List of presidents of Costa Rica

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The following article lists the presidents and heads of state of Costa Rica since Central American 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.

Contents

Heads of state of Costa Rica (1824–1848)

  Liberal  Conservative

No.Head of StatePortraitTerm of OfficePolitical AffiliationNotes
1 Juan Mora Fernández
(1784–1854)
Juan Mora Fernandez.JPG 1824–1833LiberalTwo consecutive terms; re-elected in 1829.
2 José Rafael Gallegos
(1784–1850)
Jose Rafael Gallegos Alvarado.JPG 1833–1835ConservativeResigned, Manuel Fernández Chacón and Nicolás Ulloa Soto followed as acting Heads of State.
3 Braulio Carrillo Colina
(1800–1845)
Braulio Carrillo Colina Retrato.jpg 1835–1837LiberalFirst term.
4 Juan Mora Fernández
(1784–1854)
Juan Mora Fernandez.JPG March–April 1837LiberalProvisional.
5 Manuel Aguilar Chacón
(1797–1846)
Manuel Aguilar Chacon.JPG 1837–1838LiberalDeposed in a coup d'état.
6 Braulio Carrillo Colina
(1800–1845)
Braulio Carrillo Colina Retrato.jpg 1838–1842LiberalSecond term. Deposed in a coup d'état.
7 Francisco Morazán
(1792–1842)
Francisco Morazan Quesada.JPG April–September 1842LiberalDeposed by popular uprising; executed on 15 September 1842.
8 António Pinto Soares
(1780–1865)
Antonio Pinto Soares.JPG September 1842LiberalCame to power in popular uprising, and quickly resigned.
9 José María Alfaro Zamora
(1799–1865)
Jose Maria Alfaro Zamora.JPG 1842–1844LiberalFirst term. Provisional.
10 Francisco María Oreamuno Bonilla
(1801–1856)
Francisco Maria Oreamuno Bonilla.JPG November–December 1844LiberalDeposed in a coup d'état.
11 José Rafael Gallegos
(1784–1850)
Jose Rafael Gallegos Alvarado.JPG 1845–1846Conservative
12 José María Alfaro Zamora
(1799–1856)
Jose Maria Alfaro Zamora.JPG 1846–1847LiberalSecond term.
13 José Castro Madriz
(1818–1892)
Jose Maria Castro Madriz.JPG 1847–1848Liberal

Presidents of Costa Rica (1848–present)

  Liberal  Conservative  Military   PP    PR    PRN    PUN    PLN    PUSC    PAC    PPSD

No. President
(Birth–Death)
Term of OfficePolitical Affiliation Election Notes
1 José María Castro Madriz
(1818–1892)
Jose Maria Castro Madriz.JPG 31 August 1848 [1] 16 November 1849Non-partisan Liberal 1847 "Founder of the Republic".
(1) Miguel Mora Porras
(1816–1887)
Miguel Mora Porras 001.jpg 16 November 184926 November 1849Non-partisan LiberalInterim president.
2 Juan Mora Porras
(1814–1860)
Juan Rafael Mora Porras.JPG 26 November 184914 August 1859Non-partisan Liberal 1849
1853
1859
First, second and third term.
3 José María Montealegre Fernández
(1815–1887)
Jose Maria Montealegra Fernandez.JPG 14 August 18598 May 1863Non-partisan Liberal 1860 Provisional 1859–1860.
4 Jesús Jiménez Zamora
(1823–1897)
Jesus Jimenez Zamora.JPG 8 May 18638 May 1866Non-partisan Liberal 1863
5 José Castro Madriz
(1818–1892)
Jose Maria Castro Madriz.JPG 8 May 18661 November 1868Non-partisan Liberal 1866 Second term. Deposed in a coup d'état.
6 Jesús Jiménez Zamora
(1823–1897)
Jesus Jimenez Zamora.JPG 1 November 186827 April 1870MilitaryDe factoSecond term.
7 Bruno Carranza Ramírez
(1822–1891)
Bruno Carranza Ramirez.JPG 27 April 18708 August 1870Non-partisan LiberalAppointed by Tomás Guardia as provisional president. Resigned after a few months.
8 Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez
(1831–1882)
Tomas Guardia Gutierrez.JPG 10 August 18708 May 1876Non-partisan Liberal 1872 Provisional 1870–1872, latter elected.
9 Aniceto Esquivel Sáenz
(1824–1898)
Aniceto Esquivel Saenz 2.jpg 8 May 187630 July 1876Non-partisan Liberal 1876 Deposed in a coup d'état.
10 Vicente Herrera Zeledón
(1821–1888)
Vicente Herrera Zeledon.JPG 30 July 187611 September 1877Non-partisan ConservativeAppointed by Guardia.
11 Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez
(1831–1882)
Tomas Guardia Gutierrez.JPG 11 September 18776 July 1882Non-partisan LiberalSecond term as de facto ruler. Died in office.
12 Saturnino Lizano Gutiérrez
(1826–1905)
Saturnino Lizano Gutierrez-2.jpg 6 July 188220 July 1882Non-partisan LiberalActing president.
13 Próspero Fernández Oreamuno
(1834–1885)
Prospero Fernandez Oreamuno.JPG 20 July 188212 March 1885Non-partisan Liberal 1882 Died in office.
14 Bernardo Soto Alfaro
(1854–1931)
Bernardo Soto Alfaro.JPG 12 March 18858 May 1890Non-partisan Liberal 1886 Two consecutive terms, the first incomplete. Carlos Durán Cartín was acting president 1889–1890.
15 José Rodríguez Zeledón
(1837–1917)
Jose Joaquin Rodriguez Zeledon.JPG 8 May 18908 May 1894 Constitutional Democratic 1889
16 Rafael Yglesias Castro
(1861–1924)
Rafael Iglesias Castro.jpg 8 May 18948 May 1902 Civil 1894

1897

First and second term.
17 Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra
(1844–1923)
Ascencion Esquivel Ibarra (adjusted).JPG 8 May 19028 May 1906 National Union 1902
18 Cleto González Víquez
(1858–1937)
Cleto Gonzalez Viquez.jpg 8 May 19068 May 1910 National 1906 First term.
19 Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno
(1859–1945)
Ricardo Jimenez Oreamuno.jpg 8 May 19108 May 1914 Republican 1910 First term. Son of Jesús Jiménez Zamora.
20 Alfredo González Flores
(1877–1962)
Alfredo Gonzalez Flores.jpg 8 May 191427 January 1917 Republican Designated by Congress as no clear candidate won in 1913 De facto
Deposed by Tinoco in a coup d'état.
21 Federico Tinoco Granados
(1868–1931)
Federico Tinoco Granados.jpg 27 January 191713 August 1919 Peliquista Took power after coup, was sole candidate in the 1917 election First and second term. Overthrown by popular uprising.
22 Juan Quirós Segura
(1853–1934)
Juan Bautista Quiros Segura.jpg 13 August 19192 September 1919 Peliquista De factoPreviously Vice President. Replaced Tinoco after his escape. Forced to resign by the U.S. government.
23 Francisco Aguilar Barquero
(1857–1924)
Francisco Aguilar Barquero.jpg 2 September 19198 May 1920 Republican Interim president.
24 Julio Acosta García
(1872–1954)
Julio Acosta Garcia.JPG 8 May 19208 May 1924 Constitutional 1919
25 Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno
(1859–1945)
Ricardo Jimenez Oreamuno.jpg 8 May 19248 May 1928 Republican 1923 Second term.
26 Cleto González Víquez
(1858–1937)
Cleto Gonzalez Viquez.jpg 8 May 19288 May 1932 National Union 1928 Second term.
27 Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno
(1859–1945)
Ricardo Jimenez Oreamuno.jpg 8 May 19328 May 1936 National Republican 1932 Third term.
28 León Cortés Castro
(1882–1946)
Povedano - Leon Cortes Castro, pte CR (adjusted).jpg 8 May 19368 May 1940 National Republican 1936
29 Rafael Calderón Guardia
(1900–1970)
Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia.jpg 8 May 19408 May 1944 National Republican 1940
30 Teodoro Picado Michalski
(1900–1960)
Teodoro Picado Michalski.jpg 8 May 194420 April 1948 National Republican 1944
(31a) Santos León Herrera
(1874–1950)
Santos Leon (cropped).jpg 20 April 19488 May 1948 National Republican Interim president. Former vice-president of Teodoro Picado Michalski.
(31b) José Figueres Ferrer
(1906–1990)
Jose Figueres Ferrer cropped.jpg 8 May 19488 November 1949 Social Democratic De factoCame to power in the Civil War. Returned power to elected president after re-organizing the government.
31 Otilio Ulate Blanco
(1891–1973)
Otilio Ulate Blanco cropped.jpg 8 November 19498 November 1953 National Union 1948
32 José Figueres Ferrer
(1906–1990)
Jose Figueres Ferrer cropped.jpg 8 November 19538 May 1958 National Liberation 1953 Second term. Presidential re-election disallowed.
33 Mario Echandi Jiménez
(1915–2011)
Mario Echandi Jimenez cropped.jpg 8 May 19588 May 1962 National Union 1958
34 Francisco Orlich Bolmarcich
(1907–1969)
Francisco Jose Orlich Bolmarcich.jpg 8 May 19628 May 1966 National Liberation 1962
35 José Trejos Fernández
(1916–2010)
Jose Joaquin Trejos Fernandez.jpg 8 May 19668 May 1970 National Unification 1966
36 José Figueres Ferrer
(1906–1990)
Jose Figueres Ferrer cropped.jpg 8 May 19708 May 1974 National Liberation 1970 Third term. Presidential re-election disallowed.
37 Daniel Oduber Quirós
(1921–1991)
Daniel Oduber Quiros.jpg 8 May 19748 May 1978 National Liberation 1974
38 Rodrigo Carazo Odio
(1926–2009)
Rodrigo Carazo Odio.jpg 8 May 19788 May 1982 Unity Coalition 1978
39 Luis Monge Álvarez
(1925–2016)
Luis Alberto Monge (1984).jpg 8 May 19828 May 1986 National Liberation 1982
40 Óscar Arias Sánchez
(born 1940)
OscarArias.jpg 8 May 19868 May 1990 National Liberation 1986 Nobel Peace Prize winner (1987).
First term.
41 Rafael Calderón Fournier
(born 1949)
R A Calderon.jpg 8 May 19908 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 19948 May 1998 National Liberation 1994 Son of José Figueres Ferrer.
43 Miguel Rodríguez Echeverría
(born 1940)
MiguelAngelRodriguezEcheverria.jpg 8 May 19988 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 20028 May 2006 Social Christian Unity 2002 Presidential re-election re-instated.
45 Óscar Arias Sánchez
(born 1940)
Oscar Arias (2009).jpg 8 May 20068 May 2010 National Liberation 2006 Second term.
46 Laura Chinchilla Miranda
(born 1959)
Laura 4.jpg 8 May 20108 May 2014 National Liberation 2010 First female president of Costa Rica. [2]
47 Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera
(born 1958)
Luis Guillermo Solis, Costa Rica 03(cropped).JPG 8 May 20148 May 2018 Citizens' Action 2014
48 Carlos Alvarado Quesada
(born 1980)
Carlos Alvarado (cropped).jpg 8 May 20188 May 2022 Citizens' Action 2018 Youngest president since Alfredo González Flores (1914).First president to be called by Congress for hearing.
49 Rodrigo Chaves Robles
(born 1961)
Rodrigo Chaves, discurso posesion (cropped).jpg 8 May 2022Incumbent
(Term ends on 8 May 2026)
Social Democratic Progress 2022 Incumbent

Timeline

Rodrigo Chaves RoblesCarlos Alvarado QuesadaLuis Guillermo SolísLaura ChinchillaAbel Pacheco de la EspriellaMiguel Rodríguez EcheverríaJosé Figueres OlsenRafael Calderón FournierÓscar AriasLuis Monge ÁlvarezRodrigo Carazo OdioDaniel Oduber QuirósJosé Trejos FernándezFrancisco Orlich BolmarcichMario Echandi JiménezOtilio Ulate BlancoJosé Figueres FerrerSantos León HerreraTeodoro Picado MichalskiRafael Calderón GuardiaLeón Cortés CastroJulio Acosta GarcíaFrancisco Aguilar BarqueroJuan Quirós SeguraFederico Tinoco GranadosAlfredo González FloresRicardo Jiménez OreamunoCleto González VíquezAscensión Esquivel IbarraRafael Yglesias CastroJosé Rodríguez ZeledónBernardo Soto AlfaroPróspero Fernández OreamunoSaturnino Lizano GutiérrezVicente Herrera ZeledónAniceto Esquivel SáenzTomás Guardia GutiérrezBruno Carranza RamírezJesús Jiménez ZamoraJosé María Montealegre FernándezJuan Mora PorrasMiguel Mora PorrasJosé María Castro MadrizFrancisco María Oreamuno BonillaJosé María Alfaro ZamoraAntónio Pinto SoaresFrancisco MorazánManuel Aguilar ChacónBraulio Carrillo ColinaJosé Rafael GallegosJuan Mora FernándezList of presidents of Costa Rica

See also

References

  1. Rodrigo A. Granados Jiménez (2015). "Presidentes de la República de Costa Rica" (PDF). Infohistoria (in Spanish). El Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (government of Costa Rica).
  2. "Costa Rica's new president: After Arias: Tax increases, trade deals and antidisestablishmentarianism". The Economist. 6 May 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2010.