Costa Rica

Wealth and National Well-Being

Country Comparisons:
2010: see chart (top)

World Factbook: "Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Exports have become more diversified in the past 10 years due to the growth of the high-tech manufacturing sector, which is dominated by the microprocessor industry and the production of medical devices."

Estimated per capita GDP (2009 U.S. dollars)

2009: $10,900 (ranks 99th, 9th among Latin American countries)
2008: $11,200
2007: $11,100

GDP growth rate:
2009: -1.6%
2008: 2.6%
2007: 7.8%

Unemployment rate

2009: 6.4%

Exports: coffee, bananas, sugar; pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment

Military expenditures as a percentage of GDP

2006: 0.4%

People

Living in an urban area: 63% (2008)

July 2009: 4.25 million. Growth rate: 1.346% (ranks 98th)
July 2008: 4.20 mllion.

Migration

2009: More people coming than going -- a good sign. A net gain of 0.47 persons for every 1,000 population.

Health

Infant mortality (Infant deaths before the age of one per 1,000 live births)

2009: 8.77 (ranks 161st)
2008: 9.01
2005: 9.95

Average life expectancy at birth

2009: 77.58 years (ranks 53rd)
2008: 77.4
2005: 76.84

Living with HIV/AIDS, ages 15 to 49: 0.6 percent (2003).

Geography

Central America between Nicaragua and Panama.

SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/