Here are some interesting facts about the changes that have taken place in the last 20 years in Costa Rica:

• Population increased from 2,746,223 to 4,325,808
• The % of poor decreased from 27.4 to 21.2
• The % of extreme poor decreased from 9 to 5.6
• The % rate of births per 1,000 persons decreased from 30.3 to 16.5
• The % rate of infant deaths per 1,000 decreased from 17.8 to 9.8
• The % rate of employment increased form 6.20 to 6.60
• The % rate of inflation decreased from 27.3 to 11.63
• The per capital income increased from $1,897.80 to $4,580.10
• The % of public debt with respect to GNP decreased  from 82 to
  57.5
• The % rate for home loans from government banks decreased from 38.6
  to 20.09
• Quantity of automobiles increased from 318,642 to 795,000

Source: La Nacion, 9 May 06