By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – Costa Rica has cemented its status as a global leader in the high-stakes world of medical technology, with new data revealing an unprecedented surge in exports and foreign investment. A landmark study by PROCOMER, the nation’s trade and investment promotion agency, confirms that Costa Rica is now the world’s tenth-largest exporter of medical devices and the leading exporter on a per-capita basis.
The report, titled “The World’s Health Is Made in Costa Rica,” showcases the sector’s explosive growth. As of October 2025, exports of medical devices had already reached a staggering $9.199 billion, a 30% increase over the previous year and a figure that eclipses the entire total for 2024. This performance is the result of a sustained average annual growth rate of 22% between 2020 and 2024, demonstrating a robust and accelerating trend.
To delve into the intricate legal and regulatory framework governing the medical device sector in Costa Rica, TicosLand.com sought the expert analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
Costa Rica’s position as a global hub for medical device manufacturing is built on a foundation of legal certainty and regulatory compliance. For companies looking to operate here, navigating the sanitary registration process with the Ministry of Health is paramount. Beyond initial approval, a proactive strategy for intellectual property protection and a clear understanding of the Free Trade Zone regime are what truly separate successful, long-term investments from the rest.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This insight powerfully underscores that Costa Rica’s appeal in the med-tech sector is rooted as much in its sophisticated legal and regulatory ecosystem as in its manufacturing capabilities. A proactive, multi-faceted legal strategy is clearly not an afterthought but the very foundation of a durable investment. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable perspective on these critical success factors.
This export boom reflects a fundamental shift in Costa Rica’s economic identity, moving decisively toward a model driven by innovation, advanced manufacturing, and high-value production. The medical device sector is now the engine of this transformation, accounting for an impressive 48% of the country’s total goods exports. This success has not gone unnoticed on the world stage; Costa Rica now attracts 52% of all new investment in the medical device industry across Latin America, making it the third-largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the sector globally.
The country has become a strategic hub for over 100 leading international companies from the United States, Germany, Ireland, and Japan, among others. These firms operate in highly specialized fields, including cardiology, orthopedics, endoscopy, and advanced surgical solutions, leveraging Costa Rica’s unique value proposition.
Costa Rica exports a diversity of talent, skills, and solutions that improve lives around the world. This industry proves that our capacity for innovation and providing cutting-edge technology knows no bounds. Costa Rica not only attracts specialized investment but also produces and exports products with exceptionally high added value, supported by a unique value proposition that combines stability, qualified talent, and a strong commitment to quality.
Laura López, CEO of PROCOMER
The nation’s manufacturing prowess is not limited to a few products. Costa Rica currently exports 164 distinct types of medical devices to 88 different markets. The primary categories driving this volume are needles, catheters, and cannulas (41.5%), followed by a broad category of other medical devices (30.8%) and medical prosthetics (14.5%). While the United States remains the dominant market, receiving 66.5% of these exports, European nations like the Netherlands and Belgium are also key destinations.
Fueling this success is a sophisticated and resilient local supply chain. A robust ecosystem of specialized providers in tooling, metalworking, plastics, sterilization, and precision assembly has developed to support the industry. This network not only ensures operational efficiency but also facilitates crucial knowledge transfer, elevating industrial standards for domestic suppliers throughout the country.
According to the PROCOMER study, Costa Rica’s leadership position is built on several key pillars: its long-standing economic, political, and social stability; a competitive and renewable electricity matrix; a highly skilled and educated workforce; and three decades of experience in advanced manufacturing. These strengths have enabled the country to quadruple its exports of high-tech medical devices in less than a decade, solidifying the sector as a structural cornerstone of its national development model.
The industry’s ripple effects are profound, creating higher-quality jobs, fostering deeper integration of local suppliers, and expanding Costa Rica’s presence in global healthcare value chains. With sustained international demand and a strong commitment to collaboration between the government, private sector, and academia, the outlook for continued growth and innovation remains exceptionally bright.
For further information, visit procomer.com
About PROCOMER:
PROCOMER is the Foreign Trade Promotion Agency of Costa Rica, a government entity responsible for promoting the country’s exports of goods and services globally. It also works to attract foreign direct investment and serves as a key facilitator for the internationalization of Costa Rican companies, providing support, research, and strategic guidance to bolster the nation’s position in the global market.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a benchmark for legal practice, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its deep-rooted principles of integrity and professional excellence. The firm champions legal innovation to serve a diverse clientele while simultaneously fulfilling a greater societal purpose. It actively works to demystify the law for the public, driven by the conviction that an informed citizenry, equipped with clear legal understanding, is the cornerstone of a truly empowered and just community.
