Date of independence, or formation date: 1838
Date when current borders were established: 1838
National day: Sept 15
Vehicle country identifying code: CR
Time zone (hours plus or minus from GMT): -6
International telephone dialling code: +506
Internet country identifying code: .cr

Spanning the Central American isthmus and wedged between Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica was under Spanish rule until 1821 and gained full independence in 1838. From 1948 until the end of the 1980s, it had the most developed welfare state in Central America. Costa Rica is nominally a multiparty democracy, but two parties dominate. Its army was abolished in 1948; the 1949 constitution then forbade national armies.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004