Costa Rica

Official name: Republic of Costa Rica
Also known as: República de Costa Rica (Spanish)

Flag of Costa Rica
Capital of Costa Rica: San José
Area of Costa Rica: 51,100 km² (19,730 mi²) (128th)
Population of Costa Rica: 5,129,910 (127th) - (2024 est.)
Location: located in Central America
Languages of Costa Rica: Spanish (official), English
Religions of Costa Rica: Catholicism (official) 47.5%, Protestantism 22.5%, other Christian 2.6%, no religion 27%, others 0.4% (2021 est.)
Ethnic groups of Costa Rica: White or Mestizo 83.6%, Mulatto (mixed Black and White) 6.7%, Indigenous 2.4%, Black 1.1%, others 6.2% (2021 est.)
Currency: Costa Rican colón (₡, CRC)
Organizations: United Nations

Border countries (2): Nicaragua 313 km or (194 mi), Panama 348 km or (216 mi).
Coastline: 1,290 km (800 mi)
Maritime boundaries: Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean
Territorial waters: 589 km² (227 mi²)

Administrative divisions of Costa Rica
Costa Rica Map

7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia):
lajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose.

Cities, towns, and villages

  • San José - The capital.
  • Alajuela - location of Juan Santamaría International Airport
  • Cartago - Costa Rica's first capital
  • Dominical - the South Pacific coast's largest city, among incredibly biodiversity and natural beauty
  • Heredia - Coffee plantations
  • Liberia - Location of Daniel Oduber International Airport and gateway to the beaches of Guanacaste, such as Samara, Nosara, Carillo
  • Puerto Limón - Main city on the Caribbean side
  • Puntarenas - Ferry to Nicoya Peninsula
  • Quesada - the largest city by far in the country's North, surrounded by hot springs popular with Costa Rican vacationers

Natural resources: Hydropower, forest products, fisheries products.