4,000,000 inhabitants
Evangelical Church 9%

Flag of Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a mountainous nation located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama. Generally speaking, Costa Ricans are ethnically Spanish and or mixed meztizo. However, approximately 3% of the population is of black African origin— mostly English-speaking descendants of 19th-century Jamaican immigrant workers.

Map of Costa Rica

Spanish is the official language. 85% of Costa Ricans belong to the Roman Catholic Church. Protestants account for approximately 14%. Although still a largely agricultural country (coffee, banana, sugar, cocoa exports), electronics manufacturing and tourism are rapidly expanding industries.

High literacy rates, relatively low unemployment, and widespread land ownership have produced a relatively high standard of living for many Costa Ricans.

One of the most stable democracies in Latin America, Costa Rica escaped much of the violence and political turmoil that has plagued other Latin American governments. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its democratic development. Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948.

Opportunities to serve in Costa Rica.