Country
Costa Rica
Leader
Population
4,695,942 85,293
Life Expectancy
78.060 years 82.580 years
Capital City
San Jose
Largest city
San Jose (population: 335,007) Andorra la Vella (population: 20,430)
Human Development Index
0.847 0 GDP per capita $12,600 US
Literacy Rate
94.9% 100%
Corruption Perception Index
5.1 NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
36.8% 25% Wealthiest Citizens Unemployment Rate 7.900%
Death Penalty
Abolished Abolished
Political System
democratic republic parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its chiefs of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by coprinces' representatives
Independence date
15 September 1821 (from Spain) Religions Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2% Roman Catholic (predominant) Languages Spanish (official), English Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese Exports bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar; seafood; electronic components, medical equipment External Debt $12,040,000,000 $ Exchange Rate Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar - 529.62 (2008 est.), 519.53 (2007), 511.3 (2006), 477.79 (2005), 437.91 (2004) Military Budget as percentage of GDP 0.800% Beijing Olympics Medal Count Location Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain Area 51,100 km sq 468 km sq Coastline 1,290 km 0 km Climate tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
