Costa Rica: Key Industries

Costa Rica's economy has shifted markedly over the past generation, moving away from its historic reliance on agricultural exports toward high-value manufacturing and services. The country has become a major global hub for medical device production, with multinational manufacturers operating large facilities that assemble items such as catheters, syringes, and orthopedic and electro-medical equipment; these products, together with electronics and microprocessors, now account for the largest share of export earnings by a wide margin.

Tourism and agriculture remain vital to the economy despite this shift. Costa Rica's national park system and biodiversity draw millions of international visitors each year, and tourism supports a substantial share of employment in hotels, restaurants, and related services. Agriculture, though a smaller slice of output than in past decades, still anchors many rural communities: the country is one of the world's largest exporters of pineapples, along with bananas, coffee, and other tropical produce that have long defined its export identity.

As of 2026, the United States remains Costa Rica's dominant trading partner, purchasing roughly half of the country's total exports, a share driven heavily by the medical device and electronics sectors. This trade relationship is reinforced by the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement, which has underpinned commercial ties between the two countries for two decades. The European Union and other Central American economies make up most of Costa Rica's remaining trade.