COSTA RICA

Total Land Area: 51 060 sq. km (19 714 sq. miles)

Capital: San Jose Population: 3.4 million Currency: Costa Rican colon Official language: Spanish

Situated between Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica gained independence from Spain in 1821. From 1948 until the end of the 1980s, it was the most developed welfare state in Central America. Costa Rica is a multiparty democracy that has gradually moved towards a two party-system. Coffee and bananas are the major exports. Its constitution is the only one in the world to forbid national armies; its own was abolished in 1949. CLIMATE

The Atlantic coast has heavy rainfall, while the Pacific coast is much drier. The central uplands are temperate, COMMUNICATIONS

Approximately 988,000 passengers pass through Juan Santamana airport in San Jose every year. The 'Jungle Train' railway is being opened for tourists. The rest of the network is closed. Eighty per cent of roads are in need of repair. TOURISM

Increased prices, coupled with armed robberies on foreigners in 1995, including a $1 million ransom demand by kidnappers, led to a sharp drop in tourism and damaged the country's reputation as a safe destination. PEOPLE

The majority of the population is mestizo of Spanish origin. One third of people in the Puerto Limon area are black and often English-speaking. There are about 5,000 indigenous Indians. POLITICS

There are two main parties the PUSC and the PLN. Former president Luis Alberto Monge of the PLN, the Calderon family (which supports the PUSC) and the major banana and coffee families are powerful behind the scenes, forming coalitions and shaping policies. The US exercises a powerful influence too. The PLN held power from 1982 to 1990, when Rafael Calderon was elected president. In 1994, Josh Maria Figueres of the PLN was elected president. In 1995, under pressure from international financial organisations, he reached a consensus with the PUSC and implemented harsh structural adjustment measures. This made him the most unpopular president in the country's history. WORLD AFFAIRS

Costa Rica has always emphasised its neutrality in foreign affairs, but it has strong ties with the US. The protection of export prices for coffee and bananas is a major concern. It has long-term aspirations to join NAFTA. AID

Costa Rica received $150 million of aid annually throughout the 1980s, principally from the US. However, this was sharply reduced in 1990 after the signing of peace agreements in the region's war-torn countries. The US sees Costa Rica as a useful base against potential left-wing insurgencies in neighbouring El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. ??? elections of 1948 lead to civil war which ended when the Social Democratic Party (later known as the PLN) formed a provisional government under Josh Ferrer. In 1949. Ferrer abolished the army. The 7,500-strong Civil Guard, together with an anti-terrorist battalion of 750 men are the only security forces, and have little political influence. ECONOMICS

GNP: $7.9 billion World GNP ranking: 85 GNP per capita: $2,380

Strengths: The coffee industry still creates the largest export revenues. A privatisation programme has lowered costs and encouraged competition.

Weaknesses: Falling world prices have hit its main exports - coffee, beef and especially bananas, whose exports have fallen by 15 per cent due to EU quotas on non-Caribbean bananas. Dependent on imported oil. The national economy is too small to provide rapid growth; it needs regional economic integration. RESOURCES

Electricity generation: 3.6 billion kwh

Oil reserves: Not an oil producer

Livestock: 1.7 million cattle, 223,000 pigs, 114,000 horses

Mineral reserves: bauxite, gold, silver, manganese, mercury

Self-sufficiency in energy is being pursued through the development of hydroelectric power. Forests cover 34 per cent of the country. ENVIRONMENT

The remaining rainforests are slowly being cut down to make way for commercial agriculture. The government is beginning to protect land by designating national parks. Eco-tourism is being encouraged, as is the sensitive exploitation of natural resources. MEDIA

There are four private TV stations providing round-the-clock programming direct from the US. CRIME

Costa Rica is the least violent Central American country but attacks on tourists have damaged its image. Colombian drug cartels use the country to transfer cocaine to the US. EDUCATION

Literacy: 93 per cent

Schooling is based on the French system. The regional University of Central America is based in Costa Rica. HEALTH

Doctor/population ratio:

1 per 1,205 people One of the most developed public health systems in Latin America. The private system is noted as a regional centre for plastic surgery. WEALTH

The plantation-owning families are the wealthiest group; the black population on the Caribbean coast are the poorest. WORLD RANKING

Position in World (192 countries)

Life expectancy 22

Infant mortality 44

GNP per capita 73

Daily calorie intake 70

Literacy 79

Schooling index 89

Educational rank 62

Human dev. index 28

MAP: Costa Rica: Total Land Area: 51 060 sq. km (19 714 sq. miles)