Costa Rica

democratic republicIndependence 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Costa Rica as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 124 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

LocationMiddle America, between Nicaragua and Panama

Populationas each edition published it

3.34 million July 1994 est. · 3.03m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.31% 1994 est. · 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

3.06 children per woman 1994 est. · 3.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

11 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 16 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$5,900 1993 est. · $2,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6.5% 1993 est. · 5.4% in 1993

Geography

Middle America, between Nicaragua and Panama

24 fields

Coastline

1,290km

Land boundaries

639km

total · Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km

Irrigated land

1,180sq km

(1989 est.)

Location

Middle America, between Nicaragua and Panama

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean, South America

total area

51,100 sq km

land area

50,660 sq km

comparative area

slightly smaller than West Virginia

note

includes Isla del Coco

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Climate

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

Terrain

coastal plains separated by rugged mountains

arable land

permanent crops

meadows and pastures

45%

forest and woodland

34%

other

current issues

deforestation, largely a result of land clearing for cattle ranching; soil erosion

natural hazards

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

international agreements

party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Marine Life Conservation

People

21 fields

Population

3,342,154

(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 2.31% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth

25.48Death

3.52Net migration

1.14

Ethnic divisions

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

Labor force

868,300

Literacy

15and over can read and write

age · (1990 est.)

total population

77.8 years

male

75.88 years

female

79.81 years (1994 est.)

noun

Costa Rican(s)

adjective

Costa Rican

Languages

Spanish (official), English; spoken around Puerto Limon

total population

93%

male

93%

female

93%

by occupation

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

Government

Democratic republic

33 fields

Legislature, 61 seatsone dot, one seat

PLN 28PUSC 29minority parties 4

conventional long form

Republic of Costa Rica

conventional short form

Costa Rica

local long form

Republica de Costa Rica

local short form

Costa Rica

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

chief of state and head of government

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%

cabinet

Cabinet; selected by the president

Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)

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

Political parties and leaders

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

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)

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Gonzalo FACIO Segreda

chancery

2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

(202) 234-2945

FAX

(202) 265-4795

consulate(s) general

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)

consulate(s)

Austin and Raleigh

chief of mission

(vacant); Charge d' Affaires Joseph BECELIA

embassy

Pavas Road, San Jose

mailing address

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 1993 the economy grew at an estimated 6.5%, compared with 7.7% in | 1992 and 2.1% in 1991.

26 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$5,900

(1993 est.)

Real growth rate

6.5%

(1993 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 10.5% (1992); accounts for 22% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

(1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

(1993); much underemployment

Overview

In 1993 the economy grew at an estimated 6.5%, compared with 7.7% in 1992 and 2.1% in 1991. Increases in agricultural production (coffee and bananas), nontraditional exports, and tourism are responsible for much of the growth. Inflation in 1993 dropped to 9% from 17% in 1992 and 25% in 1991, an indication of basic financial stability. Unemployment is officially reported at 4.0%, but much underemployment remains.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $19.3 billion (1993 est.)

revenues

$1.1 billion

expenditures

$1.34 billion, including capital expenditures of $110 million (1991 est.)

Exports

$1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities

coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar

partners

US, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, El Salvador, Netherlands, UK, France

Imports

$2.9 billion (c.i.f., 1993)

commodities

raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum

partners

US, Japan, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, Germany

External debt

$3.2 billion (1991)

capacity

927,000 kW

production

3.612 billion kWh

consumption per capita

1,130 kWh (1992)

Industries

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

Agriculture

accounts for 19% 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

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

recipient

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

Communications

15 fields

Railroads

950 km total, all 1.067-meter gauge; 260 km electrified

total

35,536 km

paved

5,600 km

unpaved

gravel and earth 29,936 km (1991)

total

184

usable

165

with permanent-surface runways

with runways over 3,659 m

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications

very good domestic telephone service;
292,000 telephones;
connection into Central American Microwave System;
broadcast stations - 71 AM, no FM, 18 TV, 13 shortwave;
1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Civil Guard, Rural Assistance Guard

5 fields

Branches

Civil Guard, Rural Assistance Guard

note

constitution prohibits armed forces

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 873,987;
fit for military service 588,223;
reach military age (18) annually 32,308 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $22 million, 0.5% of GDP (1989)

Affiliation

(also known as Ivory Coast)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Costa Rica.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/costa-rica/1994.

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →

Geography

total area

land area

comparative area

note

continental shelf

exclusive economic zone

territorial sea

arable land

permanent crops

meadows and pastures

forest and woodland

other

current issues

natural hazards

international agreements

People

total population

male

female

noun

adjective

total population

male

female

by occupation

Government

conventional long form

conventional short form

local long form

local short form

chief of state and head of government

cabinet

chief of mission

chancery

consulate(s) general

consulate(s)

chief of mission

embassy

mailing address

Economy

revenues

expenditures

commodities

partners

commodities

partners

capacity

production

consumption per capita

recipient

Communications

total

paved

unpaved

total

usable

with permanent-surface runways

with runways over 3,659 m

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Defense Forces

note

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