¿Cuánto sabes de…?
COSTA RICA
¿Dónde está Costa Rica?
¿Dónde está Costa Rica?
How large is Costa Rica compared
to Illinois?
Costa Rica is 1/3 the size of Illinois.
How large is Costa Rica’s population
compared to that of Illinois?
35
35
30
30
25
25
20
20
15
15
10
5
0
10
5
0
Costa Rica’s population is about a
third the size of that of Illinois.
4.665.000
12.482.000
(2001 estimate)
What languages are spoken in
Costa Rica?
Spanish – 90%
(Doh!!)
Numerous Amerindian
languages and those spoken
by immigrants account for
the rest:
 Chinese
 Plattdeutsch
 Creole
What is the capital city?
San José (population 1,374,000)
No way, San José!!
Reading tasks
Now scan the cultural reading on pp.
208-209 for the answers to the following
questions:
What is the unit of currency?
 Describe the sociopolitical climate.
 Who is Óscar Arias?
 Describe the ecosystem.
 What is a primary export?

What is the unit of
currency?
Colón
The national currency
Describe the
sociopolitical climate.
Costa Rican Society
Political stability


Free presidential
elections every four
years
Army abolished in
1948; social order is
maintained by the
police force
Costa Rican Education
Effective, low-cost, and
widespread




95% literacy rate (cf.
56% in Guatemala and
97% in the U.S.)
Student pay on average
$20/year for their
education, mostly for
supplies
4 state and several
private universities
University tuition is
~$200/semester
Who is Óscar Arias?
Óscar Arias
President, 1986-1990
Winner of Nobel Peace
Prize, 1987 for his work
for peace in Central
America
Strong supporter of
democracy, human
development, and
demilitarization
Describe the ecosystem.
Flora and Fauna
“Costa Rica has 20 national parks, 8
wildlife refuges, 1 national archaeological
monument, 26 protected forest areas, 9
forest reserves, 7 wildlife sanctuaries, and a
national forest.”
“Protected areas total…21% of the national
territory, which means Costa Rica has a
larger percentage of its total surface area
set aside in parks and preserves than any
other country on earth.”
“These protected areas are ideal for
ecotourism, hiking, rafting, bird watching,
camping, or just enjoying the numerous
rivers, beaches, jungles, mountain forests,
and other archaeological sites in the
country” (http://www.owncostarica.com/
CostaRica/Amenities/flora_fauna.html)
What is the primary
export?
Costa Rican Economy
“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” (http://www.cia.gov/cia/
publications/factbook/geos/cs.html).
Exports: coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar
(http://www.photius.com/wfb1999/costa_ri
ca/costa_rica_economy.html)
Religion in Costa Rica
75-90% Catholic (depending on the
source you consult!)
10-14% Protestant (Episcopalian,
Pentecostal, etc.)
Small populations of Jewish,
Buddhist, Bahai…
The dominant theme in Costa Rica is
“acceptance and tolerance” of other
faith traditions
• http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/2002e/9ca/
• Biensanz (1999). Los ticos.
•http://www.infocostarica.com/culture/religion.html
Costa Rica Missions Project
Iglesia Metodista, Changuena
•http://www.costaricamissionprojects.com/
Costa Rica Missions Project
Rebuilding a camp in Villa
Briceno for youth events, retreats,
and an extension campus for a
Methodist seminary
•http://www.costaricamissionprojects.com/