Armed conflict and political violenceElevated
Armed violence is reported regularly in some areas.
Country risk assessment ยท Americas
Costa Rica political and security risk assessment
Costa Rica carries a guarded level of political and security risk for business. It scores 25 out of 100 on the Zed Three World Threat Map (band 2 of 5), up 1 on last week and rising over the last 12 weeks. Last updated Nov 2, 2026.
25of 100
Guarded
Band 2 of 5
▲ Up 1 on last week
Americas
Costa Rica
What is the political and security risk in Costa Rica right now?
Costa Rica carries a guarded level of political and security risk for business. It scores 25 out of 100 on the Zed Three World Threat Map (band 2 of 5), up 1 on last week and rising over the last 12 weeks.
Week on week the picture is little changed. The main standing risks are foreign government warnings.
On the economic side, real GDP grew 4.6% in 2025 with inflation at -0.1%.
What are the main risks of operating in Costa Rica?
Staff movement and duty of careGuarded
Foreign governments advise normal to increased caution.
Protest and civil unrestGuarded
Protests occur but rarely disrupt operations.
Chokepoint exposure
Panama CanalThe canal joining the Atlantic and the PacificRead the explainer →What has changed recently in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica moved up 1 this week and rose 5 points over the last 12 weeks, from 20 to 25.
What happens next? Outlook for the next 1 to 3 months
We assess there is a realistic possibility that Costa Rica stays in the Guarded band through the end of December. It sits 1 point from the Low band.
40 to 55%
0%50%100%
Likelihood ranges are editorial judgments, not advice.
What does it mean for shipping, supply chains and operations?
Trade routes for Costa Rica are exposed to the Panama Canal, so disruption there feeds straight into freight time and cost.
Food makes up 32% of goods exports (2024 data), so harvest, port and road disruption matter for buyers.
Trade equals 71% of GDP (2025 data). Supply chain exposure is mainly to regional and global shocks rather than local events.
Operating conditions are generally normal, with localized risks to plan around.
Key facts
GDPUS$102.9 billionLatest data, 2025
Real GDP growth4.6%Latest data, 2025
Inflation-0.1%Latest data, 2025
Trade71% of GDPLatest data, 2025
Food exports32% of goods exportsLatest data, 2024
Population5.2 millionLatest data, 2025
How has the Costa Rica threat score moved?
Frequently asked questions
What is the political and security risk in Costa Rica for business?
Costa Rica carries a guarded level of political and security risk for business. It scores 25 out of 100 on the Zed Three World Threat Map (band 2 of 5), up 1 on last week and rising over the last 12 weeks.
What are the main geopolitical risks of operating in Costa Rica?
The main risk drivers are armed conflict and political violence (elevated); staff movement and duty of care (guarded); protest and civil unrest (guarded). Armed violence is reported regularly in some areas.
What is the outlook for Costa Rica?
We assess there is a realistic possibility (40 to 55%) that Costa Rica stays in the Guarded band through the end of December. It sits 1 point from the Low band.
Which shipping chokepoints matter for Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is exposed to the Panama Canal. The canal joining the Atlantic and the Pacific.
How often is the Costa Rica risk assessment updated?
The Costa Rica threat score is updated weekly on the Zed Three World Threat Map, and this assessment is reviewed monthly. It was last updated Nov 2, 2026.
Related country assessments
Published by Zed Three, a private, independent risk intelligence company. Assessment last updated Nov 2, 2026. Threat score updated weekly, last on Nov 2, 2026. General analysis for informational purposes, not security, legal or investment advice.
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