List of presidents of Costa Rica facts for kids

Costa Rica has a rich history of leaders! Since gaining independence from Spain in the 1820s, this Central American nation has been guided by many important figures. For a while, Costa Rica was part of a larger group of countries called the Federal Republic of Central America. But since 1838, it has been its own independent country, led by its own heads of state and, later, presidents.

Early Leaders: Heads of State (1824–1848)

In the early days, Costa Rica's top leaders were called "Heads of State." These individuals guided the country through its first years after breaking away from Spanish rule. They faced many challenges as Costa Rica found its own path.

      Liberal       Conservative

No.	Head of State	Portrait	Term of Office	Political Affiliation	Notes
1	Juan Mora Fernández (1784–1854)		1824–1833	Liberal	Served two terms in a row. He was re-elected in 1829.
2	José Rafael Gallegos (1784–1850)		1833–1835	Conservative	He stepped down from his position. After him, Manuel Fernández Chacón and Nicolás Ulloa Soto served as temporary leaders.
3	Braulio Carrillo Colina (1800–1845)		1835–1837	Liberal	This was his first time as leader.
4	Juan Mora Fernández (1784–1854)		March–April 1837	Liberal	He served as a temporary leader.
5	Manuel Aguilar Chacón (1797–1846)		1837–1838	Liberal	He was removed from power by a sudden takeover (a coup d'état).
6	Braulio Carrillo Colina (1800–1845)		1838–1842	Liberal	This was his second time as leader. He was also removed from power by a sudden takeover.
7	Francisco Morazán (1792–1842)		April–September 1842	Liberal	He was removed from power by a public uprising and was executed on September 15, 1842.
8	António Pinto Soares (1780–1865)		September 1842	Liberal	He came to power during a public uprising but quickly stepped down.
9	José María Alfaro Zamora (1799–1865)		1842–1844	Liberal	This was his first time as leader, serving temporarily.
10	Francisco María Oreamuno Bonilla (1801–1856)		November–December 1844	Liberal	He was removed from power by a sudden takeover.
11	José Rafael Gallegos (1784–1850)		1845–1846	Conservative
12	José María Alfaro Zamora (1799–1856)		1846–1847	Liberal	This was his second time as leader.
13	José Castro Madriz (1818–1892)		1847–1848	Liberal

Modern Leaders: Presidents (1848–Present)

Since 1848, Costa Rica has been led by presidents. These elected officials work to guide the country, make laws, and represent Costa Rica on the world stage.

      Liberal       Conservative       Military       PP       PR       PRN       PUN       PLN       PUSC       PAC       PPSD

No.	President (Birth–Death)		Term of Office		Political Affiliation	Election	Notes
1	José Castro Madriz (1818–1892)		31 August 1848	16 November 1849	Non-partisan Liberal	1847	Known as the "Founder of the Republic."
(1)	Miguel Mora Porras (1816–1887)		16 November 1849	26 November 1849	Non-partisan Liberal		Served as a temporary president.
2	Juan Mora Porras (1814–1860)		26 November 1849	14 August 1859	Non-partisan Liberal	1849 1853 1859	Served three terms.
3	José María Montealegre Fernández (1815–1887)		14 August 1859	8 May 1863	Non-partisan Liberal	1860	Was a temporary president from 1859–1860.
4	Jesús Jiménez Zamora (1823–1897)		8 May 1863	8 May 1866	Non-partisan Liberal	1863
5	José Castro Madriz (1818–1892)		8 May 1866	1 November 1868	Non-partisan Liberal	1866	This was his second term. He was removed from power by a sudden takeover.
6	Jesús Jiménez Zamora (1823–1897)		1 November 1868	27 April 1870	Military	De facto	This was his second term. He ruled without being formally elected.
7	Bruno Carranza Ramírez (1822–1891)		27 April 1870	8 August 1870	Non-partisan Liberal		He was chosen by Tomás Guardia to be a temporary president. He resigned after only a few months.
8	Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez (1831–1882)		10 August 1870	8 May 1876	Non-partisan Liberal	1872	He was a temporary leader from 1870–1872, then later elected.
9	Aniceto Esquivel Sáenz (1824–1898)		8 May 1876	30 July 1876	Non-partisan Liberal	1876	He was removed from power by a sudden takeover.
10	Vicente Herrera Zeledón (1821–1888)		30 July 1876	11 September 1877	Non-partisan Conservative		He was chosen by Tomás Guardia.
11	Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez (1831–1882)		11 September 1877	6 July 1882	Non-partisan Liberal		This was his second time ruling without being formally elected. He passed away while in office.
12	Saturnino Lizano Gutiérrez (1826–1905)		6 July 1882	20 July 1882	Non-partisan Liberal		He served as a temporary president.
13	Próspero Fernández Oreamuno (1834–1885)		20 July 1882	12 March 1885	Non-partisan Liberal	1882	He passed away while in office.
14	Bernardo Soto Alfaro (1854–1931)		12 March 1885	8 May 1890	Non-partisan Liberal	1886	He served two terms in a row. The first term was not completed. Carlos Durán Cartín was a temporary president from 1889–1890.
15	José Rodríguez Zeledón (1837–1917)		8 May 1890	8 May 1894	Constitutional	1889
16	Rafael Yglesias Castro (1861–1924)		8 May 1894	8 May 1902	Civil	1893	Served two terms.
17	Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra (1844–1923)		8 May 1902	8 May 1906	National Union	1901
18	Cleto González Víquez (1858–1937)		8 May 1906	8 May 1910	National	1905	This was his first term.
19	Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno (1859–1945)		8 May 1910	8 May 1914	Republican	1909	He was the son of Jesús Jiménez Zamora. This was his first term.
20	Alfredo González Flores (1877–1962)		8 May 1914	27 January 1917	Republican	Designated by Congress as no clear candidate won in 1913	He ruled without being formally elected. He was removed by Tinoco in a sudden takeover.
21	Federico Tinoco Granados (1868–1931)		27 January 1917	13 August 1919	Peliquista	Took power after coup, was sole candidate in the 1917 election	He served two terms. He was overthrown by a public uprising.
22	Juan Quirós Segura (1853–1934)		13 August 1919	2 September 1919	Peliquista	De facto	He was the Vice President before. He took over after Tinoco left the country. The U.S. government made him resign.
23	Francisco Aguilar Barquero (1857–1924)		2 September 1919	8 May 1920	Republican		He served as a temporary president.
24	Julio Acosta García (1872–1954)		8 May 1920	8 May 1924	Constitutional	1919
25	Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno (1859–1945)		8 May 1924	8 May 1928	Republican	1923	This was his second term.
26	Cleto González Víquez (1858–1937)		8 May 1928	8 May 1932	National Union	1928	This was his second term.
27	Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno (1859–1945)		8 May 1932	8 May 1936	National Republican	1932	This was his third term.
28	León Cortés Castro (1882–1946)		8 May 1936	8 May 1940	National Republican	1936
29	Rafael Calderón Guardia (1900–1970)		8 May 1940	8 May 1944	National Republican	1940
30	Teodoro Picado Michalski (1900–1960)		8 May 1944	20 April 1948	National Republican	1944
(31a)	Santos León Herrera (1874–1950)		20 April 1948	8 May 1948	National Republican		He was a temporary president and had been the vice-president to Teodoro Picado Michalski.
(31b)	José Figueres Ferrer (1906–1990)		8 May 1948	8 November 1949	Social Democratic	De facto	He came to power after the Civil War. He later gave power back to an elected president after changing how the government worked.
31	Otilio Ulate Blanco (1891–1973)		8 November 1949	8 November 1953	National Union	1948
32	José Figueres Ferrer (1906–1990)		8 November 1953	8 May 1958	National Liberation	1953	This was his second term. At this time, presidents were not allowed to be re-elected right away.
33	Mario Echandi Jiménez (1915–2011)		8 May 1958	8 May 1962	National Union	1958
34	Francisco Orlich Bolmarcich (1907–1969)		8 May 1962	8 May 1966	National Liberation	1962
35	José Trejos Fernández (1916–2010)		8 May 1966	8 May 1970	National Unification	1966
36	José Figueres Ferrer (1906–1990)		8 May 1970	8 May 1974	National Liberation	1970	This was his third term. Presidential re-election was still not allowed right away.
37	Daniel Oduber Quirós (1921–1991)		8 May 1974	8 May 1978	National Liberation	1974
38	Rodrigo Carazo Odio (1926–2009)		8 May 1978	8 May 1982	Unity Coalition	1978
39	Luis Monge Álvarez (1925–2016)		8 May 1982	8 May 1986	National Liberation	1982
40	Óscar Arias Sánchez (born 1940)		8 May 1986	8 May 1990	National Liberation	1986	He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987. This was his first term.
41	Rafael Calderón Fournier (born 1949)		8 May 1990	8 May 1994	Social Christian Unity	1990	He is the son of Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia.
42	José Figueres Olsen (born 1954)		8 May 1994	8 May 1998	National Liberation	1994	He is the son of José Figueres Ferrer.
43	Miguel Rodríguez Echeverría (born 1940)		8 May 1998	8 May 2002	Social Christian Unity	1998
44	Abel Pacheco de la Espriella (born 1933)		8 May 2002	8 May 2006	Social Christian Unity	2002	The rule allowing presidents to be re-elected was brought back.
45	Óscar Arias Sánchez (born 1940)		8 May 2006	8 May 2010	National Liberation	2006	This was his second term.
46	Laura Chinchilla Miranda (born 1959)		8 May 2010	8 May 2014	National Liberation	2010	She was the first female president of Costa Rica.
47	Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera (born 1958)		8 May 2014	8 May 2018	Citizens' Action	2014
48	Carlos Alvarado Quesada (born 1980)		8 May 2018	8 May 2022	Citizens' Action	2018	He was the youngest president since Alfredo González Flores (1914). He was the first president to be called by Congress for a hearing.
49	Rodrigo Chaves Robles (born 1961)		8 May 2022	Incumbent (Term ends on 8 May 2026)	Social Democratic Progress	2022	He is the current president.

Timeline of Costa Rican Leaders

This timeline shows when each leader served and their political party.

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Presidentes de Costa Rica para niños

• List of presidents of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica
• List of presidents of the Supreme Court of Costa Rica