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.