View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2001 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

3 (of which only one is legal) (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.cr

Internet users [time series]

150,000 (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 50, FM 43, shortwave 19 (1998)

Radios [time series]

980,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: very good domestic telephone service domestic: point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available international: connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); two submarine cables (1999)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

450,000 (1998) note: 584,000 installed in 1997, but only about 450,000 were in use 1998

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

143,000 (2000)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

6 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

525,000 (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.95 billion expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Costa Rican colon (CRC)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

CRC

Debt - external [time series]

$4.2 billion (2000 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has been put into place. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and high education levels, and tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange. However, traditional export sectors have not kept pace. Low coffee prices and an overabundance of bananas have hurt the agricultural sector. The government continues to grapple with its large deficit and massive internal debt and with the need to modernize the state-owned electricity and telecommunications sector.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

5.303 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports [time series]

165 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports [time series]

69 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production [time series]

5.805 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 2.41% hydro: 83.32% nuclear: 0% other: 14.27% (1999)

Exchange rates [time series]

Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 318.95 (2001), 308.19 (2000), 285.68 (1999), 257.23 (1998), 232.60 (1997), 207.69 (1996)

Exports [time series]

$6.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

coffee, bananas, sugar; pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment

Exports - partners [time series]

US 54.1%, EU 21.3%, Central America 8.6% (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $25 billion (2000 est.)

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

agriculture: 12.5% industry: 30.7% services: 56.8% (1999)

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

purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2000 est.)

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

3% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 34.7% (1996)

Imports [time series]

$5.9 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum

Imports - partners [time series]

US 56.4%, EU 9%, Mexico 5.4%, Japan 4.7%, (1999)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.3% (2000)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

11% (2000 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.9 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

20.6% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.2% (2000 est.)

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 and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands

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 and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; water pollution (rivers); coastal marine pollution; wetlands degradation; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution

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

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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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 and landslides; active volcanoes

Natural resources [time series]

hydropower

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]

7 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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020 telephone: [506] 220-3939

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May 1998); First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998), Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (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 Volio (since 8 May 1998), Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (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 3 February 2002) election results: Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ elected president; percent of vote - Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 46.6%, Jose Miguel CORRALES (PLN) 44.6%

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

[1] (202) 265-4795 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Francisco, St. Paul, 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]

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, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 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 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 1 February 1998 (next to be held 3 February 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - PUSC 41%, PLN 35%, minority parties 24%; seats by party - PUSC 27, PLN 23, minority parties 7

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

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

Agricultural Labor Action or PALA [Carlos Alberto SOLIS Blanco]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Justo OROZCO]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Jose M. NUNEZ]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Alejandro MADRIGAL]; National Independent Party or PNI [Jorge GONZALEZ Marten]; National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National Liberation Party or PLN [Sonia PICADO]; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Luis Manuel CHACON] note: mainly a two-party system - PUSC and PLN; numerous small parties share less than 25% of population's support

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

Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate); Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party affiliate); Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP; National Association for Economic Development or ANFE; National Association of Educators or ANDE; Rerum Novarum or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [Gilbert Brown]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Introduction

Background [time series]

Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural country, it has achieved a relatively high standard of living. Land ownership is widespread. Tourism is a rapidly expanding industry.

Military

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

Coast Guard, Air Section, Ministry of Public Security Force (Fuerza Publica) note: Costa Rica has no military, only domestic police forces, including the Coast Guard and Air Section

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$69 million (FY99)

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

1.6% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,035,090 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 692,973 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 39,411 (2001 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 31.38% (male 605,728; female 578,128) 15-64 years: 63.37% (male 1,209,084; female 1,181,754) 65 years and over: 5.25% (male 92,314; female 106,049) (2001 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

20.27 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.3 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.54% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

750 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

12,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

11.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.02 years male: 73.49 years female: 78.68 years (2001 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]

0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population [time series]

3,773,057 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.65% (2001 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, other Protestant 0.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%

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: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.47 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

legal dispute over navigational rights of Rio San Juan on border with Nicaragua

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots; domestic cocaine consumption is rising, particularly crack cocaine; those who previously only trafficked are now becoming users

Transportation

Airports [time series]

152 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 29 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 7 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 123 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 95 (2000 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 37,273 km paved: 7,827 km unpaved: 29,446 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,716 GRT/NA DWT ships by type: passenger 1 (2000 est.)

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) (2000)

Waterways [time series]

730 km (seasonally navigable)