COASTA RICA
Costa Rica, a country of Central America, covers an area of 19,730 square miles. ... Extending from northwest to southeast, Costa Rica is bounded on the north by Nicaragua, along its 185-mile northeastern coastline by the Caribbean Sea, on the southeast by Panama, and along its 630-mile southwestern coastline by the Pacific Ocean. Costa Rica has a narrow Pacific coastal region that rises abruptly into central highlands. ... People from all over the world visit Costa Rica for that reason. ... Costa Rica played a role in the federation of Central American states from 1823 to 1838 and is a member of the Organization of Central American States. Of the states that have been partners in these two enterprises, Costa Rica is the most Spanish in character and is generally regarded as having the most stable government and economy. In 1998, Costa Rica’s population was about 3,533,000. ... The annual growth rate for Costa Rica is 2. ... If this trend continues, by the year 2036 there will be approximately 7,346,000 people living in Costa Rica.