There are some 16.000 U.S. citizens living in Costa Rica, the majority working in teaching and prefer to live in San José and Pérez Zeledón.
Americans are the third largest immigrant group in the country in terms of population, after Nicaraguans and Colombians.
Almost half of the 16.000 Americans living in Costa Rica are 29 years of age and younger; 41% are of married couples with children, and 19% are retired.
Of those working in Costa Rica, most teach, others work in administrative and support services and business.
Nearly half of the employed work for private companies, while a quarter are self-employed.
The preferred cantons for Americans living in Costa Rica are: San José, Pérez Zeledón, Escazú, Alajuela, Santa Ana and Santa Cruz (Guanacaste).
The profile of Americans living in Costa Rica is from the 2011 Census by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos.
The date on which Americans are the third group of immigrants is taken from the Directorate General of Immigration national report 2012.
Arodys Robles, director of the Central American Population Center at the University of Costa Rica, says the data yields two patterns.
“One of Americans who come to Costa Rica with their families to work, generally made up of a younger group, from children to those active in the work force, generally between 35 and 560. The second are retirees, predominantly over 60”, says Robles.
Source: La Nacion