Comparison
Read two legal systems against each other
Because every portal follows the same fifteen-section outline, the comparison is genuinely like-for-like rather than a collage of whatever each government happens to publish.
Select up to six documented jurisdictions
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| Attribute | Costa RicaReviewed | IcelandReviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Legal family | Civil law | Civil law (Nordic) |
| System of government | Unitary presidential republic | Unitary parliamentary republic |
| Constitution | Political Constitution of the Republic of Costa Rica | Constitution of the Republic of Iceland |
| In force since | 1949 | 1944 |
| Capital | San José | Reykjavík |
| Official languages | Spanish | Icelandic |
| Currency | Costa Rican colón (CRC) | Icelandic króna (ISK) |
| Population | 5,100,000 | 390,000 |
| Division of powers | Unitary, with seven provinces that have no legislative power. Municipalities have constitutionally guaranteed autonomy over local services and land use. | Parliamentary government with a directly elected President who holds a suspensive veto that can trigger a referendum, and an independent three-tier judiciary. |
| How law is made | A bill passes two debates in the Legislative Assembly. The President may veto within ten working days; the Assembly overrides with two-thirds. Any deputy may refer a bill to the Sala Constitucional for pre-enactment review, and the chamber's finding of a procedural defect is binding. | Bills pass three readings in the Althingi and are signed into law; if the President withholds signature the act still takes effect but must be put to a referendum. |
| Legal profession | Practice requires enrolment with the Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Costa Rica, which holds disciplinary power. Notaries are lawyers holding a separate notarial licence supervised by the Dirección Nacional de Notariado. | Lawyers qualify through a law degree and practical requirements; rights of audience are tiered from district court up to the Supreme Court. |
A comparison table flattens nuance by design. Where a difference matters to a decision you are making, open both portals and read the section in full — the constitutional detail behind a one-line summary is often the part that governs the outcome.