Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including: disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids.

It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries.

In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development.

Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.

In January 2008, Costa Rica assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2008-09 term.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 4,253,877 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

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Age structure: 0-14 years: 26.7% (male 581,916/female 555,216) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,443,606/female 1,411,168) 65 years and over: 6.2% (male 120,969/female 141,002) (2009 est.)

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Median age: total: 27.5 years male: 27.1 years female: 28 years (2009 est.)

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Population growth rate: 1.356% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

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Birth rate: 17.43 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

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Death rate: 4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

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Net migration rate: 0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

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Urbanization: urban population: 63% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 8.77 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 160 male: 9.66 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.58 years country comparison to the world: 54 male: 74.96 years female: 80.34 years (2009 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 2.14 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 9,700 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

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Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2009)

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Nationality: noun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican

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Ethnic groups: white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%

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Religions: Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%

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Languages: Spanish (official), English

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.9% male: 94.7% female: 95.1% (2000 census)

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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)

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Education expenditures: 4.9% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 76

Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Exports have become more diversified in the past 10 years due to the growth of the high-tech manufacturing sector, which is dominated by the microprocessor industry and the production of medical devices.

Tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange, as Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity makes it a key destination for ecotourism. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and relatively high education levels, as well as the fiscal incentives offered in the free-trade zones.

Costa Rica has attracted one of the highest levels of foreign direct investment per capita in Latin America. Poverty has remained around 20% for nearly 20 years, and the strong social safety net that had been put into place by the government has eroded due to increased financial constraints on government expenditures.

Immigration from Nicaragua has increasingly become a concern for the government. The estimated 300,000-500,000 Nicaraguans in Costa Rica legally and illegally are an important source of - mostly unskilled - labor, but also place heavy demands on the social welfare system.

Under the ARIAS administration, the government has made strides in reducing internal and external debt - in 2007, Costa Rica had its first budget surplus in 50 years. Reducing inflation remains a difficult problem because of rising commodity import prices and labor market rigidities, though lower oil prices will decrease upward pressures.

The Central Bank is moving towards a more flexible exchange rate system to focus on inflation targeting by 2010. The US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) entered into force on 1 January 2009, after significant delays within the Costa Rican legislature. Nevertheless, economic growth has slowed in 2009 as the global downturn reduced export demand and invesment inflows.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $48.48 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 $47.07 billion (2007) $44.07 billion (2006) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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GDP (official exchange rate): $30.38 billion (2008 est.)

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GDP - real growth rate: 3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 141 6.8% (2007 est.) 8.8% (2006 est.)

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $11,600 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $11,400 (2007 est.) $10,800 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7.6% industry: 29.1% services: 63.3% (2008 est.)

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Labor force: 1.957 million country comparison to the world: 117 note: this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica (2008 est.)

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Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14% industry: 22% services: 64% (2006 est.)

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Unemployment rate: 5.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 37.4% (2003)

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Distribution of family income - Gini index: 48 (2008) country comparison to the world: 31

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Investment (gross fixed): 23% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

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Budget: revenues: $4.604 billion expenditures: $4.552 billion (2008 est.)

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Public debt: 38.4% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 55

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

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Central bank discount rate: 17% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 9

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Commercial bank prime lending rate: 12.8% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 71

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Stock of money: $4.504 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 71

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Stock of quasi money: $2.87 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 99

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Stock of domestic credit: $12.91 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 81

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Market value of publicly traded shares: $2.035 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 101

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Agriculture - products: bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef, poultry, dairy; timber

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Industries: microprocessors, food processing, medical equipment, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products

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Industrial production growth rate: -0.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

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Electricity - production: 8.918 billion kWh (2007) country comparison to the world: 95

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Electricity - consumption: 7.779 billion kWh (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

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Electricity - exports: 77.16 million kWh (2008 est.)

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Electricity - imports: 203.2 million kWh (2007 est.)

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Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2004) country comparison to the world: 198

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Oil - consumption: 44,000 bbl/day (January 2009) country comparison to the world: 98

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Oil - exports: 2,115 bbl/day (2005) country comparison to the world: 114

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Oil - imports: 43,110 bbl/day (2005) country comparison to the world: 93

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Oil - proved reserves: NA bbl

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Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

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Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

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Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

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Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

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Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

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Current account balance: -$5.698 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

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Exports: $9.675 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

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Exports - commodities: bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar; seafood; electronic components, medical equipment

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Exports - partners: US 25.7%, China 14.1%, Netherlands 10.9%, UK 6.3%, Mexico 5% (2007)

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Imports: $15.37 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

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Imports - commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum, construction materials

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Imports - partners: US 41%, Mexico 6.1%, Venezuela 5.7%, Japan 5.4%, China 5.1%, Brazil 4.3% (2007)

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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $3.573 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

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Debt - external: $7.401 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: $18.96 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 61

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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: $574 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

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Exchange rates: Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar - 530.41 (2008 est.), 519.53 (2007), 511.3 (2006), 477.79 (2005), 437.91 (2004)