Readiness
39/100Capacity across five enabling pillarsAmericas · #9 in region
Costa Rica
AI Readiness Score
Limited coverageiCoverage describes source availability, not statistical certainty.
- Live
- 0/23
- Years
- Not reported
- Fallback
- 100%
SATURDAY, OCT 31, 20262026 EDITION · 17 INDICATORS
VOL. III · 2026 EDITION
The AI Trajectory IndexMenu
Executive summary
Current standing, trajectory, and source coverage.
Readiness and Adoption
Capacity to build AI compared with evidence of AI use today.
Adoption
39/100Early AdoptionTrajectory
+4/10PositiveReadiness vs Adoption: Radar
Blue = readiness capacity · Green = active adoption · Each axis pairs the closest dimension from each framework
| Dimension pair | Readiness | Adoption |
|---|---|---|
| Infra / Gov | 9/20 | 7/20 |
| Talent / Demand | 9/20 | 8/20 |
| Governance / Enterprise | 9/20 | 8/20 |
| Investment / Pipeline | 7/20 | 7/20 |
| Economy / Consumer | 5/20 | 9/20 |
Pillar evidence
Scores, supporting evidence, and the exact inputs behind each contribution.
Infrastructure
ICE (national telecom) and Claro deploying 5G; solid urban fibre connectivity
- Growing data centre market in San José; US tech companies establishing Central American operations
- 100% renewable electricity (hydro, geothermal) attracting sustainable data centre investment
View score inputs
| Input | Value | Year | Source | Contribution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed broadband subscriptionsFixed broadband subscriptions unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Infrastructure baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 2.7 / 6 pts | Fallback |
| Individuals using the internetIndividuals using the internet unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Infrastructure baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 1.4 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Mobile subscriptionsMobile subscriptions unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Infrastructure baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 1.4 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Access to electricityAccess to electricity unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Infrastructure baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 1.4 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Infrastructure quality baselineInfrastructure quality baseline unavailable; used 5/20 of the static Infrastructure baseline. | Not available | Not reported | AI Trajectory Index | 2.3 / 5 pts | Fallback |
Talent
UCR, TEC, and UNA producing strong engineering graduates; Intel Costa Rica created a generation of chip engineers
- Strong English language skills and US alignment creating nearshore tech talent in Central America
- Medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturing creating specialised AI engineering community
View score inputs
| Input | Value | Year | Source | Contribution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross tertiary enrolmentGross tertiary enrolment unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Talent baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 2.7 / 6 pts | Fallback |
| Labour productivityLabour productivity unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Talent baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 2.7 / 6 pts | Fallback |
| ResearchersResearchers unavailable; used 2/20 of the static Talent baseline. | Not available | Not reported | OECD Data Explorer | 0.9 / 2 pts | Fallback |
| Global Innovation IndexGlobal Innovation Index unavailable; used 1/20 of the static Talent baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Intellectual Property Organization | 0.5 / 1 pts | Fallback |
| Talent quality baselineTalent quality baseline unavailable; used 5/20 of the static Talent baseline. | Not available | Not reported | AI Trajectory Index | 2.3 / 5 pts | Fallback |
Governance
OECD member (2023) — regulatory alignment with international standards including AI governance
- PRODHAB data protection agency among Central America's most sophisticated
- Costa Rica's peace tradition and strong institutions provide stable policy environment
View score inputs
| Input | Value | Year | Source | Contribution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of LawRule of Law unavailable; used 5/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | Worldwide Governance Indicators | 2.3 / 5 pts | Fallback |
| Government EffectivenessGovernment Effectiveness unavailable; used 4/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | Worldwide Governance Indicators | 1.8 / 4 pts | Fallback |
| Regulatory QualityRegulatory Quality unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | Worldwide Governance Indicators | 1.4 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| National AI strategyNational AI strategy unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | OECD.AI Policy Observatory | 1.4 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| AI strategy recencyAI strategy recency unavailable; used 2/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | OECD.AI Policy Observatory | 0.9 / 2 pts | Fallback |
| AI regulation in forceAI regulation in force unavailable; used 1/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | OECD.AI Policy Observatory | 0.5 / 1 pts | Fallback |
| Government AI readinessGovernment AI readiness unavailable; used 2/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | Oxford Insights | 0.9 / 2 pts | Fallback |
Investment
Intel, HP, and Amazon have significant Costa Rican engineering operations
- Government PROCOMER and CINDE attracting tech FDI with renewable energy proposition
- Growing startup ecosystem in San José; Costa Rica is Central America's VC hub
View score inputs
| Input | Value | Year | Source | Contribution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R&D expenditureR&D expenditure unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Investment baseline. | Not available | Not reported | OECD Data Explorer, then World Bank Open Data | 2.1 / 6 pts | Fallback |
| FDI net inflowsFDI net inflows unavailable; used 5/20 of the static Investment baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 1.8 / 5 pts | Fallback |
| Government expenditureGovernment expenditure unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Investment baseline. | Not available | Not reported | IMF DataMapper | 1.0 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Capital ecosystem baselineCapital ecosystem baseline unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Investment baseline. | Not available | Not reported | AI Trajectory Index | 2.1 / 6 pts | Fallback |
Economic Readiness
5M population, high human development, and strong US economic ties create good AI adoption environment
- Medical device and tech services sectors deploying AI with sophistication exceeding country's size
- OECD membership driving economic and regulatory modernisation at accelerated pace
View score inputs
| Input | Value | Year | Source | Contribution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita, PPPGDP per capita, PPP unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Economic Readiness baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 1.5 / 6 pts | Fallback |
| Private-sector creditPrivate-sector credit unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Economic Readiness baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 0.8 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Trade opennessTrade openness unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Economic Readiness baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 0.8 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Services value addedServices value added unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Economic Readiness baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 0.8 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Market capacity baselineMarket capacity baseline unavailable; used 5/20 of the static Economic Readiness baseline. | Not available | Not reported | AI Trajectory Index | 1.3 / 5 pts | Fallback |
| Government debt modifierGovernment debt modifier unavailable; no score adjustment was applied. | Not available | Not reported | IMF DataMapper | 0.0 / 0 pts | Fallback |
Outlook and policy gaps
Forward direction, constraints, and a structured country brief.
Projected 2028
45/100+6 points from todayTop accelerator
OECD membership and 100% renewable energy positioning Costa Rica as Central America's AI hubTop risk
Small population (5M) and geographic constraints limiting scale beyond nearshore/services AIFive-section brief
Country research brief
Generate a concise review of standing, infrastructure and talent, governance, investment, and economic outlook.
News and supporting tools
Recent signals, comparable economies, and optional analysis controls.
Live AI News Feed
The Guardian · Google News · Updated hourly
Comparable countries
Nearest neighbours across the five readiness pillars.
Analysis toolsWhat-if model, roadmap, AI Q&A, embed, and print controls
AI Development Roadmap
Algorithmic roadmap based on pillar scores · Updated with live data
◈Foundation Phase
Costa Rica is in the Foundation Phase
Building core digital and institutional capabilities. On current trajectory, Costa Rica enters the Development phase by 2028 (projected score: 45/100).
2028 Timeline
▶
Now
Score 39
2
2025–26
National AI strategy adopted
3
2026–27
Digital connectivity baseline met
4
2028
First national AI lab established
Priority Actions — 3 Weakest Pillars
⬠Economic Readiness
5/20Near
Expand financial inclusion; target 80% banked population by 2026
Mid
Develop AI-driven export diversification strategy beyond primary commodities
◇Investment & R&D
7/20Near
Introduce R&D tax credits (≥25%) for AI-related expenditure
Mid
Create sovereign AI venture fund targeting deep-tech Series A/B rounds
⬡Digital Infrastructure
9/20Near
Extend rural connectivity and reduce mobile data costs below $2/GB
Mid
Build national data centre capacity and connect to international internet exchanges
Roadmap generated algorithmically from pillar scores and World Bank data. Actions are indicative policy priorities, not official government plans.