Costa Rica Facts

This page provides a one stop shop for useful Costa Rica facts and information.

Click here for further information about Costa Rica.

Click here for further information about Central America.

Suggestions of sites to visit in Costa Rica can be found in the Where to Visit section as well as Culture and Art.


Costa Rica Fact File

Monetary unit
  • Full Name: Republic of Costa Rica
  • Capital City: San Jose
  • Country Area: 51,100 sq km
  • Land Mass Area: 51,060 sq km
  • Population: 4,516,220 (2010 estimate)
  • Life Expectancy: 77.54
  • Ethnicity: 94% white and mestizo, 3% black, 1% Amerindian, 1% Chinese, 1% other
  • Religion: 76% Roman Catholic, 14% Evangelical, 5% other, 3% no religion, 1% Jehovah's Witness, 1% other Protestant
  • Official Languages: Spanish
  • Internet Domain: .cr
  • International Dialling Code: +506
  • Monetary Unit: 1 colon = 100 centimos
  • Government: Democratic Republic
  • Independence from Spain: 15 September 1821

Random Fact

It is not common to see street signs in Costa Rica as addresses refer to buildings and landmarks.

To confuse the situation further for those who are visiting, some addresses refer to landmarks that may no longer exist. A typical address could be 200m (2 blocks) east of the school.