Statistics

Area: 51.000 square kilometers
Capital: San Jose
Population: Four million
Language: Spanish
Location: Central American between Nicaragua and Panama
Currency: Colon
Religion: Roman Catholic

The Geography of Costa Rica

Costa Rica´s geography is small, yet diverse. From lush rainforest to paradise on tropical beaches to active volcanoes, the country offers a variety of interesting destinations.

The country is divided into the seven provinces including San José, Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Guanacaste, Puntarenas y Limón. Geographically the country can be divided into four regions: the highlands, the Pacific coast, the Caribbean coast and the tropical rainforest. The highlands consists of a mountain chain that rums through the center of Costa Rica from Nicaragua to Panama.

History of Costa Rica

In Pre-Columbian times the indigenous people, in what is now known as Costa Rica, were part of the international Intermediate Area located between the Mesoamerican and Andean cultural regions. This has recently been updated to include the influence of the Isthmo-Colombian area. It was the point where the Mesoamerican and South American native cultures met.

Costa Rica joined other Central American countries in 1821 in a joint declaration of independence from Spain. After a brief time in the Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide Costa Rica became a state in the Federal Republic of Central America from 1823 to 1839. In 1824 the capital was moved to San José.

Historically, Costa Rica has generally enjoyed greater peace and more consistent political stability compared with many of its fellow Latin American nations.

Costa Rica´s Government

Costa Rica is a democratic republic. Under the 1949 constitution, all citizens are guaranteed equality before the law, the right to own property, the right of petition and assembly, freedom of speech and the right of habeas corpus. The constitution also divides the government into independent executive, legislative and judicial branches. The executive branch is composed of the president, two vice presidents and a cabinet. The legislature is the National Assembly, composed of 57 members (diputados) elected by proportional representation.

In April 2003, the constitutional amendment ban on presidential re-election was reversed, allowing Oscar Arias (Nobel Peace Prize, laureate 1987) to rum for president for a second term. In 2006, Oscar Arias was re-elected. He took office on May 8, 2006.

Economy

Costa Rica's stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has been put into place. Curbing inflation, reducing the deficit, and improving public sector efficiency remain key challenges to the government.

Health in Costa Rica

Life Expectancy by sex:
Women: 79.2 years
Men: 74.5 years

Many diseases of third world countries have been successfully treated and prevented and some are almost eradicated, such as malaria, yellow fever, leprosy, and tuberculosis.

Costa Rica, facilities, the availability of technical equipment, and the level of medical expertise have allowed the country to offer heart and liver transplants, cosmetic surgery and modern dental interventions.