Article 12 of the Constitution of Costa Rica

The Article 12 of the Constitution of Costa Rica abolishes Costa Rica's army as a permanent institution, making Costa Rica one of the first countries in the world to do so as the current Constitution was enacted in 1949.^[1] Costa Rica is one of the few countries without armed forces and, alongside Panama, one of the few that is not a microstate. However, like Panama, Costa Rica does have limited military capacities with its Public Forces which have both police and defense functions and had taken part in military operations since 1949.^[2]

Contrary to popular belief, the article does not really completely abolish the army, it only establishes that the army cannot be a permanent standing organization^[3] The article does establish that Costa Rica may create an army for national defense or for international cooperation, but also clarifies that it will always be submitted to civilian authority.^[3]

The date of the abolition of the army is celebrated in Costa Rica as a national holiday.^[4][5]