Costa Rica

Republic of Costa RicaRepublica de Costa Rica

democratic republicIndependence 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Costa Rica as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 99 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

Position10 00 N, 84 00 W

Area51,100 sq km

LocationMiddle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the

Populationas each edition published it

3.6 million July 1998 est. · 3.03m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.95% 1998 est. · 2.38% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 25.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

75.93 years 1998 est. · 77.49 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.81 children per woman 1998 est. · 3.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

13.1 deaths per 1,000 live births 1998 est. · 16 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$5,500 1997 est. · $2,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3% 1997 est. · 5.4% in 1993

Geography

Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the | North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

17 fields

Land useshare of 51,100 sq km

arable land 6%permanent crops 5%permanent pastures 46%forests and woodland 31%other 12% (1993 est.)irrigated 1,200 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

51,100sq km

land: 50,660 sq kmwater: 440 sq kmnote: includes Isla del Cocoslightly smaller than West Virginia

Coastline

1,290km

exclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

3,810m

Cerro Chirripolowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

639km

border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km

Location

Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

Climate

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

Terrain

coastal plains separated by rugged mountains

Natural hazards

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

Environment-current issues

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

Environment-international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: Marine Life Conservation

People

15 fields

Population

3,604,642

(July 1998 est.)growth rate: 1.95% (1998 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1998 est.)

Birth

22.89Death

4.15Net migration

0.72

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1998 est.)75.93

73.5 · 78.48

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)94.8%

94.7% · 95%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 34% (male 620,496; female 591,299)
15-64 years:: 61% (male 1,120,118; female 1,093,099)
65 years and over:: 5% (male 82,893; female 96,737) (July 1998 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.86 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate

13.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Costa Rican(s)
adjective:: Costa Rican

Languages

Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon

Government

Democratic republic; President Miguel Angel RODRIGEUZ (since 8 May 1998); President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May 1998)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

46.6%

Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 46.6%Jose Miguel CORRALES (PLN) 44.6%election last held 1 February 1998 (next to be held NA February 2002)

Legislature, 57 seats, elected 1 February 1998one dot, one seat

PUSC 27PLN 23minority parties 7

Country name

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

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Miguel Angel RODRIGEUZ (since 8 May 1998);
First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL (since 8 May 1998), Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO (since 8 May 1998);
note-president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May 1998);
First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL (since 8 May 1998), Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO (since 8 May 1998);
note-president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:: Cabinet selected by the president
elections:: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms;
election last held 1 February 1998 (next to be held NA February 2002)
election results:: Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ elected president; percent of vote-Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 46.6%, Jose Miguel CORRALES (PLN) 44.6%

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:: last held 1 February 1998 (next to be held NA February 2002)
election results:: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PUSC 27, PLN 23, minority parties 7

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly

Political parties and leaders

Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ Echeverria];
National Liberation Party or PLN [Jose Miguel CORRALES Bolanos];
National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes];
National Independent Party or PNI [Jorge GONZALEZ Marten];
People United Party or PPU [Norma VARGAS Duarte];
National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Alejandro MADRIGAL Benavides];
Democratic Force Party or PFD [Vladimir DE LA CRUZ de Lemos];
Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Federico MALAVASI Calvo];
Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Sherman Thomas JACKSON];
New Democratic Party or PDN [Rodrigo GUTIERREZ Schwanhauser];
National Rescue Party or PRN [Marina VOLIO Brenes];
Democratic Party or PD [Alvaro GONZALEZ Espinoza];
Independent Party or PI [Yolanda GUTIERREZ Ventura]

note: mainly a two-party system-PUSC and PLN; small parties share only 5% of population's support

Political pressure groups and leaders

Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party affiliate);
Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate);
Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist Party affiliate);
Chamber of Coffee Growers;
National Association for Economic Development or ANFE;
Free Costa Rica Movement or MCRL (rightwing militants);
National Association of Educators or ANDE;
Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP

International organization participation

AG (observer), BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jose THOMPSON
chancery:: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 234-2945

FAX

[1] (202) 265-4795

consulate(s) general:: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Durham, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Tampa
consulate(s):: Austin

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD
embassy:: Pavas Road, San Jose
mailing address:: APO AA 34020
telephone:: [506] 220-3939

FAX

[506] 220-2305

Flag description

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

Costa Rica's basically stable and progressive | economy depends especially on tourism and the export of bananas, | coffee, and other agricultural products.

28 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

-$19.6billion

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

-$5,500

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

Real growth rate

(1997 est.)industrial production growth: 10.5% (1992)

Inflation, consumer prices

11.2%

(1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector(1995)

agriculture 18%industry 24%services 58% (1995)

Budget

Revenues

$1.1 billionExpenditures

$1.34 billion (1991 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $110 million

Fixed lines

281,042

(1983 est.)

Economy-overview

Costa Rica's basically stable and progressive economy depends especially on tourism and the export of bananas, coffee, and other agricultural products. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has been put in place. Recent trends, however, have been disappointing. Economic growth slipped from 4.3% in 1994 to 2.5% in 1995, and to 0.9% in 1996, and then rebounded in 1997 to 3%. Inflation rose to 22.5% in 1995 from 13.5% in 1994, receded to 17.5% in 1996, then dropped to 11.2% in 1997. Unemployment appears moderate at 5.7%, but substantial underemployment continues. Furthermore, substantial government deficits have undermined efforts to maintain the quality of social services. The government thus faces a formidable set of; problems: to curb inflation, reduce the deficit, encourage domestic savings, and improve public sector efficiency while increasing the role of the private sector, all this in harmony with IMF agreements. One important positive development-the infusion of more than $200 million in 1997 by microchip giant Intel and the anticipated attraction of other high-tech firms to Costa Rica will help stimulate growth and employment over the next several years.

Labor force

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

Unemployment rate

5.7% (1997 est.); much underemployment

Industries

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

Electricity-capacity

1.094 million kW (1995)

Electricity-production

4.53 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

1,323 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products

coffee, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes;
beef;
timber (depletion of forest resources has resulted in declining timber output)

Exports

total value:: $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities:: coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar
partners:: US, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, El Salvador, Netherlands, UK, France

Imports

total value:: $3.4 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
commodities:: raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
partners:: US, Japan, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, Germany

Debt-external

$3.2 billion (October 1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency

1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates

Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1-243.55 (December 1997), 232.60 (1997), 207.69 (1996), 179.73 (1995), 157.07 (1994), 142.17 (1993)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

Telephone system

very good domestic telephone service

domestic:: NA
international:: connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 71, FM 0, shortwave 13

Radios

Television broadcast stations

Televisions

340,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

total: 27 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 18

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

100

total: 131 914 to 1,523 m: 31

Networkskm

Highways

35,597Railways

950

Highways: paved: 6,051 km · unpaved: 29,546 km (1996 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified) note: the entire system was shut down in June 1995 because of insolvency; most of system maintained in good order to facilitate transfer in 1997 to private sector concessionaires

Railways

total:: 950 km
narrow gauge:: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified)

note: the entire system was shut down in June 1995 because of insolvency; most of system maintained in good order to facilitate transfer in 1997 to private sector concessionaires

Highways

total:: 35,597 km
paved:: 6,051 km
unpaved:: 29,546 km (1996 est.)

Waterways

about 730 km, seasonally navigable

Pipelines

petroleum products 176 km

Ports and harbors

Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas

Merchant marine

none

Airports

158 (1997 est.)

Military

7 fields

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

(1995)

Military branches

Coast Guard, Air Section, Ministry of Public Security Force (Fuerza Publica);
note-during 1996, the Ministry of Public Security reorganized and eliminated the Civil Guard, Rural Assistance Guard, and Frontier Guards as separate entities;
they are now under the Ministry and operate on a geographic command basis performing ground security, law enforcement, counternarcotics, and national security (border patrol) functions;
the constitution prohibits armed forces