The country’s support for democracy has dropped from 67% to 56% in the past 3 years; support for authoritarianism has risen from 11% to 16% during the same period according to a recent Latinobarómetro study

Heavy rains linked to the Central American Gyre have caused severe flooding in Monteverde, Costa Rica, blocking roads, closing schools, disabling homes, and prompting the rescue of 11 people

Over 215.000 elderly people in the country lack pensions, with only 44% covered by contributory systems and 17% relying on minimal non-contributory pensions according to latest study by the University of Costa Rica

Thousands of people marched in Costa Rica to defend public education, protesting government budget cuts under President Rodrigo Chaves, who has reduced funding below the constitutionally mandated 8% of GDP