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List of presidents of Costa Rica facts for kids

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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.

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
1 Juan Mora Fernández
(1784–1854)
Juan Mora Fernández.JPG 1824–1833 Liberal Served two times in a row.
2 José Rafael Gallegos
(1784–1850)
José Rafael Gallegos Alvarado.JPG 1833–1835 Conservative He stepped down.
3 Braulio Carrillo Colina
(1800–1845)
Braulio Carrillo Colina Retrato.jpg 1835–1837 Liberal First time as leader.
4 Juan Mora Fernández
(1784–1854)
Juan Mora Fernández.JPG March–April 1837 Liberal Temporary leader.
5 Manuel Aguilar Chacón
(1797–1846)
Manuel Aguilar Chacón.JPG 1837–1838 Liberal Removed from power.
6 Braulio Carrillo Colina
(1800–1845)
Braulio Carrillo Colina Retrato.jpg 1838–1842 Liberal Second time as leader. Removed from power.
7 Francisco Morazán
(1792–1842)
Francisco Morazán Quesada.JPG April–September 1842 Liberal Removed by the people and executed.
8 António Pinto Soares
(1780–1865)
Antonio Pinto Soares.JPG September 1842 Liberal Became leader during a public uprising, then quickly resigned.
9 José María Alfaro Zamora
(1799–1865)
José María Alfaro Zamora.JPG 1842–1844 Liberal First time. Temporary leader.
10 Francisco María Oreamuno Bonilla
(1801–1856)
Francisco María Oreamuno Bonilla.JPG November–December 1844 Liberal Removed from power.
11 José Rafael Gallegos
(1784–1850)
José Rafael Gallegos Alvarado.JPG 1845–1846 Conservative
12 José María Alfaro Zamora
(1799–1856)
José María Alfaro Zamora.JPG 1846–1847 Liberal Second time.
13 José Castro Madriz
(1818–1892)
José María Castro Madriz.JPG 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)
José María Castro Madriz.JPG 31 August 1848 16 November 1849 Non-partisan Liberal 1847 Known as the "Founder of the Republic."
(1) Miguel Mora Porras
(1816–1887)
Miguel Mora Porras 001.jpg 16 November 1849 26 November 1849 Non-partisan Liberal Temporary president.
2 Juan Mora Porras
(1814–1860)
Juan Rafael Mora Porras.JPG 26 November 1849 14 August 1859 Non-partisan Liberal 1849
1853
1859
Served three terms.
3 José María Montealegre Fernández
(1815–1887)
José María Montealegra Fernández.JPG 14 August 1859 8 May 1863 Non-partisan Liberal 1860 Temporary leader from 1859–1860.
4 Jesús Jiménez Zamora
(1823–1897)
Jesús Jiménez Zamora.JPG 8 May 1863 8 May 1866 Non-partisan Liberal 1863
5 José Castro Madriz
(1818–1892)
José María Castro Madriz.JPG 8 May 1866 1 November 1868 Non-partisan Liberal 1866 Second term. Removed from power.
6 Jesús Jiménez Zamora
(1823–1897)
Jesús Jiménez Zamora.JPG 1 November 1868 27 April 1870 Military De facto Second term.
7 Bruno Carranza Ramírez
(1822–1891)
Bruno Carranza Ramirez.JPG 27 April 1870 8 August 1870 Non-partisan Liberal Appointed as temporary president. Resigned quickly.
8 Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez
(1831–1882)
Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez.JPG 10 August 1870 8 May 1876 Non-partisan Liberal 1872 Temporary from 1870–1872, then elected.
9 Aniceto Esquivel Sáenz
(1824–1898)
Aniceto Esquivel Sáenz 2.jpg 8 May 1876 30 July 1876 Non-partisan Liberal 1876 Removed from power.
10 Vicente Herrera Zeledón
(1821–1888)
Vicente Herrera Zeledón.JPG 30 July 1876 11 September 1877 Non-partisan Conservative Appointed by Guardia.
11 Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez
(1831–1882)
Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez.JPG 11 September 1877 6 July 1882 Non-partisan Liberal Second time as leader. Died in office.
12 Saturnino Lizano Gutiérrez
(1826–1905)
Saturnino Lizano Gutiérrez.jpg 6 July 1882 20 July 1882 Non-partisan Liberal Acting president.
13 Próspero Fernández Oreamuno
(1834–1885)
Próspero Fernández Oreamuno.JPG 20 July 1882 12 March 1885 Non-partisan Liberal 1882 Died in office.
14 Bernardo Soto Alfaro
(1854–1931)
Bernardo Soto Alfaro.JPG 12 March 1885 8 May 1890 Non-partisan Liberal 1886 Served two terms.
15 José Rodríguez Zeledón
(1837–1917)
José Joaquín Rodríguez Zeledón.JPG 8 May 1890 8 May 1894 Constitutional 1889
16 Rafael Yglesias Castro
(1861–1924)
Rafael Yglesias Castro.jpg 8 May 1894 8 May 1902 Civil 1893 Served two terms.
17 Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra
(1844–1923)
Ascención Esquivel Ibarra (adjusted).JPG 8 May 1902 8 May 1906 National Union 1901
18 Cleto González Víquez
(1858–1937)
Cleto González Víquez.jpg 8 May 1906 8 May 1910 National 1905 First term.
19 Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno
(1859–1945)
Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno.jpg 8 May 1910 8 May 1914 Republican 1909 First term. Son of Jesús Jiménez Zamora.
20 Alfredo González Flores
(1877–1962)
Alfredo Gonzalez Flores.jpg 8 May 1914 27 January 1917 Republican Chosen by Congress. Removed from power in a coup.
21 Federico Tinoco Granados
(1868–1931)
Federico Tinoco Granados.jpg 27 January 1917 13 August 1919 Peliquista Took power after a coup. Removed by the people.
22 Juan Quirós Segura
(1853–1934)
Juan Bautista Quirós Segura.jpg 13 August 1919 2 September 1919 Peliquista De facto Forced to resign by the U.S. government.
23 Francisco Aguilar Barquero
(1857–1924)
Francisco Aguilar Barquero.jpg 2 September 1919 8 May 1920 Republican Temporary president.
24 Julio Acosta García
(1872–1954)
Julio Acosta García.JPG 8 May 1920 8 May 1924 Constitutional 1919
25 Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno
(1859–1945)
Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno.jpg 8 May 1924 8 May 1928 Republican 1923 Second term.
26 Cleto González Víquez
(1858–1937)
Cleto González Víquez.jpg 8 May 1928 8 May 1932 National Union 1928 Second term.
27 Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno
(1859–1945)
Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno.jpg 8 May 1932 8 May 1936 National Republican 1932 Third term.
28 León Cortés Castro
(1882–1946)
Povedano - León Cortés Castro, pte CR (adjusted).jpg 8 May 1936 8 May 1940 National Republican 1936
29 Rafael Calderón Guardia
(1900–1970)
Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia.jpg 8 May 1940 8 May 1944 National Republican 1940
30 Teodoro Picado Michalski
(1900–1960)
Teodoro Picado Michalski.jpg 8 May 1944 20 April 1948 National Republican 1944
(31a) Santos León Herrera
(1874–1950)
Santos Leon (cropped).jpg 20 April 1948 8 May 1948 National Republican Temporary president.
(31b) José Figueres Ferrer
(1906–1990)
José Figueres Ferrer cropped.jpg 8 May 1948 8 November 1949 Social Democratic De facto Took power after the Civil War.
31 Otilio Ulate Blanco
(1891–1973)
Otilio Ulate Blanco cropped.jpg 8 November 1949 8 November 1953 National Union 1948
32 José Figueres Ferrer
(1906–1990)
José Figueres Ferrer cropped.jpg 8 November 1953 8 May 1958 National Liberation 1953 Second term.
33 Mario Echandi Jiménez
(1915–2011)
Mario Echandi Jimenez cropped.jpg 8 May 1958 8 May 1962 National Union 1958
34 Francisco Orlich Bolmarcich
(1907–1969)
Francisco J. Orlich cropped.jpg 8 May 1962 8 May 1966 National Liberation 1962
35 José Trejos Fernández
(1916–2010)
Jose Juaquín Trejos Flores cropped.jpg 8 May 1966 8 May 1970 National Unification 1966
36 José Figueres Ferrer
(1906–1990)
José Figueres Ferrer cropped.jpg 8 May 1970 8 May 1974 National Liberation 1970 Third term.
37 Daniel Oduber Quirós
(1921–1991)
Daniel Oduber 3 (adjusted).jpg 8 May 1974 8 May 1978 National Liberation 1974
38 Rodrigo Carazo Odio
(1926–2009)
Rodrigo Carazo Odio.jpg 8 May 1978 8 May 1982 Unity Coalition 1978
39 Luis Monge Álvarez
(1925–2016)
Luis Alberto Monge (1984).jpg 8 May 1982 8 May 1986 National Liberation 1982
40 Óscar Arias Sánchez
(born 1940)
OscarArias.jpg 8 May 1986 8 May 1990 National Liberation 1986 Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987. First term.
41 Rafael Calderón Fournier
(born 1949)
R A Calderon.jpg 8 May 1990 8 May 1994 Social Christian Unity 1990 Son of Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia.
42 José Figueres Olsen
(born 1954)
Jose maria figueres olsen.jpg 8 May 1994 8 May 1998 National Liberation 1994 Son of José Figueres Ferrer.
43 Miguel Rodríguez Echeverría
(born 1940)
MiguelAngelRodriguezEcheverria.jpg 8 May 1998 8 May 2002 Social Christian Unity 1998
44 Abel Pacheco de la Espriella
(born 1933)
Defense.gov News Photo 050511-D-9880W-053 Abel Pacheco cropped.jpg 8 May 2002 8 May 2006 Social Christian Unity 2002
45 Óscar Arias Sánchez
(born 1940)
Óscar Arias (2009).jpg 8 May 2006 8 May 2010 National Liberation 2006 Second term.
46 Laura Chinchilla Miranda
(born 1959)
Laura 4.jpg 8 May 2010 8 May 2014 National Liberation 2010 First female president of Costa Rica.
47 Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera
(born 1958)
Luis Guillermo Solís, Costa Rica 03(cropped).JPG 8 May 2014 8 May 2018 Citizens' Action 2014
48 Carlos Alvarado Quesada
(born 1980)
Carlos Alvarado (cropped).jpg 8 May 2018 8 May 2022 Citizens' Action 2018 Youngest president since Alfredo González Flores (1914).
49 Rodrigo Chaves Robles
(born 1961)
Rodrigo Chaves, discurso posesión (cropped).jpg 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.

Rodrigo Chaves Robles Carlos Alvarado Quesada Luis Guillermo Solís Laura Chinchilla Abel Pacheco de la Espriella Miguel Rodríguez Echeverría José Figueres Olsen Rafael Calderón Fournier Óscar Arias Luis Monge Álvarez Rodrigo Carazo Odio Daniel Oduber Quirós José Trejos Fernández Francisco Orlich Bolmarcich Mario Echandi Jiménez Otilio Ulate Blanco José Figueres Ferrer Santos León Herrera Teodoro Picado Michalski Rafael Calderón Guardia León Cortés Castro Julio Acosta García Francisco Aguilar Barquero Juan Quirós Segura Federico Tinoco Granados Alfredo González Flores Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno Cleto González Víquez Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra Rafael Yglesias Castro José Rodríguez Zeledón Bernardo Soto Alfaro Próspero Fernández Oreamuno Saturnino Lizano Gutiérrez Vicente Herrera Zeledón Aniceto Esquivel Sáenz Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez Bruno Carranza Ramírez Jesús Jiménez Zamora José María Montealegre Fernández Juan Mora Porras Miguel Mora Porras José María Castro Madriz Francisco María Oreamuno Bonilla José María Alfaro Zamora António Pinto Soares Francisco Morazán Manuel Aguilar Chacón Braulio Carrillo Colina José Rafael Gallegos Juan Mora Fernández

More Information

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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Presidentes de Costa Rica para niños

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