Why People Live Longer in Costa Rica

If someone asked you what country contained the most centenarians (people over the age of 100), your first guess might be a highly industrialized, first world country like the United States or Japan. The logic follows that such first world countries have the best doctors, medicines and nutrition, so their citizens must live the longest, right? Wrong.

The country with the most centenarians in the world just so happens to be Costa Rica. On the surface, a largely undeveloped and natural country would not seem to be the obvious choice for highest longevity. Upon closer examination, however, the lifestyle of the happy, positive people of Costa Rica, their healthy diet and strong social networks are the hallmarks of a long, satisfied life. In fact, the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica has been named one of the world’s blue zones, select pockets of the earth where people live longer, healthier and more vital lives.

Travelers and expatriates alike have been captivated by the virtues of living the Costa Rican lifestyle. Work in the morning, healthy yet satisfyingly delicious lunches, heavy socializing in the afternoon and a day peppered with mild physical activity serves to keep the mind, body and spirit in a constant state of bliss. As one Costa Rican centenarian pointed out, they work enough to stay busy but not so much to induce stress. The Costa Rican people have the work-life balance down to an art, and live life to its fullest – a cherished Costa Rican concept known as ‘pura vida.’  Pura vida is a balancing act of pleasure, leisure and activity that many envious expatriates have joined the country to enjoy.

Compared with the traditional American lifestyle of commuting, working overtime, constant stress and weight problems stemming from poor diet and inactivity, the Costa Ricans appear to have tapped into a smarter, more enjoyable way to live. The frailty of old age is rarely a problem in Costa Rica thanks to the naturally calcium-rich water and outdoor activities, and the residents’ outlook on life is one of general optimism and happiness. Costa Rica, it seems, is the closest our world has come to locating a fountain of youth.

Sources: Dan Beuttner, bluezones.com & abcnews.go.com