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== Economy == [[File:Real GPD per capita development of Costa Rica.jpg|thumb|right|Real GDP per capita development in Costa Rica]] [[File:Intel Costa 12 2007 SJO 105b.jpg|thumb|An [[Intel]] microprocessor facility in Costa Rica that was, at one time, responsible for 20% of Costa Rican exports and 5% of the country's GDP]]{{Main|Economy of Costa Rica}} Costa Rica's economy has shown resilience and growth in recent years. In 2024, the country's nominal GDP per capita was estimated at US$17,501, reflecting steady economic development.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Costa Rica Nominal GDP Per Capita {{!}} 2025 {{!}} Data |url=https://www.worldeconomics.com/GrossDomesticProduct/Current-GDP-Per-Capita/Myanmar.aspx/Costa%20Rica.aspx |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=World Economics |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=COSTA RICA |url=https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/e408a7e21ba62d843bdd90dc37e61b57-0500032021/related/mpo-cri.pdf}}</ref> The unemployment rate has also seen improvement, dropping to 6.9% in December 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tasa de Desempleo Abierto |url=https://inec.cr/indicadores/tasa-desempleo-abierto |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=INEC |language=es}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> This reduction suggests a recovering labor market and increased employment opportunities. Poverty levels have decreased, with the national poverty rate falling to 10.0% in 2024, the lowest in recent years.<ref name=":3" /> This improvement reflects successful social programs and economic inclusivity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Tico |date=2024-09-09 |title=Poverty Decreases in Costa Rica, But Wage Gaps Persist |url=https://ticotimes.net/2024/09/09/poverty-decreases-in-costa-rica-but-wage-gaps-persist |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=The Tico Times {{!}} Costa Rica News {{!}} Travel {{!}} Real Estate |language=en-US}}</ref> Costa Rica continues to prioritize renewable energy, with approximately 95% of its electricity generated from renewable sources in 2023. Hydropower accounts for the majority, followed by geothermal, wind, solar, and biomass energy . However, the country faced challenges due to drought conditions, leading to electricity rationing in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murillo |first=Alvaro |date=9 May 2024 |title=Suffering worst drought in decades, Costa Rica orders electricity rationing |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/suffering-worst-drought-decades-costa-rica-orders-electricity-rationing-2024-05-09/ |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=Reuters}}</ref> The government remains committed to environmental sustainability, implementing policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting clean energy initiatives. These efforts align with Costa Rica's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-04-22 |title=‘This country is what the world would like to be’: can Costa Rica’s environment minister keep its green reputation intact? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/apr/22/sustainable-or-solvent-costa-rica-environment-minister-franz-tattenbach-on-balancing-green-credentials-and-growth |access-date=2025-05-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> === Trade and foreign investment === [[File:Costa Rica Free Trade Agreements.png|thumb|Countries (in blue) which have signed Free Trade Agreements with Costa Rica]] Costa Rica has free trade agreements with many countries, including the US. There are no significant trade barriers that would affect imports and the country has been lowering its tariffs to other Central American countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.export.gov/article?id=Costa-Rica-Import-Tariffs|title=Costa Rica - Import Tariffs - export.gov|website=www.export.gov|access-date=7 August 2017|archive-date=5 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805023310/https://www.export.gov/article?id=Costa-Rica-Import-Tariffs|url-status=live}}</ref> The country's Free Trade Zones provide incentives for manufacturing and service industries to operate in Costa Rica. In 2015, the zones supported over 82 thousand direct jobs and 43 thousand indirect jobs 2015, and average wages in the FTZ were 1.8 times greater than the average for private enterprise work in the rest of the country.<ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite web |date=23 August 2016 |title=Major Business Success for Costa Rica Free Trade Zones – Costa Rica Star News |url=http://news.co.cr/major-business-success-costa-rica-free-trade-zones/50129/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807193902/http://news.co.cr/major-business-success-costa-rica-free-trade-zones/50129/ |archive-date=7 August 2017 |access-date=7 August 2017}}</ref> In 2016, [[Amazon.com]] for example, had some 3,500 employees in Costa Rica and planned to increase that by 1,500 in 2017, making it an important employer.<ref name="seattletimes.com"/> The central location provides access to American markets and direct ocean access to Europe and Asia. The most important exports in 2015 (in order of dollar value) were medical instruments, bananas, tropical fruits, integrated circuits, and orthopedic appliances.<ref name="atlas.media.mit.edu">{{cite web|url=http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/cri/|title=OEC – Costa Rica (CRI) Exports, Imports, and Trade Partners|website=atlas.media.mit.edu|access-date=4 August 2017|archive-date=10 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810120223/http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/cri/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Total imports in that year were US$15 billion. The most significant products imported in 2015 (in order of dollar value) were refined petroleum, automobiles, packaged medications, broadcasting equipment, and computers. The total exports were US$12.6 billion for a trade deficit of US$2.39 billion in 2015.<ref name="atlas.media.mit.edu"/> [[File:DirkvdM orosi valley bird.jpg|thumb|A [[Coffee production in Costa Rica|coffee plantation]] in the [[Orosí|Orosí Valley]]]] Pharmaceuticals, financial outsourcing, software development, and [[ecotourism]] have become the prime industries in Costa Rica's economy. High levels of education among its residents make the country an attractive investment location. Since 1999, tourism earns more foreign exchange than the combined exports of the country's three main [[cash crops]]: bananas and pineapples especially,<ref name="qcostarica.com">{{cite web|url=http://qcostarica.com/costa-ricas-fruits-exports-beyond-pineapples-and-bananas/|title=Costa Rica's Fruits Exports Beyond Pineapples And Bananas|date=16 May 2017|access-date=4 August 2017|archive-date=19 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619054336/http://qcostarica.com/costa-ricas-fruits-exports-beyond-pineapples-and-bananas/|url-status=live}}</ref> but also other crops, including coffee.<ref name="ICT2006">{{cite web|author=Departamento de Estadísticas ICT|url=http://www.visitcostarica.com/ict/backoffice/treeDoc/files/Anuario%20de%20Turismo%202006%20(VERSION%20FINAL).pdf|title=Anuário Estadísticas de Demanda 2006|publisher=Intituto Costarricense de Turismo|year=2006|language=es|access-date=29 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302194925/http://www.visitcostarica.com/ict/backoffice/treeDoc/files/Anuario%20de%20Turismo%202006%20(VERSION%20FINAL).pdf|archive-date=2 March 2011}} Table 44 and 45</ref> [[Coffee production in Costa Rica|Coffee production]] played a key role in Costa Rica's history and in 2006, was the third cash crop export.<ref name="ICT2006"/> As a small country, Costa Rica now provides under 1% of the world's coffee production.<ref name="cafeimports.com"/> In 2015, the value of coffee exports was US$305.9 million, a small part of the total agricultural exports of US$2.7 billion.<ref name="qcostarica.com"/> Coffee production increased by 13.7% percent in 2015–16, declined by 17.5% in 2016–17 but was expected to increase by about 15% in the subsequent year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/Coffee%20Annual_San%20Jose_Costa%20Rica_5-22-2017.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/Coffee%20Annual_San%20Jose_Costa%20Rica_5-22-2017.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Annual report |date=2017 |website=gain.fas.usda.gov}}</ref> Costa Rica has developed a system of [[Payment for ecosystem services|payments for environmental services]].<ref name="ODI1">Jessica Brown and Neil Bird 2010. [http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=5049&title=costa-rica-sustainable-resource-management-successfully-tackling-tropical-deforestation Costa Rica sustainable resource management: Successfully tackling tropical deforestation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514083601/http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=5049&title=costa-rica-sustainable-resource-management-successfully-tackling-tropical-deforestation|date=14 May 2011}}. London: [[Overseas Development Institute]]</ref> Similarly, Costa Rica has a tax on water pollution to penalize businesses and homeowners that dump sewage, [[agrochemical|agricultural chemicals]], and other pollutants into waterways.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=331428&CategoryId=23558|title= Costa Rica taxing firms that dump wastewater into rivers|publisher= Latin American Herald Tribune|date= 7 April 2007|access-date= 19 May 2012|archive-date= 17 January 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130117025315/http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=331428&CategoryId=23558|url-status= dead}}</ref> In May 2007, the Costa Rican government announced its intentions to become 100% [[carbon neutral]] by 2021.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007549.html |title=Bright Green: Costa Rica and New Zealand on Path to Carbon Neutrality |work=Worldchanging |access-date=5 May 2011 |date=7 November 2007 |first=Janet L. |last=Sawin |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504015643/http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007549.html |archive-date=4 May 2011}}</ref> By 2015, 93 percent of the country's electricity came from [[Renewable energy in Costa Rica|renewable sources]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Costa Rica uses 100 pct. clean energy to generate power for over 90 days |work= EFE |publisher= Fox News Latino |date= 13 August 2015 |url= http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2015/08/13/costa-rica-uses-100-pct-clean-energy-to-generate-power-for-over-0-days/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150818071137/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2015/08/13/costa-rica-uses-100-pct-clean-energy-to-generate-power-for-over-0-days/ |archive-date= 18 August 2015}}</ref> In 2019, the country produced 99.62% of its electricity from renewable sources and ran completely on renewable sources for 300 continuous days.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.intelligentliving.co/costa-ricas-electricity-nearly-100-renewable-energy/|title=Costa Rica's Electricity Is Nearly At 100% Renewable Energy|date=23 February 2020|publisher=intelligentliving.co|access-date=23 February 2020|archive-date=23 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223231331/https://www.intelligentliving.co/costa-ricas-electricity-nearly-100-renewable-energy/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:Zona Franca América, Heredia, Costa Rica.jpg|thumb|An [[industrial park]] in [[Heredia, Costa Rica|Heredia]]]] In 1996, the Forest Law was enacted to provide direct financial incentives to landowners for the provision of environmental services.<ref name=ODI1/> This helped reorient the forestry sector away from commercial timber production and the resulting [[deforestation]] and helped create awareness of the services it provides for the economy and society (i.e., [[carbon fixation]], hydrological services such as producing fresh drinking water, biodiversity protection, and provision of scenic beauty).<ref name=ODI1/> A 2016 report by the U.S. government report identifies other challenges facing Costa Rica as it works to expand its economy by working with companies from the US (and probably from other countries).<ref name="2016.export.gov">{{cite web |last=ITA |title=Export.gov – CCG |url=http://2016.export.gov/costarica/doingbusinessincostarica/index.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418225120/http://2016.export.gov/costarica/doingbusinessincostarica/index.asp |archive-date=18 April 2017 |access-date=4 August 2017 |website=2016.export.gov}}</ref> The major concerns identified were as follows: * The ports, roads, railways, and water delivery systems would benefit from major upgrading, a concern voiced by other reports too.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/a-bird-eye-view-of-costa-rica-s-transport-infrastructure_5jlswbwvwqjf-en|title=A bird-eye view of Costa Rica's transport infrastructure|first1=Mauro|last1=Pisu|first2=Federico|last2=Villalobos|date=3 August 2016|journal=OECD Economics Department Working Papers|doi=10.1787/5jlswbwvwqjf-en|doi-access=free|access-date=4 August 2017|archive-date=5 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805020809/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/a-bird-eye-view-of-costa-rica-s-transport-infrastructure_5jlswbwvwqjf-en|url-status=live|issn = 1815-1973 }}</ref> Attempts by China to invest in upgrading such aspects were "stalled by bureaucratic and legal concerns". * The bureaucracy is "often slow and cumbersome". [[Mining in Costa Rica]] contributes a small amount to the economy. In 2018 5.2 tons of gold were produced.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DGM |title=DGM |url=https://geologia.go.cr/mineria/mineria_de_costa_rica_en_datos.aspx |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=geologia.go.cr |language=es}}</ref> === Tourism === {{main|Tourism in Costa Rica}} {{see also|List of airports in Costa Rica}} [[File:CostaRica25 (8414513243).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Arenal Volcano National Park]] is one of the country's [[Tourism in Costa Rica|tourist attractions]].]] [[File:Tenorio Volcano Nationalpark, Costa Rica — bright blue paradise fantasy waterfall—2021.jpg|thumb|Waterfall in the [[Tenorio Volcano National Park]]]] Costa Rica had 2.9 million foreign visitors in 2016, up 10% from 2015.<ref name="Central America Data">{{cite news|title=Costa Rica: Flow of Visitors Up 10% in 2016|url=http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/home/Costa_Rica_Flow_of_Visitors_Up_10_in_2016|access-date=21 March 2017|work=Central America Data|date=8 February 2017|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322202746/http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/home/Costa_Rica_Flow_of_Visitors_Up_10_in_2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, the tourism sector was responsible for 5.8% of the country's GDP, or $3.4 billion.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tourism Represents 5.8% of GDP in Costa Rica – Costa Rica Star News|url=https://news.co.cr/tourism-represents-large-gdp-costa-rica/62237/|website=Costa Rica Star News|date=16 June 2017|access-date=25 February 2018|archive-date=4 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804053233/http://news.co.cr/tourism-represents-large-gdp-costa-rica/62237/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, the highest number of tourists came from the United States, with 1,000,000 visitors, followed by Europe with 434,884 arrivals.<ref name="El Financiero">{{cite news|last1=Rodriguez Valverde|first1=Andrea|title=Costa Rica alcanza cifra récord en llegadas internacionales: 2,9 millones de visitantes|url=http://www.elfinancierocr.com/economia-y-politica/Costa-Rica-internacionales-millones-visitantes_0_1118888103.html|access-date=21 March 2017|work=El Financiero|date=17 February 2017|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322202909/http://www.elfinancierocr.com/economia-y-politica/Costa-Rica-internacionales-millones-visitantes_0_1118888103.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Costa Rica Vacations, once tourists arrive in the country, 22% go to [[Tamarindo, Costa Rica|Tamarindo]], 18% go to [[Arenal, Costa Rica|Arenal]], 17% pass through [[Liberia, Costa Rica|Liberia]] (where the [[Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport]] is located), 16% go to [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]], the country's capital (passing through [[Juan Santamaría International Airport]]), while 18% choose Manuel Antonio and 7% Monteverde.<ref name="Costa RIca Vacations">{{cite web|title=Costa Rica Vacations|url=http://costaricavacations.com/|website=Costa Rica Vacations|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-date=23 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223190657/http://costaricavacations.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> By 2004, tourism was generating more revenue and [[Foreign exchange reserves|foreign exchange]] than bananas and coffee combined.<ref name="ICT2006"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elempleo.co.cr/clientes/news_cli.asp?not_id=22|language=es|date=29 December 2004|access-date=13 April 2008|newspaper=La Nación|title=Turismo, principal motor de la economía durante el 2004|author=José Enrique Rojas|archive-date=11 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411201314/http://www.elempleo.co.cr/clientes/news_cli.asp?not_id=22|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2016, the World Travel & Tourism Council's estimates indicated a direct contribution to the GDP of 5.1% and 110,000 direct jobs in Costa Rica; the total number of jobs indirectly supported by tourism was 271,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic-impact-research/countries-2017/costarica2017.pdf |title=Research |date=2017 |website=www.wttc.org |access-date=4 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720140155/https://www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic-impact-research/countries-2017/costarica2017.pdf |archive-date=20 July 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A pioneer of [[ecotourism]], Costa Rica draws many tourists to its extensive series of national parks and other protected areas.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Honey | first = Martha | year = 1999 | title = Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise? | page = [https://archive.org/details/ecotourismsustai00hone/page/5 5] | publisher = Island Press; 1 edition, Washington, D.C. | isbn = 978-1-55963-582-0 | url = https://archive.org/details/ecotourismsustai00hone/page/5}}</ref> The trail [[Camino de Costa Rica]] supports this by allowing travelers to walk across the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. In the 2011 [[Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report|Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index]], Costa Rica ranked 44th in the world and second among Latin American countries after Mexico in 2011.<ref name="TTCI2011">{{cite web| url =http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TravelTourismCompetitiveness_Report_2011.pdf| editor =Jennifer Blanke| editor2 =Thea Chiesa| year =2011| title =Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2011| publisher =[[World Economic Forum]], Geneva, Switzerland| access-date =14 March 2011| archive-date =9 October 2022| archive-url =https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TravelTourismCompetitiveness_Report_2011.pdf| url-status =live}}</ref> By the time of the 2017 report, the country had reached 38th place, slightly behind Panama.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.co.cr/costa-rica-ranks-38-in-tourism-and-travel-competitiveness-report-2017/62394/|title=Costa Rica Ranks 38th in Tourism and Travel Competitiveness Report 2017 – Costa Rica Star News|date=23 June 2017|access-date=4 August 2017|archive-date=5 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805020359/http://news.co.cr/costa-rica-ranks-38-in-tourism-and-travel-competitiveness-report-2017/62394/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Ethical Traveler group's ten countries on their 2017 list of The World's Ten Best Ethical Destinations includes Costa Rica. The country scored highest in environmental protection among the winners.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/articles/entry/the_most_ethical_travel_destinations_for_2017/|title=The Most Ethical Travel Destinations for 2017|first1=Molly|last1=Blakemore|first2=Karen|last2=Blansfield|first3=Morgan|last3=Lance|first4=Natalie Lefevre with Jeff|last4=Greenwald|website=Earth Island Journal|access-date=22 November 2020|archive-date=29 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129173346/https://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/articles/entry/the_most_ethical_travel_destinations_for_2017/|url-status=live}}</ref> Costa Rica began reversing [[deforestation]] in the 1990s, and they are moving towards using only [[renewable energy]], with 93% of all its energy being renewable.<ref>{{Citation|last=Democracy Now!|title=Fossil-Free Costa Rica: How One Country Is Pursuing Decarbonization Despite Global Inaction|date=13 December 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy2lhbtJExg| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211027/gy2lhbtJExg| archive-date=2021-10-27|access-date=13 December 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
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