Costa Rica People Culture

Costa Rica people culture and traditions are enveloped in strong family values, which form the foundation of social and cultural life in Costa Rica. The Ticos as the people here call themselves, are generally very friendly, happy and content, and they are also extremely well mannered and polite.


The Costa Rican people are very proud of their country including its ecological gems and incredible physical features. their comparatively high standard of living and growing economy, as well as their education system and health care system health care system.

They proudly define themselves in comparison to their beleaguered Central American neighbors and are most proud that the country has flourished without an army for the past 50 years. The political environment in the country has remained very stable for some time. Most Ticos live quite comfortably. 92% of household have adequate sanitation and 97% have potable water.

Women are well respected in Costa Rica and their family code stipulates that husband and wife have equal duty and rights. The family unit is strong and families generally socialize together, and members of the same family will often live near each other.

The overwhelming majority of the population, 96 percent, are of Spanish descent and Spanish is the official language in Costa Rica. Two percent of the people are black, who primarily reside in and around Limon on the Caribbean coast. The blacks were brought in to Costa Rica to build the jungle railway and many stayed to work on the banana plantations. Many still speak English with a Jamaican type accent.

The remaining population are foreigners mostly from North America who have decided to settle in the country. I have heard estimates that approximately 100,000 North Americans current live in Costa Rica, but I have not been able to verify this number.

Check this out for more information on the upcoming population and tourism growth area.

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