A comprehensive geographic analysis of disaster risk in Costa Rica

Every year disasters cause significant economic and human losses globally, and Costa Rica is no exception to this growing reality. The country experiences a variety of hazards from natural and anthropogenic origins. The most common natural hazards are geophysical (volcanic and seismic) and hydrometeorological (e.g. floods, landslides, droughts, soil erosion, and coastal erosion). This research includes a national disasters profile, revealing that geophysical disasters are the deadliest, while hydrometeorological disasters cause the most economic damage and affect the most people. Moreover, a statistical analysis shows that population and social development are key predictors of disaster frequency. Furthermore, an extensive literature review provides comprehensive insights into both natural and anthropogenic hazards in Costa Rica from a geographic perspective that explains its occurrence and distribution. Additionally, it provides recommendations and possible solutions at different scales to effectively address and mitigate these disaster risks in the country based on geographic analysis.