Weather
Tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands.
Terrain
Coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes.
Currency
Costa Rican Colon (CRC)
Languages
Spanish (official), English
Religion
Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%
Ethnic groups
white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%
History
Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural country, it has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.
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