Costa Rica Social Institutions

Costa Rica has free, compulsory education through the ninth grade. In the first six grades, there is a 99% attendance rate, which drops to 71% in the last three grades. Over the past decade, the government has made noticeable, significant strides to improve both the quality and quantity of public schools, spending about 25% of its budget on this effort.

Costa Rica’s health care system is one of the best in Latin America, and is generally on a par with international standards. Its low-cost, universal health care system provides high-quality care for all its citizens and contributes to a high average life expectancy of 77 years for men and 80 years for women. Private healthcare is also available and is generally quite good.

Despite its well-developed welfare system, nearly 20% of Costa Ricans live below the poverty line. Large differences in rural and urban wages are a major contributor to poverty levels, which manifest themselves in crime and prostitution problems that tourism only exacerbates. While Costa Rica does not have much trouble with organized crime (beyond drug trafficking), some corruption and nepotism continue to be problematic aspects of political life.

More Cultural Essentials in Costa Rica

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