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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.cr

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

10,826 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

800,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: good domestic telephone service in terms of breadth of coverage; restricted cellular 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: country code - 506; 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]

1.132 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

528,047 (2002)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.313 billion expenditures: $2.851 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Costa Rican colon (CRC)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

CRC

Current account balance [time series]

$-970 million (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$5.366 billion (2003 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

45.9 (1997)

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. Low prices for coffee and bananas have hurt the agricultural sector. The government continues to grapple with its large deficit and massive internal debt. The reduction of inflation remains a difficult problem because of rises in the price of imports, labor market rigidities, and fiscal deficits. Costa Rica recently concluded negotiations to participate in the US - Central American Free Trade Agreement, which, if ratified by the Costa Rican Legislature, would result in economic reforms and an improved investment climate.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

6.109 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

379 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

128 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

6.839 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 398.663 (2003), 359.817 (2002), 328.871 (2001), 308.187 (2000), 285.685 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$6.176 billion (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

US 14.2%, Guatemala 3%, Nicaragua 2.7% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $35.34 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 8.5% industry: 29.4% services: 62.1% (2003 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $9,100 (2003 est.)

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

5.6% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.1% highest 10%: 36.8% (2002)

Imports [time series]

$7.057 billion (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum

Imports - partners [time series]

US 23.2%, Mexico 4.7%, Venezuela 3.2% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

8% (2003 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

9.4% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

20.2% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

1.758 million (2003)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Oil - consumption [time series]

37,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

20.6% (2002 est.)

Public debt [time series]

56.1% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$1.836 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.7% (2003 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; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution

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

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

10 00 N, 84 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65

Irrigated land [time series]

1,260 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 4.41% permanent crops: 5.88% other: 89.71% (2001)

Location [time series]

Central 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]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 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 including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes

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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Douglas M. BARNES embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020 telephone: [506] 220-3939 FAX: [506] 519-2305

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Tomas DUENAS chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945 FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Durham (North Carolina), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Francisco, St. Paul, and Tampa consulate(s): Austin

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); First Vice President Lineth SABORIO (since 8 May 2002); Second Vice President Luis FISHMAN (since 8 May 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); First Vice President Lineth SABORIO (since NA May 2002); Second Vice President Luis FISHMAN (since NA May 2002); note - the 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 3 February 2002; run-off election held 7 April 2002 (next to be held NA February 2006) election results: Abel PACHECO elected president; percent of vote - Abel PACHECO (PUSC) 58%; Rolando ARAYA (PLN) 42%

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 elliptical disk on the hoist side of the red band; above the coat of arms a light blue ribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just below it near the top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the words, REPUBLICA COSTA RICA

Government type [time series]

democratic republic

Independence [time series]

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International organization participation [time series]

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

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 3 February 2002 (next to be held 3 February 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PUSC 19, PLN 17, PAC 14, PML 6, PRC 1; note - seats by party as of January 2005 - PUSC 19, PLN 16, PAC 8, PML 5, PRC 1, Patriotic Union 3, Homeland First 1, Authentic Member from Heredia 1, Democratic National Alliance 1, independent 2

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

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

Authentic Member from Heredia [Jose SALAS]; Citizen Action Party or PAC [Otton SOLIS]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Justo OROZCO]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Juan Carlos CHAVES Mora]; Democratic National Alliance [Emilia RODRIGUEZ]; General Union Party or PUGEN [Carlos Alberto FERNANDEZ Vega]; Homeland First [Juan Jose VARGAS]; Independent Worker Party or PIO [Jose Alberto CUBERO Carmona]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Victor GONZALEZ]; National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National Liberation Party or PLN [Francisco Antonio PACHECO]; National Patriotic Party or PPN [Daniel Enrique REYNOLDS Vargas]; National Rescue Party or PRN [Carlos VARGAS Solano]; Patriotic Union [Humberto ARCE]; Popular Vanguard [Trino BARRANTES Araya]; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Lorena VASQUEZ Badilla]

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 expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.

Military

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

no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$64 million (2003)

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

0.4% (2003)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,101,887 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 736,007 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 41,709 (2004 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 29.5% (male 597,332; female 570,008) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,300,206; female 1,271,010) 65 years and over: 5.5% (male 101,270; female 116,681) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.99 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.32 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

900 (2003 est.)

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

12,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 10.26 deaths/1,000 live births male: 11.17 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.63 years male: 74.07 years female: 79.33 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96% male: 95.9% female: 96.1% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 25.7 years male: 25.2 years female: 26.2 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican

Net migration rate [time series]

0.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

3,956,507 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.52% (2004 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, 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 (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.33 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

149 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 30 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 119 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 95 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 35,892 km paved: 7,896 km unpaved: 27,996 km (2000)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,716 GRT/ DWT by type: passenger 1 registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

refined products 242 km (2004)

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) (2003)

Waterways [time series]

730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2004)