1. Geography
Area: 51,100 sq.km.; rich agricultural land straddling the Central American isthmus.
Population: 4,023,422 in 2000; 4,856,685 in 2010; 5,928,508 in 2025
Capital: San Jose (1,063,000)
2. Peoples
Spanish-speaking: 94.8%
English-speaking: 2.5%
Amerindian: 0.7%
Other: 2%
Literacy: 93%
Official language: Spanish
3. Economy
Decline between 1979-88, some recovery since then but 20% still live in deep poverty. Main exports are bananas, coffee and textiles. Tourism is also important.
A leading country for ecological conservation.
Exports: coffee, bananas, sugar, pineapples, textiles, electronic components, medical equipment
Imports: raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
Industries: microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Currency: Costa Rican Colon (CRC)
GDP per capita: 9,000
4. Politics
Independent of Spain in 1821. A long history of stable, multi-party democratic government. Costa Rica has exercised a stabilizing influence in the conflicts of surrounding lands.
5. Religions
Christian: 3,810,181 adherents (94.70% of population)
Chinese: 90,125 adherents (2.24% of population)
Non-religious/other: 69,605 adherents (1.73% of population)
Traditional ethnic: 33,394 adherents (0.83% of population)
Baha’i: 11,668 adherents (0.29% of population)
Jewish: 4,426 adherents (0.11% of population)
Buddhist: 4,023 adherents (0.10% of population)
Churches: Catholic (1,575,132 members)
Assemblies of God (30,300 members)
Seventh-day Adventist (31,350 members)
Jehovah’s Witnesses (20,000 members)
Ch of God (Cleveland) (19,302 members)
Latter-day Saints (Morm) (22,449 members)
Assoc of Bible Chs (8,772 members)
Baptist Bible Fell (5,169 members)
Foursquare Gospel (4,776 members)
Evang Assoc of C Amer (5,923 members)
Pentecostal Holiness (5,800 members)
Methodist (6,300 members)
Churches of Christ (5,600 members)
Council of Nat’I Ev Chs (4,100 members)
Baptist Convention (3,545 members)
Ch of the Nazarene (2,006 members)
Other denominations (132,303 members)
For sources used please click on ‘About Religious Intelligence’
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