 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: natural prolongation |
| Climate | tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands | tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands |
| Terrain | coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major active volcanoes | extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,819 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 746 m | highest point: Mogoton 2,085 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 298 m |
| Natural resources | hydropower | gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish |
| Land use | agricultural land: 37.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 25.5% (2018 est.) forest: 51.5% (2018 est.) other: 11.4% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 42.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 12.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 27.2% (2018 est.) forest: 25.3% (2018 est.) other: 32.5% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 1,015 sq km (2012) | 1,990 sq km (2012) |
| 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 | destructive earthquakes; volcanoes; landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Cerro Negro (728 m), which last erupted in 1999, is one of Nicaragua's most active volcanoes; its lava flows and ash have been known to cause significant damage to farmland and buildings; other historically active volcanoes include Concepcion, Cosiguina, Las Pilas, Masaya, Momotombo, San Cristobal, and Telica |
| 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 | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; drought |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| 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 | largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua |
| Total renewable water resources | 113 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 164.52 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| 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 | the overwhelming majority of the population resides in the western half of the country, with much of the urban growth centered in the capital city of Managua; coastal areas also show large population clusters |
Demographics
| Costa Rica | Nicaragua | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,151,140 (July 2021 est.) | 6,243,931 (July 2021 est.) |
| Age structure | 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% (male 205,463/female 241,221) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 25.63% (male 811,731/female 777,984) 15-24 years: 19.51% (male 609,962/female 600,567) 25-54 years: 42.41% (male 1,254,683/female 1,376,052) 55-64 years: 6.63% (male 188,591/female 222,766) 65 years and over: 5.82% (male 159,140/female 201,965) (2020 est.) |
| Median age | total: 32.6 years male: 32.1 years female: 33.1 years (2020 est.) | total: 27.3 years male: 26.4 years female: 28.2 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 1.04% (2021 est.) | 0.93% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 14.53 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 16.71 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 4.86 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 5.16 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | 0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | -2.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | 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: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 8.59 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.66 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 19.57 deaths/1,000 live births male: 22.83 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 79.41 years male: 76.75 years female: 82.22 years (2021 est.) | total population: 74.51 years male: 72.28 years female: 76.86 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 1.87 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 1.81 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 0.4% (2020 est.) | 0.2% (2020 est.) |
| Nationality | noun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican | noun: Nicaraguan(s) adjective: Nicaraguan |
| Ethnic groups | 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.) | Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and White) 69%, White 17%, Black 9%, Amerindian 5% |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 16,000 (2020 est.) | 12,000 (2020 est.) |
| 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.) | Roman Catholic 50%, Evangelical 33.2%, other 2.9%, none 0.7%, unspecified 13.2% (2017 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | <500 (2020 est.) | <500 (2020 est.) |
| Languages | Spanish (official), English major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. | Spanish (official) 95.3%, Miskito 2.2%, Mestizo of the Caribbean coast 2%, other 0.5%; note - English and indigenous languages found on the Caribbean coast (2005 est.) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. |
| Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.9% male: 97.8% female: 97.9% (2018) | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.6% male: 82.4% female: 82.8% (2015) |
| Major infectious diseases | degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: dengue fever | degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria |
| Education expenditures | 7% of GDP (2019) | 4.4% of GDP (2017) |
| Urbanization | urban population: 81.4% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 59.3% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 97.6% of population rural: 62.6% of population total: 83.1% of population unimproved: urban: 2.4% of population rural: 37.4% of population total: 16.9% of population (2017 est.) |
| Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 98.4% of population rural: 95.8% of population total: 97.8% of population unimproved: urban: 1.6% of population rural: 4.2% of population total: 2.2% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 89.8% of population rural: 66.5% of population total: 80.1% of population unimproved: urban: 10.2% of population rural: 33.5% of population total: 19.9% of population (2017 est.) |
| Major cities - population | 1.421 million SAN JOSE (capital) (2021) | 1.073 million MANAGUA (capital) (2021) |
| Maternal mortality rate | 27 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 198 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
| Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 2.9% (2018) | 4.6% (2011/12) |
| Health expenditures | 7.6% (2018) | 8.6% (2018) |
| Physicians density | 2.89 physicians/1,000 population (2018) | 0.98 physicians/1,000 population (2018) |
| Hospital bed density | 1.1 beds/1,000 population (2017) | 0.9 beds/1,000 population (2017) |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 25.7% (2016) | 23.7% (2016) |
| 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. | Despite being one of the poorest countries in Latin America, Nicaragua has improved its access to potable water and sanitation and has ameliorated its life expectancy, infant and child mortality, and immunization rates. However, income distribution is very uneven, and the poor, agriculturalists, and indigenous people continue to have less access to healthcare services. Nicaragua's total fertility rate has fallen from around 6 children per woman in 1980 to below replacement level today, but the high birth rate among adolescents perpetuates a cycle of poverty and low educational attainment. Nicaraguans emigrate primarily to Costa Rica and to a lesser extent the United States. Nicaraguan men have been migrating seasonally to Costa Rica to harvest bananas and coffee since the early 20th century. Political turmoil, civil war, and natural disasters from the 1970s through the 1990s dramatically increased the flow of refugees and permanent migrants seeking jobs, higher wages, and better social and healthcare benefits. Since 2000, Nicaraguan emigration to Costa Rica has slowed and stabilized. Today roughly 300,000 Nicaraguans are permanent residents of Costa Rica - about 75% of the foreign population - and thousands more migrate seasonally for work, many illegally. |
| Contraceptive prevalence rate | 70.9% (2018) | 80.4% (2011/12) |
| Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 45.1 youth dependency ratio: 30.2 elderly dependency ratio: 14.9 potential support ratio: 6.7 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 54.3 youth dependency ratio: 45.5 elderly dependency ratio: 8.8 potential support ratio: 11.4 (2020 est.) |
Government
| Costa Rica | Nicaragua | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua conventional short form: Nicaragua local long form: Republica de Nicaragua local short form: Nicaragua etymology: Nicarao was the name of the largest indigenous settlement at the time of Spanish arrival; conquistador Gil GONZALEZ Davila, who explored the area (1622-23), combined the name of the community with the Spanish word "agua" (water), referring to the two large lakes in the west of the country (Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua) |
| Government type | presidential republic | presidential republic |
| Capital | name: San Jose geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named in honor of Saint Joseph | name: Managua geographic coordinates: 12 08 N, 86 15 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: may derive from the indigenous Nahuatl term "mana-ahuac," which translates as "adjacent to the water" or a site "surrounded by water"; the city is situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Managua |
| Administrative divisions | 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose | 15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonoma); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Costa Caribe Norte*, Costa Caribe Sur*, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas |
| Independence | 15 September 1821 (from Spain) | 15 September 1821 (from Spain) |
| National holiday | Independence Day, 15 September (1821) | Independence Day, 15 September (1821) |
| Constitution | history: many previous; latest effective 8 November 1949 amendments: proposals require the signatures of at least 10 Legislative Assembly members or petition of at least 5% of qualified voters; consideration of proposals requires two-thirds majority approval in each of three 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 2020 | history: several previous; latest adopted 19 November 1986, effective 9 January 1987 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or assent of at least half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires approval by 60% of the membership of the next elected Assembly and promulgation by the president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2021 |
| Legal system | civil law system based on Spanish civil code; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court | civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | 16 years of age; universal |
| 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 on 6 February 2022) election results: 2018: 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% 2014: Luis Guillermo SOLIS Rivera elected president; percent of vote - Luis Guillermo SOLIS Rivera (PAC) 77.8%; Johnny ARAYA (PLN) 22.2% | chief of state: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Rosario MURILLO Zambrana (since 10 January 2017); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Rosario MURILLO Zambrana (since 10 January 2017) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified plurality vote for a 5-year term (no term limits as of 2014); election last held on 6 November 2016 (next to be held on 7 November 2021) election results: 2016: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president; percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 72.4%, Maximino RODRIGUEZ (PLC) 15%, Jose del Carmen ALVARADO (PLI) 4.5%, Saturnino CERRATO Hodgson (ALN) 4.3%, other 3.7% 2011: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president; percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 62.5%, Fabio GADEA Mantilla (PLI) 31%, Arnoldo ALEMAN (PLC) 5.9%, other 0.6% |
| 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 party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 4 February 2018 (next to be held on 6 February 2022) election results: percent of vote by party - PLN 19.5%, PRN 18.2%, PAC 16.3%, PUSC 14.6%, PIN 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, PIN 4, PRS 2, PFA 1; composition - men 31, women 26, percent of women 45.6% | description: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats; 70 members in multi-seat constituencies, representing the country's 15 departments and 2 autonomous regions, and 20 members in a single nationwide constituency directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote; 2 seats reserved for the previous president and the runner-up candidate in the previous presidential election; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 6 November 2016 (next to be held on 7 November 2021) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FSLN 71, PLC 14, ALN 2, PLI 2, APRE 1, PC 1, YATAMA 1; composition - men 50, women 42, percent of women 45.7% |
| 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 | highest courts: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 16 judges organized into administrative, civil, criminal, and constitutional chambers) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges elected by the National Assembly to serve 5-year staggered terms subordinate courts: Appeals Court; first instance civil, criminal, and labor courts; military courts are independent of the Supreme Court |
| 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 [Marta Eugenia SOLANO Arias] Costa Rican Renewal Party or PRC [Justo OROZCO Alvarez] 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] | Alliance for the Republic or APRE [Carlos CANALES] Conservative Party or PC [Alfredo CESAR] Independent Liberal Party or PLI [Jose del Carmen ALVARADO] Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC [Maria Haydee OSUNA] Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance or ALN [Alejandro MEJIA Ferreti] Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN [Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra] Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [Suyen BARAHONA] Sons of Mother Earth or YATAMA [Brooklyn RIVERA] |
| 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 | BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, 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) 499-2984 FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795 email address and website: embcr-us@rree.go.cr http://www.costarica-embassy.org/index.php?q=node/21 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington DC honorary consulate(s): San Juan (Puerto Rico), Saint Paul (MN), Tucson (AZ) | chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Obadiah CAMPBELL Hooker (since 28 June 2010) chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570; [1] (202) 939-6573 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Gloria BERBENA (since January 2021) embassy: Calle 98 Via 104, Pavas, San Jose mailing address: 3180 St. George's Place, Washington DC 20521-3180 telephone: [506] 2519-2000 FAX: [506] 2519-2305 email address and website: acssanjose@state.gov https://cr.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin K. SULLIVAN (since 18 December 2018) embassy: Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua mailing address: 3240 Managua Place, Washington DC 20521-3240 telephone: [505] 2252-7100, FAX: [505] 2252-7250 email address and website: ACS.Managua@state.gov https://ni.usembassy.gov/ |
| 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 | three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water note: similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band |
| 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 | name: "Salve a ti, Nicaragua" (Hail to Thee, Nicaragua) lyrics/music: Salomon Ibarra MAYORGA/traditional, arranged by Luis Abraham DELGADILLO note: although only officially adopted in 1971, the music was approved in 1918 and the lyrics in 1939; the tune, originally from Spain, was used as an anthem for Nicaragua from the 1830s until 1876 |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt |
| National symbol(s) | yiguirro (clay-colored robin); national colors: blue, white, red | turquoise-browed motmot (bird); national colors: blue, white |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years | citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no, except in cases where bilateral agreements exist residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years |
Economy
| Costa Rica | Nicaragua | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere, has widespread underemployment and poverty. GDP growth of 4.5% in 2017 was insufficient to make a significant difference. Textiles and agriculture combined account for nearly 50% of Nicaragua's exports. Beef, coffee, and gold are Nicaragua's top three export commodities. The Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement has been in effect since April 2006 and has expanded export opportunities for many Nicaraguan agricultural and manufactured goods. In 2013, the government granted a 50-year concession with the option for an additional 50 years to a newly formed Chinese-run company to finance and build an inter-oceanic canal and related projects, at an estimated cost of $50 billion. The canal construction has not started. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $99.146 billion (2019 est.) $97.122 billion (2018 est.) $94.605 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $35.392 billion (2019 est.) $36.82 billion (2018 est.) $38.334 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | 3.3% (2017 est.) 4.2% (2016 est.) 3.6% (2015 est.) | 4.9% (2017 est.) 4.7% (2016 est.) 4.8% (2015 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $19,642 (2019 est.) $19,427 (2018 est.) $19,112 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $5,407 (2019 est.) $5,695 (2018 est.) $6,004 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 5.5% (2017 est.) industry: 20.6% (2017 est.) services: 73.9% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 15.5% (2017 est.) industry: 24.4% (2017 est.) services: 60% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 21% (2019 est.) | 24.9% (2016 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 36.9% (2014 est.) | lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 47.1% (2014) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2% (2019 est.) 2.2% (2018 est.) 1.6% (2017 est.) | 5.3% (2019 est.) 4.9% (2018 est.) 3.8% (2017 est.) |
| Labor force | 1.843 million (2020 est.) note: official estimate; excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica | 3.046 million (2017 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 14% industry: 22% services: 64% (2006 est.) | agriculture: 31% industry: 18% services: 50% (2011 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 8.1% (2017 est.) 9.5% (2016 est.) | 6.4% (2017 est.) 6.2% (2016 est.) note: underemployment was 46.5% in 2008 |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 48 (2018 est.) 49.2 (2013) | 46.2 (2014 est.) 45.8 (2009) |
| Budget | revenues: 8.357 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 11.92 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 3.871 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 4.15 billion (2017 est.) |
| Industries | medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products | food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, knit and woven apparel, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood, electric wire harness manufacturing, mining |
| Industrial production growth rate | 1.3% (2017 est.) | 3.5% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | sugar cane, pineapples, bananas, milk, oil palm fruit, fruit, oranges, watermelons, cassava, rice | sugar cane, milk, rice, maize, plantains, groundnuts, cassava, beans, coffee, poultry |
| Exports | $10.81 billion (2017 est.) $10.15 billion (2016 est.) | $3.819 billion (2017 est.) $3.772 billion (2016 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | medical instruments, bananas, tropical fruits, orthopedic appliances, food preparations (2019) | clothing and apparel, gold, insulated wiring, coffee, beef (2019) |
| Exports - partners | United States 38%, Netherlands 6%, Belgium 5%, Guatemala 5%, Panama 5% (2019) | United States 60%, El Salvador 5%, Mexico 5% (2019) |
| Imports | $15.15 billion (2017 est.) $14.53 billion (2016 est.) | $6.613 billion (2017 est.) $6.384 billion (2016 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, medical instruments, packaged medicines (2019) | refined petroleum, clothing and apparel, crude petroleum, packaged medicines, insulated wiring (2019) |
| Imports - partners | United States 41%, China 13%, Mexico 7% (2019) | United States 27%, Mexico 12%, China 11%, Guatemala 9%, Costa Rica 7%, El Salvador 6%, Honduras 6% (2019) |
| Debt - external | $29.589 billion (2019 est.) $28.553 billion (2018 est.) | $11.674 billion (2019 est.) $11.771 billion (2018 est.) |
| 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.) | cordobas (NIO) per US dollar - 30.11 (2017 est.) 28.678 (2016 est.) 28.678 (2015 est.) 27.257 (2014 est.) 26.01 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
| Public debt | 48.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 44.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | 33.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 31.2% of GDP (2016 est.) note: official data; data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by Government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as retirement, medical care, and unemployment, debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions; Nicaragua rebased its GDP figures in 2012, which reduced the figures for debt as a percentage of GDP |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $7.15 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $7.574 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $2.758 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.448 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | -$1.692 billion (2017 est.) -$1.326 billion (2016 est.) | -$694 million (2017 est.) -$989 million (2016 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $61.855 billion (2019 est.) | $12.57 billion (2019 est.) |
| Credit ratings | Fitch rating: B (2020) Moody's rating: B2 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: B (2020) | Fitch rating: B- (2018) Moody's rating: B3 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: B- (2018) |
| Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 69.2 (2020) Starting a Business score: 79.9 (2020) Trading score: 77.6 (2020) Enforcement score: 55.2 (2020) | Overall score: 54.4 (2020) Starting a Business score: 79.6 (2020) Trading score: 77 (2020) Enforcement score: 58.6 (2020) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 14.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 28% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -6.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 31.5% male: 28% female: 37.1% (2019 est.) | total: 8.5% male: 6.4% female: 12.9% (2014 est.) |
| 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.) | household consumption: 69.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 15.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 28.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 41.2% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -55.4% (2017 est.) |
| Gross national saving | 14.2% of GDP (2019 est.) 15.2% of GDP (2018 est.) 14.9% of GDP (2017 est.) | 22.6% of GDP (2019 est.) 21.9% of GDP (2018 est.) 22.4% of GDP (2017 est.) |
Energy
| Costa Rica | Nicaragua | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 10.79 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 4.454 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 9.812 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 3.59 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 643 million kWh (2015 est.) | 17.87 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 807 million kWh (2016 est.) | 205 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 16,180 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | 0 cu m (1 January 2015 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 3.584 million kW (2016 est.) | 1.551 million kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 18% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 56% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 64% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 9% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 18% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 35% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 14,720 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 53,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 37,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 460 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 51,320 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 20,120 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) | electrification - total population: 97% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 99.2% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 92% (2019) |
Telecommunications
| Costa Rica | Nicaragua | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 640,302 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12.7 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 228,782 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3.73 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 8,550,243 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 169.59 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 5,788,432 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 94.46 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .cr | .ni |
| Internet users | total: 3,694,974 percent of population: 74.09% (July 2018 est.) | total: 1,695,340 percent of population: 27.86% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: Costa Rica has broad telecom coverage though geographical distribution of digital service is unequal; recent regulator liberalization spurred expansion in all sectors; broadband market is the most advanced and highest penetration in Central America yet lags behind many South American countries; operators investing in NGN technology; number portability and cheaper broadband costs will increase competition; government aims to subsidize tele-health and e-learning (2021) (2018)domestic: 13 per 100 fixed-line, 162 per 100 mobile-cellular; point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available (2019) international: country code - 506; landing points for the ARCOS-1, MAYA-1, and the PAC 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) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: with authoritarian government, weak public institutions, and impoverished citizenry, Nicaragua's telecom system is dependent on upgrades through foreign investment, primarily from Russia and China; World Bank funded national fiber broadband network and links to Caribbean submarine cables; Chinese-financed projects, including airport, oil pipeline, and roads in process; nearly all installed telecom capacity now uses financed digital technology; lowest fixed-line tele-density and mobile penetration in Central America; Internet cafes provide access to Internet and email services; rural areas lack access to most basic telecom infrastructure; LTE service in dozens of towns and cities; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China (2021) (2020)domestic: since privatization, access to fixed-line and mobile-cellular services has improved; fixed-line teledensity roughly 4 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increased to 88 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 505; landing point for the ARCOS fiber-optic submarine cable which provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 904,734 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17.95 (2019 est.) | total: 217,618 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3.55 (2019 est.) |
| Broadcast media | multiple privately owned TV stations and 1 publicly owned TV station; cable network services are widely available; more than 100 privately owned radio stations and a public radio network (2017) | multiple terrestrial TV stations, supplemented by cable TV in most urban areas; nearly all are government-owned or affiliated; more than 300 radio stations, both government-affiliated and privately owned (2019) |
Transportation
| Costa Rica | Nicaragua | |
|---|---|---|
| Roadways | total: 5,035 km (2017) | total: 23,897 km (2014) paved: 3,346 km (2014) unpaved: 20,551 km (2014) |
| Waterways | 730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2011) | 2,220 km (navigable waterways as well as the use of the large Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua; rivers serve only the sparsely populated eastern part of the country) (2011) |
| Pipelines | 662 km refined products (2013) | 54 km oil (2013) |
| Ports and terminals | major seaport(s): Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) - Puerto Limon Pacific Ocean - Caldera | major seaport(s): Bluefields, Corinto |
| Merchant marine | total: 10 by type: other 10 (2020) | total: 5 by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 1, other 3 (2020) |
| Airports | total: 161 (2013) | total: 147 (2013) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 47 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 27 (2017) under 914 m: 16 (2017) | total: 12 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2017) under 914 m: 4 (2017) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 114 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 18 (2013) under 914 m: 96 (2013) | total: 135 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 15 (2013) under 914 m: 119 (2013) |
| National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 39 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,948,546 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 11.13 million mt-km (2018) | number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 7 |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | TI | YN |
Military
| Costa Rica | Nicaragua | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security: the Public Force (Fuerza Pública (National Police)), Air Surveillance Service (Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea), and National Coast Guard Service (Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas) (2021) note: Costa Rica's armed forces were constitutionally abolished in 1949 | Army of Nicaragua (Ejercito de Nicaragua, EN): Land Forces (Fuerza Terrestre); Naval Forces (Fuerza Naval); Air Forces (Fuerza Aérea); Special Operations Command (Comando de Operaciones Especiales) (2021) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 0.7% of GDP (2017) 0.7% of GDP (2016) 0.7% of GDP (2015) 0.8% of GDP (2014) 0.8% of GDP (2013) | 0.7% of GDP (2019) 0.6% of GDP (2018) 0.6% of GDP (2017) 0.5% of GDP (2016) 0.8% of GDP (2015) |
| Military and security service personnel strengths | 12,500 Public Force personnel; approximately 400-500 air and 400-500 coast guard personnel (2021) | the Army of Nicaragua has approximately 12,000 active personnel (10,000 Army; 800 Navy; 1,200 Air Force) (2021) |
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the Public Force is lightly armed with an inventory that includes mostly second-hand US equipment; since 2000, the only reported major equipment deliveries were from the US (light helicopters in 2012 and 2014 and second-hand coast guard cutters in 2018) (2020) | the Nicaraguan military's inventory includes mostly second-hand Russian/Soviet-era equipment; since 2010, Russia is the leading arms supplier to Nicaragua (2020) |
Transnational Issues
| Costa Rica | Nicaragua | |
|---|---|---|
| Disputes - international | Costa Rica and Nicaragua regularly file border dispute cases over the delimitations of the San Juan River and the northern tip of Calero Island to the International Court of Justice (ICJ); in 2009, the ICJ ruled that Costa Rican vessels carrying out police activities could not use the river, but official Costa Rican vessels providing essential services to riverside inhabitants and Costa Rican tourists could travel freely on the river; in 2011, the ICJ provisionally ruled that both countries must remove personnel from the disputed area; in 2013, the ICJ rejected Nicaragua's 2012 suit to halt Costa Rica's construction of a highway paralleling the river on the grounds of irreparable environmental damage; in 2013, the ICJ, regarding the disputed territory, ordered that Nicaragua should refrain from dredging or canal construction and refill and repair damage caused by trenches connecting the river to the Caribbean and upheld its 2010 ruling that Nicaragua must remove all personnel; in early 2014, Costa Rica brought Nicaragua to the ICJ over offshore oil concessions in the disputed region | the 1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised a tripartite resolution to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca, which considers Honduran access to the Pacific; Nicaragua and Costa Rica regularly file border dispute cases over the delimitations of the San Juan River and the northern tip of Calero Island to the ICJ; there is an ongoing case in the ICJ to determine Pacific and Atlantic ocean maritime borders as well as land borders; in 2009, the ICJ ruled that Costa Rican vessels carrying out police activities could not use the river, but official Costa Rican vessels providing essential services to riverside inhabitants and Costa Rican tourists could travel freely on the river; in 2011, the ICJ provisionally ruled that both countries must remove personnel from the disputed area; in 2013, the ICJ rejected Nicaragua's 2012 suit to halt Costa Rica's construction of a highway paralleling the river on the grounds of irreparable environmental damage; in 2013, the ICJ, regarding the disputed territory, ordered that Nicaragua should refrain from dredging or canal construction and refill and repair damage caused by trenches connecting the river to the Caribbean and upheld its 2010 ruling that Nicaragua must remove all personnel; in early 2014, Costa Rica brought Nicaragua to the ICJ over offshore oil concessions in the disputed region; Nicaragua filed a case against Colombia in 2013 over the delimitation of the Continental shelf beyond the 200 nautical miles from the Nicaraguan coast, as well as over the alleged violation by Colombia of Nicaraguan maritime space in the Caribbean Sea |
| Illicit drugs | transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis in remote areas; domestic cocaine consumption, particularly crack cocaine, is rising; significant consumption of amphetamines; seizures of smuggled cash in Costa Rica and at the main border crossing to enter Costa Rica from Nicaragua have risen in recent years | transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing |
| Trafficking in persons | current situation: Costa Rica is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Costa Rican women and children, as well as those from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and other Latin American countries, are sex trafficked in Costa Rica; child sex tourism is a particular problem with offenders coming from the US and Europe; men and children from Central America, including indigenous Panamanians, and Asia are exploited in agriculture, construction, fishing, and commerce; Nicaraguans transit Costa Rica to reach Panama, where some are subjected to forced labor or sex trafficking tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Costa Rica does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts declined in 2014, with fewer prosecutions and no convictions and no actions taken against complicit government personnel; some officials conflated trafficking with smuggling, and authorities reported the diversion of funds to combat smuggling hindered anti-trafficking efforts; the government identified more victims than the previous year but did not make progress in ensuring that victims received adequate protective services; specialized services were limited and mostly provided by NGOs without government support, even from a dedicated fund for anti-trafficking efforts; victims services were virtually non-existent outside of the capital (2015) | current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Nicaragua and Nicaraguans abroad; women, children, and migrants are most at risk; women and children are subject to sex trafficking within the country and its two Caribbean autonomous regions, as well as in other Central American countries, Mexico, Spain, and the United States; traffickers used social media to recruit victims with promises of high-paying jobs in restaurants, hotels, construction, and security outside of Nicaragua where they are subjected to sex or labor trafficking; traffickers exploit children through forced participation in illegal drug production and trafficking; children and persons with disabilities are subjected to forced begging; Nicaragua is also a destination for child sex tourists from the United States, Canada, and Western Europe tier rating: Tier 3 - Nicaragua does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so and was downgraded to Tier 3; the government identified slightly more victims than in the previous reporting period and prosecuted a trafficker; however, no traffickers were convicted and victim identification remained inadequate; authorities did not investigate, prosecute, or convict government employees complicit in trafficking; the government provided no victim services; prosecution, protection, and prevention efforts in the two Caribbean autonomous regions of Nicaragua continued to be much weaker than in the rest of the country (2020) |
Environment
| Costa Rica | Nicaragua | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 15.85 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 8.02 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 5.61 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 16.87 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 5.59 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.46 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 652 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 240 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 2.302 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 286 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 73.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.185 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 0.82% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 1.26% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.46 million tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 18,396 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1.3% (2014 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,528,816 tons (2010 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
