Faces of Costa Rica

Health Care for Everyone

Costa Rica has one of the best healthcare systems in Latin America. Life expectancy of the average Costa Rican is 76 years, as compared with 77 years in the United States. Life expectancy in Nicaragua and Panama is at 70 and 72 years, respectively.

The CCSS, or Costa Rican Social Security office, oversees healthcare. Each employed Costa Rican is required to contribute 9 percent of wages, and each company must contribute 11 percent of wage bills.

However, the system is facing financial strain. In 1990, 6.7 percent of Costa Rica's GDP went to health care. In 2002, just 4.4 percent was earmarked for healthcare. In 2002, the Costa Rican health care system attended to more than 14 million patients.

• Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social - The Costa Rican Social Security Agency oversees the country's healthcare (in Spanish). This site is not part of the Faces of Costa Rica Web site.

• World Health Organization - This page analyzes and offers health statistics on Costa Rica. This site is not part of the Faces of Costa Rica Web site.

• Costa Rican Ministry of Health - Offers information on Costa Rica's health system (in Spanish). This site is not part of the Faces of Costa Rica Web site.