SHARE

E-cigarette vaping in Costa Rica

Profile
Costa Rica Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Costa Rica Background
Profile
Costa Rica Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2022.   Page updated: 2026-08-10

E-cigarettes and vaping are legally allowed in Costa Rica, including purchases through online channels. However, the law requires manufacturers to notify the authorities about the introduction of new vaping products to the market and to include health warnings on their packaging. There are no restrictions on flavours or nicotine content. However, a minimum age of 18 years is required to purchase e-cigarettes, and vaping is prohibited in public places.

There were an estimated 64,924 current vapers in Costa Rica in 2022, representing an adult current vaping prevalence of 1.6% (1% among females and 2.2% among males).

Prevalence

Year Value Reference/Comment
2015 48,066 1A A
2022 64,924 1B
References:
  1. 1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2015. Available at:https://nccd.cdc.gov/GTSSDataSurveyResources/Ancillary/DataReports.aspx?CAID=1 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. 1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2022 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
Comments:
  1. In Costa Rica, GATS was first conducted in 2015 as a household survey of persons 15 years of age. A multi-stage, geographically clustered sample design was used to produce nationally representative data. There were a total of 8,607 completed individual interviews. World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
Year Value Reference/Comment
2015 1.3% 2A A
2022 1.6% 2B
References:
  1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2015. Available at:https://nccd.cdc.gov/GTSSDataSurveyResources/Ancillary/DataReports.aspx?CAID=1
  2. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2022 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
  1. In Costa Rica, GATS was first conducted in 2015 as a household survey of persons 15 years of age. A multi-stage, geographically clustered sample design was used to produce nationally representative data. There were a total of 8,607 completed individual interviews.
1%
2
2022
2.2%
2
2022
References:
  1. 1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2022 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2022 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276

Product promotion

Yes
A
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Yes A
2022 Yes 1A
References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Costa Rica. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/costa-rica/e-cigarettes/main-policies. Accessed: 23 July 2026.
Comments:
  1. Allowed or banned at place of sale or allowed or banned in all media.
References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Costa Rica. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/costa-rica/e-cigarettes/main-policies. Accessed: 23 July 2026.
Comments:
  1. Banned at place of sale and banned in all media.

Regulation

Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Allowed 1A
2022 Allowed 1B
References:
  1. Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/
  2. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Costa Rica. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/costa-rica/e-cigarettes/main-policies. Accessed: 23 July 2026.
Yes
2
References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Costa Rica. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/costa-rica/e-cigarettes/main-policies. Accessed: 23 July 2026.
  2. Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/

Availability

References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Costa Rica. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/costa-rica/e-cigarettes/main-policies. Accessed: 23 July 2026.

Regulations and restrictions

References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Costa Rica. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/costa-rica/e-cigarettes/main-policies. Accessed: 23 July 2026.
  2. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=73. Accessed: 24 July 2026.
Comments:
  1. Not required.
The GSTHR database is updated regularly by our team. However, please be aware that the information we provide does not constitute legal advice. We cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or accurate, as the regulatory status of different product categories can change at short notice and with little publicity. If you wish to check the legal status of use or possession of any safer nicotine product in a specific country or region, you should verify the information independently. If you have reason to think that the information supplied on the GSTHR is inaccurate, please contact us with details and any references and we will rectify any errors.