Costa Rica

Costa Rica is extremely rich in biodiversity, a point of interest for many tourists which serves as a massive industry in the country. An astounding 5% of the Earth's biodiversity is found in Costa Rica while the country only makes up one-tenth of that in land area. There is little to no deforestation and a quarter of the country is national parks. Nearly 100% of the country runs on renewable energy too, underscoring the importance of sustainability in Costa Rica. The Valle Central is the heartland of Costa Rica as this region is home to the country's fertile land. There is great wealth distribution in Costa Rica and the country's largest exports are coffee, bananas, and beef. 84% of the population lives in rural areas with Catholicism as the predominant religion. The biggest celebrations in Costa Rica take place during Semana Santa when schools are closed and the people take to the streets. Also during the Virgin of Los Angeles Day, Costa Ricans march to the Basilica in Cartago to honor their Patron Saint. Costa Rica is the most politically stable country in Central America, and demographically it has a small indigenous population. This group of people, however, is found in the southeast of the country mostly on reservations. Costa Rica, having abolished their military after 1948, diverted government funds to education and healthcare, achieving a very high literacy rate and life expectancy (Costa Rica gives its citizens free healthcare). As a result, though, the country does operate under a national deficit but the GDP is among the highest in Central America. Former Costa Rican president Oscar Arias Sanchez was given the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to promote peace in Central America. A widespread pastime of Costa Ricans is cinema, with theaters filling up for screenings on the weekends. In Costa Rica's capital city, San Jose, the National Theater draws in many upper-middle-class spectators to watch international music and drama performances. This same building epitomizes the country's architectural nuances, having been carefully constructed in 1897. Another central building in Costa Rican cultural life is the National Museum in San Jose which hosts a sizable collection of Pre-Colombian art. In sports, Costa Ricans have an unrivaled fondness for soccer, having become one of the best teams in Central America in recent years. The country also has a growing watersports industry with surfers flocking to the beautiful oceanside nation. In terms of immigration, Nicaragua has always been the leading source of this group of people. Natural disasters, political violence, and other factors have driven a constant flow of immigrants since the 1980s.