COSTA RICA
Location:
Costa Rica lies between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. Its total area
is 51,100 square kilometres.
Population:
3,342,154 (July, 1994 estimate)
Languages:
Spanish (official), English
Government:
Costa Rica's government is a democratic republic.
Legal System:
The Costa Rican legal system is based on the Spanish civil law system. There is judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court. Costa Rica has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction.
Telecommunications:
Costa Rica has a very good domestic telephone service. It has a connection into
the Central American Microwave System, and has one Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station.
Economy:
In 1993, the economy grew at an estimated 6.5%, compared with 7.7% in 1992 and
2.1% in 1991. Increases in agricultural production (coffee and bananas), nontraditional
exports and tourism are responsible for much of the growth. Inflation in 1993 dropped
to 9% from 17% in 1992 and 25% in 1991, an indication of basic financial stability.
Unemployment is officially reported at 4.0%, but much underemployment remains.
Industries:
Costa Rica's main industries are food processing, textiles and clothing, construction
materials, fertilizer and plastic products.
Currency:
1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos
Exchange Rates:
Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1 - 150.67 (December, 1993)
Related sites:
Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica Handbook
Costa Rica Hotels
Costa Rica Information
Costa Rica: The Jewel Of The Americas
General Information About Costa Rica
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