| Name |
Republic of Costa Rica / República de Costa Rica
|
| Location |
82º W - 86º W / 8º N - 11º N, borders Nicaragua in the north and
Panamá in the south; Pacific Ocean in the west and Atlantic Ocean in the
East.
|
| Elevation extremes |
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m; highest point: Cerro Chirripó 3,810 m
|
| Climate |
Tropical to subtropical
|
Area
|
Total: 51,100 sq km; land: 50,660 sq km; water: 440 sq km ,
slightly smaller than West Virginia
|
| Capital |
San José
|
| Population |
About 3.9 million
|
| Ethnic Groups |
White 94%, mestizo 7%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%
|
| Languages |
Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon
|
| Illiteracy |
< 5 %
|
| Religions |
Roman Catholic (90 %); growing share of protestants
|
| National holiday |
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
|
| Government type |
Democratic Republic
|
| President |
Oscar Arias, Presidente de la República since 2006)
|
| Administrative divisions |
7 provinces (provincias); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia,
Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
|
| Military |
Costa Rica has no military (since 1948)
|
| Main sources of incom |
Tourism, coffee, bananas, pineapples
|
| Environment & Protection |
About 25 % of the country under protection
|
