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Background Note: Costa Rica
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Republic of Costa
Rica
Geography
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.
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 (July 2005 est.): 4.02 million.
Annual growth rate (2005 est.): 1.48%.
Ethnic groups: European and some mestizo 94%, African origin 3%,
Chinese 1%, indigenous 1%, other 1%.
Religion: Roman Catholic 76.3%, Protestant approx. 15.7%, others
4.8%, none 3.2%.
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--9.95/1,000. Life
expectancy--men 74.26 yrs., women 79.55 yrs.
Work force (2004 est., 1.81 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, 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), Costa Rican Renovation Party (PRC),
and other smaller parties.
Suffrage: Universal and compulsory at age 18.
Economy
GDP (2004): $18.4 billion.
GDP PPP (2004 est.): $37.97 billion.
Inflation (2005 est.): 14%.
Real growth rate (2004 est.): 3.9%.
Per capita income (2004): $4,670. (PPP $9,600--2004 est.)
Unemployment (2004 est.): 6.6%.
Currency: Costa Rica Colon (CRC).
Natural resources: Hydroelectric power, forest products,
fisheries products.
Agriculture (8.5% of GDP): Products--bananas, coffee,
beef, sugarcane, rice, dairy products, vegetables, fruits and
ornamental plants.
Industry (29.7% of GDP): Types--electronic components,
food processing, textiles and apparel, construction materials,
cement, fertilizer.
Commerce and tourism (61.8% of GDP): Hotels, restaurants,
tourist services, banks, and insurance.
Trade (2004 est.): Exports--$6.18 billion: Integrated
circuits, bananas, pineapples, optical/medical equipment, knit
and woven apparel, coffee, fish and seafood. Major markets--U.S.
44.1%, Europe 21%, Central America 9%. Imports--$7.84
billion: electronic components, machinery, vehicles, consumer
goods, raw materials, chemicals, petroleum products, foods, and
fertilizer. Major suppliers--U.S. 45.9%, Europe 10%,
Mexico 3.7% Central America 5%, Japan 4.8%, Venezuela 4%.
PEOPLE
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. |