Americas · Central America

Costa Rica

Capital: San José
Population: 5,094,114
Region: Americas
Languages: Spanish

Fun fact

Costa Rica is one of the few sovereign nations in the world that does not maintain a standing army. Following a bloody civil war, the military was constitutionally abolished in 1948 to prioritize investments in education and healthcare. This unique policy has contributed to its long-standing democratic stability and earned it the nickname of the Switzerland of Central America. The former military headquarters in the capital was even converted into a national museum to symbolize this shift toward peace.

Currency

The national currency is the Costa Rican colón, identified by the ISO code CRC and often represented by a C with two vertical slashes. It is named after Christopher Columbus, known as Cristóbal Colón in Spanish, and replaced the previously used peso in 1896. Modern banknotes are famous for their vibrant colors and distinctive vertical designs that showcase the country's rich biodiversity, featuring native animals like the sloth and hummingbird.

Flag symbolism

The national flag features five horizontal stripes consisting of blue, white, and a double-width red center. The blue represents the sky and opportunities for growth, while the white stands for peace and the purity of the nation's ideals. The red stripe signifies the warmth of the people and the blood shed by martyrs to preserve freedom. The design was inspired by the French Tricolour to honor the ideals of the French Revolution.

Emblem history

The coat of arms depicts three smoking volcanoes nestled between two oceans, representing the country's unique position between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Each ocean contains a merchant ship, symbolizing the nation's maritime trade history and economic openness. Seven stars arch above the volcanoes, with each star representing one of the country's seven original provinces. First adopted in 1848, the emblem has undergone minor revisions, such as the addition of small myrtle branches to signify peace.