List of presidents of Costa Rica facts for kids
This article tells you about the leaders of Costa Rica, from when it became independent from Spain. From 1824 to 1838, Costa Rica was part of a larger group of countries called the Federal Republic of Central America. After that, it became its own independent nation.
Contents
Early Leaders of Costa Rica (1824–1848)
These are the people who led Costa Rica before it officially became a republic with a president. They were called "Heads of State."
Liberal Conservative
Number | Leader | Picture | Time in Office | Political Group | Notes |
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1 | Juan Mora Fernández (1784–1854) |
1824–1833 | Liberal | Served two times in a row. | |
2 | José Rafael Gallegos (1784–1850) |
1833–1835 | Conservative | He stepped down. | |
3 | Braulio Carrillo Colina (1800–1845) |
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1835–1837 | Liberal | First time as leader. |
4 | Juan Mora Fernández (1784–1854) |
March–April 1837 | Liberal | Temporary leader. | |
5 | Manuel Aguilar Chacón (1797–1846) |
1837–1838 | Liberal | Removed from power. | |
6 | Braulio Carrillo Colina (1800–1845) |
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1838–1842 | Liberal | Second time as leader. Removed from power. |
7 | Francisco Morazán (1792–1842) |
April–September 1842 | Liberal | Removed by the people and executed. | |
8 | António Pinto Soares (1780–1865) |
September 1842 | Liberal | Became leader during a public uprising, then quickly resigned. | |
9 | José María Alfaro Zamora (1799–1865) |
1842–1844 | Liberal | First time. Temporary leader. | |
10 | Francisco María Oreamuno Bonilla (1801–1856) |
November–December 1844 | Liberal | Removed from power. | |
11 | José Rafael Gallegos (1784–1850) |
1845–1846 | Conservative | ||
12 | José María Alfaro Zamora (1799–1856) |
1846–1847 | Liberal | Second time. | |
13 | José Castro Madriz (1818–1892) |
1847–1848 | Liberal |
Presidents of Costa Rica (1848–Present)
Since 1848, the leader of Costa Rica has been called the "President."
Liberal Conservative Military PP PR PRN PUN PLN PUSC PAC PPSD
Number | President (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Political Group | Election | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | José María 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) |
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16 November 1849 | 26 November 1849 | Non-partisan Liberal | 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 | Temporary leader 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 | Second term. Removed from power. | |
6 | Jesús Jiménez Zamora (1823–1897) |
1 November 1868 | 27 April 1870 | Military | De facto | Second term. | |
7 | Bruno Carranza Ramírez (1822–1891) |
27 April 1870 | 8 August 1870 | Non-partisan Liberal | Appointed as temporary president. Resigned quickly. | ||
8 | Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez (1831–1882) |
10 August 1870 | 8 May 1876 | Non-partisan Liberal | 1872 | Temporary from 1870–1872, then elected. | |
9 | Aniceto Esquivel Sáenz (1824–1898) |
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8 May 1876 | 30 July 1876 | Non-partisan Liberal | 1876 | Removed from power. |
10 | Vicente Herrera Zeledón (1821–1888) |
30 July 1876 | 11 September 1877 | Non-partisan Conservative | Appointed by Guardia. | ||
11 | Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez (1831–1882) |
11 September 1877 | 6 July 1882 | Non-partisan Liberal | Second time as leader. Died in office. | ||
12 | Saturnino Lizano Gutiérrez (1826–1905) |
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6 July 1882 | 20 July 1882 | Non-partisan Liberal | Acting president. | |
13 | Próspero Fernández Oreamuno (1834–1885) |
20 July 1882 | 12 March 1885 | Non-partisan Liberal | 1882 | Died in office. | |
14 | Bernardo Soto Alfaro (1854–1931) |
12 March 1885 | 8 May 1890 | Non-partisan Liberal | 1886 | Served two terms. | |
15 | José Rodríguez Zeledón (1837–1917) |
8 May 1890 | 8 May 1894 | Constitutional | 1889 | ||
16 | Rafael Yglesias Castro (1861–1924) |
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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) |
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8 May 1906 | 8 May 1910 | National | 1905 | First term. |
19 | Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno (1859–1945) |
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8 May 1910 | 8 May 1914 | Republican | 1909 | First term. Son of Jesús Jiménez Zamora. |
20 | Alfredo González Flores (1877–1962) |
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8 May 1914 | 27 January 1917 | Republican | Chosen by Congress. | Removed from power in a coup. |
21 | Federico Tinoco Granados (1868–1931) |
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27 January 1917 | 13 August 1919 | Peliquista | Took power after a coup. | Removed by the people. |
22 | Juan Quirós Segura (1853–1934) |
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13 August 1919 | 2 September 1919 | Peliquista | De facto | Forced to resign by the U.S. government. |
23 | Francisco Aguilar Barquero (1857–1924) |
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2 September 1919 | 8 May 1920 | Republican | Temporary president. | |
24 | Julio Acosta García (1872–1954) |
8 May 1920 | 8 May 1924 | Constitutional | 1919 | ||
25 | Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno (1859–1945) |
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8 May 1924 | 8 May 1928 | Republican | 1923 | Second term. |
26 | Cleto González Víquez (1858–1937) |
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8 May 1928 | 8 May 1932 | National Union | 1928 | Second term. |
27 | Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno (1859–1945) |
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8 May 1932 | 8 May 1936 | National Republican | 1932 | Third term. |
28 | León Cortés Castro (1882–1946) |
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8 May 1936 | 8 May 1940 | National Republican | 1936 | |
29 | Rafael Calderón Guardia (1900–1970) |
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8 May 1940 | 8 May 1944 | National Republican | 1940 | |
30 | Teodoro Picado Michalski (1900–1960) |
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8 May 1944 | 20 April 1948 | National Republican | 1944 | |
(31a) | Santos León Herrera (1874–1950) |
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20 April 1948 | 8 May 1948 | National Republican | Temporary president. | |
(31b) | José Figueres Ferrer (1906–1990) |
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8 May 1948 | 8 November 1949 | Social Democratic | De facto | Took power after the Civil War. |
31 | Otilio Ulate Blanco (1891–1973) |
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8 November 1949 | 8 November 1953 | National Union | 1948 | |
32 | José Figueres Ferrer (1906–1990) |
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8 November 1953 | 8 May 1958 | National Liberation | 1953 | Second term. |
33 | Mario Echandi Jiménez (1915–2011) |
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8 May 1958 | 8 May 1962 | National Union | 1958 | |
34 | Francisco Orlich Bolmarcich (1907–1969) |
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8 May 1962 | 8 May 1966 | National Liberation | 1962 | |
35 | José Trejos Fernández (1916–2010) |
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8 May 1966 | 8 May 1970 | National Unification | 1966 | |
36 | José Figueres Ferrer (1906–1990) |
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8 May 1970 | 8 May 1974 | National Liberation | 1970 | Third term. |
37 | Daniel Oduber Quirós (1921–1991) |
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8 May 1974 | 8 May 1978 | National Liberation | 1974 | |
38 | Rodrigo Carazo Odio (1926–2009) |
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8 May 1978 | 8 May 1982 | Unity Coalition | 1978 | |
39 | Luis Monge Álvarez (1925–2016) |
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8 May 1982 | 8 May 1986 | National Liberation | 1982 | |
40 | Óscar Arias Sánchez (born 1940) |
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8 May 1986 | 8 May 1990 | National Liberation | 1986 | Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987. First term. |
41 | Rafael Calderón Fournier (born 1949) |
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8 May 1990 | 8 May 1994 | Social Christian Unity | 1990 | Son of Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia. |
42 | José Figueres Olsen (born 1954) |
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8 May 1994 | 8 May 1998 | National Liberation | 1994 | Son of José Figueres Ferrer. |
43 | Miguel Rodríguez Echeverría (born 1940) |
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8 May 1998 | 8 May 2002 | Social Christian Unity | 1998 | |
44 | Abel Pacheco de la Espriella (born 1933) |
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8 May 2002 | 8 May 2006 | Social Christian Unity | 2002 | |
45 | Óscar Arias Sánchez (born 1940) |
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8 May 2006 | 8 May 2010 | National Liberation | 2006 | Second term. |
46 | Laura Chinchilla Miranda (born 1959) |
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8 May 2010 | 8 May 2014 | National Liberation | 2010 | 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) |
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8 May 2018 | 8 May 2022 | Citizens' Action | 2018 | Youngest president since Alfredo González Flores (1914). |
49 | Rodrigo Chaves Robles (born 1961) |
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8 May 2022 | Incumbent (Term ends on 8 May 2026) |
Social Democratic Progress | 2022 | He is the current president. |
Timeline of Leaders
This timeline shows when each leader served. Different colors represent different political groups.

More Information
- List of presidents of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica
- List of presidents of the Supreme Court of Costa Rica
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Presidentes de Costa Rica para niños