Costa Rica
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Country: Costa Rica
Full country name: Republic of Costa Rica
Area: 19,730 square miles
Population: 3,710,558
Location: Costa Rica is located in Central America between Nicaragua (to the
north) and Panama (to the south).
Language: Spanish
Capital: San Jose
Country Situation
Because of its stable political system, equitable income distribution, and
widespread land ownership, Costa Rica has long been considered among the most
successful Latin American nations. The nation's economy grew at a healthy
average annual rate of nearly five percent from 1986-96. High growth has enabled
the government to devote public funds to social security and social programs. As
a result, Costa Rica enjoys some of the best indicators of social well-being in
the developing world, with life expectancy of 76.02 and a 95 percent literacy
rate. Costa Rica's economy depends on tourism, agriculture and electronics
exports. The nation's agriculture and industrial sectors each occupy about 20
percent of the labor force, but industry is now a larger contributor to the
country's GDP. Of its many agricultural products, Costa Rica primarily exports
coffee, pineapples, bananas and sugar. Corn, rice beans potatoes, beef and
timber are also exported. Compared to other developing countries, Costa Rica has
a relatively advanced industrial sector with products ranging from
microprocessors and textiles, to construction materials and plastics. The
industrial production growth rate for 2000 was 4.3 percent. Costa Rica has had
success in reducing poverty and improving social welfare. Poverty, which shot up
following the debt crisis of the early 1980s, has since declined to 20.6 percent
in 2000. Costa Rica has been a pioneer in making environmental protection
profitable, and the nation's rich biodiversity has resulted in a lucrative
eco-tourism industry and worldwide recognition.
