History of Costa Rica in Timeline
Costa Rica is a Central American country bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Its capital and largest city is San José, which has a metropolitan population of around two million. The country's total population is approximately five million, residing in a land area of about 51,180 square kilometers.
1917: Federico Tinoco Granados' Dictatorship
In 1917, General Federico Tinoco Granados established a military dictatorship in Costa Rica.
1919: Overthrow of Tinoco's Dictatorship
In 1919, the unpopular regime of General Federico Tinoco Granados was overthrown, leading to a reduction in the Costa Rican military's influence.
1936: Costa Rica enters Summer Olympics
Costa Rica entered the Summer Olympics for the first time in 1936.
1938: Collective Agreement with United Fruit Company
In 1938, the United Fruit Company was required to sign a collective agreement with its workers following the Great Banana Strike, marking a crucial step in forming effective trade unions in Costa Rica.
1940: Healthcare Provision Before 1940
Before 1940, government hospitals and charities provided most health care in Costa Rica.
1940: Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia's Presidency Begins
In 1940, Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia began his term as President of Costa Rica.
1941: Creation of the Social Insurance Administration
In 1941, Costa Rica created the Social Insurance Administration (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social – CCSS), which provided universal health care to wage-earning residents.
1944: End of Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia's First Presidency
In 1944, Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia's first term as President of Costa Rica concluded.
December 1948: Costa Rica Abolishes its Military Force
On December 1, 1948, Costa Rica abolished its military force.
1948: Costa Rican Civil War
In 1948, José Figueres Ferrer led an armed uprising after a contested presidential election, resulting in the 44-day Costa Rican Civil War.
1948: Beginning of Uninterrupted Democracy
Since 1948, Costa Rica started holding uninterrupted democracy, marking the beginning of uninterrupted democracy.
November 1949: Transfer of Power to Ulate
On November 8, 1949, the government junta transferred power to Otilio Ulate after enacting reforms and drafting a new constitution.
1949: Catholicism as state religion in Costa Rica
According to the 1949 Constitution, Catholicism is the official state religion, while also guaranteeing freedom of religion.
1949: Abolishment of the Army
In 1949, Costa Rica permanently abolished its army, becoming one of the few sovereign nations without a standing military force.
1949: Abolition of military introduced in Costa Rican Constitution
In 1949, the abolition of the military was introduced in Article 12 of the Costa Rican Constitution. The budget previously dedicated to the military is now dedicated to providing health care services and education.
1953: Figueres' Democratic Election Win
In 1953, José Figueres won the country's first democratic election under the new constitution, solidifying his status as a national hero after the coup d'état.
September 1961: Costa Rica ends diplomatic relations with Cuba
In September 1961, Costa Rican President Mario Echandi ended diplomatic relations with Cuba through Executive Decree Number 2, months after Fidel Castro declared Cuba a socialist state. This freeze lasted 47 years.
1968: World Constituent Assembly Convenes
In 1968, a World Constituent Assembly convened for the first time in history to draft and adopt the Constitution for the Federation of Earth in Costa Rica.
1972: Perinatal Mortality Rate in 1972
In 1972, the perinatal mortality rate in Costa Rica was 12.0 per 1000.
1973: CCSS Took Over All Public Hospitals
In 1973, the CCSS took over administration of all 29 of Costa Rica's public hospitals and all healthcare, also launching a Rural Health Program.
1993: Laws Passed to Enable Elected Health Boards
In 1993, laws were passed to enable elected health boards that represented health consumers, social insurance representatives, employers, and social organizations.
1996: Enactment of the Forest Law
In 1996, Costa Rica enacted the Forest Law, which provided financial incentives to landowners for environmental services.
1999: Tourism Revenue Exceeds Crop Exports
Since 1999, tourism in Costa Rica has generated more foreign exchange than the combined exports of bananas, pineapples, and coffee.
2000: Social Health Insurance Coverage in 2000
By 2000, social health insurance coverage was available to 82% of the Costa Rican population.
2000: Malaria Incidence in 2000
In 2000, Costa Rica had a very low malaria incidence of 48 per 100,000.
2001: Perinatal Mortality Rate in 2001
In 2001, the perinatal mortality rate in Costa Rica dropped to 5.4 per 1000.
2002: Health Statistics in 2002
In 2002, Costa Rica had 0.58 new general practitioner consultations and 0.33 new specialist consultations per capita. The hospital admission rate was 8.1%. 96% of Costa Rican women used contraception, and 87% of pregnant women received antenatal care. There were no reported cases of measles in 2002.
2002: Costa Rica runner-up in CONCACAF Gold Cup
In 2002, the Costa Rica national football team was runner-up in the regional CONCACAF Gold Cup.
2004: Tourism Revenue Surpasses Bananas and Coffee
By 2004, tourism was generating more revenue and foreign exchange than bananas and coffee combined in Costa Rica.
2005: Filing with the International Court of Justice
In 2005 Costa Rica filed specific items of contention with the International Court of Justice regarding navigation rights on the San Juan River.
2006: Medical Tourism in 2006
In 2006, Costa Rica received 150,000 foreigners for medical treatment.
2006: Coffee as Third Cash Crop Export
In 2006, coffee was Costa Rica's third largest cash crop export.
May 2007: Carbon Neutrality Goal Announced
In May 2007, the Costa Rican government announced its intention to become 100% carbon neutral by 2021.
2007: Costa Rica elected to the UN Security Council
In 2007, Costa Rica was elected to the United Nations Security Council for a nonrenewable, two-year term.
2007: Commitment to Carbon Neutrality
In 2007, the Costa Rican government announced its commitment to becoming the first carbon-neutral country by 2021.
2008: Healthcare Facilities in 2008
In 2008, Costa Rica had five specialty national hospitals, three general national hospitals, seven regional hospitals, 13 peripheral hospitals, and 10 major clinics serving as referral centers for primary care clinics.
2008: Central American Squirrel Monkey Status Upgrade
In 2008, the conservation status of the Central American squirrel monkey was upgraded from endangered to vulnerable.
March 2009: Costa Rica re-establishes relations with Cuba
On March 18, 2009, President Óscar Arias Sánchez re-established normal relations with Cuba after 47 years, stating the similarities between Costa Rica and Cuba.
July 2009: International Court of Justice upholds Costa Rica's navigation rights on the San Juan River
On July 14, 2009, the International Court of Justice in the Hague upheld Costa Rica's navigation rights for commercial purposes and subsistence fishing on their side of the San Juan River.
December 2009: End of Costa Rica's term on the UN Security Council
On December 31, 2009, Costa Rica's term on the United Nations Security Council expired. It was elected for a two-year, non-renewable term in 2007.
2009: Costa Rica ranked first in the Happy Planet Index
The New Economics Foundation (NEF) ranked Costa Rica first in its 2009 Happy Planet Index.
2010: Life expectancy in Costa Rica
According to the UNDP, in 2010, the life expectancy at birth for Costa Ricans was 79.3 years.
2010: Immigrant population in Costa Rica
According to the World Bank, in 2010, about 489,200 immigrants lived in Costa Rica.
2010: Dispute around Isla Calero
In 2010, there was a dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua around Isla Calero, and the effects of Nicaraguan dredging of the river in that area.
March 2011: Inauguration of New Football Stadium
In March 2011, a new football stadium in Parque la Sabana was inaugurated, built by the PRC, with a match between the national teams of Costa Rica and China.
2011: Costa Rica ethnic groups
In 2011 data for the following ethnic groups were: 83.6% whites or mestizos, 6.7% mulattoes, 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.
2011: Native American population in Costa Rica
In 2011, there were over 104,000 Native American or indigenous inhabitants in Costa Rica, representing 2.4% of the population.
2011: Costa Rica population classified by ethnicity
The 2011 census classified 83.6% of the population as white or Mestizo, the Mulatto segment represented 6.7% and Indigenous people made up 2.4% of the population.
2012: Increase in asylum seekers in Costa Rica
In 2012, the number of asylum seekers in Costa Rica increased fivefold compared to 2015.
2012: Costa Rica ranked first in the Happy Planet Index
The New Economics Foundation (NEF) ranked Costa Rica first in its 2012 Happy Planet Index.
2014: Costa Rica reaches the quarter-finals in the FIFA World Cup
In 2014, the Costa Rica national football team reached the quarter-finals for the first time in a FIFA World Cup tournament.
2015: Renewable Electricity
By 2015, 93 percent of Costa Rica's electricity came from renewable sources.
2015: Exports and Imports
In 2015, Costa Rica's total exports were US$12.6 billion and total imports were US$15 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of US$2.39 billion.
2015: Free Trade Zone Job Support
In 2015, the Free Trade Zones in Costa Rica supported over 82,000 direct jobs and 43,000 indirect jobs.
2015: Jobs Supported by Free Trade Zones
In 2015, the Free Trade Zones in Costa Rica supported over 82,000 direct jobs and 43,000 indirect jobs.
2015: Tourism Sector GDP Contribution
In 2015, the tourism sector accounted for 5.8% of Costa Rica's GDP, or $3.4 billion.
2015: Coffee Export Value
In 2015, the value of Costa Rica's coffee exports was US$305.9 million, part of the total agricultural exports of US$2.7 billion.
2015: Immigrants in Costa Rica
In 2015, there were some 420,000 immigrants in Costa Rica and the number of asylum seekers rose to more than 110,000, a fivefold increase from 2012.
2016: U.S. Government Report on Challenges
A 2016 U.S. government report identified challenges facing Costa Rica in expanding its economy with U.S. companies.
2016: Challenges Facing Costa Rica's Education System
A 2016 U.S. government report identified challenges facing the education system, including high dropout rates among secondary school students.
2016: Amazon.com Employment
In 2016, Amazon.com had approximately 3,500 employees in Costa Rica.
2016: Foreign Visitors
In 2016, Costa Rica had 2.9 million foreign visitors, a 10% increase from 2015.
2016: Education Spending
In 2016, Costa Rica spent approximately 6.9% of its budget on education, surpassing the global average of 4.4%.
2016: Costa Rica a "magnet" for migrants
In 2016, Costa Rica was called a "magnet" for migrants from South and Central America and other countries who were hoping to reach the U.S.
2016: Coffee Production Decline
In 2016, Costa Rica's coffee production declined by 17.5%.
2016: GDP by Sector and Unemployment Level
In 2016, agriculture generated 5.5% of Costa Rica's GDP, industry 18.6%, and services 75.9%. The unemployment level was 8.2% according to the IMF.
2016: Tourism Impact on GDP and Jobs
In 2016, the World Travel & Tourism Council estimated that tourism directly contributed 5.1% to Costa Rica's GDP and supported 110,000 direct jobs, with 271,000 jobs indirectly supported.
November 2017: Costa Rica named happiest country in the world
In November 2017, National Geographic magazine named Costa Rica as the happiest country in the world.
2017: Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index Ranking
By the 2017 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, Costa Rica had reached 38th place.
2017: Poverty Rate
In 2017, 20.5% of Costa Rica's population lived below the poverty line.
2017: Amazon.com Expansion Plans
In 2017, Amazon.com planned to increase its workforce in Costa Rica by 1,500 employees.
2017: Costa Rica's ranking on the Happy Planet Index
In 2017, Costa Rica rated 12th on the Happy Planet Index in the World Happiness Report by the UN; however, the country is said to be the happiest in Latin America.
2017: Costa Rica signs UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
In 2017, Costa Rica signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
2017: Elayne Whyte Gómez is the Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN Office at Geneva
In 2017, Elayne Whyte Gómez is the Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN Office at Geneva and President of the United Nations Conference to Negotiate a Legally Binding Instrument to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons.
2017: Latinobarómetro survey on religion
The Latinobarómetro survey of 2017 found that 57% of the population identify themselves as Roman Catholics, 25% are Evangelical Protestants, 15% report that they do not have a religion, and 2% declare that they belong to another religion.
2018: University of Costa Rica survey on religion
A University of Costa Rica survey of 2018 showed similar rates; 52% Catholics, 22% Protestants, 17% irreligious, and 3% other.
2018: Costa Rica featured a women's national team in beach volleyball
In 2018, Costa Rica featured a women's national team in beach volleyball that competed at the 2018–2020 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Cup.
2018: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Score
In 2018, Costa Rica had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 4.65/10, ranking it 118th globally out of 172 countries.
2018: Religion in Costa Rica (CIEP 2018)
Religion in Costa Rica (CIEP 2018)
2018: Estimated GDP
The estimated GDP for Costa Rica in 2018 was US$59.0 billion.
2019: Comprehensive Decarbonization Plan Launch
In 2019, Costa Rica planned to launch a comprehensive decarbonization plan with net-zero carbon emissions targeted by 2050.
2019: Renewable Energy Production
In 2019, Costa Rica produced 99.62% of its electricity from renewable sources and ran completely on renewable sources for 300 continuous days.
November 2020: FIFA announces Costa Rica as host of U-20 Women's World Cup in 2022
On 17 November 2020, FIFA announced that the event would be held in Costa Rica in 2022.
2020: Costa Rica featured a women's national team in beach volleyball
In 2020, Costa Rica featured a women's national team in beach volleyball that competed at the 2018–2020 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Cup.
2020: Immunization Coverage in 2020
In 2020, the immunization coverage rate in Costa Rica was above 95% for all antigens.
2021: Freedom in the World Index Ranking
According to the 2021 Freedom in the World index, Costa Rica is the 35th most democratic country.
2021: Costa Rica's women's national volleyball team is top team in Central America
As of late 2021, Costa Rica's women's national volleyball team has been the top team in Central America's AFECAVOL zone.
2021: Carbon Neutrality Target
By 2021, the Costa Rican government announced its intention to become 100% carbon neutral.
2021: Target Year for Carbon Neutrality
In 2021, Costa Rica aimed to become the first carbon neutral country.
2021: Costa Rica launches Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance
In 2021, Costa Rica, alongside Denmark, launched the "Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance" (BOGA) to stop the use of fossil fuels.
2022: Human Development Index Ranking
As of 2022, Costa Rica ranked 58th in the world on the Human Development Index (HDI), placing it fifth in Latin America.
2022: Most Recent Presidential Elections
In 2022, Costa Rica held its latest presidential elections, marking its continued commitment to uninterrupted democracy since at least 1948.
2022: Costa Rica Hosts the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
In 2022, Costa Rica hosted the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup after it was postponed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022: Costa Rica Census
The 2022 census counted a total population of 5,044,197 people, and recorded ethnic or racial identity for all groups separately for the first time in more than ninety-five years since the 1927 census.
2023: World Happiness Report Ranking
In the 2023 World Happiness Report, Costa Rica is ranked as the 23rd happiest country in the world.
2024: Press Freedom Index Ranking
According to the 2024 Press Freedom Index, Costa Rica has the 26th freest press in the world.
2024: Global Innovation Index Ranking
Costa Rica was ranked 70th in the Global Innovation Index in 2024.
2024: Costa Rica's Global Peace Index Ranking
In 2024, Costa Rica was ranked as the 58th most peaceful country in the world, according to the Global Peace Index.
2024: Global Hunger Index 2024
In the 2024 Global Hunger Index, Costa Rica is one of 22 countries with a GHI score of less than 5.
2050: Target Year for Net Zero Carbon Emissions
By 2050, Costa Rica aims for net-zero carbon emissions.
