Name:

Republic of Costa Rica

Capital:

San José

Area:

51,100 square kilometers (19,652 square miles)

Location:

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

Administrative Divisions:

7 provinces (San José, Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas,)

Population:

3,956,507 million (July 2004 est.)

Official Language:

Spanish (official), English

Local Currency:

Colón  

Official Religion:

Roman Catholic, but there is freedom of expression of other beliefs

System of Government:

Democratic Republic

Executive Branch:

Chief of State and Head of Government: 
President Ms. Laura Chinchilla

First Vice President Mr. Alfio Piva;

Second Vice President Mr. Luis Liberman 

.

Legislative Branch:

Unicameral Legislative Assembly (57 seats). Members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms.

Judicial Branch:

Supreme Court (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly).

Army:

Abolished in 1949

Independence:

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Constitution:

7 November 1949

Geography:

Rugged highlands are found throughout most of the country, ranging from approximately 1,000 to 2,000 meters (3,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level). The Guanacaste Mountain Range, Central Mountain Range, and Talamanca Mountain Range are the main mountain ranges extending the entire length of the country. There are several active volcanoes (Arenal Volcano, Irazu Volcano, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano and Turrialba Volcano) and the country’s highest mountain (Chirripo Hill) with a height of 3,819 m/12,530 ft. The country has a relatively long coastline in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Climate:

Tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands

Land Use:

Arable land, 4.41%; permanent crops, 5.88%; other, 89.71% (2001).

Density:

78.4 inhabitants per square kilometer (203.5 inhabitants per sq. mile)

Urban/Rural:

59% urban, 39% rural

Sex Distribution:

49.86% male, 50.14% female

Age Structure:

0-14 years (29.5%); 15-64 years (65%); 65 years and over (5.5%)

Life expectancy:

77.7 years

Literacy rate:

96%

Educational Institutions:

6147 primary and secondary schools and 50 universities

Education expenditures:

5% of GDP (2002).

Youth literacy:

98.3%

Population served with piped water:

99%

Public health services coverage:

90.4% of population

Health expenditures:

27.8% of government budget

Access to telephone service:

92% of population

GDP in millions of US$:

16,841 (2000)

Per Capita GDP in millions of US$:

4,130 (2000)

Exports (FOB) in millions of US$:

5,224 (2000)

Imports (CIF) in millions of US$:

6,997 (2000)

Inflation Rate:

10.0 %

Devaluation Rate:

9.9%

Main Exports:

Electronic components, textiles, bananas, coffee, medical devices, pineapples, foliage and ornamentals, fish and seafood, processed foods.

Main Industries:

microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products.

          Flag:

The present flag was constituted in September 1848 when Costa Rica achieved the status of Republic. The flag is formed by five horizontal stripes: the first and the fifth are blue, the second and the fourth are white, and in the middle a red stripe double the width of each of the other four stripes.

       Emblem:

It was constituted in 1848. Three volcanoes and a vast valley stretching between two oceans form it, and in each of the oceans there is a merchant ship. In the horizon, there is a rising sun between the blue sky and the blue ocean. Two wreaths of myrtle leaves joined by a ribbon bearing the inscription "República de Costa Rica" enclose the national seal. Seven stars forming an arch represent the seven provinces of the republic. The crown is formed by a blue ribbon with the inscription "América Central".

 Map