Country local name: Republic of Costa Rica
Government type: democratic republic
Capital: San Jose
Time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Independence: 15th September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15th September (1821)
Population: 4,755,234 (July 2014 est.)
Ethnic group: white or mestizo 83.6%, mulato 6.7%, indigenous 2.4%, black of African descent 1.1%, other 1.1%, none 2.9%, unspecified 2.2% (2011 est.)
Languages: Spanish (official), English
Religions: Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah’s Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%
Terrain: Coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m, highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Natural resources: hydropower
Agriculture – products: bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes, timber.
Industries: microprocessors, food processing, medical equipment, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Exports: bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar, electronic components, medical equipment
Shopping hours: Shops are open Monday – Sunday from 9am to 7pm
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2013)
Climate: tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
References:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/