Country Name: Costa Rica

Capital: San Jose

Government Type: presidential republic

Background: Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by Indigenous populations, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. On 1 December 1948, Costa Rica dissolved its armed forces. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.

Continent: Central America

Population: 5,256,612 (2023 est.)

Ethnic Groups: White or Mestizo 83.6%, Mulatto 6.7%, Indigenous 2.4%, Black or African descent 1.1%, other 1.1%, none 2.9%, unspecified 2.2% (2011 est.)

Languages: Spanish (official), English

Religions: Roman Catholic 47.5%, Evangelical and Pentecostal 19.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, other Protestant 1.2%, other 3.1%, none 27% (2021 est.)

Economic Overview: trade-based upper middle-income economy; green economy leader, having reversed deforestation; investing in blue economy infrastructure; declining poverty until hard impacts of COVID-19; lingering inequality and growing government debts have prompted a liquidity crisis

Currency: Costa Rican Colon (CRC)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange & Gold: $8.554 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $114.346 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Real GDP Growth Rate: 4.55% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per Capita: $22,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Exports: 

• $28.692 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 80

Export Commodities: medical instruments, bananas, pineapples, orthopedic appliances, food preparations (2021)

Export Partners: United States 38%, Netherlands 6%, Belgium 5%, Guatemala 5%, Panama 5% (2019)

Imports: 

• $26.602 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 84

Import Commodities: refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, medical instruments, packaged medicines (2019)

Import Partners: United States 41%, China 13%, Mexico 7% (2019)

Natural Resources: hydropower

Agricultural Products: sugar cane, pineapples, bananas, milk, oil palm fruit, fruit, oranges, watermelons, cassava, rice

Industries: medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products

Industrial Production Growth Rate: 

• 2.05% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

• Comparison Ranking: 129

Labor Force: 2.543 million (2022 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 11.32% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Natural Hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes

• Volcanism: Arenal (1,670 m), which erupted in 2010, is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (3,432 m), situated just east of San Jose, has the potential to spew ash over the capital city as it did between 1963 and 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Miravalles, Poas, Rincon de la Vieja, and Turrialba

Geography:

• Total: 51,100 sq km

• Land: 51,060 sq km

• Water: 40 sq km

(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)

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