Americas > Central America > Costa Rica > Costa Rica People Profile 2012

Costa Rica: Costa Rica People Profile 2012

2012/03/06

Costa Rica People Profile 2012

Costa Rica's population density was about 195 persons per square mile (75 per km2). The population is largely rural. More than 90 per cent of the people are of Spanish ancestry. The largest cities are San José, the capital; Alajuela; and Cartago.

Spanish is the official language of the country. Roman Catholicism is the state religion, but the constitution guarantees religious freedom. Costa Rica has one of the highest literacy rates in Central America. Elementary instruction is free and compulsory, and secondary education is also free. The University of Costa Rica is located in San José.

Population

Value:

4 253 877

Date:

July 2009

Comparison to the world:

123

Age structure

Age:

0-14 years

Value:

26.7% (male 581,916/female 555,216)

Year:

2009

Age:

15-64 years

Value:

67.1% (male 1,443,606/female 1,411,168)

Age:

65 years and over

Value:

6.2% (male 120,969/female 141,002)

Median Age

Name:

total

Value:

27.5 years

Year:

2009

Name:

male

Value:

27.1 years

Name:

female

Value:

28 years

Population growth rate

Value:

1,356%

Year:

2009

Comparison to the world:

100

Birth rate

Value:

17.43 births/1,000 population

Year:

2009

Comparison to the world:

118

Death rate

Value:

4.34 deaths/1,000 population

Date:

July 2009

Comparison to the world:

205

Net migration rate

Value:

0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Year:

2009

Comparison to the world:

Urbanization

Urban population:

urban population

Rate of urbanization:

63% of total population

Note:

2008

Sex ratio

Range:

at birth

Value:

1.05 male(s)/female

Year:

2009

Range:

under 15 years

Value:

1.05 male(s)/female

Range:

15-64 years

Value:

1.02 male(s)/female

Range:

65 years and over

Value:

0.86 male(s)/female

Range:

total population

Value:

1.02 male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate

Total value:

8.77 deaths/1,000 live births

Comparison to the world:

160

Male value:

9.66 deaths/1,000 live births

Female value:

7.83 deaths/1,000 live births

Year:

2009

Life expectancy at birth

Total value:

77.58 years

Comparison to the world:

Male value:

74.96 years

Female value:

80.34岁

Year:

2009

Total fertility rate

Value:

80.34 years

Year:

2009

Comparison to the world:

120

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

Value:

0,40%

Year:

2007

Comparison to the world:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

Value:

9 700

Year:

2007

Comparison to the world:

106

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Value:

fewer than 200

Year:

2007

Comparison to the world:

123

Nationality

Noun:

Costa Rican(s)

Adjective:

Costa Rican

Ethnic groups

Value:

<p> white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%</p>

Religions

Value:

Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%

Languages

Languages info:

Spanish (official), English

Literacy

Definition:

age 15 and over can read and write

Total population:

94,90%

Male:

94,70%

Female:

95,10%

Year:

2002

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Total:

12 years

Male:

12 years

Female:

12 years

Year:

2006

Education expenditures

Value:

4.9% of GDP

Comparison to the world:

Year:

2006

Costa Rica News

COSTA RICA: Costa Rica Annual consumer prices drop for sixth consecutive month in December and hover at historical low
COSTA RICA: Costa Rica Economic activity in November records strongest expansion in over a year
AFGHANISTAN: Global growth will be disappointing in 2016: IMF's Lagarde
COSTA RICA: Costa Rica has only used renewable energy this year
AFGHANISTAN: Revised IMF forecasts signal gloom on global economic outlook
AFGHANISTAN: Oxfam Study Finds Richest 1% Is Likely to Control Half of Global Wealth by 2016

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