Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a country located in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The capital and largest city is San José. The official language is Spanish and the currency is the Costa Rican colon. The government is a presidential representative democratic republic, with the President as the head of state and government. The current president is Carlos Alvarado Quesada.
Costa Rica has a relatively peaceful and stable history, with no standing army since 1948, and it has been able to maintain a high level of economic development and social welfare.
Costa Rica is known for its biodiversity and ecotourism, as it contains 5% of the world’s biodiversity despite comprising only 0.03% of the earth’s surface. The country has protected about 25% of its territory in national parks and biological reserves, and is a popular destination for eco-tourists. Additionally, Costa Rica is known for its beaches, volcanoes, hot springs, and for being a leader in renewable energy.
The economy of Costa Rica is service-based, and has a growing tourism industry and a relatively developed economy. The country is also known for its strong agricultural sector, particularly in the production of coffee, bananas, and pineapple. Costa Rica has also been investing in the technology industry and is becoming an important player in the software development and business process outsourcing industries.
The population of Costa Rica is around 5.1 million people, and is composed of a mix of different ethnic groups, with the majority of people being of mixed European and indigenous heritage. Spanish is the official language, but many people also speak indigenous languages such as Bribri and Cabécar.