[Country Listing] [The World Factbook Home] Costa Rica Costa Rica Introduction [Top of Page] Background: Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural country, it has achieved a relatively high standard of living. Land ownership is widespread. Tourism is a rapidly expanding industry. Geography [Top of Page] Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean …showed first 75 words of 486 total…

…showed last 75 words of 486 total…spoken around Puerto Limon Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.8% male: 94.7% female: 95% (1995 est.) Government [Top of Page] Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica conventional short form: Costa Rica local long form: Republica de Costa Rica local short form: Costa Rica Data code: CS Government type: democratic republic Capital: San Jose Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**