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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 71, FM 0, shortwave 13

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

281,042 (1983 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

340,000 (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Debt - external [time series]

$3.2 billion (October 1996 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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. Inflation rose to 22.5% in 1995 from 13.5% in 1994, then dropped back to 13.9% in 1996. Unemployment appears moderate at little more than 5% 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.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

1,113,900 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

1,330 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

5.138 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1 - 219.29 (December 1996), 207.69 (1996), 179.73 (1995), 157.07 (1994), 142.17 (1993), 134.51 (1992)

Exports [time series]

total value: $3.82 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar partners: US, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, El Salvador, Netherlands, UK, France

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $19 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $5,500 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

-0.9% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $3.857 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities : raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum partners: US, Japan, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, Germany

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

10.5% (1992)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

13.9% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.5% (1996 est.); much underemployment

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 51,100 sq km land: 50,660 sq km water : 440 sq km note: includes Isla del Coco

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

1,290 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point : Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

10 00 N, 84 00 W

Irrigated land [time series]

1,200 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 639 km border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 6% permanent crops : 5% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 31% other: 12% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

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

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

Constitution [time series]

9 November 1949

Country name [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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the 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 : 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); note - president is both the chief of state and head of government 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); 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 6 February 1994 (next to be held NA February 1998) election results : Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen elected president; percent of vote - Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 49.7%, Miquel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 47.5%

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, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Tampa consulate(s): Austin

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

[506] 220-2305

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

democratic republic

Independence [time series]

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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

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 [time series]

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 6 February 1994 (next to be held NA February 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLN 28, PUSC 25, minority parties 4

Capital (National capital) [time series]

San Jose

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

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

National Liberation Party or PLN [Rolando ARAYA]; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Rafael Angel CALDERON Fournier]; National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ]; National Agrarian Party or PAN; People's Party of Costa Rica or PPC [Lenin CHACON Vargas]; Agricultural Union Party or PUAC [Juan Guillermo BRENES Castillo]; Democratic Force Party or FD [Isaac Felipe AZOFEIFA Bolanos]; People United [Humberto VARGAS Carbonell]; Patriotic Front Party; New Democratic Party or PDN [Rodrigo GUTIERREZ)]

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$55 million (1995)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

2% (1995)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 940,666 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 631,426 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males : 34,422 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 34% (male 617,256; female 587,566) 15-64 years: 61% (male 1,090,414; female 1,065,273) 65 years and over : 5% (male 80,304; female 93,361) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

23.35 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.15 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

13.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.82 years male : 73.41 years female: 78.36 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.8% male: 94.7% female: 95% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican

Net migration rate [time series]

0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

3,534,174 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 95%

Sex ratio [time series]

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 total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.85 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

143 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 115 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m : 1 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 96 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 28 914 to 1,523 m: 28 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total : 35,600 km paved: 5,945 km unpaved: 29,655 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Pipelines [time series]

petroleum products 176 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total : 950 km narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified) note: the entire system was scheduled to be shut down on 31 June 1995 because of insolvency

Waterways [time series]

about 730 km, seasonally navigable