# Óscar Arias

_President of Costa Rica (1986–1990, 2006–2010)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/oscar-arias
Last updated: 2026-11-04

> Óscar Arias Sánchez is a Costa Rican politician, activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who was the president of Costa Rica from 1986 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2010.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 13 September 1941 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49344#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Heredia ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49344#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Costa Rica ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49344#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49344#P106))
- **Political party:** National Liberation Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49344#P102))
- **Education:** Boston University; London School of Economics and Political Science; University of Costa Rica; University of Essex ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49344#P69))
- **Spouse:** Margarita Penón; Margarita García ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49344#P26))
- **Positions held:** President of Costa Rica (8 May 2006 – 8 May 2010); President of Costa Rica (8 May 1986 – 8 May 1990); President of the United Nations Security Council; president ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49344#P39))
- **Awards:** Nobel Peace Prize; Princess of Asturias Award for International Cooperation; Philadelphia Liberty Medal; Audubon Medal; honorary doctorate of the University of Salamanca; honorary doctor of Harvard University; honorary doctorate from Princeton University; honorary doctorate of the University of Extremadura; honorary doctor of the University of Miami; Order of Juan Mora Fernández; Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru‎; Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic‎ ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49344#P166))

## Questions

**When was Óscar Arias born?**  
Óscar Arias was born on 13 September 1941 in Heredia.

**What positions has Óscar Arias held?**  
Positions held by Óscar Arias include: President of Costa Rica (2006–2010); President of Costa Rica (1986–1990); President of the United Nations Security Council; president.

**Where did Óscar Arias study?**  
Óscar Arias was educated at Boston University, London School of Economics and Political Science, University of Costa Rica, University of Essex.

## Related

- [Laura Fernández](https://diginpl.com/people/laura-fernandez)
- [Rodrigo Chaves](https://diginpl.com/people/rodrigo-chaves)
- [Otilio Ulate Blanco](https://diginpl.com/people/otilio-ulate-blanco)
- [Laura Chinchilla](https://diginpl.com/people/laura-chinchilla)
- [José María Figueres](https://diginpl.com/people/jose-maria-figueres)
- [Rodrigo Carazo Odio](https://diginpl.com/people/rodrigo-carazo-odio)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Óscar Arias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93scar_Arias) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q49344](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49344) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Óscar Arias (cropped).jpg by MadriCR (CC BY-SA 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%C3%93scar_Arias_(cropped).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Óscar Arias, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Óscar Arias (cropped).jpg — MadriCR, CC BY-SA 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Óscar Arias". DigiNepal. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/oscar-arias. Retrieved 6 November 2026.