(República de Costa Rica). State of Central America (51,102 km²). Capital: San José. Administrative division: provinces (7). Population: 4,381,987 (2008 estimate). Language: Spanish. Religion: Catholics 88%, others 4%. Monetary unit: colón (100 cents). Human Development Index: 0.847 (50th place). Borders: Nicaragua (N), Antillean Sea (NE), Panama (SE), Pacific Ocean (SW and W). Member of: OAS, UN and WTO.
ECONOMY
According to smber, the primary sector involves 13% of the active population and provides just over 8% of the gross domestic product of Costa Rica (2007), figures that indicate, from the surveys of recent years, a substantial decrease in the contribution of these activities to the formation of national wealth. On the other hand, arable land and arborescent crops occupy just over 10% of the territorial surface. Among the most profitable products, grown with modern techniques, are ornamental plants, flowers, pineapple and other tropical fruits: in the five-year period 1990-94 these crops have undergone an increase of 37.6%, arriving, in 1994, to represent more than half of total exports, relegating those of coffee, sugar and bananas to a minority position, grown on coastal plantations and almost entirely owned by United Brands. These crops, however, regained a respectable role at the beginning of the new millennium: in 2004-05, Costa Rica stood out as the world’s seventh banana producer and the world’s ninth exporter of coffee. Among the industrial crops, cocoa, which is also present in the coastal plains (in particular in the Atlantic province of Limón and in the peaceful province of Puntarenas) and sugar cane, as well as tobacco and cotton, are also worthy of mention. On the other hand, cereals (corn and rice), potatoes, la in fact, in 2004-05 Costa Rica stood out as the world’s seventh banana producer and the world’s ninth exporter of coffee. Among the industrial crops, cocoa, which is also present in the coastal plains (in particular in the Atlantic province of Limón and in the peaceful province of Puntarenas) and sugar cane, as well as tobacco and cotton, are also worthy of mention. On the other hand, cereals (corn and rice), potatoes, la in fact, in 2004-05 Costa Rica stood out as the world’s seventh banana producer and the world’s ninth exporter of coffee. Among the industrial crops, cocoa, which is also present in the coastal plains (in particular in the Atlantic province of Limón and in the peaceful province of Puntarenas) and sugar cane, as well as tobacco and cotton, are also worthy of mention. On the other hand, cereals (corn and rice), potatoes, la in addition to tobacco and cotton. On the other hand, cereals (corn and rice), potatoes, la in addition to tobacco and cotton. On the other hand, cereals (corn and rice), potatoes, la cassava, vegetables and palm oil; it is often a subsistence agriculture with very modest yields. § Although the forest areas are particularly extensive (about one third of the total area, which decreased by almost half over the twentieth century, following indiscriminate exploitation that transformed the wooded expanses into pastures) and very rich in precious essences, their use is limited to the production of wood obtained from cedar and balsa. On the other hand, the livestock sector plays an important role in the national economy, feeding some industries and also supplying products for export; cattle prevail, followed by pigs, horses and poultry. § Fishing, which is practiced mainly in the Pacific Ocean, is quite profitable. In particular, tuna fishing is well organized; this activity can count on freezing and canning plants (Puntarenas).
CULTURE
The archaeological centers located in the area of the Diquís river should be mentioned for the lithic sculpture, for the clay art, which clearly refers to that of Chiriquí (Panama), and above all for the goldsmithing (see circumcaribic cultures), whose products express an uncommon artistic sensibility. However, stone sculpture finds its optimum in the Peninsula de Nicoya, famous for the monumental representations of characters with an alter ego on their back; Also interesting are the modeled and painted vases and above all the jadeite objects, certainly the most refined in the whole circumcaribic area. Finally, the lithic sculpture, the clay art and the glyptic are worthy of note of the Linea Vieja area, however events of a much lower level. In the contemporary era, the visual arts have had a remarkable development thanks to the creation of both the Ministry of Culture and the creation, in 1992, of an acclaimed International Arts Festival. In recent years, Escazu has turned out to be centers of interest, with artists such as Christina Fournier, the four brothers Mena, Dinorah Bolandi, Roberto Lizano, and Santa Ana, with the presence of the Creative Center. Here was also born one of the first important movements of Costa Rican painting, linked to the representation of landscapes, at the beginning of the twentieth century, thanks to painters such as Teodorico Quiros, Luisa de Saenz, Manuel de La Cruz.
