Demographics of Costa Rica#Ethnic groups

{{Costa Rican censuses}}

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| x = 1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

| y1= 0.56, 0.57, 0.58, 0.6, 0.62, 0.63, 0.65, 0.66, 0.68, 0.7, 0.72, 0.74, 0.76, 0.79, 0.81, 0.83, 0.97, 0.99, 1.02, 1.06, 1.09, 1.13, 1.17, 1.21, 1.25, 1.29, 1.33, 1.38, 1.43, 1.48, 1.53, 1.58, 1.63, 1.68, 1.73, 1.78, 1.82, 1.87, 1.91, 1.96, 2, 2.05, 2.11, 2.16, 2.22, 2.28, 2.35, 2.42, 2.48, 2.55, 2.63, 2.7, 2.77, 2.85, 2.92, 3, 3.08, 3.16, 3.23, 3.31, 3.39, 3.48, 3.57, 3.66, 3.75, 3.84, 3.93, 4.01, 4.09, 4.17, 4.25, 4.32, 4.39, 4.46, 4.53, 4.6, 4.67, 4.74, 4.65, 4.71, 4.77, 4.83, 4.89, 4.95, 5, 5.06, 5.11, 5.16

| y1Title= population (million)

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| x = 1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

| y1= 25.6, 22.3, 24.2, 25.3, 27.8, 25.4, 27.2, 27.4, 22.7, 28.4, 27.5, 31.3, 31.1, 29.8, 31.3, 31.5,30.5, 32.9, 34.3, 32.5, 34.9, 34.8,35.1, 34.3, 34.8, 36.2, 36.5, 36.2, 34.1, 34.0, 31.6,31.3, 31.2, 29.7,29.1, 27.1, 26.4, 25.5, 25.4, 24.8, 24.1, 24.2,24.4, 25.6, 26.6, 26.4, 26.3, 26.2, 25.8, 24.9,25.2, 27.4, 26.3, 24.5,24.1, 24.1, 22.9, 22.0, 21.0, 20.3, 19.8, 19.0, 18.3, 17.4, 16.6, 16.5, 16.1, 15.1, 13.7, 13.7, 13.3, 12.8, 12.4, 12.6, 12.6, 12.2, 11.4,11.8, 11.6, 10.8, 10.7, 10.6, 9.7, 9.2, 8.9, 7.9, 6.3, 4.5

| y1Title=Natural change (per 1000)

}}

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| yAxisTitle= TFR

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| x = 1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

| y1= 3.63,3.62,3.54,3.41,3.44,3.72,3.58,3.36,3.33,3.35,3.20,3.04,3.02,3.02,2.85,2.78,2.69,2.68,2.60,2.60,2.41,2.28,2.08,2.08,2.00,2.00,1.90,1.98,1.97,1.95,1.81,1.86,1.84,1.76,1.77,1.76,1.71, 1.67, 1.66, 1.56, 1.41, 1.31

| y1Title=Total Fertility Rate

}}

File:Costa Rica population (1934-2024).png

In {{UN_Population|Year}}, Costa Rica had a population of {{UN_Population|Costa Rica}}. The population is increasing at a rate of 1.5% per year. According to current trends, the population will increase to 9,158,000 in about 46 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2006/WPP2006_Highlights_rev.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2006/WPP2006_Highlights_rev.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=World Population Prospects: The 2006 Revision, Highlights, Working Paper No. ESA/P/WP.202. |work=United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division |location=New York |date=2007 |access-date=4 November 2016}} The population density is 94 people per square km, the third highest in Central America.

Approximately 20% lived in rural areas and 80% in urban areas. The rate of urbanization estimated for the period 2005–2015 is 2.74% per annum,{{cite web|title=Field listing: Urbanization: Costa Rica|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2212.html?countryName=Costa%20Rica&countryCode=cs®ionCode=ca&#cs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090613203934/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2212.html?countryName=Costa%20Rica&countryCode=CS®ionCode=ca&#cs|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 13, 2009|publisher=The World Factbook|access-date=4 November 2016}} one of the highest among developing countries. About 75% of the population lives above 500 meters, where the temperature is cooler and milder.

The 2011 census counted a population of 4.3 million people{{cite web|url=https://costaricalaw.com/costa-rica-facts/demographics-and-population/population-statistics/|title=Costa Rica Population Statistics|date=30 September 2016|website=Costaricalaw.com|access-date=30 August 2017}} distributed among the following groups: 83.6% whites or Mestizos, 6.7% black mixed race, 2.4% Native American, 1.1% Black or Afro-Caribbean; the census showed 1.1% as Other, 2.9% (141,304 people) as None, and 2.2% (107,196 people) as unspecified.{{cite web|url=https://www.livepopulation.com/country/costa-rica.html|title=Live Costa Rica Population Clock 2017 - Population of Costa Rica Today|website=Livepopulation.com|access-date=30 August 2017}}

In 2011, there were over 104,000 Native American or indigenous inhabitants, representing 2.4% of the population. Most of them lived in secluded reservations, distributed among eight ethnic groups: Quitirrisí (in the Central Valley), Matambú or Chorotega (Guanacaste), Maleku (northern Alajuela), Bribri (southern Atlantic), Cabécar (Cordillera de Talamanca), Guaymí (southern Costa Rica, along the Panamá border), Boruca (southern Costa Rica) and Térraba (southern Costa Rica).

Costa Ricans of European origin are primarily of Spanish descent,{{cite web |author=Central Intelligence Agency |title=Costa Rica |work=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |location=Langley, Virginia |year=2011 |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/costa-rica/ |access-date=2011-10-04}} with significant numbers of Italian, German, English, Dutch, French, Irish, Portuguese, and Polish families, as well as a sizable Jewish community. The majority of the Afro-Costa Ricans are Creole English-speaking descendants of 19th century black Jamaican immigrant workers.

File:Niños costarricenses.JPG

The 2011 census classified 83.6% of the population as white or Mestizo; the latter have combined European and Native American descent. The Mulatto segment (mix of white and black) represented 6.7%, and Indigenous people made up 2.4% of the population. Native and European mixed blood populations are far less than in other Latin American countries. Exceptions are the Guanacaste province, where almost half the population is visibly mestizo, a legacy of the more pervasive unions between Spanish colonists and Chorotega Amerindians through several generations, and Limón, where the vast majority of the Afro-Costa Rican community lives.

{{Hidden begin

|title= Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2017) (Based on the national household survey of 2017.):{{cite web|title=United Nations Statistics Division - Demographic and Social Statistics|url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/documents/dyb2017/table07.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/documents/dyb2017/table07.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|access-date=11 February 2019}}

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{{Hidden begin

|title= Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2021) (Based on the annual national household survey and the 2011 population census.): {{Cite web |title=UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics |url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/#statistics |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=unstats.un.org}}

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(c) = Census results.

Source: UN World Population Prospects{{cite web|url=https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/DataQuery/|title=World Population Prospects – Population Division – United Nations|access-date=2017-07-15}}

{{Pie chart

|thumb = right

|caption = Ethnic groups in Costa Rica{{cite web|title=Costa Rica: Población total por autoidentificación étnica-racial, según provincia y sexo. (Spanish)|url=http://www.inec.go.cr/social/grupos-etnicos-raciales|website=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (Costa Rica)|access-date=2016-11-19}}

|label1 = European

|value1 = 70.8

|color1 = Blue

|label2 = Mestizo

|value2 = 17.8

|color2 = Purple

|label3 = Mulatto

|value3 = 6.7

|color3 = Turquoise

|label4 = Indigenous

|value4 = 2.4

|color4 = Red

|label5 = African

|value5 = 1.1

|color5 = Green

|label6 = Asian

|value6 = 0.2

|color6 = Yellow

|label7 = Other/none

|value7 = 1.0

|color7 = DimGray

}}

According to census data the vast majority of the population identifies itself as white or mestizo. The indigenous Amerindian population only constitutes 2.4% of the population in 2011, but has gone up from only 0.3% in 1950. About 7% has African roots.

{{Infobox ethnic group

| group = European Costa Ricans

| image =

| caption =

| population = {{circa}} 2,830,000{{cite web|url=http://www.nacion.com/vivir/ciencia/Herencia-china-moldea-genes-costarricenses_0_1444655578.html |title=Ticos tenemos más de africanos y chinos de lo que se pensaba |trans-title=Costa Rica has more Africans and Chinese than was thought |work=Nacion.com |date=12 October 2014 |access-date=18 January 2016}}{{Cite web |title=Costa Rica es multirracial, último censo lo pone en evidencia {{!}} Crhoy.com |url=https://archivo.crhoy.com/costa-rica-es-multirracial-ultimo-censo-lo-pone-en-evidencia/nacionales/ |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=CRHoy.com {{!}} Periodico Digital {{!}} Costa Rica Noticias 24/7 |language=es}}
65.8% of the Costa Rican population

| popplace =

| langs = Costa Rican Spanish, English

| rels = Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%, Buddhism 2%{{cite web|title=Costa Rica|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/costa-rica/|website=The World Factbook|access-date=30 August 2016}}

| related = White Latin Americans, White Caribbeans

}}

European Costa Ricans are people from Costa Rica whose ancestry lies within the continent of Europe, most notably Spain. According to DNA studies, around 75%{{cite journal|title=Genomic components in American demographic|journal=Genetics|date=2015|url=https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4307/35125440893_3566ed7714_o.jpg|volume=1|issue=3|page=25}} of the population have some level of European ancestry.

Percentages of the Costa Rican population by race are known as the national census, which includes the question of ethnicity in its form. As of 2012, 65.80% of Costa Ricans identify themselves as white/castizo and 17.80% as mestizo, giving around over 80% of the Caucasian population. This, however, is based on self-identification and not on scientific studies. According to the PLoS Genetics Geographic Patterns of Genome Admixture in Latin American Mestizos study of 2012, Costa Ricans have 73% of European ancestry, 25% Amerindian, and 2% African.{{cite journal|title=Geographic Patterns of Genome Admixture in Latin American Mestizos Tabla|journal=PLOS Genetics| doi=10.1371/journal.pgen.1000037|volume=4|issue=3|page=e1000037|pmid=18369456|pmc=2265669|date=March 2008 | last1 = Wang | first1 = S | last2 = Ray | first2 = N | last3 = Rojas | first3 = W |display-authors=et al |doi-access=free }} According to CIA Factbook, Costa Rica has a white or mestizo population of 83.6%.

Cristopher Columbus and his crew were the first Europeans ever to set foot on what is now Costa Rica, having arrived at Uvita Island (modern-day Limón province) in 1502 on Columbus's last trip.{{cite journal|title=Costa Rica|journal=Lonely Planet|url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/history|access-date=30 August 2016}} Costa Rica was part of the Spanish Empire and colonized by Spaniards mostly Castilians, Basque and Sephardic Jews.

After independence, large migrations of wealthy Americans, Germans, French and British businessmen came to the country encouraged by the government and followed by their families and employees (many of them technicians and professionals), thus creating colonies and mixing with the population, especially the high and middle classes.{{cite journal|title=OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION (Costa Rica)|journal=SICREM|url=http://www.migracionoea.org/index.php/en/sicremi-en/reports/34-sicremi/publicacion-2012/paises-en/515-sintesis-historica-de-la-migracion-internacional-costa-rica.html|access-date=30 August 2016|archive-date=11 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911122159/http://www.migracionoea.org/index.php/en/sicremi-en/reports/34-sicremi/publicacion-2012/paises-en/515-sintesis-historica-de-la-migracion-internacional-costa-rica.html|url-status=dead}}

Later, smaller migrations of Italians, Spaniards (mostly Catalans) and Arabs (mostly Lebanese and Syrians) took place. These migrants arrived fleeing economic crisis in their home countries, setting in large, more closed colonies. Polish migrants, mostly Ashkenazi Jews who fled anti-Semitism and Nazi persecution in Europe, also arrived in large numbers.

In 1901, the president Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra closed the country to all non-white immigrants. All Black, Chinese, Arab, Turkish or Gypsy migration to the country was banned. After the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, a large influx of Republican refugees settled in the country, mostly Castilians, Galicians, and Asturians, as well as later Chilean, Mexican and Colombian migrants who would arrive escaping from war or dictatorships, as Costa Rica is the longest running democracy in Latin America.

File:Basilica los Angeles, Spring 2006.jpg, Costa Rica.]]

{{Main|Languages of Costa Rica}}

Nearly all Costa Ricans speak Spanish, but many know English. Indigenous Costa Ricans also speak their own language, such as the case of the Ngobes.

{{Main|Religion in Costa Rica}}

{{Pie chart

|thumb = right

|caption = Religion in Costa Rica (2008)[https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108520.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2008: Costa Rica]. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (September 14, 2007){{cite web|first=Terrence|last=Johnson|url=http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=71,11009,0,0,1,0#.WBz56iRuhnI|title=Buddhism in Costa Rica|website=Buddhistchannel.tv|date=5 August 2012|access-date=4 November 2016}}

|label1 = Catholicism

|value1 = 70.5

|color1 = DodgerBlue

|label2 = Protestantism

|value2 = 13.8

|color2 = DarkOrchid

|label3 = Irreligion

|value3 = 11.3

|color3 = Gray

|label4 = Buddhism

|value4 = 2.1

|color4 = Gold

|label5 = Other religions

|value5 = 2.2

|color5 = Red

}}

According to the World Factbook, the main faiths are Roman Catholic (76.3%), Evangelical (13.7%), Jehovah's Witnesses (1.3%), other Protestant (0.7%), other (4.8%), and none (3.2%).

The most recent nationwide survey of religion in Costa Rica, conducted in 2007 by the University of Costa Rica, found that 70.5 percent of the population identify themselves as Roman Catholics (with 44.9 percent practicing, 25.6 percent nonpracticing), 13.8 percent are Evangelical Protestants, 11.3 percent report that they do not have a religion, and 4.3 percent declare that they belong to another religion.{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2008/108520.htm|title=Costa Rica: International Religious Freedom Report 2008|work=United States Department of State|date=2008|access-date=4 November 2016}}

Apart from the dominant Catholic religion, several other religious groups exist in the country. Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal, Baptist, and other Protestant groups have significant membership. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) claims more than 35,000 members and has a temple in San José that served as a regional worship center for Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, and Honduras.[https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/costa-rica "Facts and Statistics"], Church News, 2020. Retrieved on 30 March 2020.

Although they represent less than 1 percent of the population, Jehovah's Witnesses have a strong presence on the Caribbean coast. Seventh-day Adventists operate a university that attracts students from throughout the Caribbean Basin. The Unification Church maintains its continental headquarters for Latin America in San José.

Non-Christian religious groups, including followers of Judaism, Islam, Taoism, Hare Krishna, Paganism, Wicca, Scientology, Tenrikyo, and the Baháʼí Faith, claim membership throughout the country, with the majority of worshipers residing in the Central Valley (the area of the capital). While there is no general correlation between religion and ethnicity, indigenous peoples are more likely to practice animism than other religions.

Article 75 of the Costa Rican Constitution states that the "Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Religion is the official religion of the Republic."{{cite web|url=http://www.costaricalaw.com/legalnet/constitutional_law/engtit6.html|title=Title VI: Religion: Article 75 (As amended with regard to its number by Article 1, Law No. 5703)|work=CostaRicaLaw.com|date=6 June 1975|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010421171417/http://www.costaricalaw.com/legalnet/constitutional_law/engtit6.html|archive-date=21 April 2001}} That same article provides for freedom of religion. The government respects this right. The US government found no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice in 2007.

Costa Rican emigration is among the smallest in the Caribbean Basin. About 3% of the country's population lives in another country as immigrants. The main destination countries are the United States, Spain, Mexico, and other Central American countries. In 2005, 127,061 Costa Ricans lived in another country as immigrants. Remittance s were $513,000,000 in 2006, which represented 2.3% of the national GDP.

{{Further|Immigration to Costa Rica}}

Costa Rica's immigration is among the largest in the Caribbean Basin. According to the 2011 census, 385,899 residents were born abroad.{{Cite web|url=http://www.inec.go.cr/Web/Home/GeneradorPagina.aspx|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120125018/http://www.inec.go.cr/Web/Home/GeneradorPagina.aspx|url-status=dead|title=Censo 2011|archivedate=November 20, 2015}} The vast majority were born in Nicaragua (287,766). Other countries of origin were Colombia (20,514), United States (16,898), Spain (16,482) and Panama (11,250). Outward remittances were $246,000,000 in 2006.

According to the World Bank, about 489,200 migrants lived in the country in 2010; mainly from Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize, while 125,306 Costa Ricans live abroad in the United States, Panama, Nicaragua, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and Ecuador.{{cite web|url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPROSPECTS/Resources/334934-1199807908806/CostaRica.pdf|title=Costa Rica country profile (from the Migration and Remittances Factbook 2011)|publisher=World Bank|access-date=2011-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103144309/http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPROSPECTS/Resources/334934-1199807908806/CostaRica.pdf|archive-date=2011-11-03|url-status=dead}} The number of migrants declined in later years but in 2015, there were some 420,000 immigrants in Costa Rica and the number of asylum seekers (mainly from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua) rose to more than 110,000, a fivefold increase from 2012. In 2016, the country was called a "magnet" for migrants from South and Central America and other countries who were hoping to reach the U.S.{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/09/01/492066728/costa-rica-becomes-a-magnet-for-migrants|title=Costa Rica Becomes A Magnet For Migrants|website=Npr.org|access-date=30 August 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=122498|title=Nicaragua, Trump, Deportations and the {{sic|Affect|expected=Effect|nolink=y}} on Family Remittances - Havana Times.org|website=Havanatimes.org|date=5 December 2016|access-date=30 August 2017}}

• Ethnic groups in Central America

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{CIA World Factbook|year=2006}}

• [http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/costarica_statistics.html#6 UNICEF Information about Costa Rica's Demographics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050105033220/http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/costarica_statistics.html#6 |date=2005-01-05 }}
• [http://www.inec.go.cr INEC]. National Institute of Statistics and Census {{in lang|es}}

{{Ethnic groups in Costa Rica}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Demographics Of Costa Rica}}