Country Reports

Some Facts Costa Rica

Country name	Republic of Costa Rica
Government type	Democratic republic
Administrative divisions	7 provinces; Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Capital	San Jose
Independence Day	15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday	Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Area	51,100 sq km (19,730 sq miles)
Location	Central America. Bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. Four volcanoes which of two are active, near the capital of San Jose (in the center of the country).
Land Borders	Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Coastline	1,290 km
Population	4.,6 million (UN, 2010)
Nationality	Costa Rican(s)
Languages	Spanish (official), English
Ethnic groups	White, black, Amerindian, Chinese, others
Major religion	Christianity
Highest peak	Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Climate	Tropical and subtropical climates; December to April; dry season, May to November; rainy season; cooler in the highlands
Time zone	UTC/GMT-6
Currency	1 Costa Rican colon (CRC) = 100 centimos
Telephone	+506
Internet domain	.cr
GNI per capita	US$11,860 (World Bank, 2011)
Natural resources	Hydropower
Agriculture products	Corn, bananas, rice, potatoes, beans, sisal, cotton, citrus fruits, pita, yucca, vegetables, pineapples, other fruits, tobacco, abaca (hemp), vegetable oils
Industries	Coffee, cocoa, bananas, sugar, textiles, chemical fertilizers, chemicals, plastics, electronic and computer chips, electricity