Geography
Area: 51, 100 sq. km (19,730 sq. mi.); about twice the size of the
state of Vermont.
Cities: Capital--San Jose (greater metropolitan
area pop. 2.1 million, the greater metropolitan area as defined by the
Ministry of Planning and Economic Policy includes the cities of
Alajuela, Cartago, and Heredia). Other major cities outside the San
Jose capital area--Puntarenas (102,504), Limon (89,933). (Note: These
figures are for the Canton of each city, administrative areas that
include the municipality and surrounding areas, rural or urban.)
Terrain: A rugged, central range separates the eastern and
western coastal plains.
Climate: Mild in the central highlands, tropical and subtropical in
coastal areas.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Costa Rican(s).
Population (2004 est.): 3.96 million.
Annual growth rate (2004 est.): 1.52%.
Ethnic groups: European and some mestizo 94%, African origin 3%,
Chinese 1%, indigenous 1%, other 1%.
Christian singles note-Religion: Roman Catholic 69%, Protestant
approx. 18%, none 12%, others 1%.
Languages: Spanish, with a southwestern Caribbean Creole dialect of
English spoken around the Limon area.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Attendance--99% grades
1-6, 71% grades 7-9. Literacy--96%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--10.26/1,000. Life
expectancy--men 74.07 yrs., women 79.3 yrs.
Work force (2003, 1.64 million): Services--71.3%; agriculture--14.6%;
industry--14%.
Government
Type: Democratic republic.
Independence: September 15, 1821.
Constitution: November 7, 1949.
Branches: Executive--president (head of government and chief of
state) elected for one 4-year term, two vice presidents, Cabinet (15
ministers, one of whom also is vice president). Legislative--57-deputy
unicameral Legislative Assembly elected at 4-year intervals. Judicial--Supreme
Court of Justice (22 magistrates elected by Legislative Assembly for
renewable 8-year terms). The offices of the Ombudsman, Comptroller
General, and Procurator General assert autonomous oversight of the
government.
Subdivisions: Seven provinces, divided into 81 cantons, subdivided
into 421 districts.
Political parties: Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), National
Liberation Party (PLN), Citizen's Action Party (PAC), Libertarian
Movement Party (PML), Costa Rican Renovation Party (PRC).
Suffrage: Obligatory at 18.
Economy
GDP (2002 est.): $16.7 billion.
GDP PPP (2003): $35.16 billion.
Inflation (2003 est.): 9.4%.
Real growth rate (2003): 5.6%; (2004 proj.): 4.0%.
Per capita income (2003): $4,193. (PPP $9,000).
Unemployment (2003): 6.7%.
Currency: Costa Rica Colon (CRC).
Natural resources: Hydroelectric power, forest products, fisheries
products.
Agriculture (10.1% of GDP): Products--bananas, coffee, beef,
sugarcane, rice, dairy products, vegetables, fruits and ornamental
plants.
Industry (22.4% of GDP): Types--electronic components, food
processing, textiles and apparel, construction materials, cement,
fertilizer.
Commerce and tourism (21.3% of GDP): Hotels, restaurants, tourist
services, banks, and insurance.
Trade (2003): Exports--$6.1 billion: electronic components,
bananas, coffee, textiles and apparel, fruits, jewelry, flowers and
ornamental plants, small appliances, shrimp. Major markets--U.S.
29.1%, Europe 21%, Central America 9%. Imports--$7.6 billion:
electronic components, machinery, vehicles, consumer goods, raw
materials, chemicals, petroleum products, foods, and fertilizer. Major
suppliers--U.S. 35.4%, Europe 10%, Mexico 3.9% Central America 5%,
Japan 4.3%, Venezuela 4%.
PEOPLE
Christian singles note-Unlike many of their Central American neighbors,
present-day Costa Ricans are largely of European rather than mestizo
descent; Spain was the primary country of origin. However, an
estimated 10% to 15% of the population is Nicaraguan, of fairly recent
arrival and primarily of mestizo origin. Descendants of 19th-century
Jamaican immigrant workers constitute an English-speaking minority
and--at 3% of the population--number about 119,000. Few of the native
Indians survived European contact; the indigenous population today
numbers about 29,000 or less than 1% of the population.
