Costa Rica Information
People Nationality: Noun and adjective--Costa Rican(s). Population (2011): 4,576,562. Annual population growth rate (2011 est.): 1.308%. Ethnic groups: European and some mestizo 94%, African origin 3%, Chinese 1, Amerindian 1%, other 1%. Religion: Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical Protestant 16%, other 6%, none 8%. Languages: Spanish, with a southwestern Caribbean Creole dialect of English spoken around the Limon area. Education: Years compulsory--9. Attendance--99% grades 1-6; 71% grades 7-9. Literacy--96%. Health: Infant mortality rate (2011 est.)--9.45/1,000. Life expectancy (2011 est.)-- men 75.1 years, women 80.46 years. Work force (2010 est.): 2.05 million; this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica legally and illegally. Government Type: Democratic republic. Independence: September 15, 1821. Constitution: November 7, 1949. Branches: Executive - president (head of government and chief of state) elected for one 4-year term, two vice presidents, Cabinet (22 ministers, two of whom are also vice presidents). Legislative - 57 deputy unicameral Legislative Assembly elected at 4-year intervals. Judicial -Supreme Court of Justice (22 magistrates elected by Legislative Assembly for renewable 8-year terms). The offices of the Ombudsman, Comptroller General, and Procurator General assert autonomous oversight of the government. Subdivisions: Seven provinces, divided into 81 cantons, subdivided into 421 districts. Political parties: National Liberation Party (PLN), Citizen's Action Party (PAC), Libertarian Movement Party (PML), Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), and other smaller parties. Suffrage: Universal and compulsory at age 18. |
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