Flag and Facts
The Costa Rican flag contains lots of symbolism from the vibrant stripes to the coat of arms. The blue stripes of the flag represent the sky, opportunity, and perseverance. Meanwhile, white represents peace, happiness, and wisdom. Finally, the red in the middle symbolizes the blood shed for freedom, as well as the generosity of the people. The design of the flag has been altered through time, but one of the original designs from 1823, after Costa Rica gained independence from Mexico, drew inspiration from the Argentinian flag. It consisted of multiple stripes that were blue and white. In 1848, Pacífica Fernández Oreamuno, the wife of the president redesigned the flag to incorporate a red stripe in the middle from her admiration of France. Finally, in 1998, the coat of arms was added to make the iconic flag we know today. The coat of arms contains a lot of important symbols. The seven stars represent the seven different provinces that makeup Costa Rica. The volcanic scenery represents the three mountain ranges that are a part of Costa Rica’s unique environment. Finally, the ship is a symbol of the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that border the country.
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Economics
Costa Rica has an interesting economic dynamic but remains one of the best economies in Central America. As of 2023, the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was $26,300, just behind Panama’s $35,900 per person. However, Costa Rica’s overall GDP was $86.498 million in 2023, which was the highest of all the Central American countries and ranked 71st of all the countries. Despite the economic expansion, Costa Rica faces issues concerning poverty, in 2022, 25.5% of the population was below the poverty line. Up until COVID, poverty was declining, but unfortunately, those efforts were reversed by the virus. Costa Rica also encountered issues in paying off its high public debt. The majority of the population works in services with 67% of the population, while 13% of the people work in agriculture, and 20% in the industry. One of the most prominent parts of Costa Rica’s economy comes from tourism, which requires a lot of people working in service. Some major imports in Costa Rica include medical instruments, refined petroleum, and broadcasting equipment. Most of Costa Rica’s imports are from the United States, but also from China, Mexico, Guatemala, and Brazil. Meanwhile, Costa Rica exports medical instruments, orthopedic appliances, bananas, and coffee. Because of its tropical climate, there is a surplus of tropical fruits such as bananas and pineapple making Costa Rica one of the world's top exporters. Costa Rica is also globally known for its high-quality coffee. Costa Rica’s top export partners include the United States, Netherlands, Guatemala, Belgium, and Nicaragua. In summary, while Costa Rica’s economy flourishes it still faces challenges with poverty and inequality.