Climate risk and adaptation country profile: Costa Rica

This Country Profile is part of a series of 31 priority country briefs developed by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) as part of its Disaster Risk Management Plans. The profile synthesizes most relevant data and information for Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation to Climate Change and is designed as a quick reference source for development practitioners to better integrate climate resilience in development planning and operations.

With an annual GDP of $29 billion, Costa Ricans enjoy the highest standard of living in Central America. Due to a combination of geographic variations and economic factors, Costa Rica is highly vulnerable to extreme climate events and natural hazards. Part of this vulnerability has to do with the presence of populations in areas prone to volcanic eruptions and in unstable lands, degraded by wide-spread cattle ranching, or in poorly planned settlements prone to landslides and flooding. Nevertheless, Costa Rica has made great strides toward adapting through the establishment of a disaster response system, limiting vulnerabilities through enforcement of building codes and other measures, and strengthening its institutional policy framework.