Costa Rica has a relatively stable government and economy with coffee being one of its most important exports along with bananas and pineapples. Costa Rica can also boast of having one of the highest literacy rates in the Western Hemisphere with an impressive educational system. While nearly seventy percent of the population of Costa Rica is considered urban, the capital city of San Jose is home to nearly one-fourth of the total population. Moreover, almost twenty-six percent of the population is between the ages of 15 and 29.

Costa Rica is home to millions of people with a diverse array of ethnicities represented among its population including those of European, Native American, African, and Chinese descent. Although many different languages, such as Creole, Bribri, and Boruca, are spoken by these various groups of people, Spanish is the main, official language of the country. Moreover, these different nationalities bring with them different cultures, traditions, and religions. For instance, those who are of Native American descent, although a small and still decreasing number, maintain their animalistic religions. While there are also small populations of Quakers, Mennonites, and Jewish communities in the country, nearly three-fourths of the population identify as Roman Catholic, with Catholicism being the dominant and official religion of the country. However, of that number, twenty-five percent are considered non-practicing.

Since Costa Rica is predominately Roman Catholic, the country as a whole observes several religious holidays. Many celebrate Holy Week, a time of celebrations, parades, and a time in which many businesses close for several days. Moreover, one of the most important of these religious holidays occurs on August 2, which is known as the Day of the Virgin of Los Angeles, a day in which people honor the patron saint of Costa Rica. However, while the people of Costa Rica are a religious people, many of them do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. For it is only through their faith in Jesus Christ that they can be saved. As Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

One more interesting fact about the people of Costa Rica, or “Ticos” or “Ticas,” as they are nicknamed,” is how they use the phrase pura vida, or pure life, in their everyday conversation as a greeting or to show appreciation. However, many of them do not know the only one who ever lived a pura vida, Jesus Christ. As we read in II Corinthians 5:20-21, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Please pray with us that God would raise up laborers for the country of Costa Rica so that the nearly 5 million people who live there would get to hear the truth of the Gospel and come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.