UTCC Home
  
Latin America/ Southeast Asia
Press Center
Careers
 

 Latin America | Southeast Asia

COSTA RICA

Capital: San Jose
Officially name in Spanish: Republica de Costa Rica
Head of state: of government: President Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda
Languages: Spanish
Currency: Costa Rican colones (CRC)
Surface area: 51,100km2

Population: 4,695,942 (2013 est.)

Labour force: 2.196 million
GDP: US$58.6 billion (2012 est.)
GDP per capita: US$12,600 (2012 est.)

GDP Growth Rate: 4.8% (2012 est.)

Inflation: 4.5% (2012 est.)
Value of exports : US$11.47 billion (2012 est.)

Main export commodities: bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar; beef; seafood; electronic components, medical equipment
Exports of percentage of GDP: 32.20%
Largest companies: AETEC, Afa Adquisition, Altor Electronica S.A, Ameritex Centroamerica S.A., Ascende, Atlas Electrica SA, BAC, Banco Internacional de Costa Rica SA, Bandeco, Bodega Zeta Cuatro S.A., Camtronics S.A., Casa de Medias Internacional S.A., Centro Produccion Professional, Chez Lui, CIA Odontologica S.A., Cibertec International, Cibertel S.A., Coloplast, Comercializadora Bticino, S.A,
Top business schools: Universidad de Costa Rica,Universidad Nacional,Universidad Latina de Costa Rica.

Literary rate: 94.9%

Human development index (2012): 0.773
Energy consumption (Quadrillion Btu):0.187

Energy production (Quadrillion Btu):0.087.

Sources of energy: hydroelectricity, geothermal energy, solar and wind energy

(Source: CIA, The World Factbook)
 

Costa Rica's political stability, high standard of living, and well-developed social benefits system set it apart from its Central American neighbors. Through the government's sustained social spending - almost 20% of GDP annually - Costa Rica has made tremendous progress toward achieving its goal of providing universal access to education, healthcare, clean water, sanitation, and electricity. Since the 1970s, expansion of these services has led to a rapid decline in infant mortality, an increase in life expectancy at birth, and a sharp decrease in the birth rate. The average number of children born per women has fallen from about 7 in the 1960s to 3.5 in the early 1980s to below replacement level today. Costa Rica's poverty rate is lower than in most Latin American countries, but it has stalled at around 20% for almost two decades.

Costa Rica is a popular regional immigration destination because of its job opportunities and social programs. Almost 9% of the population is foreign-born, with Nicaraguans comprising nearly three-quarters of the foreign population. Many Nicaraguans who perform unskilled seasonal labor enter Costa Rica illegally or overstay their visas, which continues to be a source of tension. Less than 3% of Costa Rica's population lives abroad. The overwhelming majority of expatriates have settled in the United States after completing a university degree or in order to work in a highly skilled field.

(Source: CIA, The World Factbook)

 
 
Select a Country

Useful Links






 

  
 
SEA-LAC Trade Center : The Southeast Asia and Latin America Trade Center : University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce
126/1 Vibhavadee-Rangsit Road, Dindaeng, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. Tel. +66-2697-6641-2 Fax. +66-2277-1803 E-mail : [email protected]