Country
Costa Rica Guyana
Leader
Population
4,636,348 741,908
Life Expectancy
77.890 years 67.390 years
Capital City
San Jose Georgetown
Largest city
San Jose (population: 335,007) Georgetown (population: 235,017)
Human Development Index
0.847 0.725 GDP per capita $12,100 US $7,600 US
Literacy Rate
94.9% 98.8%
Corruption Perception Index
5.1 2.6
Percentage of Women in Parliament
36.8% 29% Wealthiest Citizens Unemployment Rate 6.500% 11.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished Legal
Political System
democratic republic republic
Independence date
15 September 1821 (from Spain) 26 May 1966 (from UK) Religions Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2% Hindu 28.4%, Pentecostal 16.9%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Anglican 6.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%, Jehovah Witness 1.1%, other Christian 17.7%, Muslim 7.2%, other 4.3%, none 4.3% (2002 census) Languages Spanish (official), English English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Urdu Exports bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar; seafood; electronic components, medical equipment sugar, gold, bauxite, alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber External Debt $10,050,000,000 $ $1,234,000,000 US 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) Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar - 203.86 (2008 est.), 201.89 (2007), 200.28 (2006), 200.79 (2005), 198.31 (2004) Military Budget as percentage of GDP 0.600% 1.800% Beijing Olympics Medal Count Location Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela Area 51,100 km sq 214,969 km sq Coastline 1,290 km 459 km Climate tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)
