Names: conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica conventional short form: Costa Rica local long form: Republica de Costa Rica local short form: Costa Rica

Capital City: San Jose

Population: 4,075,261 (July 2006 est.)

GDP Per Capita: $12,000 (2006 est.)

Currency: Costa Rican colon (CRC)

Languages: Spanish (official), English

Total Area: total: 51,100 sq km land: 50,660 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Isla del Coco slightly smaller than West Virginia

Region: North America

Industries: microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products

Agriculture: coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber

Resources: hydropower

Labor Force: 1.866 million (2006 est.)
agriculture: 20% industry: 22% services: 58% (1999 est.)

Exports: $7.931 billion (2006 est.)
coffee, bananas, sugar, pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment

Imports: $10.88 billion (2006 est.)
raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum

Overview: Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has been put into place. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and high education levels, and tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange. The government continues to grapple with its large internal and external deficits and sizable internal debt. The reduction of inflation remains a difficult problem because of rising import prices, labor market rigidities, and fiscal deficits. The country also needs to reform its tax system and its pattern of public expenditure. The current administration has made it a priority to pass the necessary reforms to implement the US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). CAFTA implementation would result in an improved investment climate.

_{CIA World Book}

In 2007 Missouri exported $3,073,057 in goods to Costa Rica. This ranks Costa Rica 45^th among the 223 international buyers of Missouri goods. Missouri exports to Costa Rica decreased from the previous year by $4,405,626 a change of -27.95%. State exports to Costa Rica have decreased over the last 5 years by $15,802,952 a change of -58.19%. Missouri exports account for .08%. of all 2007 US exports to Costa Rica.