Vital Stats

Official Name: Republic of Costa Rica

Geography of Costa Rica

Area: 51,100 sq. km (19,730 sq. mi.) about the size of the states of Vermont and New Hampshire combined.
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, Limon, and Liberia.
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 of Costa Rica

Nationality: Noun and adjective–Costa Rican(s).
Population (2009): 4.299 million.
Annual population growth rate (2009 est.): 1.3%.
Ethnic groups: European and some mestizo 94%, African origin 3%, Chinese 1%, Amerindian 1%, other 1%.
Religion: Roman Catholic 70.5%, Evangelical Protestant 13.8%, other 4.3%, none 11.3%.
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–9.45/1,000. Life expectancy–men 74.61 yrs., women 79.94 yrs.
Work force (2009 est.): 2.05 million; this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica legally and illegally.

Government of Costa Rica

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 (22 ministers, two of whom are also vice presidents). 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: National Liberation Party (PLN), Citizen’s Action Party (PAC), Libertarian Movement Party (PML), Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), and other smaller parties.
Suffrage: Universal and compulsory at age 18.

Economy of Costa Rica

GDP (2009): $29.29 billion.
GDP PPP (2009 est.): $48.19 billion.
Inflation (2009 est.): 8.3%.
Real growth rate (2009 est.): -2.5%.
Per capita income (2009): $6,900. (PPP $11,300, 2009 est.)
Unemployment (2009 est.): 6.4%.
Currency: Costa Rica Colon (CRC).
Natural resources: Hydroelectric power, forest products, fisheries products.
Agriculture (6.5% of GDP): Products–bananas, pineapples, coffee, beef, sugar, rice, dairy products, vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants, corn, beans, potatoes, timber.
Industry (25.5% of GDP): Types–electronic components, medical equipment, textiles and apparel, tires, food processing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products.
Commerce, tourism, and services (68% of GDP): Hotels, restaurants, tourist services, banks, and insurance.

Trade (2009 est.):

Exports–$8.096 billion: integrated circuits, medical equipment, bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar, textiles, electronic components, medical equipment. Major markets (2008)–U.S. 23.9%, Netherlands 13.3%, China 12.9%, U.K. 5%, Mexico 4.9%.

Imports–$10.53 billion: raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum. Major suppliers (2008)–U.S. 42.9%, Mexico 6.9%, Venezuela 6.3%, Japan 5.4%, China 4.7%, Brazil 4.2%.

Ethnic Groups of Costa Rica

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.

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