Costa Rica is located in Central America and is bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The country is about the size of West Virginia and is comprised of 9 provinces.
Costa Rica is a democratic republic with a long history of stable democracy. The current president is Oscar Arias who began his second term in 2006. The country has no military by constitutional law and has avoided much of the violence that plagues much of Latin America. Costa Rica is an active member of the United Nations.
Quick Facts:
Population: 4,133,884
Language: Spanish
Area: 2,725 sq miles
Capital: San Jose
Religion: 75% Roman Catholic (official state religion), 17% Protestant, 8% Other (Buddist, Mormon, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu)
President: Oscar Arias
Indepence: From Spain in 1821
Government: Constitutional Republic
Literacy Rate: 96%
