Global Index Score
52.30
Costa Rica's index score lands +13.4 against the South and Central America average (38.9) and +0.2 against High income peers (52.1). It scores ahead of 80% of the 135 countries and jurisdictions assessed this edition. The profile rests on 19 documented evidence items spanning policy frameworks, government initiatives and civil society activity.
GIRAI evaluates countries across five core dimensions that capture the social, ethical, and institutional impacts of artificial intelligence.
AI Policy
47.92
Avrg. Score
30.99
Enabling Conditions
75.11
Avrg. Score
63.51
Civil Society Engagement
10.09
Avrg. Score
20.35
62.82
Index Score
39.61
Avrg. Dimension score
Costa Rica runs +23.2 against the regional average (39.6) on Inclusion and Diversity. Strongest indicators: Gender Equality (64.4), Children's Rights (63.6). Weakest: Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (62.9). This dimension ranks 21st globally — ahead of the country's overall position (28th). 3 evidence items on file, including "National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2024-2027 (Costa Rica)".
54.92
Index Score
40.00
Avrg. Dimension score
Costa Rica runs +14.9 against the regional average (40.0) on Ethics and Sustainability. Strongest indicators: Fairness and Non-discrimination (65.9), Transparency and Explainability (63.6). Weakest: Environmental Impact (0.0), Human Oversight and Determination (63.6). This dimension ranks 27th globally — ahead of the country's overall position (28th). 4 evidence items on file, including "National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2024-2027 (Costa Rica)" and 1 other documented items.
51.96
Index Score
40.26
Avrg. Dimension score
Costa Rica runs +11.7 against the regional average (40.3) on Labour and Skills. Strongest indicators: AI Literacy (73.5), Reskilling/Upskilling Initiatives (70.5). Weakest: Labour Protections (9.1). This dimension ranks 33rd globally — behind the country's overall position (28th). 6 evidence items on file, including "National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2024-2027 (Costa Rica)" and 3 other documented items.
39.00
Index Score
40.03
Avrg. Dimension score
Costa Rica runs -1.0 against the regional average (40.0) on Trust and Safety. Strongest indicators: Safety and Security (64.2), Impact Assessments (63.6). Weakest: AI-facilitated Misinformation and Violence (0.0), Access to Redress and Remedy (0.0). This dimension ranks 62nd globally — behind the country's overall position (28th). 2 evidence items on file, including "National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2024-2027 (Costa Rica)".
52.77
Index Score
38.50
Avrg. Dimension score
Costa Rica runs +14.3 against the regional average (38.5) on AI Use in Public Service. Strongest indicators: Public Sector Skills Development (72.7), Public Disclosure of Government Algorithmic Systems (61.4). Weakest: Public Procurement (0.0). This dimension ranks 20th globally — ahead of the country's overall position (28th). 4 evidence items on file, including "National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2024-2027 (Costa Rica)".
Explore how country performance, scores, and governance indicators have changed between GIRAI editions.
14 indicators
| Indicator | 2024 Edition | 2026 Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Gender Equality | Draft | Non-Binding Framework |
| Children's Rights | Draft | Non-Binding Framework |
| Cultural and Linguistic Diversity | Draft | Non-Binding Framework |
| Fairness and Non-discrimination | Draft | Non-Binding Framework |
| Transparency and Explainability | Draft | Non-Binding Framework |
| Human Oversight and Determination | Draft | Non-Binding Framework |
| Labour Protections | No Framework | No Framework |
| Reskilling/Upskilling Initiatives | Draft | Non-Binding Framework |
| Safety and Security | Draft | Non-Binding Framework |
| Access to Redress and Remedy | Draft | No Framework |
| Impact Assessments | Draft | Non-Binding Framework |
| Public Sector Skills Development | No Framework | Non-Binding Framework |
| Public Procurement | No Framework | No Framework |
| Government Mechanisms for CSO Inclusion in AI Policy and Governance | No Framework | Non-Binding Framework |
Indicator definitions changed between editions; this table compares evidence presence and status, not directly comparable scores. A — indicates the item is not applicable or was not assessed for that edition.
Explore how countries and regions perform across GIRAI's governance dimensions, scores, and structural indicators.
| Indicator | Costa Rica | South and Central America |
|---|---|---|
| Inclusion and Diversity7 | ||
APGender Equality | 64.4 | 40.4 |
APChildren's Rights | 63.6 | 31.1 |
APCultural and Linguistic Diversity | 62.9 | 21.9 |
CSOCivil Society Engagement in Inclusion and Diversity | 0.0 | 9.9 |
ECEgalitarian Democracy | 90.1 | 49.2 |
ECDevice Affordability | 58.6 | 56.0 |
ECGender Gap in Mobile Internet | 97.7 | 94.3 |
| Ethics and Sustainability7 | ||
APFairness and Non-discrimination | 65.9 | 38.3 |
APTransparency and Explainability | 63.6 | 41.3 |
APHuman Oversight and Determination | 63.6 | 31.1 |
APEnvironmental Impact | 0.0 | 25.2 |
CSOCivil Society Engagement in Ethics and Sustainability | 7.7 | 27.5 |
ECLow-Carbon Energy Share | 99.9 | 69.0 |
ECRule of Law | 67.9 | 43.4 |
| Labour and Skills6 | ||
APLabour Protections | 9.1 | 29.7 |
APReskilling/Upskilling Initiatives | 70.5 | 36.1 |
APAI Literacy | 73.5 | 38.6 |
CSOCivil Society Engagement in Labour and Skills | 10.3 | 19.8 |
ECLabour Rights & Compliance | 55.0 | 43.0 |
ECSkills & Literacy | 80.5 | 73.2 |
| Trust and Safety10 | ||
APSafety and Security | 64.2 | 37.6 |
APAccess to Redress and Remedy | 0.0 | 14.9 |
APImpact Assessments | 63.6 | 40.2 |
APAI-facilitated Misinformation and Violence | 0.0 | 26.9 |
CSOCivil Society Engagement in Trust and Safety | 0.0 | 17.3 |
ECData Protection and Privacy | 50.2 | 53.1 |
ECData Sharing and Access | 37.5 | 76.8 |
ECConsumer Protection | 95.8 | 83.5 |
ECCybersecurity | 73.8 | 67.0 |
ECGlobal Peace | 73.2 | 59.0 |
| AI Use in Public Service7 | ||
APPublic Sector Skills Development | 72.7 | 34.8 |
APPublic Disclosure of Government Algorithmic Systems | 61.4 | 23.0 |
APPublic Procurement | 0.0 | 17.7 |
CSOGovernment Mechanisms for CSO Inclusion in AI Policy and Governance | 32.5 | 27.3 |
ECCivil Society Accountability | 91.8 | 72.4 |
ECPublic Service Delivery | 77.1 | 85.1 |
ECAccess to Public Information | 58.1 | 49.2 |
| Score adjustment | ||
URAIUnacceptable Risk AI Systems | No penalty | ×0.98Regional average |
A breakdown of the structural factors shaping this country's score.
National AI strategies, laws, and oversight mechanisms that establish formal governance structures.
Contribution to overall score
55%
Participation of academia, advocacy groups, and non-state actors in shaping governance and ensuring accountability.
Contribution to overall score
2%
Institutional capacity, rule of law, digital readiness, and labour protections that enable effective governance.
Contribution to overall score
43%
Explore how 135 countries are governing artificial intelligence through the world's most comprehensive evidence-based Responsible AI Index.
8 pieces of evidence assessed across 19 indicator cases — laws, policies, strategies, and institutional actions in Costa Rica.
