Costa Ricans, also called Ticos, are from the Central American country of Costa Rica. Costa Ricans are predominantly whites, castizos (mix of white and mestizo) and mestizos. Their home country is considered a multiethnic society, and as a result, modern-day Costa Ricans do not consider their nationality as an ethnicity but as a citizenship with various ethnicities.
Unlike immigrants from many other Central American countries, there have never been large waves of migration of Costa Ricans to North America. Due to Costa Rica's political stability, high standard of living, and well-developed social benefits system, most Costa Ricans have not immigrated because of political oppression or extreme economic circumstances, but rather because of family reunification, research opportunities, educational opportunities at American universities, or to practice a job or a trade.