Costa Rica The Guardian Report

Country profile: Costa Rica

Facts and statistics on Costa Rica including history, population, politics, geography, economy, religion and climate

• The Guardian, Monday 20 April 2009
• Article history

Map of Costa Rica. Source: Graphic

Potted history of the country: Malaria and dysentery, hostile natives and unbearable heat saw off early European visitors, until conquistadors established a permanent presence in 1563. Costa Rica joined other provinces to declare independence from Spain in 1821 and become the short-lived Federal Republic of Central America, before declaring itself a sovereign nation in 1838. A 44-day civil war in 1948 claimed about 2,000 lives. The victorious government junta drafted a new constitution and the first democratic elections took place in 1953.

1. At a glance
2. Location: The Central American isthmus
3. Neighbours: Nicaragua, Panama
4. Size: 19,730 square miles
5. Population: 4,325,517 (123rd)
6. Density: 219.2 people per square mile
7. Capital city: San José (population 348,557)
8. Head of state: President Oscar Arias Sánchez
9. Currency: Colón
10. Time zone: Costa Rica time (-6 hours)
11. International dialling code: +506
12. Website: casapres.go.cr
13. Data correct on Monday 20 April 2009

Political pressure points: Costa Rica has been one of the most peaceful and stable countries in the region since the military was disbanded after the civil war. A four-year border dispute with Nicaragua over patrolling rights on the San Juan river, which separates the two countries, is before the international court of justice in The Hague.

Population mix: European and Mestizo 94%, African 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%

Religious makeup: Catholic 74%, Protestant 13%, no religious affiliation approximately 9%

Main language: Spanish

Living national icons: Franklin Chang Diaz (astronaut), Chavela Vargas (singer), Claudia Poll (Olympic gold medal swimmer), Nery Brenes (athletics), Ernesto Fonseca (motocross)

Costa Rica on a map. Source: Graphic

Landscape and climate: Volcanoes divide the country, from Nicaragua in the north to Panama in the south. The varying altitude and climate nurture dense, rich rainforests inland and oppressive heat and humidity during the dry season in coastal areas. Earthquakes are an ever-present threat.

Highest point: Cerro Chirripo, 3,810 metres

Area covered by water: 15 square miles

Healthcare and disease: With help from the World Bank, the government has established a comprehensive national health service with near 100% access for its relatively small population. The country attracts many medical tourists. Dengue fever and malaria are the major disease threats, with the occasional case of rabies over the last decade.

Average life expectancy (m/f): 76/81

Average number of children per mother: 2.1

Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births: 30

Infant deaths per 1,000 births: 12

Adults HIV/Aids rate: 0.3%

Doctors per 1,000 head of population: 1.3

Adult literacy rate: 95.9% (m 95.7%/ f 96.2%)

Economic outlook: Eco-tourism provides 60% of the GDP, though President Óscar Arias has warned the economy could stand still this year. Costa Rican coffee and bananas remain in demand.

Main industries: Electronic components, bananas, coffee, textiles and apparel, fruits, jewellery, small appliances, tourism, pharmaceuticals

Key crops/livestock: Sugar cane, banana, pineapple, palm oil, cattle, poultry

Key exports: Bananas, sugar cane, textiles, machinery, electrical equipment

GDP: £11,352m (81st)

GDP per head: £2,581

Unemployment rate: 4.6%

Proportion of global carbon emissions: 0.02%

Most popular tourist attractions: Parque Nacional Tortuguero, where turtles hatch their eggs on the beach; whitewater rafting at Turrialba

Local recommendation: The waters of the Tarcoles river are home to dozens of basking reptiles, beneath Crocodile Bridge, about two miles north of Carara national park on the main highway to San José.

Traditional dish: Gallo pinto (fried rice and black beans)

Foreign tourist visitors per year: 1,679,051

Media freedom index (ranked out of 173): 22

Did you know ... There are approximately 52 species of hummingbirds, 750,000 species of insects and about 20,000 different types of spiders in Costa Rica.

National anthem:
If anyone should attempt to besmirch your glory
You will see your people, valiant and virile
Exchange their rustic tools for weapons.

· Information correct on date of first publication, Monday 20 April 2009.

• This article was amended on Monday 20 April 2009. We said that the average number of children per mother was 21. This figure should have been 2.1. This has been corrected.

source : The Guardian U.K.