View source for List of presidents of Costa Rica

{{Short description|None}}
{{See also|List of heads of state of Costa Rica}}
{{Main|President of Costa Rica}}
{{Politics of Costa Rica}}
The following article lists the presidents and heads of state of [[Costa Rica]] since [[Central America]]n independence from [[Spain]]. From 1824 to 1838 Costa Rica was a state within the [[Federal Republic of Central America]]; since then it has been an independent nation.

==Heads of state of Costa Rica (1824–1848)==
{{legend2|{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}|Liberal|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|horizontal=0}}
{{legend2|darkblue|Conservative|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|horizontal=0}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|- style="background:#cccccc"
! {{Abbr|No.|Number}}

! Head of State
! Portrait
! Term of Office
! Political Affiliation
! Notes
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|1}}
| [[Juan Mora Fernández]]<br />{{small|(1784–1854)}}
| [[File:Juan Mora Fernández.JPG|100px]]
| 1824–1833
| Liberal
| {{small|Two consecutive terms; re-elected in 1829.}}
|- 
! style="background:darkblue| {{color|white|2}}
| [[José Rafael Gallegos]]<br />{{small|(1784–1850)}}
| [[File:José Rafael Gallegos Alvarado.JPG|100px]]
| 1833–1835
| Conservative
| {{small|Resigned, [[Manuel Fernández Chacón]] and [[Nicolás Ulloa Soto]] followed as acting Heads of State.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|3}}
| [[Braulio Carrillo Colina]]<br />{{small|(1800–1845)}}
| [[File:Braulio Carrillo Colina Retrato.jpg|100px]]
| 1835–1837
| Liberal
| {{small|First term.}}
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|4}}
| [[Juan Mora Fernández]]<br />{{small|(1784–1854)}}
| [[File:Juan Mora Fernández.JPG|100px]]
| March–April 1837
| Liberal
| {{small|Provisional.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|5}}
| [[Manuel Aguilar Chacón]]<br />{{small|(1797–1846)}}
| [[File:Manuel Aguilar Chacón.JPG|100px]]
| 1837–1838
| Liberal
| {{small|Deposed in a coup d'état.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|6}}
| [[Braulio Carrillo Colina]]<br />{{small|(1800–1845)}}
| [[File:Braulio Carrillo Colina Retrato.jpg|100px]]
| 1838–1842
| Liberal
| {{small|Second term. Deposed in a coup d'état.}}
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|7}}
| [[Francisco Morazán]]<br />{{small|(1792–1842)}}
| [[File:Francisco Morazán Quesada.JPG|100px]]
| April–September 1842
| Liberal
| {{small|Deposed by popular uprising; executed on 15 September 1842.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|8}}
| [[António Pinto Soares]]<br />{{small|(1780–1865)}}
| [[File:Antonio Pinto Soares.JPG|100px]]
| September 1842
| Liberal
| {{small|Came to power in popular uprising, and quickly resigned.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|9}}
| [[José María Alfaro Zamora]]<br />{{small|(1799–1865)}}
| [[File:José María Alfaro Zamora.JPG|100px]]
| 1842–1844
| Liberal
| {{small|First term. Provisional.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|10}}
| [[Francisco María Oreamuno Bonilla]]<br />{{small|(1801–1856)}}
| [[File:Francisco María Oreamuno Bonilla.JPG|100px]]
| November–December 1844
| Liberal
| {{small|Deposed in a coup d'état.}}
|- 
! style="background:darkblue|{{color|white|11}} 
| [[José Rafael Gallegos]]<br />{{small|(1784–1850)}}
| [[File:José Rafael Gallegos Alvarado.JPG|100px]]
| 1845–1846
| Conservative
| 
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|12}}
| [[José María Alfaro Zamora]]<br />{{small|(1799–1856)}}
| [[File:José María Alfaro Zamora.JPG|100px]]
| 1846–1847
| Liberal
| {{small|Second term.}}
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|13}}
| [[José María Castro Madriz|José Castro Madriz]]<br />{{small|(1818–1892)}}
| [[File:José María Castro Madriz.JPG|100px]]
| 1847–1848
| Liberal
| 
|}

==Presidents of Costa Rica (1848–present)==
{{legend2|{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}|Liberal|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|horizontal=0}}
{{legend2|darkblue|Conservative|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|horizontal=0}}
{{legend2|{{party color|Military Rule}}|Military|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|horizontal=0}}
{{legend2|#2F4F4F|[[Peliquista Party|PP]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|horizontal=0}}
{{legend2|{{party color|Republican Party (Costa Rica)}}|[[Republican Party (Costa Rica)|PR]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|horizontal=0}}
{{legend2|{{party color|National Republican Party (Costa Rica)}}|[[National Republican Party (Costa Rica)|PRN]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|horizontal=0}}
{{legend2|{{party color|National Union Party (Costa Rica)}}|[[National Union Party (Costa Rica)|PUN]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|horizontal=0}}
{{legend2|{{party color|National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)}}|[[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|PLN]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|horizontal=0}}
{{legend2|{{party color|Social Christian Unity Party}}|[[Social Christian Unity Party|PUSC]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|horizontal=0}}
{{legend2|{{party color|Citizens' Action Party (Costa Rica)}}|[[Citizens' Action Party (Costa Rica)|PAC]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|horizontal=0}}
{{legend2|{{party color|Social Democratic Progress Party}}|[[Social Democratic Progress Party|PPSD]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|horizontal=0}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|- style="background:#cccccc"
! {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! width=150 colspan=2|[[President of Costa Rica|President]]<br />{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
! width=100 colspan=2|Term of Office
! width=100|Political Affiliation
! [[Elections in Costa Rica|Election]]
! Notes
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|1}} 
| [[José María Castro Madriz]]<br />{{small|(1818–1892)}}
| [[File:José María Castro Madriz.JPG|100px]]
| 31 August 1848<ref name=SupremeElectionTribunalCRgov-CRrepublicPResidents-2015> {{Cite web |url= https://www.tse.go.cr/pdf/ifed/PresidentesCR-Cuadros.pdf |publisher= El Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (government of Costa Rica) |title= Presidentes de la República de Costa Rica |work= Infohistoria |author= Rodrigo A. Granados Jiménez |year= 2015 |lang= es }} </ref>
| 16 November 1849
| Non-partisan Liberal
| [[1847 Costa Rican Head of State election|1847]]
| {{small|"Founder of the Republic".}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|{{small|(1)}}}} 
| [[Miguel Mora Porras]]<br />{{small|(1816–1887)}}
| [[File:Miguel Mora Porras 001.jpg|100px]]
| 16 November 1849
| 26 November 1849
| Non-partisan Liberal
| 
| {{small|Interim president.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|2}} 
| [[Juan Rafael Mora Porras|Juan Mora Porras]]<br />{{small|(1814–1860)}}
| [[File:Juan Rafael Mora Porras.JPG|100px]]
| 26 November 1849
| 14 August 1859
| Non-partisan Liberal
| [[1849 Costa Rican general election|1849]]<br />[[1853 Costa Rican general election|1853]]<br />[[1859 Costa Rican general election|1859]]
| {{small|First, second and third term.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|3}} 
| [[José María Montealegre|José María Montealegre Fernández]]<br />{{small|(1815–1887)}}
| [[File:José María Montealegra Fernández.JPG|100px]]
| 14 August 1859
| 8 May 1863
| Non-partisan Liberal
| [[1860 Costa Rican general election|1860]]
| {{small|Provisional 1859–1860.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|4}}  
| [[Jesús Jiménez Zamora]]<br />{{small|(1823–1897)}}
| [[File:Jesús Jiménez Zamora.JPG|100px]]
| 8 May 1863
| 8 May 1866
| Non-partisan Liberal
| [[1863 Costa Rican general election|1863]]
|
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|5}}  
| [[José María Castro Madriz|José Castro Madriz]]<br />{{small|(1818–1892)}}
| [[File:José María Castro Madriz.JPG|100px]]
| 8 May 1866
| 1 November 1868
| Non-partisan Liberal
| [[1866 Costa Rican general election|1866]]
| {{small|Second term. Deposed in a coup d'état.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Military Rule}}| {{color|black|6}}  
| [[Jesús Jiménez Zamora]]<br />{{small|(1823–1897)}}
| [[File:Jesús Jiménez Zamora.JPG|100px]]
| 1 November 1868
| 27 April 1870
| Military
| ''De facto''
| {{small|Second term.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|7}}  
| [[Bruno Carranza|Bruno Carranza Ramírez]]<br />{{small|(1822–1891)}}
| [[File:Bruno Carranza Ramirez.JPG|100px]]
| 27 April 1870
| 8 August 1870
| Non-partisan Liberal
|
| {{small|Appointed by Tomás Guardia as provisional president. Resigned after a few months.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|8}}  
| [[Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez]]<br />{{small|(1831–1882)}}
| [[File:Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez.JPG|100px]]
| 10 August 1870
| 8 May 1876
| Non-partisan Liberal
| [[1872 Costa Rican general election|1872]]
| {{small|Provisional 1870–1872, latter elected.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|9}}  
| [[Aniceto Esquivel Sáenz]]<br />{{small|(1824–1898)}}
| [[File:Aniceto Esquivel Sáenz 2.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1876
| 30 July 1876
| Non-partisan Liberal
| [[1876 Costa Rican general election|1876]]
| {{small|Deposed in a coup d'état.}}
|- 
! style="background:darkblue| {{color|white|10}}  
| [[Vicente Herrera Zeledón]]<br />{{small|(1821–1888)}}
| [[File:Vicente Herrera Zeledón.JPG|100px]]
| 30 July 1876
| 11 September 1877
| Non-partisan Conservative
| 
|{{small|Appointed by Guardia.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|11}}  
| [[Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez]]<br />{{small|(1831–1882)}}
| [[File:Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez.JPG|100px]]
| 11 September 1877
| 6 July 1882
| Non-partisan Liberal
| 
| {{small|Second term as de facto ruler. Died in office.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|12}}  
| [[Saturnino Lizano Gutiérrez]]<br />{{small|(1826–1905)}}
| [[File:Saturnino Lizano Gutiérrez.jpg|100px]]
| 6 July 1882
| 20 July 1882
| Non-partisan Liberal
|
| {{small|Acting president.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|13}}  
| [[Próspero Fernández Oreamuno]]<br />{{small|(1834–1885)}}
| [[File:Próspero Fernández Oreamuno.JPG|100px]]
| 20 July 1882
| 12 March 1885
| Non-partisan Liberal
| [[1882 Costa Rican general election|1882]]
| {{small|Died in office.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|14}}  
| [[Bernardo Soto Alfaro]]<br />{{small|(1854–1931)}}
| [[File:Bernardo Soto Alfaro.JPG|100px]]
| 12 March 1885
| 8 May 1890
| Non-partisan Liberal
| [[1886 Costa Rican general election|1886]]
| {{small|Two consecutive terms, the first incomplete. [[Carlos Durán Cartín]] was acting president 1889–1890.}}
|- 
! style="background:darkblue| {{color|white|15}} 
| [[José Joaquín Rodríguez Zeledón|José Rodríguez Zeledón]]<br />{{small|(1837–1917)}}
| [[File:José Joaquín Rodríguez Zeledón.JPG|100px]]
| 8 May 1890
| 8 May 1894
| [[Constitutional Convention Party|Constitutional]]
| [[1889 Costa Rican general election|1889]]
|
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|16}}  
| [[Rafael Yglesias Castro]]<br />{{small|(1861–1924)}}
| [[File:Rafael Yglesias Castro.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1894
| 8 May 1902
| [[Civil Party (Costa Rica)|Civil]]
| [[1893 Costa Rican general election|1893]]
| {{small|First and second term.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|National Union Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|17}}  
| [[Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra]]<br />{{small|(1844–1923)}}
| [[File:Ascención Esquivel Ibarra (adjusted).JPG|100px]]
| 8 May 1902
| 8 May 1906
| [[National Union Party (Costa Rica)|National Union]]
| [[1901 Costa Rican general election|1901]]
|
|- 
! style="background:Lightgreen| {{color|white|18}}  
| [[Cleto González Víquez]]<br />{{small|(1858–1937)}}
| [[File:Cleto González Víquez.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1906
| 8 May 1910
| [[National Party (Costa Rica)|National]]
| [[1905 Costa Rican general election|1905]]
| {{small|First term.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|19}}  
| [[Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno]]<br />{{small|(1859–1945)}}
| [[File:Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1910
| 8 May 1914
| [[Republican Party (Costa Rica)|Republican]]
| [[1909 Costa Rican general election|1909]]
| {{small|First term. Son of [[Jesús Jiménez Zamora]].}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|20}}  
| [[Alfredo González Flores]]<br />{{small|(1877–1962)}}
| [[File:Alfredo Gonzalez Flores.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1914
| 27 January 1917
| [[Republican Party (Costa Rica)|Republican]]
| {{small|''Designated by Congress as no clear candidate won in [[1913 Costa Rican general election|1913]]''}}
| ''De facto''<br />{{small|Deposed by [[Federico Tinoco Granados|Tinoco]] in a [[1917 Costa Rican coup d'état|coup d'état]].}}
|- 
! style="background:#2F4F4F| {{color|white|21}}  
| [[Federico Tinoco Granados]]<br />{{small|(1868–1931)}}
| [[File:Federico Tinoco Granados.jpg|100px]]
| 27 January 1917
| 13 August 1919
| [[Peliquista Party|Peliquista]]
| {{small|''Took power after coup, was sole candidate in the [[1917 Costa Rican general election|1917 election]]''}}
| {{small|First and second term. Overthrown by popular uprising.}}
|- 
! style="background:#2F4F4F| {{color|white|22}}  
| [[Juan Bautista Quirós Segura|Juan Quirós Segura]]<br />{{small|(1853–1934)}}
| [[File:Juan Bautista Quirós Segura.jpg|100px]]
| 13 August 1919
| 2 September 1919
| [[Peliquista Party|Peliquista]]
| ''De facto''
| {{small|Previously [[Vice President of Costa Rica|Vice President]]. Replaced Tinoco after his escape. Forced to resign by the U.S. government.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|23}}  
| [[Francisco Aguilar Barquero]]<br />{{small|(1857–1924)}}
| [[File:Francisco Aguilar Barquero.jpg|100px]]
| 2 September 1919
| 8 May 1920
| [[Republican Party (Costa Rica)|Republican]]
|
| {{small|Interim president.}}
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|24}}  
| [[Julio Acosta García]]<br />{{small|(1872–1954)}}
| [[File:Julio Acosta García.JPG|100px]]
| 8 May 1920
| 8 May 1924
| [[Constitutional Convention Party|Constitutional]]
| [[1919 Costa Rican general election|1919]]
|
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|25}} 
| [[Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno]]<br />{{small|(1859–1945)}}
| [[File:Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1924
| 8 May 1928
| [[Republican Party (Costa Rica)|Republican]]
| [[1923 Costa Rican general election|1923]]
| {{small|Second term.}}
|-
! style="background:{{party color|National Union Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|26}} 
| [[Cleto González Víquez]]<br />{{small|(1858–1937)}}
| [[File:Cleto González Víquez.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1928
| 8 May 1932
| [[National Union Party (Costa Rica)|National Union]]
| [[1928 Costa Rican general election|1928]]
| {{small|Second term.}}
|-
! style="background:{{party color|National Republican Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|27}} 
| [[Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno]]<br />{{small|(1859–1945)}}
| [[File:Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1932
| 8 May 1936
| [[National Republican Party (Costa Rica)|National Republican]]
| [[1932 Costa Rican general election|1932]]
| {{small|Third term.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|National Republican Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|28}}  
| [[León Cortés Castro]]<br />{{small|(1882–1946)}}
| [[File:Povedano - León Cortés Castro, pte CR (adjusted).jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1936
| 8 May 1940
| [[National Republican Party (Costa Rica)|National Republican]]
| [[1936 Costa Rican general election|1936]]
|
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|National Republican Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|29}}  
| [[Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia|Rafael Calderón Guardia]]<br />{{small|(1900–1970)}}
| [[File:Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1940
| 8 May 1944
| [[National Republican Party (Costa Rica)|National Republican]]
| [[1940 Costa Rican general election|1940]]
|
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|National Republican Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|30}} 
| [[Teodoro Picado Michalski]]<br />{{small|(1900–1960)}}
| [[File:Teodoro Picado Michalski.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1944
| 20 April 1948
| [[National Republican Party (Costa Rica)|National Republican]]
| [[1944 Costa Rican general election|1944]]
|
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|National Republican Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|{{small|(31a)}}}}  
| [[Santos León Herrera]]<br />{{small|(1874–1950)}}
| [[File:Santos Leon (cropped).jpg|100px]]
| 20 April 1948
| 8 May 1948
| [[National Republican Party (Costa Rica)|National Republican]]
|
| {{small|Interim president. Former vice-president of Teodoro Picado Michalski.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Military Rule}}| {{color|white|{{small|(31b)}}}} 
| [[José Figueres Ferrer]]<br />{{small|(1906–1990)}}
| [[File:José Figueres Ferrer cropped.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1948
| 8 November 1949
| [[Social Democratic Party of Costa Rica|Social Democratic]]
| ''De facto''
| {{small|Came to power in the [[Costa Rican Civil War|Civil War]]. Returned power to elected president after re-organizing the government.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|National Union Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|31}} 
| [[Otilio Ulate Blanco]]<br />{{small|(1891–1973)}}
| [[File:Otilio Ulate Blanco cropped.jpg|100px]]
| 8 November 1949
| 8 November 1953
| [[National Union Party (Costa Rica)|National Union]]
| [[1948 Costa Rican general election|1948]]
|
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|32}} 
| [[José Figueres Ferrer]]<br />{{small|(1906–1990)}}
| [[File:José Figueres Ferrer cropped.jpg|100px]]
| 8 November 1953
| 8 May 1958
| [[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|National Liberation]]
| [[1953 Costa Rican general election|1953]]
| {{small|Second term. Presidential re-election disallowed.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|National Union Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|33}} 
| [[Mario Echandi Jiménez]]<br />{{small|(1915–2011)}}
| [[File:Mario Echandi Jimenez cropped.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1958
| 8 May 1962
| [[National Union Party (Costa Rica)|National Union]]
| [[1958 Costa Rican general election|1958]]
|
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|34}} 
| [[Francisco Orlich Bolmarcich]]<br />{{small|(1907–1969)}}
| [[File:Francisco J. Orlich cropped.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1962
| 8 May 1966
| [[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|National Liberation]]
| [[1962 Costa Rican general election|1962]]
|
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|National Unification Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|35}} 
| [[José Joaquín Trejos Fernández|José Trejos Fernández]]<br />{{small|(1916–2010)}}
| [[File:Jose Juaquín Trejos Flores cropped.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1966
| 8 May 1970
| [[National Unification Party (Costa Rica)|National Unification]]
| [[1966 Costa Rican general election|1966]]
|
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|36}} 
| [[José Figueres Ferrer]]<br />{{small|(1906–1990)}}
| [[File:José Figueres Ferrer cropped.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1970
| 8 May 1974
| [[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|National Liberation]]
| [[1970 Costa Rican general election|1970]]
| {{small|Third term. Presidential re-election disallowed.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|37}} 
| [[Daniel Oduber Quirós]]<br />{{small|(1921–1991)}}
| [[File:Daniel Oduber 3 (adjusted).jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1974
| 8 May 1978
| [[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|National Liberation]]
| [[1974 Costa Rican general election|1974]]
|
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Unity Coalition}}| {{color|white|38}} 
| [[Rodrigo Carazo Odio]]<br />{{small|(1926–2009)}}
| [[File:Rodrigo Carazo Odio.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1978
| 8 May 1982
| [[Unity Coalition]]
| [[1978 Costa Rican general election|1978]]
|
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|39}} 
| [[Luis Alberto Monge|Luis Monge Álvarez]]<br />{{small|(1925–2016)}}
| [[File:Luis Alberto Monge (1984).jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1982
| 8 May 1986
| [[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|National Liberation]]
| [[1982 Costa Rican general election|1982]]
|
|-
! style="background:{{party color|National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|40}} 
| [[Óscar Arias Sánchez]]<br />{{small|(born 1940)}}
| [[File:OscarArias.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1986
| 8 May 1990
| [[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|National Liberation]]
| [[1986 Costa Rican general election|1986]]
| {{small|[[Nobel Peace Prize]] winner (1987).<br />First term.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Social Christian Unity Party}}| {{color|white|41}} 
| [[Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier|Rafael Calderón Fournier]]<br />{{small|(born 1949)}}
| [[File:R A Calderon.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1990
| 8 May 1994
| [[Social Christian Unity Party|Social Christian Unity]]
| [[1990 Costa Rican general election|1990]]
| {{small|Son of [[Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia]].}}
|-
! style="background:{{party color|National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|42}} 
| [[José María Figueres|José Figueres Olsen]]<br />{{small|(born 1954)}}
| [[File:Jose maria figueres olsen.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1994
| 8 May 1998
| [[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|National Liberation]]
| [[1994 Costa Rican general election|1994]]
| {{small|Son of [[José Figueres Ferrer]].}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Social Christian Unity Party}}| {{color|white|43}} 
| [[Miguel Ángel Rodríguez|Miguel Rodríguez Echeverría]]<br />{{small|(born 1940)}}
| [[File:MiguelAngelRodriguezEcheverria.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 1998
| 8 May 2002
| [[Social Christian Unity Party|Social Christian Unity]]
| [[1998 Costa Rican general election|1998]]
|
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Social Christian Unity Party}}| {{color|white|44}} 
| [[Abel Pacheco|Abel Pacheco de la Espriella]]<br />{{small|(born 1933)}}
| [[File:Defense.gov News Photo 050511-D-9880W-053 Abel Pacheco cropped.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 2002
| 8 May 2006
| [[Social Christian Unity Party|Social Christian Unity]]
| [[2002 Costa Rican general election|2002]]
| {{small|Presidential re-election re-instated.}}
|-
! style="background:{{party color|National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|45}} 
| [[Óscar Arias Sánchez]]<br />{{small|(born 1940)}}
| [[File:Óscar Arias (2009).jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 2006
| 8 May 2010
| [[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|National Liberation]]
| [[2006 Costa Rican general election|2006]]
| {{small|Second term.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|46}} 
| [[Laura Chinchilla Miranda]]<br />{{small|(born 1959)}}
| [[File:Laura 4.jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 2010
| 8 May 2014
| [[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|National Liberation]]
| [[2010 Costa Rican general election|2010]]
| {{small|First female president of Costa Rica.}}<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.economist.com/world/americas/displaystory.cfm?story_id=16064019&source=hptextfeature | work=The Economist | title=Costa Rica's new president: After Arias: Tax increases, trade deals and antidisestablishmentarianism. | date=6 May 2010 | access-date=8 May 2010}}</ref>
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Citizens' Action Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|47}} 
| [[Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera]]<br />{{small|(born 1958)}}
| [[File:Luis Guillermo Solís, Costa Rica 03(cropped).JPG|100px]]
| 8 May 2014
| 8 May 2018
| [[Citizens' Action Party (Costa Rica)|Citizens' Action]]
| [[2014 Costa Rican general election|2014]]
|
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Citizens' Action Party (Costa Rica)}}| {{color|white|48}} 
| [[Carlos Alvarado Quesada]]<br />{{small|(born 1980)}}
| [[File:Carlos Alvarado (cropped).jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 2018
| 8 May 2022
| [[Citizens' Action Party (Costa Rica)|Citizens' Action]]
| [[2018 Costa Rican general election|2018]]
| {{small|Youngest president since Alfredo González Flores (1914).}} {{small|First president to be called by Congress for hearing.}}
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Progress Party}}| {{color|white|49}} 
| [[Rodrigo Chaves Robles]]<br />{{small|(born 1961)}}
| [[File:Rodrigo Chaves, discurso posesión (cropped).jpg|100px]]
| 8 May 2022
| Incumbent<br>(''Term ends on 8 May 2026'')
| [[Social Democratic Progress Party|Social Democratic Progress ]]
| [[2022 Costa Rican general election|2022]]
| Incumbent 
|}

== Timeline ==
<timeline>
ImageSize = width:1050 height:auto barincrement:10
PlotArea  = top:3 bottom:100 right:150 left:20
AlignBars = late

DateFormat = yyyy
Period     = from:1825 till:2026
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:1825
ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:2 start:1825

Colors     =
  id:liberal value:rgb(1,0,0)   legend:Liberal
  id:conservative value:rgb(0,0,0.55)   legend:Conservative
  id:military value:rgb(0.76,0.69,0.57)   legend:None_(military)
  id:constitutionalconvention value:rgb(0,0,0.55)   legend:Constitutional_Convention
  id:civil value:rgb(1,0,0)   legend:Civil
  id:pun value:rgb(0.00,0.24,0.51)   legend:National_Union
  id:national value:rgb(0.56,0.93,0.56)   legend:National
  id:pr value:rgb(0,0,0.50)   legend:Republican
  id:constitutional value:rgb(1,0,0)   legend:Constitutional
  id:prn value:rgb(0.73,0.08,0.11)   legend:National_Republican
  id:pln value:rgb(0.13,0.55,0.13)   legend:National_Liberation
  id:pusc value:rgb(0,0,1)   legend:Unity_Coalition/Social_Christian_Unity
  id:pac value:rgb(1,0.84,0)   legend:Citizen's_Action
  id:ppsd value:rgb(0.13,0.75,0.13)   legend:Social_Democratic_Progress 

Legend     = columns:1 left:125 top:60 columnwidth:230
 
TextData =
  pos:(20,65) textcolor:black fontsize:M
  text:"Political parties:"

BarData =

  bar:JuanMoraFernández
  bar:JoséRafaelGallegos
  bar:BraulioCarrilloColina
  bar:ManuelAguilarChacón
  bar:FranciscoMorazán
  bar:AntónioPintoSoares
  bar:JoséMaríaAlfaroZamora
  bar:FranciscoMaríaOreamunoBonilla
  bar:JoséMaríaCastroMadriz
  bar:MiguelMoraPorras
  bar:JuanMoraPorras
  bar:JoséMaríaMontealegreFernández
  bar:JesúsJiménezZamora
  bar:BrunoCarranzaRamírez
  bar:TomásGuardiaGutiérrez
  bar:AnicetoEsquivelSáenz
  bar:VicenteHerreraZeledón
  bar:SaturninoLizanoGutiérrez
  bar:PrósperoFernándezOreamuno
  bar:BernardoSotoAlfaro
  bar:JoséRodríguezZeledón
  bar:RafaelYglesiasCastro
  bar:AscensiónEsquivelIbarra
  bar:CletoGonzálezVíquez
  bar:RicardoJiménezOreamuno
  bar:AlfredoGonzálezFlores
  bar:FedericoTinocoGranados
  bar:JuanQuirósSegura
  bar:FranciscoAguilarBarquero
  bar:JulioAcostaGarcía
  bar:LeónCortésCastro
  bar:RafaelCalderónGuardia
  bar:TeodoroPicadoMichalski
  bar:SantosLeónHerrera
  bar:JoséFigueresFerrer
  bar:OtilioUlateBlanco
  bar:MarioEchandiJiménez
  bar:FranciscoOrlichBolmarcich
  bar:JoséTrejosFernández
  bar:DanielOduberQuirós
  bar:RodrigoCarazoOdio
  bar:LuisMongeÁlvarez
  bar:ÓscarArias
  bar:RafaelCalderónFournier
  bar:JoséFigueresOlsen
  bar:MiguelRodríguezEcheverría
  bar:AbelPachecodelaEspriella
  bar:LauraChinchilla
  bar:LuisGuillermoSolís
  bar:CarlosAlvaradoQuesada
  bar:RodrigoChavesRobles

PlotData=
  width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

  bar:JuanMoraFernández
   from: 1825 till: 1833 color:liberal
   from: 1837 till: 1837 color:liberal text:"[[Juan Mora Fernández]]"
  bar:JoséRafaelGallegos
   from: 1833 till: 1835 color:conservative
   from: 1845 till: 1846 color:conservative text:"[[José Rafael Gallegos]]"
  bar:BraulioCarrilloColina
   from: 1835 till: 1837 color:liberal
   from: 1838 till: 1842 color:liberal text:"[[Braulio Carrillo Colina]]"
  bar:ManuelAguilarChacón
   from: 1837 till: 1838 color:liberal text:"[[Manuel Aguilar Chacón]]"
  bar:FranciscoMorazán
   from: 1842 till: 1842 color:liberal text:"[[Francisco Morazán]]"
  bar:AntónioPintoSoares
   from: 1842 till: 1842 color:liberal text:"[[António Pinto Soares]]"
  bar:JoséMaríaAlfaroZamora
   from: 1842 till: 1844 color:liberal
   from: 1846 till: 1847 color:liberal text:"[[José María Alfaro Zamora]]"
  bar:FranciscoMaríaOreamunoBonilla
   from: 1844 till: 1844 color:liberal text:"[[Francisco María Oreamuno Bonilla]]"
  bar:JoséMaríaCastroMadriz
   from: 1847 till: 1849 color:liberal
   from: 1866 till: 1868 color:liberal text:"[[José María Castro Madriz]]"
  bar:MiguelMoraPorras
   from: 1849 till: 1849 color:liberal text:"[[Miguel Mora Porras]]"
  bar:JuanMoraPorras
   from: 1849 till: 1859 color:liberal text:"[[Juan Mora Porras]]"
  bar:JoséMaríaMontealegreFernández
   from: 1859 till: 1863 color:liberal text:"[[José María Montealegre Fernández]]"
  bar:JesúsJiménezZamora
   from: 1863 till: 1866 color:liberal
   from: 1868 till: 1870 color:military text:"[[Jesús Jiménez Zamora]]"
  bar:BrunoCarranzaRamírez
   from: 1870 till: 1870 color:liberal text:"[[Bruno Carranza Ramírez]]"
  bar:TomásGuardiaGutiérrez
   from: 1870 till: 1876 color:liberal
   from: 1877 till: 1882 color:liberal text:"[[Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez]]"
  bar:AnicetoEsquivelSáenz
   from: 1876 till: 1876 color:liberal text:"[[Aniceto Esquivel Sáenz]]"
  bar:VicenteHerreraZeledón
   from: 1876 till: 1877 color:conservative text:"[[Vicente Herrera Zeledón]]"
  bar:SaturninoLizanoGutiérrez
   from: 1882 till: 1882 color:liberal text:"[[Saturnino Lizano Gutiérrez]]"
  bar:PrósperoFernándezOreamuno
   from: 1882 till: 1885 color:liberal text:"[[Próspero Fernández Oreamuno]]"
  bar:BernardoSotoAlfaro
   from: 1885 till: 1890 color:liberal text:"[[Bernardo Soto Alfaro]]"
  bar:JoséRodríguezZeledón
   from: 1890 till: 1894 color:constitutionalconvention text:"[[José Rodríguez Zeledón]]"
  bar:RafaelYglesiasCastro
   from: 1894 till: 1902 color:civil text:"[[Rafael Yglesias Castro]]"
  bar:AscensiónEsquivelIbarra
   from: 1902 till: 1906 color:pun text:"[[Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra]]"
  bar:CletoGonzálezVíquez
   from: 1906 till: 1910 color:national
   from: 1928 till: 1932 color:pun text:"[[Cleto González Víquez]]"
  bar:RicardoJiménezOreamuno
   from: 1910 till: 1914 color:pr
   from: 1924 till: 1928 color:pr
   from: 1932 till: 1936 color:prn text:"[[Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno]]"
  bar:AlfredoGonzálezFlores
   from: 1914 till: 1917 color:pr text:"[[Alfredo González Flores]]"
  bar:FedericoTinocoGranados
   from: 1917 till: 1919 color:military text:"[[Federico Tinoco Granados]]"
  bar:JuanQuirósSegura
   from: 1919 till: 1919 color:military text:"[[Juan Quirós Segura]]"
  bar:FranciscoAguilarBarquero
   from: 1919 till: 1920 color:pr text:"[[Francisco Aguilar Barquero]]"
  bar:JulioAcostaGarcía
   from: 1920 till: 1924 color:constitutional text:"[[Julio Acosta García]]"
  bar:LeónCortésCastro
   from: 1936 till: 1940 color:prn text:"[[León Cortés Castro]]"
  bar:RafaelCalderónGuardia
   from: 1940 till: 1944 color:prn text:"[[Rafael Calderón Guardia]]"
  bar:TeodoroPicadoMichalski
   from: 1944 till: 1948 color:prn text:"[[Teodoro Picado Michalski]]"
  bar:SantosLeónHerrera
   from: 1948 till: 1948 color:prn text:"[[Santos León Herrera]]"
  bar:JoséFigueresFerrer
   from: 1948 till: 1949 color:military
   from: 1953 till: 1958 color:pln
   from: 1970 till: 1974 color:pln text:"[[José Figueres Ferrer]]"
  bar:OtilioUlateBlanco
   from: 1949 till: 1953 color:pun text:"[[Otilio Ulate Blanco]]"
  bar:MarioEchandiJiménez
   from: 1958 till: 1962 color:pun text:"[[Mario Echandi Jiménez]]"
  bar:FranciscoOrlichBolmarcich
   from: 1962 till: 1966 color:pln text:"[[Francisco Orlich Bolmarcich]]"
  bar:JoséTrejosFernández
   from: 1966 till: 1970 color:pun text:"[[José Trejos Fernández]]"
  bar:DanielOduberQuirós
   from: 1974 till: 1978 color:pln text:"[[Daniel Oduber Quirós]]"
  bar:RodrigoCarazoOdio
   from: 1978 till: 1982 color:pusc text:"[[Rodrigo Carazo Odio]]"
  bar:LuisMongeÁlvarez
   from: 1982 till: 1986 color:pln text:"[[Luis Monge Álvarez]]"
  bar:ÓscarArias
   from: 1986 till: 1990 color:pln
   from: 2006 till: 2010 color:pln text:"[[Óscar Arias]]"
  bar:RafaelCalderónFournier
   from: 1990 till: 1994 color:pusc text:"[[Rafael Calderón Fournier]]"
  bar:JoséFigueresOlsen
   from: 1994 till: 1998 color:pln text:"[[José Figueres Olsen]]"
  bar:MiguelRodríguezEcheverría
   from: 1998 till: 2002 color:pusc text:"[[Miguel Rodríguez Echeverría]]"
  bar:AbelPachecodelaEspriella
   from: 2002 till: 2006 color:pusc text:"[[Abel Pacheco de la Espriella]]"
  bar:LauraChinchilla
   from: 2010 till: 2014 color:pln text:"[[Laura Chinchilla]]"
  bar:LuisGuillermoSolís
   from: 2014 till: 2018 color:pac text:"[[Luis Guillermo Solís]]"
  bar:CarlosAlvaradoQuesada
   from: 2018 till: 2022 color:pac text:"[[Carlos Alvarado Quesada]]"
  bar:RodrigoChavesRobles
   from: 2022 till: 2026 color:ppsd text:"[[Rodrigo Chaves Robles]]"

</timeline>

== See also ==
* [[List of presidents of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica]]
* [[List of presidents of the Supreme Court of Costa Rica]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Presidents of Costa Rica}}
{{Costa Rica topics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Presidents Of Costa Rica}}
[[Category:Presidents of Costa Rica|*List]]
[[Category:Lists of national presidents|Costa Rica]]
[[Category:Lists of political office-holders in Costa Rica|Presidents]]
[[Category:Costa Rica history-related lists|Presidents]]