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 Introduction
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 People
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This page was last updated on 8 March, 2007


Map of Costa Rica



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Costa Rica Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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.
   Geography    Costa Rica Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
10 00 N, 84 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 51,100 sq km
land: 50,660 sq km
water: 440 sq km
note: includes Isla del Coco
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 639 km
border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
1,290 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
hydropower
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 4.4%
permanent crops: 5.87%
other: 89.73% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
1,080 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
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
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
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
   People    Costa Rica Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,075,261 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 28.3% (male 590,261/female 563,196)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,359,750/female 1,329,346)
65 years and over: 5.7% (male 108,041/female 124,667) (2006 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 26.4 years
male: 26 years
female: 26.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.45% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
18.32 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.36 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
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 (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 77.02 years
male: 74.43 years
female: 79.74 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.24 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
900 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Costa Rican(s)
adjective: Costa Rican
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Spanish (official), English
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 95.9%
female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
   Government    Costa Rica Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
conventional short form: Costa Rica
local long form: Republica de Costa Rica
local short form: Costa Rica
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
democratic republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: San Jose
geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
7 November 1949
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May 2006); First Vice President Laura CHINCHILLA (since 8 May 2006); Second Vice President Kevin CASAS Zamora (since 8 May 2006); 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 Kevin CASAS Zamora (since 8 May 2006)
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%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
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 February 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLN 25, PAC 17, PML 6, PUSC 5, other 4
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Authentic Member from Heredia [Jose SALAS]; Citizen Action Party or PAC [Otton SOLIS]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Gerardo Justo OROZCO Alvarez]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Vladimir DE LA CRUZ]; 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]; National Patriotic Party or PPN [Daniel Enrique REYNOLDS Vargas]; National Restoration Party or PRN [Carlos AVENDANO]; Nationalist Democratic Alliance or ADN [Jose Miguel VILLALOBOS Umana]; Patriotic Union or UP [Humberto ARCE Salas]; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Luis FILMAN]; Union for Change Party or UPC [Antonio ALVAREZ Desanti]; United Leftist Coalition or IU [Humberto VARGAS Carbonel]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
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]
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
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, Hammond (temporary location in Louisiana), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa (temporarily closed), Washington, DC
consulate(s): San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark LANGDALE
embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose
mailing address: APO AA 34020
telephone: [506] 519-2000
FAX: [506] 519-2305
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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
   Economy    Costa Rica Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has remained at a stable 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, bit are also place heavy demands on the social welfare system. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and high education levels, and tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange. The government continues to grapple with its large internal and external deficits and sizable internal debt. The reduction of inflation remains a difficult problem because of rising import prices, labor market rigidities, and fiscal deficits. The country also needs to reform its tax system and its pattern of public expenditure. The current administration has made it a priority to pass the necessary reforms to implement the US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). CAFTA implementation would result in an improved investment climate.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$48.77 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$20.77 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.7% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$12,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 8.6%
industry: 31%
services: 60.4% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.866 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 20%
industry: 22%
services: 58% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.6% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
18% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 36.8% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
46.5 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12.1% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
19.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $3.134 billion
expenditures: $3.475 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
53.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.4% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.4 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.574 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
440 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
202 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
44,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$-1.176 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$7.931 billion (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 42.6%, Hong Kong 6.9%, Netherlands 6.4%, Guatemala 4.2% (2005)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$10.88 billion (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 41.3%, Japan 5.6%, Venezuela 4.8%, Mexico 4.8%, Ireland 4.3%, Brazil 4.2%, China 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.5 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$6.42 billion (30 June 2006 est.)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Costa Rican colon (CRC)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 511.3 (2006), 477.79 (2005), 437.91 (2004), 398.66 (2003), 359.82 (2002)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Costa Rica Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.388 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.101 million (2005)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: the parastatal monopoly provides 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.cr
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12,751 (2006)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1 million (2005)
   Transportation    Costa Rica Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
157 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 32
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 9 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 125
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 101 (2006)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
refined products 242 km (2006)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 278 km
narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge
note: none of the railway network is in use (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 35,330 km
paved: 8,621 km
unpaved: 26,709 km (2004)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2005)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,308 GRT/743 DWT
by type: passenger/cargo 2 (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Caldera, Puerto Limon
   Military    Costa Rica Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 997,690
females age 18-49: 968,290 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 829,874
females age 18-49: 809,343 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 41,097
females age 18-49: 39,243
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.5% (2006 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Costa Rica Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
in September 2005, Costa Rica took its case before the ICJ to advocate the navigation, security, and commercial rights of Costa Rican vessels using the Río San Juan over which Nicaragua retains sovereignty
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Definition Field Listing
refugees (country of origin): 9,470 (Colombia) (2006)
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
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

This page was last updated on 8 March, 2007


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