Costa Rica Demographics and Statistics

Facts about Costa Rica:
Country Capital:	San Jose
Area:	51,000 square kilometers, 19,652 square miles
Location:	Located in the Central American Isthmus, immediately north of Panama, with ports in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and 153 highway miles between them.
Political Environment:	Traditional and stable democracy, with elections held every four years. Army abolished in 1949. Stable political and economic environments. Lowest risk rating in Latin America. Business environment and legal framework open to foreign investment. No limitation on foreign control of corporations and ownership of property.
Population:	3.6 million
Density:	183 inhabitants per square mile (70.5 inhabitants per square kilometer)
Major metropolitan center:	San Jose (1 Million)
By sex:	Men, 49.86% Women, 50.14%
Standard of Living Indicators:
Life Expectancy:	76.1 years
Literacy Rate:	94.7%
Student Population (2000):	889,306
Education Institutions:	6147 primary and secondary schools
Education Expenditures:	US$716 Million, 6.52% of GDP. Minimum fixed by law at 6% of GDP.
Population served with piped water:	99%
Public health services coverage:	90.4% of population
Health Expenditures:	27.8% of Government total
Access to telephone service:	92% of population
	According to AACCLA, Association of American Chambers of Commerce, Latin America, Costa Rica's labor force was rated as the most productive and fast learning in Latin America. According to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) for 1999, Costa Rica has one of the highest ratings for quality of human resources among developing nations.
Economics:
GDP in US$ millions:	$11,299
Per capita GDP in US$:	3312
Export Growth:	20.1%
Import Growth:	1.1%
Inflation rate:	10.1%
Devaluation rate:	9.9%
Industries:	Electronics, food processing, apparel, medical devices, construction materials, plastic products.
Workforce:	Total labor force: 1,300,146 Economically active population: 40.5% Unemployment rate: >6.0 % Underemployment rate: 7.8%
Employment by Sectors:	Industry and construction: 23.1% Commerce and Transport: 26.4% Agriculture and mining: 19.9% Services: 30.1% Private sector: 87.0%
Main Imports:	$6.3 Billion - industrial raw materials, petroleum, industrial capital goods, durable consumer goods.
Main Exports:	Total goods: $6.6 billion. Electronic components, textiles, bananas, coffee, pineapples, foliage and ornamentals, fish and seafood, sugar, processed foods.
Major revenue generator:	Electronic circuits and microstructures with US$ 2540 millions (total exports, not only added value).
Second revenue generator:	Tourism, with almost US$1000 million. Tourist arrivals in 1999: over 1 million.
Globalization:	Full member of the WTO. Costa Rican products enter the United States free of duties under the CBI. Free Trade Agreement with Mexico. Full member of the Central American Common Market. Active involvement in the implementation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas.

Sources: BCCR (Central Bank), CEFSA (Feb 2000), Estado de la Nacion (1999), Procomer 1999. All figures quoted are for 1999 unless otherwise noted.