Official Name: Republica de Costa Rica (Republic of Costa Rica)

Currency:  Costa Rican colon

Current Exchange Rate: Currency Converter

Hemisphere: Northern

Continent:  North America

Location: In central America. Neighbors: Nicaragua on N, Panama on S

Area: 19,730 sq mi, 51,100 sq km

Form of Government: Unitary multiparty republic with one legislative house (Legislative Assembly 57)

Population: (2007) 4,445,000

Population Density: (2007) persons per sq mi 225.3, persons per sq km 87.0

Principal Language(s): WA

Religions: Roman Catholic 76%, Evangelical 14%

Capital: San Jose

Capital Population: 1,085,000

Capital Average Temperature: Maximum: 27.3 degrees Celsius, 81.1 degrees Fahrenheit
                                                 
Major Cities: Limon 68,215, Alajuela 49,376, San Isidro de El general 46,490, san Francisco 45,972

Topography: Lowlands by the Caribbean are tropical. The interior plateau, with an altitude of about 4,000 ft is temperate

Economy: G.D.P. $ 45.8 billion

G.D.P. per Capita: $ 10,300

Vital Statistics: Birth rate per 1,000 population (2006): 16.2 (world avg. 20.3). Death rate per 1,000 population (2006); 3.8 (world avg. 8.6) Total fertility rate (avg. births per childbearing woman 2006) 1.97. Life expectancy at birth (2006) male 77.0 years; female 81.4 years

Government Website: www.gobiermofacil.go.cr

Reference Sources: The World Almanac 2009, The New York Times Almanac   2009, Time Almanac 2009, World Climate website.