Country
Countries A-Z
Costa Rica
Republic of Costa Rica
República de Costa Rica
Political Status: Independence proclaimed September 15, 1821; republic established in 1848; democratic constitutional system instituted in 1899.
Area: 19,575 sq. mi. (50,700 sq. km.).
Population: 3,810,179 (2000C); 4,176,000 (2004E).
Major Urban Centers (2000C): SAN JOSE (309,672), Alajuela (222,853), Cartago (132,057), Heredia (103,899), Puntarenas (102,504), Limón (89,933), Liberia (46,703).
Principal Language: Spanish (there is no “official” language).
Monetary Unit: Colón (market rate July 1, 2005: 478.35 colónes = $1US).
President: Abel PACHECO de la Espriella (Social Christian Unity Party); elected on April 7, 2002, and inaugurated for a four-year term on May 8 succeeding Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ Echeverría (Social Christian Unity Party).
First Vice President: Lineth SABORIO Chaverri (Social Christian Unity Party); elected on April 7, 2002, and inaugurated on May 8 for a term concurrent with ...