Despite persistent areas of concern, Costa Rica has consistently improved on its human development indicators since 1990.

Over the past 25 years, the average years of schooling have increased by 44 percent and its income has doubled, according to the most recent United Nations Development Program’s Human Development Report (UNDP) released last week. Likewise, life expectancy in Costa Rica has increased by four years over that period.

Kryssia Brade, UNDP assistant representative. indicated that in 2016 Costa Rica became the first country in the world to sign a National Pact for meeting the UN Sustainable Development Objectives (ODS), which involved participation and commitment of action by all sectors of the economy and society to improve the quality of life for everyone in the country.

“The Sustainable Development Objectives provide a great opportunity for Costa Rica to agree on a long-term national vision and agenda that will enable real and lasting change in the fight against poverty and inequality, the promotion of education and health, decent work, environmental protection and the strengthening of justice, among other areas,” Brade said.

Costa Rica was one of the 193 countries that in 2015 committed themselves to meet these significant objectives by the year 2030.

However, UNDP economist Gabriela Mata, noted that despite Costa Rica’s ranking on the human development index has grown over time, in recent years the values measured by the index remain almost constant.