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Costa Rica

The Republic of Costa Rica is a nation of Central America. It is bounded by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the east-southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The capital San José is located at 9 56 N, 84 05 W. It is the least disturbed country in Latin America, which is also the first country to wipe out its army among Latin American countries. It ranks 4th in Latin America and 48th in the world in 2007 Human Development Index. According to 2008 Environmental Performance Index, it ranks 5th worldwide.

HISTORY:- In earlier period of European contact, Costa Rica was inhabited by 400,000 Indians. Christopher Columbus arrived in 1502 on the coasts of Costa Rica and Spanish colonization began. The country was colonized by the Spanish in 1524. The nation joined with other Central American provinces to jointly declare independence from Spanish Empire. Agustín de Iturbide of Mexican Empire governed the country for two years. In 1823, Costa Rica became a part of Federal Republic of Central America. In 1924, the capital was shifted to San José. Later years are marked by political-border disputes among the countries of the Federation, which led to the nation’s coming out of the Federation in 1839. In 1848, Costa Rica became fully independent. 1870 to 1882 were characterized by the dictatorship of Tomás Guardia. From 1917 to 1919, another autocrat leader Federico Tinoco Granados was overthrown in a coup and was sent to confinement. In 1948, presidential elections prompted another armed mutiny headed by José Figueres Ferrer. Civil war set in and continued for 44 days. It had been the bloodiest armed uprising of the history of Costa Rica so far. In 1953, the nation had witnessed first ever democratic elections with José Figueres Ferrer as the first President of Costa Rica.

GEOGRAPHY:- Costa Rica is located at 10 00 N, 84 00 W in Central America, capturing total 50,660 sq km land area and 440 sq km water. The total coastline is 1,290 km long along with the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. The lowest point is located at Pacific Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is Cerro Chirripo (3,810 m). The coastal plains are separated by the rugged mountains. There are more than 100 volcanic cones, of which some are major once. Rio Pacuare and the Rio Reventazon are the country’s major rivers.

CLIMATE:- The climate of the country is tropical and subtropical while the highlands are comparatively cooler. It has a dry season (December to April) and a rainy season (May to November).

GOVERNMENT:- Costa Rica is a democratic republic. The constitution was adopted on 7th November 1949. The legal system is based on the Spanish civil codes and judicial reviews by the Supreme Court. The three main branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state, head of government), the first and second Vice President, and cabinet. The President chooses the cabinet.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral Legislative Assembly (57 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court.

Major political parties are National Liberation Party (PLN), Citizen's Action Party (PAC), Libertarian Movement Party (PML), and Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC). Suffrage is universal and compulsory at 18.

President Oscar Arias (PLN)

Vice President Laura Chinchilla

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Costa Rica is divided into 7 provinces:

Alajuela

Cartago

Guanacaste

Heredia

Limón

Puntarenas

San José

These provinces are further sub-divided into 81 cantons.

CULTURE:- The culture of the nation is largely influenced by several cultures- like Mesoamerican, South American native, Nahuatl, and Chibcha cultures. The inhabitants of the country refer to themselves as tico for men and tica for women. The guitar is a very popular musical instrument. Costa Rican music comprises the American and British rock and roll, pop and reggaeton. Among dance forms- soca, salsa, bachata, merengue , cumbia and Costa Rican swing are very popular. The cuisine of the country includes a large number a fruits and vegetables.

ECONOMY:- Tourism, agriculture, and electronics goods are the backbones of the economy of the country. It has a stable development while facing fourth highest inflation rate among Latin American nations. Over 16% population lives below poverty line. A national referendum voted for joining US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) in 2007.

GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $50.89 billion; per capita $12,500.

Real growth rate: 7.9%.

Inflation: 12.1%.

Unemployment: 6.6%.

Arable land: 4%.

Agriculture: coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber.

Labor force: 1.87 million; agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.).

Industries: microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products.

Budget:

Revenues: $3.976 billion

Expenditures: $3.808 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 46.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Debt - external: $7.422 billion (30 June 2007)

Natural resource: hydropower.

Exports: $7.931 billion (2006 est.): coffee, bananas, sugar, pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment.

Imports: $10.88 billion (2006 est.): raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum.

Major trading partners: U.S., Netherlands, Guatemala, Japan, Mexico, Brazil (2004).

Monetary unit: Colón

LANGUAGE:- Spanish is the official language. English is also widely spoken.

CITIES:- Capital San José is the largest city. Other major cities are Puntarenas, Limon, and Liberia.

POPULATION:- The population of Costa Rica is estimated 4,133,884 with a growth rate of 1.4%.

Density per sq mi: 211

Literacy rate: 96% (2003 est.)

RACE:-

White (including mestizo) 94%

Black 3%

Amerindian 1%

Chinese 1%

Other 1%

RELIGION:-

Roman Catholic 76.3%

Evangelical 13.7%

Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%

Other Protestant 0.7%

Other 4.8%

None 3.2%

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 17.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 9.01 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.4 years

Total fertility rate: 2.17 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 900 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 684

UNICEF:- UNICEF promotes a government agency to protect child rights- PANI and helps PANI to open 13 new local offices and hire 95 new local child protection officials, and additionally helps the government with software tools and detailed research studies. UNICEF with Catholic Church and media has promoted the needs for child’ rights protection. 270 local child protection committees have been set up by the citizens of Costa Rica. After 2005 floods, UNICEF launched ‘Return to Joy’ project to console the 1,190 flood-affected children.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 278 km (not in use).

Highways: total: 35,330 km ; paved: 8,621 km km; unpaved: 26,709 km (2004). Waterways: 730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2004).

Ports and harbors: Caldera, Puerto Limon.

Airports: 157 (2006 est.).

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