Country Name
Republic of Costa Rica; República de Costa Rica
Government form
Presidential Republic
Government and Executive President
Presidente de la República,
Parliament
Asamblea Legislativa, 57 places, renovated every 4 years (last one on 03.02.2002); next elections: 2006
Parties/Elections
Legislative Period 2002 – 2006
Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC, christian democratic):19 places
Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN, social democratic):17 places
Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC, left-liberal): 8 places
Bloque Partiotico (Separated PAC): 6 places
Partido Movimiento Libertario (ML, right – liberal):5 places
Partido Renovación Costarricense PRC):1 place Neutral:1 place
Political division
Centralized, with the central power in San José, like other 6 provinces: Alajuela, Cartago, Guancaste, Heredia, Limón and Puntarenas; 81 cantons, 329 districts.
Capital
San José (345 599 Habitants; Province: 1,356 Million)
Main cities
Alajuela (189 981 Habitants), Cartago (129 190), Limón (67 784), Heredia (81 789), Liberia (43 856)
Borders
Nicaragua in the north, Panama in the south, the Pacific in the west and the Caribbean in the east.
Area
51 100 km2
Population
About 4 million. 95% of the habitants are descendants of the european conquerors, about 5% are africans, indians or asiatic; Nicaragua habitants. Increment of the population: about 2.8% per year.
Population structure
87% white, 7% half-caste, 2% black, 2% oriental, 0.5% indians groups, 1,5% others.
Religion
Freedom of religion is established. The official religion of the state is the Catholic – Roman Church, which embraces the biggest part of the habitants. There are also many protestants churches and 7 000 followers of the Methodist Church.
Official language
Spanish
Currency
Colón
National day
15 September (Independence in 1821)
International Partnerships
United Nations, UNESCO, FAO, WHO, UNCTAD, IWF, World Bank, WTO, IAEO, OAS, IDB (Interamerican Development Bank), SICA (System of Central America Integration), SIECA (System of Central America Economic Integration), BCIE (Central American Integration Bank), Central American Common Market, Association of Caribbean States.