List of presidents of Costa Rica

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.

Heads of state of Costa Rica (1824–1848) edit

  Liberal  Conservative

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

Presidents of Costa Rica (1848–present) edit

  Liberal  Conservative  Military  PP  PR  PRN  PUN  PLN  PUSC  PAC  PPSD

No.President
(Birth–Death)
Term of OfficePolitical AffiliationElectionNotes
1José María Castro Madriz
(1818–1892)
31 August 1848[1]16 November 1849Non-partisan Liberal1847"Founder of the Republic".
(1)Miguel Mora Porras
(1816–1887)
16 November 184926 November 1849Non-partisan LiberalInterim president.
2Juan Mora Porras
(1814–1860)
26 November 184914 August 1859Non-partisan Liberal1849
1853
1859
First, second and third term.
3José María Montealegre Fernández
(1815–1887)
14 August 18598 May 1863Non-partisan Liberal1860Provisional 1859–1860.
4Jesús Jiménez Zamora
(1823–1897)
8 May 18638 May 1866Non-partisan Liberal1863
5José Castro Madriz
(1818–1892)
8 May 18661 November 1868Non-partisan Liberal1866Second term. Deposed in a coup d'état.
6Jesús Jiménez Zamora
(1823–1897)
1 November 186827 April 1870MilitaryDe factoSecond term.
7Bruno Carranza Ramírez
(1822–1891)
27 April 18708 August 1870Non-partisan LiberalAppointed by Tomás Guardia as provisional president. Resigned after a few months.
8Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez
(1831–1882)
10 August 18708 May 1876Non-partisan Liberal1872Provisional 1870–1872, latter elected.
9Aniceto Esquivel Sáenz
(1824–1898)
8 May 187630 July 1876Non-partisan Liberal1876Deposed in a coup d'état.
10Vicente Herrera Zeledón
(1821–1888)
30 July 187611 September 1877Non-partisan ConservativeAppointed by Guardia.
11Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez
(1831–1882)
11 September 18776 July 1882Non-partisan LiberalSecond term as de facto ruler. Died in office.
12Saturnino Lizano Gutiérrez
(1826–1905)
6 July 188220 July 1882Non-partisan LiberalActing president.
13Próspero Fernández Oreamuno
(1834–1885)
20 July 188212 March 1885Non-partisan Liberal1882Died in office.
14Bernardo Soto Alfaro
(1854–1931)
12 March 18858 May 1890Non-partisan Liberal1886Two consecutive terms, the first incomplete. Carlos Durán Cartín was acting president 1889–1890.
15José Rodríguez Zeledón
(1837–1917)
8 May 18908 May 1894Constitutional1889
16Rafael Yglesias Castro
(1861–1924)
8 May 18948 May 1902Civil1893First and second term.
17Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra
(1844–1923)
8 May 19028 May 1906National Union1901
18Cleto González Víquez
(1858–1937)
8 May 19068 May 1910National1905First term.
19Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno
(1859–1945)
8 May 19108 May 1914Republican1909First term. Son of Jesús Jiménez Zamora.
20Alfredo González Flores
(1877–1962)
8 May 191427 January 1917RepublicanDesignated by Congress as no clear candidate won in 1913De facto
Deposed by Tinoco in a coup d'état.
21Federico Tinoco Granados
(1868–1931)
27 January 191713 August 1919PeliquistaTook power after coup, was sole candidate in the 1917 electionFirst and second term. Overthrown by popular uprising.
22Juan Quirós Segura
(1853–1934)
13 August 19192 September 1919PeliquistaDe factoPreviously Vice President. Replaced Tinoco after his escape. Forced to resign by the U.S. government.
23Francisco Aguilar Barquero
(1857–1924)
2 September 19198 May 1920RepublicanInterim president.
24Julio Acosta García
(1872–1954)
8 May 19208 May 1924Constitutional1919
25Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno
(1859–1945)
8 May 19248 May 1928Republican1923Second term.
26Cleto González Víquez
(1858–1937)
8 May 19288 May 1932National Union1928Second term.
27Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno
(1859–1945)
8 May 19328 May 1936National Republican1932Third term.
28León Cortés Castro
(1882–1946)
8 May 19368 May 1940National Republican1936
29Rafael Calderón Guardia
(1900–1970)
8 May 19408 May 1944National Republican1940
30Teodoro Picado Michalski
(1900–1960)
8 May 194420 April 1948National Republican1944
(31a)Santos León Herrera
(1874–1950)
20 April 19488 May 1948National RepublicanInterim president. Former vice-president of Teodoro Picado Michalski.
(31b)José Figueres Ferrer
(1906–1990)
8 May 19488 November 1949Social DemocraticDe factoCame to power in the Civil War. Returned power to elected president after re-organizing the government.
31Otilio Ulate Blanco
(1891–1973)
8 November 19498 November 1953National Union1948
32José Figueres Ferrer
(1906–1990)
8 November 19538 May 1958National Liberation1953Second term. Presidential re-election disallowed.
33Mario Echandi Jiménez
(1915–2011)
8 May 19588 May 1962National Union1958
34Francisco Orlich Bolmarcich
(1907–1969)
8 May 19628 May 1966National Liberation1962
35José Trejos Fernández
(1916–2010)
8 May 19668 May 1970National Unification1966
36José Figueres Ferrer
(1906–1990)
8 May 19708 May 1974National Liberation1970Third term. Presidential re-election disallowed.
37Daniel Oduber Quirós
(1921–1991)
8 May 19748 May 1978National Liberation1974
38Rodrigo Carazo Odio
(1926–2009)
8 May 19788 May 1982Unity Coalition1978
39Luis Monge Álvarez
(1925–2016)
8 May 19828 May 1986National Liberation1982
40Óscar Arias Sánchez
(born 1940)
8 May 19868 May 1990National Liberation1986Nobel Peace Prize winner (1987).
First term.
41Rafael Calderón Fournier
(born 1949)
8 May 19908 May 1994Social Christian Unity1990Son of Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia.
42José Figueres Olsen
(born 1954)
8 May 19948 May 1998National Liberation1994Son of José Figueres Ferrer.
43Miguel Rodríguez Echeverría
(born 1940)
8 May 19988 May 2002Social Christian Unity1998
44Abel Pacheco de la Espriella
(born 1933)
8 May 20028 May 2006Social Christian Unity2002Presidential re-election re-instated.
45Óscar Arias Sánchez
(born 1940)
8 May 20068 May 2010National Liberation2006Second term.
46Laura Chinchilla Miranda
(born 1959)
8 May 20108 May 2014National Liberation2010First female president of Costa Rica.[2]
47Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera
(born 1958)
8 May 20148 May 2018Citizens' Action2014
48Carlos Alvarado Quesada
(born 1980)
8 May 20188 May 2022Citizens' Action2018Youngest president since Alfredo González Flores (1914). First president to be called by Congress for hearing.
49Rodrigo Chaves Robles
(born 1961)
8 May 2022Incumbent
(Term ends on 8 May 2026)
Social Democratic Progress 2022Incumbent

Timeline edit

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 Fernández

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ El Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones: Presidentes de la República de 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.