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United States Department of State
Official Name: Republic of Costa Rica
PROFILE
Geography
Area: 51,100 sq. km (19,730 sq. mi.) about the size of the states of Vermont and New Hampshire combined.
Cities: Capital-San Jose (greater metropolitan area pop. 2.1 million, the greater metropolitan area as defined by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Policy includes the cities of Alajuela, Cartago, and Heredia). Other major cities outside the San Jose capital area-Puntarenas, Limon, and Liberia.
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 (2011): 4,576,562.
Annual population growth rate (2011 est.): 1.308%.
Ethnic groups: European and some mestizo 94%, African origin 3%, Chinese 1%, Amerindian 1%, other 1%.
Religion: Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical Protestant 16%, other 6%, none 8%.
Languages: Spanish, with a southwestern Caribbean Creole dialect of English spoken around the Limon area.
Education: Years compulsory-9. Attendance-99% grades 1-6; 71% grades 7-9. Literacy-96%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (2011 est.)-9.45/1,000. Life expectancy (2011 est.)-men 75.1 years, women 80.46 years.
Work force (2010 est.): 2.05 million; this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica legally and illegally.
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 (22 ministers, two of whom are also vice presidents). 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: National Liberation Party (PLN), Citizen's Action Party (PAC), Libertarian Movement Party (PML), Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), and other smaller parties.
Suffrage: Universal and compulsory at age 18.
Economy
GDP (2011 est., official exchange rate): $40.02 billion.
GDP (2011 est., purchasing power parity): $54.52 billion.
Real growth rate (2011 est.): 4.0%.
Per capita income (2011 est., PPP): $11,562.
Inflation rate (2011 est.): 5.3%.
Unemployment (2011 est.): 6.5%.
Currency: Costa Rica Colon (CRC).
Natural resources: Hydroelectric power, forest products, fisheries products.
Agriculture (6.9% of GDP,...