Geography
Area: 51,032 sq. km. (19,652 sq. mi.);
about twice the size of the state of Vermont.
Cities: Capital--San Jose (metropolitan
area pop. 1.2 million). Other major cities--Puntarenas
(300,000), Alajuela (250,000), Limon (150,000), Cartago
(150,000).
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 (2001 est.): 3.94 million.
Annual growth rate (2001 est.): 2.3%.
Ethnic groups: European and some mestizo
94%, African origin 3%, Chinese 1%, indigenous 1%, other
1%.
Religion: Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical
Protestant approx. 13.7%, none 3.2%, others 6.8%.
Languages: Spanish, with Jamaican dialect
of English spoken around Puerto Limon.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Attendance--99%
grades 1-6, 71% grades 7-9. Literacy--95.5%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--10.8/1,000.
Life expectancy--men 75.6 yrs., women 79.9 yrs.
Work force (2000, 1.39 million): Services--58%;
agriculture--20%; industry--22%.
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, one of whom also is vice president).
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: Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC),
National Liberation Party (PLN), Citizen's Action
Party (PAC), Libertarian Movement Party (PML), Costa
Rican Renovation Party (PRC).
Suffrage: Obligatory at 18.
Economy
GDP (2001): $15.2 billion.
GDP PPP (2000): $32 billion.
Inflation (2001): 11%.
Real growth rate (2001): 0.7%.
Per capita income (2001): $3,850.
Unemployment (2001 est.): 6.1%.
Currency: Costa Rica Colon (CRC).
Natural resources: Hydroelectric
power, forest products, fisheries products.
Agriculture (11% of GDP): Products--bananas,
coffee, beef, sugarcane, rice, dairy products, vegetables,
fruits and ornamental plants.
Industry (37% of GDP): Types--electronic
components, food processing, textiles and apparel,
construction materials, cement, fertilizer.
Commerce and tourism (52% of GDP):
Hotels, restaurants, tourist services, banks, and
insurance.
Trade (2000): Exports--$6.1 billion:
electronic components, bananas, coffee, textiles and
apparel, fruits, jewelry, flowers and ornamental plants,
small appliances, shrimp. Major markets--U.S. 54%,
Europe 21%, Central America 9%. Imports--$5.9 billion:
electronic components, machinery, vehicles, consumer
goods, chemicals, petroleum products, foods, and fertilizer.
Major suppliers--U.S. 56%, Europe 10%, Mexico 5% Central
America 5%, Japan 5%, Venezuela 4%.
|
|
