Country: Costa Rica
Number of People Groups
21
People Groups Unreached
1 (4.8%)
Total Population
4,822,000
Unreached Population
2,500 (0.1%)
% Professing Christian
95.6%
% Evangelical
14.98 %
Largest Religion
Literacy Rate
97 %
10/40 Window
| Photo | People Group ▲ | Population this Country |
Global Population |
Indigenous | Primary Language | Progress Scale |
Primary Religion | % Professing Christian |
% Evangelical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Americans, U.S. | 12,000 | 188,897,000 | English | 5 ● | Christianity | 87.00 % | 35.00 % | |
|
Amerindian, Detribalized | 45,000 | 15,745,000 | ● | Spanish | 4 ● | Christianity | 92.00 % | 10.00 % |
|
Arab | 3,400 | 1,068,000 | Arabic, North Levantine Spoken | 2 ● | Christianity | 84.00 % | 0.50 % | |
|
Basque | 9,500 | 2,847,000 | Basque | 2 ● | Christianity | 94.00 % | 0.07 % | |
|
Bribri | 15,000 | 16,000 | ● | Bribri | 5 ● | Christianity | 93.00 % | 25.00 % |
|
British | 5,300 | 51,663,000 | English | 4 ● | Christianity | 60.00 % | 8.00 % | |
|
Brunka, Boruca | 2,500 | 2,500 | ● | Boruca | 5 ● | Christianity | 85.00 % | 14.00 % |
|
Chinese, general | 37,000 | 8,449,000 | Chinese, Mandarin | 3 ● | Christianity | 30.00 % | 1.30 % | |
|
Chirripo, Cabecar | 12,000 | 12,000 | ● | Cabecar | 5 ● | Christianity | 95.00 % | 14.00 % |
|
Costa Rican | 3,801,000 | 3,936,000 | ● | Spanish | 5 ● | Christianity | 96.33 % | 15.80 % |
|
Costa Rican, Mestizo | 466,000 | 8,715,000 | ● | Spanish | 5 ● | Christianity | 97.00 % | 15.00 % |
|
Deaf | -1 Unknown | -1 Unknown | ● | Costa Rican Sign Language | 2 ● | Christianity | 93.94 % | 1.00 % |
|
|
European, general | 11,000 | 239,000 | Language unknown | 4 ● | Christianity | 78.00 % | 3.00 % | |
|
French | 1,000 | 49,469,000 | French | 2 ● | Christianity | 76.00 % | 0.50 % | |
|
|
Guatuso, Maleku Jaika | 1,300 | 1,300 | ● | Maleku Jaika | 4 ● | Christianity | 80.00 % | 4.00 % |
|
Jamaicans | 64,000 | 3,622,000 | Jamaican Creole English | 5 ● | Christianity | 94.40 % | 15.00 % | |
|
|
Jew, Spanish Speaking | 2,500 | 306,000 | ● | Spanish | 1 ● | Ethnic Religions | 1.00 % | 0.20 % |
|
|
Latin American, other | 328,000 | 811,000 | Spanish | 4 ● | Christianity | 96.90 % | 9.00 % | |
|
|
Mennonites | 600 | 455,000 | Plautdietsch | 4 ● | Christianity | 100.00 % | 10.00 % | |
|
Ngabe, Guaymi | 5,400 | 189,000 | ● | Ngabere | 4 ● | Christianity | 92.00 % | 6.00 % |
|
|
Teribe | 1,200 | 1,200 | ● | Teribe | 2 ● | Christianity | 84.00 % | 2.00 % |
| Totals: 21 | 4,822,000 | 1 ● | 95.64 % | 14.98 % | |||||
| Unclassified / Other Individuals | 35,000 | ||||||||
| UN Country Population (2016) | 4,857,000 |
| RELIGIONS ▲ | Percent |
|---|---|
| Buddhism | 0.2 % |
| Christianity (Evangelical 15.0 %) | 95.6 % |
| Ethnic Religions | 0.3 % |
| Hinduism | 0.0 % |
| Islam | 0.0 % |
| Non-Religious | 2.6 % |
| Other / Small Religions | 1.2 % |
| Unknown | 0.0 % |
| CHRISTIAN SEGMENTS ▲ | Percent |
|---|---|
| Anglican | 0.0 % |
| Independent | 3.7 % |
| Orthodox | 0.0 % |
| Other Christian | 8.4 % |
| Protestant | 10.4 % |
| Roman Catholic | 77.4 % |
Major Religions: Religion percentages are derived from summing Joshua Project's data for all people groups who live in each country. The number of individuals who practice each religion, by people group, are summed. This number is divided by the country's total population to derive the religion's percentage.
Christianity Segments: Christian segment percentages are derived from summing Joshua Project's data for all the people groups who live in each country. The number of individuals who practice each segment of Christianity, by people group, are summed. This number is divided by the country's total number of Christians to derive the Christian segment's percentage.
There are many agencies and churches looking for additional staff to help them in their mission and calling in Costa Rica. Internet searches are probably the best way to find these organizations. The following are some example search topics you might try:
- Church planting agencies in Costa Rica
- Christian ministry in Costa Rica
- Business as mission
- Christian literature distribution
- Evangelism agencies
- Christian discipleship
- Short term Christian missions
- Long term Christian missions
- Urban ministries
- Christian media opportunities
- Bible translation opportunities
- Relief and development agencies
- Clean water projects
- Christian medical outreaches
Below is a partial list of ministries that may work in Costa Rica or Central and South America. The lists below do not include all ministries at work in this country or region. This data is from circa 2006-2008 and is not being maintained by Joshua Project. There are likely many excellent ministries not listed here. Inclusion here is not an endorsement by Joshua Project.
| People Groups | 21 |
| Unreached People Groups | 1 (4.8%) |
| Population | 4,822,000 |
| Population in Unreached | 2,500 (0.1%) |
| Urbanization | 76% |
| Continent | North America |
| Region | Central and South America |
| 10/40 Window | No |
| Country Code | CS |
| Official National Language | Spanish |
| Secondary National Language | English |
| Literacy Rate | 97% |
| Estimated Illiterate Population | 145,000 |
| Primary Religion | Christianity |
| Percent Professing Christian | 95.6% |
| Percent Evangelical | 15.0% |
| Country Progress Level | 5 ● |
| Persecution Ranking | Not ranked |
 |
Costa Rica prayer cards. All Unreached |
| Operation World |
| World Factbook |
| Ethnologue Language Listing |
| Religious Freedom Report |
| Language Map (Ethnologue) |
| Perry-Castaneda Map Collection |
| Prayercast Video |