Costa Rica

democratic republicIndependence 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Costa Rica as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 75 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalSan Jose

Area51,100 km2

Populationas each edition published it

3.19 million July 1992 · 3.03m in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.38% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 25.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 77.49 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.2 children per woman 1992 · 3.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

12 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 16 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $2,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 5.4% in 1993

Geography

12 fields

Total area

51,100km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia

Coastline

1,290km

Continental shelf: 200 nmExclusive economic zone: 200 nmTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

639km

Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km

Climate

tropical;
dry season (December to April);
rainy season (May to November)

Terrain

coastal plains separated by rugged mountains

Land use

arable land 6%;
permanent crops 7%;
meadows and pastures 45%;
forest and woodland 34%;
other 8%;
includes irrigated 1%

Environment

subject to occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast;
frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season;
active volcanoes;
deforestation;
soil erosion

People

14 fields

Population

3,187,085

(July 1992), growth rate 2.4% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth

27Death

4Net migration

Ethnic divisions

white (including mestizo) 96%black 2%Indian 1%Chinese 1%

Literacy

93%

(male 93%, female 93%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Nationality

noun - Costa Rican(s); adjective - Costa Rican

Languages

Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon

Labor force

868,300; industry and commerce 35.1%, government and services 33%, agriculture 27%, other 4.9% (1985 est.)

Government

Democratic republic

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

51%

Rafael Angel CALDERON Fournier 51%Carlos Manuel CASTILLO 47%

Administrative divisions

7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose

Legal system

based on Spanish civil law system;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)

Leaders

Chief of State and Head of Government:: President Rafael Angel CALDERON Fournier (since 8 May 1990);
First Vice President German SERRANO Pinto (since 8 May 1990);
Second Vice President Arnoldo LOPEZ Echandi (since 8 May 1990)

Political parties and leaders

National Liberation Party (PLN), Carlos Manuel CASTILLO Morales;
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

Elections

Legislative Assembly:: last held 4 February 1990 (next to be held February 1994);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (57 total) PUSC 29, PLN 25, PVP/PPC 1, regional parties 2
President:: last held 4 February 1990 (next to be held February 1994); results - Rafael Angel CALDERON Fournier 51%, Carlos Manuel CASTILLO 47%

Other political or pressure groups

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)

Member of

AG (observer), BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Gonzalo FACIO Segreda;
Chancery at Suite 211, 1825 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009;
telephone (202) 234-2945 through 2947;
there are Costa Rican Consulates General at Albuquerque, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico), and a Consulate in Buffalo

US:: Ambassador Luis GUINOT, Jr.;
Embassy at Pavas Road, San Jose (mailing address is APO AA 34020);
telephone [506] 20-39-39 FAX (506) 20-2305

Flag

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

Economy

In 1991 the economy grew at an estimated 2.5%, down somewhat from the 3.6% | gain of 1990 and below the strong 5.5% gain of 1989.

17 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

27%

(1991 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.6%

(1991)

External debt

$4.5billion

(1990)

Budget

Revenues

$831 millionExpenditures

$1.08 billion

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

Overview

In 1991 the economy grew at an estimated 2.5%, down somewhat from the 3.6% gain of 1990 and below the strong 5.5% gain of 1989. Increases in agricultural production (on the strength of good coffee and banana crops) and in construction have been offset by lower rates of growth for industry.

In 1991 consumer prices rose by 27%, about the same as in 1990. The trade deficit of $270 million was substantially below the 1990 deficit of $677 million. Unemployment is officially reported at 4.6%, but much underemployment remains. External debt, on a per capita basis, is among the world's highest.

GDP

exchange rate conversion - $5.9 billion, per capita $1,900; real growth rate 2.5% (1991 est.)

Exports

$1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)

commodities:: coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar
partners:: US 75%, Germany, Guatemala, Netherlands, UK, Japan

Imports

$1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)

commodities:: petroleum, machinery, consumer durables, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs
partners:: US 40%, Japan, Guatemala, Germany

Industrial production

growth rate 2.3% (1990 est.); accounts for 23% of GDP

Electricity

927,000 kW capacity; 3,408 million kWh produced, 1,095 kWh per capita (1991)

Industries

food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products

Agriculture

accounts for 20-25% of GDP and 70% of exports;
cash commodities - coffee, beef, bananas, sugar;
other food crops include corn, rice, beans, potatoes;
normally self-sufficient in food except for grain;
depletion of forest resources resulting in lower timber output

Illicit drugs

illicit production of cannabis on small scattered plots; transshipment country for cocaine from South America

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.4 billion;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $935 million;
Communist countries (1971-89), $27 million