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Costa Rica
(information)
Population as of 2020: 5.09 million 119 of 193
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Region: Central America
Nominal G.D.P. in 2024: $95.35 billion 71 of 193
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Top Exports
Costa Rica is a **unique exporter**, combining **high-tech medical manufacturing with agriculture**. 👉 Total exports: **~$19.9 billion (2024)** | Rank | Export Category | Notes | | ---- | ------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------- | | 1 | **Optical, medical & technical equipment** | Largest sector (~$8.7B, ~40%+) | | 2 | **Fruits & nuts** | Bananas, pineapples (~$2.7–2.8B) | | 3 | **Miscellaneous food preparations** | Processed foods (~$1.1B) | | 4 | **Electrical & electronic equipment** | Circuits, components (~$800M+) | | 5 | **Plastics & plastic articles** | Industrial/manufactured goods | | 6 | **Prepared fruits & vegetables** | Processed agricultural goods | | 7 | **Pharmaceutical products** | Growing high-value exports | | 8 | **Coffee, tea & spices** | Traditional export sector | | 9 | **Rubber & rubber products** | Industrial goods | | 10 | **Animal/vegetable fats & oils** | Palm oil and derivatives | Key individual export products (by value) | Rank | Product | Notes | | ---- | --------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | 11 | **Medical instruments & devices** | Largest single export (~$3–7B range) | | 12 | **Orthopedic appliances (prosthetics)** | Major high-tech export | | 13 | **Integrated circuits & electronics** | Semiconductor-related exports | | 14 | **Bananas** | One of the top agricultural exports | | 15 | **Pineapples** | Costa Rica is a leading global exporter | | 16 | **Coffee (green beans)** | Traditional export | | 17 | **Prepared food products** | Packaged/processed foods | | 18 | **Palm oil** | Industrial/agricultural export | | 19 | **Vegetables (fresh)** | Agricultural exports | | 20 | **Pharmaceutical formulations** | Expanding biotech sector | Key Takeaways * 🏥 **Medical devices dominate:** * Costa Rica is a **global hub for medical equipment manufacturing** (its #1 export sector) * 🍍 **Agriculture still strong:** * Major exporter of **bananas, pineapples, and coffee** * ⚡ **Electronics & tech integration:** * Exports include **integrated circuits and high-tech components** * 🍽️ **Growing food processing sector:** * Increasing exports of **processed foods and preparations** * 🌍 **Highly diversified for its size:** * Mix of **high-tech manufacturing + agriculture**, unlike most peers Top Importers of Costa Rica’s Exports (2024) | Rank | Country | Notes | | ---- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 1 | **United States** | By far the largest market (~40–45%); medical devices, fruit, electronics. | | 2 | **Netherlands** | EU gateway; bananas, pineapples, medical goods. | | 3 | **Belgium** | Trade hub; medical devices and pharmaceuticals. | | 4 | **Guatemala** | Regional trade; food and manufactured goods. | | 5 | **Nicaragua** | Regional trade; consumer goods and agriculture. | | 6 | **Panama** | Regional hub; logistics and re-exports. | | 7 | **El Salvador** | Regional trade; processed foods and goods. | | 8 | **Mexico** | Industrial goods and agriculture. | | 9 | **Germany** | Medical devices and pharmaceuticals. | | 10 | **Spain** | Agricultural products and food exports. | Key Patterns * 🇺🇸 **United States dominates**: * The primary destination for **medical devices and high-tech exports** * 🌍 **Europe as a gateway market**: * **Netherlands and Belgium** act as major **distribution hubs** * 🌎 **Strong regional integration**: * Central American neighbors (**Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador**) are key partners * 🏥 **Medical exports drive global trade**: * High-value medical goods are shipped mainly to **developed markets (U.S., EU)**
