COSTA RICA AT A GLANCE

Official Name:	Republic of Costa Rica
Capital:	San José
Area:	51,100 square kilometers (19,652 square miles)
Location:	Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Administrative Divisions:	7 provinces (Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, San José)
Population:	3,956,507 million (July 2004 est.)
Official Language:	Spanish (official), English
Local Currency:	Colón (named after Christopher Columbus)
Official Religion:	Roman Catholic, but there is freedom of expression of other beliefs
System of Government:	Democratic Republic
Executive Branch:	Chief of State and Head of Government: President Dr. Oscar Arias; First Vice President Mrs. Laura Chinchilla; Second Vice President Mr. Kevin Casas. The cabinet is selected by the President. The President and Vice Presidents are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; last election was held on February 5, 2006.
Legislative Branch:	Unicameral Legislative Assembly (57 seats). Members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms. Last election was held on February 3, 2002.
Judicial Branch:	Supreme Court (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly).
Army:	Abolished in 1949
Independence:	15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Constitution:	7 November 1949
Geography:	Rugged highlands are found throughout most of the country, ranging from approximately 1,000 to 2,000 meters (3,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level). The Guanacaste Mountain Range, Central Mountain Range, and Talamanca Mountain Range are the main mountain ranges extending the entire length of the country. There are several active volcanoes (Arenal Volcano, Irazu Volcano, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano and Turrialba Volcano) and the country’s highest mountain (Chirripo Hill) with a height of 3,819 m/12,530 ft. The country has a relatively long coastline in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Climate:	Tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Land Use:	Arable land, 4.41%; permanent crops, 5.88%; other, 89.71% (2001).

Human Feature

Density:	78.4 inhabitants per square kilometer (203.5 inhabitants per sq. mile)
Urban/Rural:	59% urban, 39% rural
Sex Distribution:	49.86% male, 50.14% female
Age Structure:	0-14 years (29.5%); 15-64 years (65%); 65 years and over (5.5%)

Standard of Living Indicators

Life expectancy:	77.7 years
Literacy rate:	96%
Educational Institutions:	6147 primary and secondary schools and 50 universities
Education expenditures:	5% of GDP (2002).
Youth literacy:	98.3%
Population served with piped water:	99%
Public health services coverage:	90.4% of population
Health expenditures:	27.8% of government budget
Access to telephone service:	92% of population

Economic Indicators

GDP in millions of US$:	16,841 (2000)
Per Capita GDP in millions of US$:	4,130 (2000)
Exports (FOB) in millions of US$:	5,224 (2000)
Imports (CIF) in millions of US$:	6,997 (2000)
Inflation Rate:	10.0 %
Devaluation Rate:	9.9%
Main Exports:	Electronic components, textiles, bananas, coffee, medical devices, pineapples, foliage and ornamentals, fish and seafood, processed foods.
Main Industries:	microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products.

National Symbols

Flag:	The present flag was constituted in September 1848 when Costa Rica achieved the status of Republic. The flag is formed by five horizontal stripes: the first and the fifth are blue, the second and the fourth are white, and in the middle a red stripe double the width of each of the other four stripes.
Emblem:	It was constituted in 1848. Three volcanoes and a vast valley stretching between two oceans form it, and in each of the oceans there is a merchant ship. In the horizon, there is a rising sun between the blue sky and the blue ocean. Two wreaths of myrtle leaves joined by a ribbon bearing the inscription "República de Costa Rica" enclose the national seal. Seven stars forming an arch represent the seven provinces of the republic. The crown is formed by a blue ribbon with the inscription "América Central".
National Anthem:	The music of the Costa Rican National Anthem (Himno Nacional de Costa Rica) was composed in 1852 by Don Manuel María Gutiérrez (1829-1887), director of the Marching Band.
National Flower:	Guaria Morada (Cattleya skinneri). This is a native species in the American continent and grows nationwide without any problem.
National Tree:	Guanacaste Tree (Enterolobium ciclocarpum).
National Bird:	Yiguirro (Turdus grayi).
Typical Ox-Cart:	In 1988 the Costa Rican ox-cart ("la carreta costarricense") was established as the national symbol of work. Drawn by a team of oxen, the ox-cart was used during the colonial period for the transportation of sugar cane, tobacco, and coffee. Thus, it became a very important factor in the development of agricultural activity of Costa Rica. In the present, the ox-cart is one of the most representative handcrafted objects in Costa Rican culture.