Country statistics    Population 4.4 million Land mass 19,730 square miles People per square mile 223 Life expectancy 77.4 years Under age 5 mortality rate 12/1,000 Literacy rate 95% Access to safe water 97% Average annual income US$4,980 Religion Christian 90.7% Other 6.1% None 3.2%

The Republic of Costa Rica, located on the Central American isthmus, is bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south, with the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The rugged Central and Talamanca mountain ranges form the spine of the country, separating the narrow Pacific coast from the broad Caribbean coastal plain. Mount Chirripó, a volcanic mountain in the southern region, is the nation’s highest point at 12,500 feet. The climate is tropical along the coasts, with cooler temperatures in the highlands. Natural resources are arable land and hydropower.

Ninety-four percent of Costa Ricans are of Caucasian, including mestizo (Amerindian and European), heritage. Most Caucasians are of Spanish ancestry. Small groups of indigenous people, as well as those of African or Chinese descent, make up the remainder of the population. Spanish is the official language, but many people speak English, especially in the Caribbean coastal area.

In 1502, on his last voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus made the first European landfall in the area, naming it Costa Rica, or “rich coast.” Settlements began 20 years later, and for three centuries, Spain administered the region. Costa Rica joined its neighboring territories in 1821 and declared independence from Spanish rule. After more than two decades of border disputes with Nicaragua, the country became a sovereign republic in 1848.

An era of peaceful democratic rule has existed in Costa Rica since 1899, with one exception: José Figueres led an armed uprising against the Costa Rican army following a disputed presidential election in 1948. The 44-day war left 2,000 dead.

Once the cease-fire went into effect, new articles of the constitution were written abolishing the army and guaranteeing blacks and women the right to vote. Figueres became a hero and easily won the presidential election in 1953. After serving as head of the government from 1986 to1990, Oscar Arias Sánchez was again elected president in March 2006.

The nation’s economy has enjoyed positive growth for more than a decade. Compared with neighboring countries, Costa Rica has a high average annual income and a low unemployment rate. Except for oil, the country is self-sufficient in its energy needs thanks to a plethora of hydroelectric power plants. The expanding tourist industry has increased construction projects, further fueling the economy. Despite these positive indicators, the country’s inflation is one of the highest in Latin America. Approximately 22 percent of the population—nearly 1 million people—lives below the poverty line.

Higher poverty levels are generally found in rural areas with 27 percent compared to 18 percent in cities. Income is less evenly distributed in Costa Rica, resulting in the most affluent 20 percent owning more than 55 percent of the wealth and the poorest 20 percent owning just four percent. The Pacific Coast provinces of Cuanacaste and Puntarenas have reported increasing numbers of poor people, while the northern Caribbean Coast and the central valley area have seen a rise in wealthier citizens.

Over the last few decades, Costa Rica has experienced a significant rise in the sex tourism industry. Many women and girls who live in economically disadvantaged situations are often forced to work in the trade in order to survive. Girls from neighboring countries, as well as Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia, are brought to Costa Rica to cater to sex tourists. There are an estimated 3,000 girls, a majority of whom are between the ages of 8 and 10, working in 300 brothels in Costa Rica’s capital, San José. A few organizations have brought attention to and denounced the sexual exploitation of children, but national and local judicial offices are understaffed and underfunded to respond appropriately.