The Central American country, bordered by both the Caribbean Sea and the north Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama, is slightly smaller than West Virginia.

Its climate is tropical and subtropical with a December-to-April dry season and a May-to-December rainy season.

Its coastal plains are separated by rugged mountains including more than 100 volcanic cones. Four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country. One of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in the years 1963 to 1965.

Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful, due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands.

The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence.

Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country’s democratic development. In 1949, Costa Rica dissolved its armed forces.

Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.

Costa Rica’s political stability, high standard of living, and well-developed social benefits system set it apart from its Central American neighbors. Through the government’s sustained social spending — almost 20 percent of GDP annually — Costa Rica has made tremendous progress toward achieving its goal of providing universal access to education, health care, clean water, sanitation and electricity.

Prior to the global economic crisis, Costa Rica enjoyed stable economic growth. The economy contracted 1.3 percent in 2009 but resumed growth at about 4.5 percent per year in 2010 to 2012.

While the traditional agricultural exports of bananas, coffee, sugar and beef are still the backbone of commodity export trade, a variety of industrial and specialized agricultural products have broadened export trade in recent years.

High-value added goods and services, including microchips, have further bolstered exports.

Tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange, as Costa Rica’s impressive biodiversity makes it a key destination for ecotourism.

Foreign investors remain attracted by the country’s political stability and relatively high education levels, as well as the incentives offered in the free-trade zones; and Costa Rica has attracted one of the highest levels of foreign direct investment per capita in Latin America.

Costa Rica is a democratic republic with President Laura Chinchilla Miranda, elected in 2010, as both the chief of state and head of government.

The president and vice presidents are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term. The next election will be in February 2014.

Costa Rica is a popular regional immigration destination because of its job opportunities and social programs. Almost 9 percent of the population is foreign-born, with Nicaraguans comprising nearly three-quarters of the foreign population. Many Nicaraguans who perform unskilled seasonal labor enter Costa Rica illegally or overstay their visas, which continues to be a source of tension.

Costa Rica also has become a transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America.

Marijuana is illegally grown in remote areas, and there is a rise in the use of crack cocaine and amphetamines.

Seizures of smuggled cash in Costa Rica and at the main border crossing to enter Costa Rica from Nicaragua have risen in recent years.

SOURCE: CIA World Fact Book