Welcome to Costa Rica 🇨🇷 — a remarkable destination in Central America. Its official name is Republic of Costa Rica, and today around 5.1 million people call this American nation home, spread across roughly 51,100 km² of territory.
Below is your complete country profile for Costa Rica: key statistics, an introduction to San José, an interactive map, cultural notes and answers to the questions people most often ask about this corner of Americas.
Geography of Costa Rica
Costa Rica lies in Central America, in the Americas region of the world. Measuring roughly 51,100 square kilometres, it ranks 130th in the world by total area.
Costa Rica has a coastline as well as land borders with Nicaragua and Panama — a crossroads position that has influenced its culture and economy for centuries.
San José serves as the capital — the centre of government and, for most travellers, the gateway to everything else Costa Rica has to offer.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
People, language and culture
Costa Rica is home to approximately 5.1 million residents — the 127th largest population on the planet. Its people are known as Costa Ricans.
The main language spoken here is Spanish. Learning even a handful of phrases before a visit goes a long way with locals.
Like every country featured on Spin a Country, Costa Rica rewards curiosity — its festivals, food and everyday customs tell a story that statistics alone never can.
Currency, travel and practical facts
The official currency is the Costa Rican colón (CRC, symbol ₡). Exchange rates fluctuate, so check current rates before travelling.
The international dialling code for Costa Rica is +506. Websites from the country typically use the .cr internet domain.
If Costa Rica came up on your random spin, take five minutes to memorise its flag, capital (San José) and population — these are the three facts most often asked in geography quizzes.
Neighbouring countries
Costa Rica shares borders with 2 countries:
Fun facts about Costa Rica
- Costa Rica's flag emoji is 🇨🇷 — its two-letter country code is CR and its three-letter code is CRI.
- Costa Rica covers 51,100 km², ranking 130th in the world by area.
- With about 5.1 million people, Costa Rica holds the 127th spot in the world population ranking.
- Costa Rica is a member state of the United Nations.
- Costa Rica shares borders with 2 countries.
Costa Rica — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Costa Rica?
- The capital of Costa Rica is San José.
- What is the population of Costa Rica?
- Costa Rica has a population of approximately 5,129,910 people, ranking 127th in the world.
- Where is Costa Rica located?
- Costa Rica is located in Central America, part of the Americas region.
- What language is spoken in Costa Rica?
- The main language spoken in Costa Rica is Spanish.
- What currency is used in Costa Rica?
- Costa Rica uses the Costa Rican colón (CRC).
