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      • Ollie's Point
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      • Playa Grande
      • Tamarindo
      • Playa Langosta
      • Avellanas
      • Playa Negra
      • Junquillal
    • Nicoya Peninsula >
      • Nosara/Playa Guiones
      • Playa Camaronal
      • Playa Marbella
      • Playa Ostional
      • Mal Pais
      • Playa Pelada
      • Santa Teresa
      • Playa Carmen
    • Central Pacific >
      • Boca Barranca
      • Playa Escondida
      • Jaco
      • Roca Loca
      • Playa Hermosa
      • Esterillos
      • Playa Bejuco
      • Bocas Damas
      • Quepos
    • South Central Pacific >
      • Matapalo
      • Dominical
      • Punta Dominical
      • Dominicalito
      • Punta Achiote >
        • Playa Bonita
      • Playa Hermosa
    • South Pacific >
      • Drake Bay
      • Cabo Matapalo
      • Pan Dulce
      • Playa Zancudo
      • Backwash
      • Punta Burica
      • Pavones
    • Caribbean >
      • Isla Uvita
      • Black Beach, Cahuita
      • Surfing Stuff >
        • A History of Surfing >
          • Cool Surf Videos
      • Puerto Viejo/Salsa Brava
      • Playa Cocles
      • Manzanillo
  • Hotels and Restaurants
    • Tamarindo Hotels/Rest
    • Nosara Hotels & Restaurants
    • Mal Pais Area Hotels & Restaurants
    • Jaco Beach Area Hotels & Restaurants
    • Quepos/Manuel Antonio Hotels & Restaurants
    • Dominical/Uvita Area Hotels & Restaurants
    • Osa Hotels >
      • Osa Peninsula Restaurants
    • Pavones Hotels & Restaurants
    • Caribbean Zone Hotels/Restaurants >
      • Cahuita Hotels & Restaurants
      • Puerto Viejo Hotels & Restaurants
  • Costa Rica Info
    • About Costa Rica
    • Costa Rica Map
    • Festivals of Costa Rica
    • Costa Rica National Parks >
      • Arenal National Park
      • Barbilla National Park
      • Barra Honda National Park
      • Braulio Carrillo National Park
      • Cahuita National Park
      • Carara National Park
      • Chirripo National Park
      • Cocos Island National Park
      • Corcovado National Park
      • Diria National Park
      • Guanacaste National Park
      • Irazu Volcano National Park
      • Juan Castro Blanco National Park
      • La Amistad International Park
      • La Cangreja National Park
      • Las Baulas National Marine Park
      • Manuel Antonio National Park
      • Maquenque National Park
      • Palo Verde National Park
      • Piedras Blanco National Park
      • Poas Volcano National Park
      • Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park
      • Santa Rosa National Park
      • Tapanti National Park
      • Tenorio National Park
      • Tortuguero National Park
      • Turrialba
    • Typical Questions
    • International Air Service
    • Costa Rica Domestic Air Travel >
      • Nature Air
      • Sanza
    • Driving in Costa Rica >
      • Car Rentals
    • U.S. Embassy Notices
  • Costa Rica Properties
    • Mi Tierra
    • Hotel Escazu
  • Community Service
    • Environmental Awareness
  • Costa Rica Golf
  • Monteverde Tours
  • Costa Rica News

                                       Costa Rica Information

Costa Rica History
Typical Questions
Travel Tips
U.S. Embassy Notices
Major Breaks by Zone
The Costa Rican Sex Trade
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  • Total Area: 51,100 sq km
  • Population: 4,636,348 (July 2012 est.)
  • Capital: San Jose
  • Time Difference: UTC-6
  • GDP: $54.47 billion (2011 est.)




                                                                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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