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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 71, FM 0, shortwave 13 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

292,000 telephones; very good domestic telephone service local: NA intercity: NA international: connection into Central American Microwave System; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 18 televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Civil Guard, Coast Guard, Air Section, Rural Assistance Guard; note - the Constitution prohibits armed forces

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $22 million, 0.5% of GDP (1989) COTE D'IVOIRE (also known as Ivory Coast)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 896,516; males fit for military service 602,785; males reach military age (18) annually 32,815 (1995 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.1 billion expenditures: $1.34 billion, including capital expenditures of $110 million (1991 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos

Economic aid [time series]

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

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 1,040,000 kW production: 4.1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,164 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1 - 164.39 (December 1994), 157.07 (1994), 142.17 (1993), 134.51 (1992), 122.43 (1991), 91.58 (1990)

Exports [time series]

$2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar partners: US, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, El Salvador, Netherlands, UK, France

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$3.2 billion (1991)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$2.9 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum partners: US, Japan, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, Germany

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 10.5% (1992); accounts for 22% of GDP

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

9% (1993 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $16.9 billion (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$5,050 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

4.3% (1994 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Costa Rica's basically stable and progressive economy depends especially on tourism and export of bananas, coffee, and other agricultural products. In 1994 the economy grew at an estimated 4.3%, compared with 6.5% in 1993, 7.7% in 1992, and 2.1% in 1991. 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 only 4.0%, but there is much underemployment. Costa Rica signed a free trade agreement with Mexico in 1994.

Unemployment rate [time series]

4% (1993); much underemployment

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 51,100 sq km land area: 50,660 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia note: includes Isla del Coco

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

1,290 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: deforestation, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching; soil erosion natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active volcanoes international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Marine Life Conservation

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

1,180 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 639 km, Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 6% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 45% forest and woodland: 34% other: 8%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

hydropower potential

Terrain [time series]

coastal plains separated by rugged mountains

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

San Jose

Constitution [time series]

9 November 1949

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia PICADO chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945

Executive branch [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 265-4795 consulate(s) general: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Durham, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Austin

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[506] 220-2305

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch (Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)) [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

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

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica conventional short form: Costa Rica local long form: Republica de Costa Rica local short form: Costa Rica

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

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)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Government type (Type) [time series]

democratic republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: US Ambassador to Costa Rica Peter DE VOS embassy: Pavas Road, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020 telephone: [506] 220-3939

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 35% (female 585,976; male 617,456) 15-64 years: 60% (female 1,013,491; male 1,036,195) 65 years and over: 5% (female 88,050; male 77,946) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

24.88 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

3.47 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

10.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), English; spoken around Puerto Limon

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.11 years male: 76.21 years female: 80.1 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1984) total population: 93% male: 93% female: 93%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican

Net migration rate [time series]

1.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

3,419,114 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.24% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 95%

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.01 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 174 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 17 with paved runways under 914 m: 117 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 36

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 35,560 km paved: 5,600 km unpaved: gravel and earth 29,960 km (1992)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

about 730 km, seasonally navigable

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Pipelines [time series]

petroleum products 176 km

Ports [time series]

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

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

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