Costa Rica
Geography:
- Location:
- Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama
- Area:
- Total: 1,138,910 sq km
- Land: 1,038,700 sq km (includes Isla De Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank)
- Water: 100,210 sq km
- Coastline:
- 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
- Maritime Claims:
- Continental Shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- Territorial Sea: 12 NM
- Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 NM
- Natural Resources:
- Petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, biodiversity, emeralds, hydropower
People:
- Population: 4,636,348 (July 2012 est.)
- Nationality: Noun: Costa Rican(s); Adjective: Costa Rican
- Ethnic groups: white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%
- Religions: Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%
- Languages: Spanish (official), English
Government:
- Country name: Conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica; Conventional short form: Costa Rica
- Government type: Democratic Republic
- Capital: San Jose
- Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
- International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Economy:
- Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3% (2011 est.)
- Industries: microprocessors, food processing, medical equipment, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
- Agriculture - products: bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef, poultry, dairy; timber
- Exports: $10.77 billion (2011 est.)
- Exports - commodities: bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar; beef; seafood; electronic components, medical equipment
- Imports: $15.08 billion (2011 est.)
- Imports - commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum, construction materials
- Currency: Costa Rican colon (CRC)
National Focal Point for IOCARIBE
Mr. Fernando Mora Rodríguez
Viceministro de Agua, Mares, Costas y Humedales
Ministerio de Ambiente y Energia
Edificio Vista Palace,
Calle 25 Avenida 8 y 10,
San Jose de Costa Rica
Tel: (506) 2233-4533 Ext. 1252
(506) 8706-3470
Fax: (506) 2257-1951
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.For updated information about Costa Rica visit their Central Intelligence Agency Factsheet.