COSTA RICA

President: Oscar Arias

Government System: Democratic Republic

Capital City: San Jose

Population: 4,016,173 (July 2005 est.)

Climate: Tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands.

Internet Users: 800,000 (2002)

Telephone Users (mobile/cellular): 528,047 (2002)

Literacy (total population): Total population: 96%

Life Expectancy at Birth: Total population: 76.84 years

Natural Resources: Hydropower

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

Agricultural Products: Coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber.

Export Partners: US 46.9%, Netherlands 5.3%, Guatemala 4.4% (2004).

Import Partners: US 46.1%, Japan 5.9%, Mexico 5.1%, Brazil 4.2% (2004).

Currency: Costa Rican Colon (CRC)

Flag Description: Five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk on the hoist side of the red band; above the coat of arms a light blue ribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just below it near the top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the words, REPUBLICA COSTA RICA .

To learn more about Costa Rica please click here: COSTA RICA

REFERENCE - used by permission:

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency - The World Fact Book. Retrieved January 18, 2006, from http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/cs.html

1.888.870.0427