MISSIONS IN

Costa Rica

God is moving in Costa Rica

The State of Missions in Costa Rica

Missions in Costa Rica are shaped by a stable Central American nation with broad Christian identification and a significant evangelical presence, strong regional influence through seminaries, mission agencies, and international ministry organizations based around San José, and only one unreached group, about 2,700 Spanish-speaking Jews, making discipleship and sending larger priorities. 1 unreached people groups remain.

  • 5.1M POPULATION
  • 95.6% CHRISTIANS
  • 97.8% LITERACY
  • 1 UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS
  • Jewish Spanish speaking LARGEST UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP
  • 2.7K UNREACHED POPULATION
  • San José CAPITAL CITY
  • San José Alajuela Cartago LARGEST CITIES
  • Costa Rican Colón CURRENCY
  • Tropical climate, with distinct wet and dry seasons, cooler central highlands, and humid Caribbean. CLIMATE
  • Spanish PRIMARY LANGUAGES
  • Ethnic LARGEST UNREACHED RELIGION

Explore Costa Rica

By Project
God Is at Work. You’re Invited Into the Story.

God Is at Work. You’re Invited Into the Story.

Around the world, God is moving through ordinary people who pray, give, go, and serve. Hold the Rope helps you discover the stories—and find your place in them. Read More

Explore by Category

Bible Translation Spanish Scripture is abundant, so Costa Rican ministries can emphasize application, worldview, and biblical depth.
Church Planting New churches can reach secular professionals, coastal communities, and fast-growing neighborhoods around San José.
Disaster Relief Church planting remains urgent among Somali, coastal Muslim.
Education Church planting remains urgent among Somali, coastal Muslim.
Gospel Access Only one UPG remains—about 2,700 Spanish-speaking Jews—so national discipleship and sending are larger priorities.
Human Trafficking Church planting remains urgent among Somali, coastal Muslim.
Medical Missions Church planting remains urgent among Somali, coastal Muslim.
Orphans & Vulnerable Children Church planting remains urgent among Somali, coastal Muslim.
Persecuted Church Religious freedom is strong; growing secularization makes thoughtful, credible Gospel witness the greater challenge.
Poverty & Justice Churches can serve Nicaraguan migrants and poorer coastal communities through practical, relational assistance.
Unreached People Groups Millions still have little or no access to the gospel in their language and culture.

Active Projects across Costa Rica

Resources for Your Journey (Coming Soon)

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A History of God's Faithfulness in Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s evangelical missions story is closely tied to this history: 19th-century Bible work was followed by evangelical missions in the 20th century; Costa Rica later became an important training and missions hub for Latin America. Over time, responsibility increasingly shifted toward local pastors, evangelists, teachers, and churches rather than remaining primarily in foreign hands. Political change, migration, conflict, or secularization reshaped the movement in different eras.

  1. Early Beginnings

    Bible distribution and small evangelical congregations appeared in Costa Rica during the 19th century.

  2. 1900s

    Twentieth-century mission societies planted churches while Baptist, Pentecostal, and other movements expanded among Costa Ricans.

  3. Independence Era

    San José later became home to seminaries and regional Christian organizations serving leaders from across Latin America.

  4. Modern Movement

    Costa Rican churches developed stronger national leadership and increasingly participated in cross-cultural missionary sending.

  5. Today

    Today's missions opportunity combines deeper discipleship at home with training and sending influence throughout the region.

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