<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 7 provinces (provincias, singular—provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 9 November 1949
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state and head of government:</hi> President Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (since 8 May 1994); First Vice President Rodrigo OREAMUNO Blanco (since 8 May 1994); Second Vice President Rebeca GRYNSPAN Mayufis (since 8 May 1994); election last held 6 February 1994 (next to be held February 1998); results—President FIGUERES (PLN party) 49.7%, Miquel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC party) 47.5%
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; selected by the president
<item><hi format=bold>Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa):</hi> elections last held 6 February 1994 (next to be held February 1998); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(61 total) PLN 28, PUSC 29, minority parties 4
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> National Liberation Party (PLN), Manuel AGUILAR Bonilla; Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), Rafael Angel CALDERON Fournier; Marxist Popular Vanguard Party (PVP), Humberto VARGAS Carbonell; New Republic Movement (MNR), Sergio Erick ARDON Ramirez; Progressive Party (PP), Isaac Felipe AZOFEIFA Bolanos; People's Party of Costa Rica (PPC), Lenin CHACON Vargas; Radical Democratic Party (PRD), Juan Jose ECHEVERRIA Brealey
<item><hi format=bold>Other political or pressure groups:</hi> Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers (CCTD; Liberation Party affiliate); Confederated Union of Workers (CUT, Communist Party affiliate); Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers (CATD, Communist Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; National Association for Economic Development (ANFE); Free Costa Rica Movement (MCRL, rightwing militants); National Association of Educators (ANDE)
<item><hi format=bold>Member of:</hi> AG (observer), BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
<item><hi format=bold>Diplomatic representation in US:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of mission:</hi> Ambassador Gonzalo FACIO Segreda
<item>• <hi format=ital>chancery:</hi> 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
<item>• <hi format=ital>consulate(s) general:</hi> Albuquerque, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
<item>• <hi format=ital>consulate(s):</hi> Austin and Raleigh
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white disk on the hoist side of the red band