General Country Profile

Official name: Republic of Costa Rica

Capital: San José

Area: 19,652 square miles (slightly smaller than West Virginia)

Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

Time zone: (GMT -6)

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, San José)

Population: 4,509,290 million (2009)

Official language: Spanish (official), English

Local currency: Colón (named after Christopher Columbus)

International dialing code: + 506

Official religion: Roman Catholic, but there is freedom of expression of other beliefs

System of government: Democratic Republic

Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government: President, Ms. Laura Chinchilla; First Vice President, Mr. Alfio Piva; Second Vice President, Mr. Luis Liberman. The cabinet is selected by the President. The President and Vice Presidents are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; last election was held on February 7, 2010.

Legislative branch: Unicameral Legislative Assembly (57 seats). Members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms. Last election was held on February 7, 2010.

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly).

Army: Abolished in 1949

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Constitution: 7 November 1949

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Geography: Rugged highlands are found throughout most of the country, ranging from approximately 1,000 to 2,000 meters (3,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level). The Guanacaste Mountain Range, Central Mountain Range, and Talamanca Mountain Range are the main mountain ranges extending the entire length of the country. There are several active volcanoes (Arenal Volcano, Irazu Volcano, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano and Turrialba Volcano) and the country’s highest mountain (Chirripo) with a height of 3,819 m/12,530 ft. The country has a relatively long coastline in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

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

Sources: CIA WorldFact Book, The World Bank Group Country Data Profile, UD Data/A world of information, Anuario Estadístico América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).