哥斯大黎加(Costa Rica)
正式名称为哥斯大黎加共和国（República de Costa Rica）
中美洲国家。面积约51,100平方公里。人口约3,936,000（2001）。首都：圣何塞。大多数人民为西班牙後裔，夹杂有印第安人和黑人血统。语言︰西班牙语（官方语）。宗教：天主教（国教）。货币︰科郎（colon）。狭窄的太平洋沿岸陡然升高至中央高地，一条火山山链形成该国的主要山脉，其後缓降至加勒比海沿岸平原。气候从温带至热带，动、植物多样，包括南、北美洲的品种。经济为发展中的市场经济，大部分奠基於咖啡和香蕉出口，其他重要的出口物品有牛肉、糖和可可。政府形式为多党制共和国，一院制，国家元首暨政府首脑为总统。
在哥伦布於1502年抵达此地之前，已有几个原住民部落定居，人数虽少却不易控制，西班牙人花了将近六十年的时间才建立第一个永久居民点。由於缺乏矿产资源，并不受西班牙王室重视，因此殖民地发展缓慢。19世纪咖啡的出口及铁路线的建立，使得经济有所改善。1821年加入为时短暂的墨西哥帝国，1823～1838年属於中美洲联合省的一部分，1871年通过宪法。1890年哥斯大黎加人举行了被认为是中美洲第一个自由且公正的选举，开始了哥斯大黎加有名的民主传统。1987年当时的总统阿里亚斯.桑切斯因调停萨尔瓦多、尼加拉瓜和瓜地马拉的纠纷而获诺贝尔和平奖。1990年代该国所有政策在於如何改善经济困境。1996年遭受飓风严重破坏。
English version：
Costa Rica
Country, Central America. Area: 19,730 sq mi (51,100 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 3,468,000. Capital: San José. Most of the people are of Spanish ancestry, with Indian and black admixtures. Language: Spanish (official). Religion: Roman Catholicism (official). Currency: colón. Costa Rica's narrow Pacific coast rises abruptly into central highlands and a volcanic mountain chain that forms the backbone of the country, descending gradually to the Caribbean coastal plain. With a climate ranging from temperate to tropical, it contains a wide variety of plants and animals that include both North and South American species. It has a developing market economy largely based on coffee and banana exports. Other cash crops include beef, sugar, and cocoa. It is a multiparty republic with one legislative house; the head of state and government is the president. Christopher Columbus landed in Costa Rica in 1502 in an area inhabited by a number of small, independent Indian tribes. These peoples were not easily dominated, and it took almost 60 years for the Spaniards to establish a permanent settlement. Ignored by the Spanish crown because of its lack of mineral wealth, the colony grew slowly. Coffee exports and the construction of a rail line improved its economy in the 19th century. It joined the short-lived Mexican empire in 1821, was a member of the United Provinces of Central America 1823-38, and adopted a constitution in 1871. In 1890 Costa Ricans held what is considered to be the first free and honest election in Central America, beginning a tradition of democracy for which Costa Rica is renowned. In 1987 then president Oscar Arias Sanchez was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. During the 1990s Costa Rica struggled with its economic policies. It suffered severe damage from a hurricane in 1996.