By: tim Mood: Educational Date: Feb 26, 2008 Music: None

As new expats, or expats-to-be, you'll be interested in these quick facts about Costa Rica:

• Its Official Name is the Republic of Costa Rica, La Republica de Costa Rica.
• It contains 19,730 square miles.  About the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined.
• It has a population of 4.3 million.
• Costa Rica’s capital city is San Jose with a population of 2.1 million.
• Costa Rica’s literacy rate is 96%.  Higher than the U.S.
• The life expectancy is 74.6 years for men and 79.9 years for women.  Both higher than the U.S.
• Approximately 50,000 U.S. citizens, including many retirees, reside in Costa Rica.  More than 700,000 U.S. citizens visit the country annually.
• Approximately 31% of the country is contained in national parks or private preserves.
• Costa Rica has one of the oldest democracies in the Americas.  It became an independent nation in 1821.
• Its present constitution was adopted November 7, 1949.
• Its government is comprised of executive, legislative and judicial branches just like the U.S.
• The country has seven provinces.
• The GDP in 2006 was approximately $21.5 Billion.
• 62% of the economy is devoted to the service sector principally tourism and related services and banking; 29% industry principally electronics, food processing, textiles, medical equipment and construction; 9% agriculture principally bananas, coffee, pineapples, sugar, rice, daily, fruits and vegetables.
• The U.S. is Costa Rica’s most important trading partner accounting for half of its exports, imports and tourism and more than two-thirds of its foreign investment.
• Natural resources include hydroelectric power, fisheries and forest products.
• Costa Rica abolished its armed forces in 1949.
• Major Fortune 500 Companies with significant investments in Costa Rica include Intel, Proctor & Gamble, Glaxo Smith Kline, Motorola, Abbott Labs, Baxter Healthcare, Roche and Pfizer.
• Costa Rica is served by three international airports at San Jose, Osa and Liberia.  There are direct flights from Miami, New York, Houston, Atlanta, Denver, Washington, Los Angeles, Pittsburg, Phoenix, Charlotte and Ft. Lauderdale.
• Major hotel and resort companies in Costa Rica include Marriott, Westin, Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, St. Regis, Hilton, Hyatt, Ramada, The Palms, Wyndham and the Ritz-Carlton.
• The country is investing hundreds of millions on infrastructure improvements including roads, telecommunications and services.
• Costa Rica recently approved participation in the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) which will attract continued investment to the country.
• The Costa Rica Power Team is the leading real estate consulting firm in Costa Rica!