🇨🇷Costa Rica Political Stability: 60.4/100

Costa Rica is located in Central America, bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, with Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. The country features a tropical climate with a dry season from December to April and a rainy season from May to November. It is home to diverse terrain, including the highest point, Cerro Chirripó, and numerous volcanoes, with six active in the last 75 years.

As of the 2022 census, Costa Rica has a population of 5,044,197 people, with a diverse ethnic composition including 83.6% white or mestizo, 6.7% mulatto, and 2.4% indigenous. The primary language is Spanish, with a small percentage of the population speaking indigenous languages and English. The majority of Costa Ricans identify as Roman Catholic, with other religions also present.

World Bank governance: rule of law 54th percentile, corruption control 63rd percentile, political stability 68th percentile.

Costa Rica's strongest governance dimension is Voice & Accountability at 75/100, placing it in the upper half globally. This indicates relatively strong citizen participation in selecting government, along with freedom of expression, association, and a free media.

The weakest dimension is Government Effectiveness at 44/100. Limited government effectiveness can mean inconsistent public services and gaps in policy implementation.

A notable 31-point gap between Voice & Accountability and Government Effectiveness reveals uneven governance. Some institutions function well while others lag significantly. Travelers should be aware that the quality of government services and protections may vary depending on the context.

Costa Rica's moderate governance scores suggest travelers should prepare for some institutional inconsistency. Public services may be unreliable in certain areas, and regulatory enforcement can be uneven. Travel insurance and advance planning are recommended.

The U.S. State Department currently rates Costa Rica as Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution). This aligns with a governance profile that, while not without challenges, provides a baseline of institutional functioning.