Whether or not a country is a third-world country can be discerned from the country’s makeup. In this case, Costa Rica is a third-world country.
In our previous article, we explained in detail what being a third-world country implies. So, in this article, I’ll tell you all you need to know about Costa Rica as a third-world country.
Why is Costa Rica a Third World Country?
Since the term “third world” has become a bit derogatory, we’ll stick to categorizing countries as underdeveloped, developing, and underdeveloped countries.
Though Costa Rica’s economy has thrived beyond most developed countries, it’s very much still a developing country. Here’s why it stands out as such:
Non Affiliation With USSR or NATO
This was discussed in our previous article as the primary yardstick for measuring whether or not a country is a third-world country.
Affiliation with the USSR or NATO categorizes countries as first-world countries. Affiliation with the Soviet Union places countries in the second world cadre. Non-affiliation with any of these two makes a country third world.
Costa Rica falls under non-affiliated countries.
It’s a Developing Country
This is a major indicator of whether a country is third world or not. All first and second-world countries are developed countries. You’ll never find a developing country in the first or second-world cadre.
Huge Gap Between the Rich and the Poor
The number of poor people in Costa Rica still outnumbers that of the middle class and the rich class. As of 2012, 1.1 million residents in Costa Rica were still living in poverty.
Today, there’s a 10.60% poverty rate in Costa Rica. And this is just a slight difference from 2012 since Costa Rica’s population is 5,180,112 million. This is something you’ll never see in first and second-world countries like the United States and China.
Gender Inequality
Gender inequality has negatively affected Costa Rica’s development. As opposed to the 76% participation of men, only 48% of Costa Rica women are involved in the labor market.
This goes to affect the country’s gross national income per capita. The GNI of men per year is $23,500 while that of women is only $13,476.
What Makes Costa Rica Special?
Regardless of these realities, Costa Rica still remains a model of attraction for even developed countries. Here are the qualities that make Costa Rica stand out:
Stable Democracy
Costa Rica as a democratic republic maintains a strong system of checks and balances. When there’s a stable democracy, there’s peace. And this is a quality that not many countries can boast of.
Human Development Index (HDI) is High
Since 1990, the UNDP criteria for high HDI included high GNI and access to education & healthcare. But this changed in 2020 as the UNDP included planetary pressure as an added criterion.
In 2020, Costa Rica took advantage of this and scored 0.810. This score took her to the 62nd position out of 189 countries. It was recorded as Costa Rica’s highest ever considering the effort put into environmental protection.
Eco-Friendliness
Even the Costa Rica environment is appealing. According to the New Economic Foundation, Costa Rica ranked the greenest and friendliest environment in the world.
Costa Rica’s forestry is over 53% of her territory. Through its greenery, the country focuses on renewing energies to ensure environmental protection.
Impressive Public Education
Public education has been free and compulsory in Costa Rica since 1896.
According to the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report, the educational system in Costa Rica is ranked 32nd in the world.
The ripple effect of Costa Rica’s education is a 96% literacy level in the country.
Finally
The fact that Costa Rica is a third-world country doesn’t make it less inferior. Being a developing country means there’s so much room for change.
It’s not like the first and second-world countries are the best in the world anyway.
I hope this cleared your confusion!
Frequently Asked Questions About Costa Rica
Is Costa Rica a good place to live?
Yes! Costa Rica is considered the best place anyone can live in Central America. In 2020, Costa Rica ranked 32nd out of 163 countries for overall peace. Since safety is primary to living in any country, you’re assured of that in Costa Rica!
What is the cost of living in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is a very affordable place to live. It’s also one of the best places to retire. Compared to the cost of housing in the United States, Costa Rica is 60% cheaper.
This is a great way to save a lot of money in my opinion. So if you want to live a good life in Costa Rica, $1000 or $2000 a month will be more than enough to cater to your needs.
What is the safest third-world country?
According to the World Population Review, Iceland is the safest third-world country. According to the Global Peace Index, Iceland has ranked the safest country 13 times in a row. And this is attributed to its low crime rate and high standard of living.
What is Costa Rica ranked in the world?
In 2020, Costa Rica ranked 39th out of 78 countries as the best country in Central America. It also ranks 10th in adventure and 15th in comfortable retirement.
Why do Costa Ricans say Pura Vida?
Because it is a hopeful statement. Pura Vida is a Spanish expression that translates to “the good life”. It is used to capture the adventurous spirit in Costa Rica.
Pura Vida means living life to the fullest. It depicts optimism and happiness. Beyond adventure, Pura Vida means that all is well and can be used in many instances.
And this is why it’s impossible not to hear it in any of your visits. Pura Vida is even a reply to a simple “How are you?”
Why is there no army in Costa Rica?
After the civil war that lasted 44 days in Costa Rica, the then President of Costa Rica, José Figueres Ferrer dissolved the army.
Since Costa Rica won the war, nobody expected this move. However, most people say that the demilitarization was aimed to prevent any military coup against his government.
A better explanation is the choice of peace over war. The abolition of the army was drafted into the 1949 Costa Rica constitution.
From the content, it’s clear that the country has chosen peaceful round-table negotiations over conflict.
According to the constitution, military solutions should be the last resort to conflicts.
Are Costa Ricans friendly?
Yes! Costa Ricans are the most friendly bunch you’ll find in Central America. According to the Happy Planet Index, Costa Rica ranked 1st as the happiest country in the world.
You’ll never regret spending time with them.
