Costa Rica enjoys many wonderful and unique characteristics that make it a very special destination. We want to share with you these and other relevant information
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Population: |
4,331,000 |
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Capital: |
San Jose; 1,085,000 |
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Area: |
51,100 square kilometers (19,730 square miles) |
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Labor force: |
2.05 million |
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Language: |
Spanish (official, with a southwestern Caribbean Creole dialect of English spoken around the Limon area),
English is widely spoken
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Religion: |
Roman Catholic, Evangelical |
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Currency: |
Costa Rican colon |
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Life Expectancy: |
79 (men 74.61 yrs., women 79.94 yrs) |
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GDP per Capita: |
U.S. $8,300 |
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Literacy rate: |
96% |
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Time zone: |
GMT-6 (US Central Standard Time) |
Weather:
Mild in the central highlands, tropical and subtropical in coastal areas.
Costa Rica has a pleasant weather all year round. The average temperature in San José ranges from 14º to 24°C (57 to 75°F) in December, and from 17º to 27°C (63 to 81°F) in May. The average in the Caribbean Coast at night is 21°C (70°F) and over 30°C (86 ° F) during the day. The Pacific Coast is warmer than the Caribbean, but less humid.
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 76
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Electricity:
110 220
Roads:
The country has an extensive road system of more than 30,000 kilometers. Most parts of the country are accessible by road.
Terrain:
A rugged, central range separates the eastern and western coastal plains.
Other important facts:
- CR has 4% of the total fauna and flora species of the world with only 0.03% of terrestrial surface
- Marine biodiversity includes 6.777 species in Costa Rica
- CR has a great variety of micro climates and ecosystems which lodge 12 life zones
- CR was ranked number 5 by the Environmental Performance Index
- CR has the greatest biological diversity by square kilometer in the world
- 25% of its territory is protected
- NatGeo names Coco´s Island one of the purest places in the world – 2009
- The telephone and electrical systems cover 100% of urban and rural areas.
- Since 1949 women were given the right to vote.
- CR is number 53 in technological competitiveness as per the Global Report on Technologies of Information.
- CR is number 41 in tourist competitiveness as per the World Economic Forum
- Costa Rica ranks first in the Happy Planet Index (2010)
