Full country name: Republic of Costa Rica
Area: 51,100 sq km
Population: 3.8 million
Capital city: San José (pop 340,000)
People: 96% Spanish descent, 2% African descent, 1% indigenous Indians, 1% Chinese
Languages: Spanish, Creole English and Indian dialects
Religion: 85% Roman Catholic, 14% Protestant
Government: Democracy
President: Abel Pacheco

GDP: US$16.6 billion
GDP per head: US$4,300
Annual growth: 1%
Inflation: 11%
Major industries: Tourism, electronics, coffee, bananas, sugar, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Major trading partners: USA, Germany, Italy, Japan, Guatemala, Mexico