white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%, Indian
1%, Chinese 1%

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%

Languages: Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 94.8%
male: 94.7%
female: 95%

Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
conventional short form: Costa Rica
local long form: Republica de Costa Rica
local short form: Costa Rica

Data code: CS

Type of government: democratic republic

Capital: San Jose

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon,
Puntarenas, San Jose

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution: 9 November 1949

Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review
of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Jose Maria FIGUERES
Olsen (since 8 May 1994), First Vice President Rodrigo OREAMUNO
Blanco (since 8 May 1994), Second Vice President Rebeca GRYNSPAN
Mayufis (since 8 May 1994) were elected for four-year terms by
universal suffrage; election last held 6 February 1994 (next to be
held NA February 1998); results - President FIGUERES (PLN) 49.7%,
Miquel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 47.5%
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa): elections last held 6
February 1994 (next to be held NA February 1998); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (61 total) PLN 28, PUSC 29, minority
parties 4

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), justices are
elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly

Political parties and leaders: National Liberation Party (PLN),
Rolando ARAYA; Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), Rafael Angel
CALDERON Fournier; Marxist Popular Vanguard Party (PVP), Humberto
VARGAS Carbonell; New Republic Movement (MNR), Sergio Erick ARDON
Ramirez; People's Party of Costa Rica (PPC), Lenin CHACON Vargas;
Radical Democratic Party (PRD), Juan Jose ECHEVERRIA Brealey;
Democratic Force Party (FD), Isaac Felipe AZOFEIFA Bolanos

Other political or pressure groups: Cos