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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.cr

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

16,440 (2008)

Internet users [time series]

1.5 million (2007)

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; state-run monopoly provider is struggling with the demand for new lines, resulting in long waiting times 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; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable and the MAYA-1 submarine cable that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

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

1.437 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1.503 million (2007)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3.976 billion expenditures: $3.808 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

17% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

12.8% (31 December 2007)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Costa Rican colon (CRC)

Current account balance [time series]

-$1.499 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$7.416 billion (30 June 2007)

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

49.8 (2003)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has remained around 20% for nearly 20 years, and the strong social safety net that had been put into place by the government has eroded due to increased financial constraints on government expenditures. Immigration from Nicaragua has increasingly become a concern for the government. The estimated 300,000-500,000 Nicaraguans estimated to be in Costa Rica legally and illegally are an important source of (mostly unskilled) labor, but also place heavy demands on the social welfare system. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and high education levels, as well as the fiscal incentives offered in the free-trade zones. Exports have become more diversified in the past 10 years due to the growth of the high-tech manufacturing sector, which is dominated by the microprocessor industry. Tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange, as Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity makes it a key destination for ecotourism. The government continues to grapple with its large internal and external deficits and sizable internal debt. Reducing inflation remains a difficult problem because of rising import prices, labor market rigidities, and fiscal deficits. Tax and public expenditure reforms will be necessary to close the budget gap. In October 2007, a national referendum voted in favor of the US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

Electricity - consumption [time series]

7.779 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

39.55 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

203.2 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

8.521 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar - 519.53 (2007), 511.3 (2006), 477.79 (2005), 437.91 (2004), 398.66 (2003)

Exports [time series]

$9.268 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar; seafood; electronic components, medical equipment

Exports - partners [time series]

US 25.7%, China 14.1%, Netherlands 10.9%, UK 6.3%, Mexico 5% (2007)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$26.24 billion (2007 est.)

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

$45.77 billion (2007 est.)

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

agriculture: 8.6% industry: 29.4% services: 62.1% (2007 est.)

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

$11,100 (2007 est.)

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

6.8% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 37.4% (2003)

Imports [time series]

$12.26 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum, construction materials

Imports - partners [time series]

US 41%, Mexico 6.1%, Venezuela 5.7%, Japan 5.4%, China 5.1%, Brazil 4.3% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7.3% (2007 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

9.4% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

21.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.92 million note: this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 14% industry: 22% services: 64% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$1.478 billion (2005)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

45,600 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

2,115 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports [time series]

43,110 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Public debt [time series]

46.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$4.114 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$490 million (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$8.53 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$12.91 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$4.504 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$2.87 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.6% (2007 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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 2.68 cu km/yr (29%/17%/53%) per capita: 619 cu m/yr (2000)

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]

1,080 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 4.4% permanent crops: 5.87% other: 89.73% (2005)

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

112.4 cu km (2000)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: San Jose geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 Peter CIANCHETTE embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020 telephone: [506] 519-2000 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, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa (temporarily closed), Washington, DC consulate(s): San Francisco

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May 2006); First Vice President Laura CHINCHILLA (since 8 May 2006); Second Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May 2006); First Vice President Laura CHINCHILLA (since 8 May 2006); Second Vice President (vacant) cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held 5 February 2006 (next to be held in February 2010) election results: Oscar ARIAS Sanchez elected president; percent of vote - Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (PLN) 40.9%; Otton SOLIS (PAC) 39.8%, Otto GUEVARA Guth (PML) 8%, Ricardo TOLEDO (PUSC) 3%

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, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for renewable 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 5 February 2006 (next to be held in February 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLN 25, PAC 17, PML 6, PUSC 5, PASE 1, PFA 1, PRN 1, PUN 1

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 [Epsy CAMPBELL Barr]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Gerardo Justo OROZCO Alvarez]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Marco NUNEZ Gonzalez]; General Union Party or PUGEN [Carlos Alberto FERNANDEZ Vega]; Homeland First or PP [Juan Jose VARGAS Fallas]; Independent Worker Party or PIO [Jose Alberto CUBERO Carmona]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Juan Carlos CHAVEZ Mora]; National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National Liberation Party or PLN [Francisco Antonio PACHECO Fernandez]; National Patriotic Party or PPN [Daniel Enrique REYNOLDS Vargas]; National Restoration Party or PRN [Fabio Enrique DELGADO Hernandez]; National Union Party or PUN [Arturo ACOSTA Mora]; Nationalist Democratic Alliance or ADN [Jose Miguel VILLALOBOS Umana]; Patriotic Union or UP [Jose Miguel CORRALES Bolanos]; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Luis FISHMAN Zonzinski]; Union for Change Party or UPC [Antonio ALVAREZ Desanti]; United Leftist Coalition or IU [Humberto VARGAS Carbonel]

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); Costa Rican Exporter's Chamber or CADEXCO; Costa Rican Solidarity Movement; Costa Rican Union of Private Sector Enterprises or UCCAEP [Rafael CARRILLO]; Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP; National Association for Economic Development or ANFE; National Association of Educators or ANDE; National Association of Public and Private Employees or ANEP [Albino VARGAS]; Rerum Novarum or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [Gilbert BROWN]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Introduction

Background [time series]

Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including: disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,134,205 females age 16-49: 1,095,763 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 958,013 females age 16-49: 925,727 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 40,767 female: 38,899 (2008 est.)

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

no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police (2008)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.4% of GDP (2006)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27.2% (male 584,782/female 557,952) 15-64 years: 66.8% (male 1,416,456/female 1,384,692) 65 years and over: 6% (male 116,461/female 135,571) (2008 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

17.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

4.9% of GDP (2004)

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: 9.01 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.92 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.4 years male: 74.79 years female: 80.14 years (2008 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.9% male: 94.7% female: 95.1% (2000 census)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2008)

Median age [time series]

total: 27.1 years male: 26.7 years female: 27.6 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican

Net migration rate [time series]

0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

4,195,914 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.388% (2008 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%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)

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 (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.17 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

the ICJ has given Costa Rica until January 2008 to reply and Nicaragua until July 2008 to rejoin before rendering its decision on the navigation, security, and commercial rights of Costa Rican vessels on the R�o San Juan over which Nicaragua retains sovereignty

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis in remote areas; domestic cocaine consumption, particularly crack cocaine, is rising; significant consumption of amphetamines

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 9,699-11,500 (Colombia) (2007)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Costa Rica is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; women and girls from neighboring states, Russia, Uzbekistan, and the Philippines are trafficked into the country for sexual exploitation; Costa Rica also serves as a transit point for victims trafficked to North America and Europe; the government identifies child sex tourism as a serious problem; men, women, and children are also trafficked within the country for forced labor in fishing and construction, and as domestic servants tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Costa Rica is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly in terms of its failure to improve its inadequate assistance to victims; while Costa Rican officials recognize human trafficking as a serious problem, the lack of a stronger response by the government is of concern (2008)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

151 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 36 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 11 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 115 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 96 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2008)

Pipelines [time series]

refined products 242 km (2007)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Caldera, Puerto Limon

Railways [time series]

total: 278 km narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge note: none of the railway network is in use (2007)

Roadways [time series]

total: 35,330 km paved: 8,621 km unpaved: 26,709 km (2004)

Waterways [time series]

730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2007)