What is the area of Costa Rica?
Costa Rica covers 51,100 km², equivalent to Normandy and Brittany combined, making it a relatively small country but remarkably rich in biodiversity.
Area and comparisons
Costa Rica covers 51,100 km², which represents approximately 9% of mainland France's surface area. To better visualize this size, it corresponds to Normandy and Brittany combined.
A small territory with exceptional wealth
Despite its modest size, Costa Rica presents remarkable geographical diversity:
- Two ocean fronts: Pacific (1,016 km of coastline) and Atlantic (212 km)
- Varied relief: coastal plains, central mountain ranges culminating at 3,819 m
- Record biodiversity density: 5% of world biodiversity on 0.03% of emerged land
Strategic geographical position
The country measures approximately 460 km long and its width varies between 120 and 300 km depending on the areas. This configuration makes it a natural bridge between North and South America, explaining its exceptional biological wealth.