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| About Costa Rica |
- Literacy is currently at 95.6%.
- Education is compulsory through the 9th grade (similar
to a U.S. high school completion).
- Education expenditure is fixed at a minimum of 6% to
the GNP.
- There are 56 universities in the country, 52 private
and 4 state schools.
- Pay is currently at 1.8% above inflation (as compared
to China – 4.8% and India – 7.3%).
- National turnover rate is at around 7% (Tico Electronics
is at 3%).
- Democracy: President serves one four-year term, by election.
Democratic style Constitution.
- 3 legislative powers.
- No standing Army (abolished in 1948).
- More than 100 years of stability.
- No economic crises for over 20 years.
- Lowest Risk Rating in Latin America.
- Business environment and legal framework open to foreign
investment.
- U.S./Canadian/European copyrights protected in Costa
Rica.
- Labor Unions only in public sector businesses.
- In 2001 over 89% have water piped into homes and over
93% have electricity.
- In 2002, internet usage grew by 120% and continues to
exponentially rise.
- Population: 4,016,173 – 2005, and ranked 125th
globally.
- Capital: San Jose.
- Major Cities: San Jose (1,480,750), Alajuela (722,288),
Cartago, (483,297), Puntarenas (368,900), Limon (70,000),
Heredia.
- Size: 51,100 square kilometers – ranked 137th in
size, globally and is slightly smaller than West Virginia.Land-50,660
sq km, water 440 sq km (this includes Isla de Coco).
Provinces: 7
- National Holiday: 15th September, Independence Day (1821
from Spain).
- Currency: Colon.
- Exchange Rate: December, 2005 rate to U.S. Dollar –
495.
- Language: Spanish.
- Border Countries: Nicaragua (309 km) and Panama (330
km).
- Coastline: 1,290 km.
- Climate: tropical and subtropical; dry season (December-April);
rainy season (May-November); cooler in highlands.
- Elevation Extremes: Lowest – Pacific Ocean 0 m.
Highest – Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m.
- Oral hygiene is very important and most Costa Ricans
brush their teeth after every meal.
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