Seven stars appear on Costa Rica’s state flag coat of arms.
The seven stars in the arch above Costa Rica’s coat of arms represent the country’s seven provinces. They are visible on the state flag, the version used by the government and other authorized institutions. Costa Rica’s civil flag has the same blue, white and red stripes but omits the coat of arms, which is why many everyday flags show no stars.
Costa Rica adopted its distinctive tricolour on 29 September 1848. The design was influenced by the ideals associated with the French Revolution, while the central red stripe is twice as wide as the blue and white stripes. The coat of arms was modified several times as the country’s official symbols evolved.
The star count changed in 1964, when two stars were added to the original five. Those additions reflected the country’s seven-province structure, including Puntarenas and Limón, which had not held provincial status when the earlier design was created. A 1998 update added smoke to the volcanoes in the arms.