Flag of Costa Rica

🎨 What the flag means

Costa Rica's flag has five stripes: blue, white, a wide red stripe in the middle, then white and blue. Blue stands for the sky and big dreams, white for peace, wisdom and happiness, and red for the warmth and generosity of Costa Rican people. The government version adds a coat of arms with seven stars, one for each province.

📊 Quick facts

👥 Population

5.3 million (2024)

🏙️ Capital

San José335 thousand people (2025)

🗣️ Main language

Spanish

✨ 3 fun facts

1. Costa Rica has no army; in 1949 it was said the army would be replaced by "an army of teachers".
2. Costa Ricans often say "Pura vida", meaning "pure life", to say hello or that everything is great.
3. Costa Rica has 14 known volcanoes and is famous for its amazing variety of plants and animals.