1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Introduction
Background
Costa Rica declared its independence from Spain in 1821. After a turbulent beginning it inaugurated an era of peaceful democracy in 1889, subsequently interrupted only twice, by a dictatorial interlude in 1917-19 and an armed uprising in 1948. Increasing the role of the private sector while maintaining the government's social safety net and keeping under control the budget deficit, unemployment, and inflation are key current issues.
Geography
Area
total: 51,100 sq km land: 50,660 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Isla del Coco
Area--comparative
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Climate
tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November)
Coastline
1,290 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Environment--current issues
deforestation, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching; soil erosion
Environment--international agreements
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
10 00 N, 84 00 W
Irrigated land
1,200 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 639 km border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Land use
arable land: 6% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 31% other: 12% (1993 est.)
Location
Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active volcanoes
Natural resources
hydropower
Terrain
coastal plains separated by rugged mountains
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 33% (male 622,260; female 593,720) 15-64 years: 62% (male 1,150,900; female 1,121,970) 65 years and over: 5% (male 85,526; female 100,114) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
22.46 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
4.16 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%
Infant mortality rate
12.89 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.04 years male: 73.6 years female: 78.61 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.8% male: 94.7% female: 95% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican
Net migration rate
0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
3,674,490 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
1.89% (1999 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 95%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.76 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
7 provinces (provincias, singular--provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Capital
San Jose
Constitution
9 November 1949
Country name
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
CS
Executive branch
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 NA February 2002) election results: Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ elected president; percent of vote--Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 46.6%, Jose Miguel CORRALES (PLN) 44.6%
Flag description
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
democratic republic
Independence
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
International organization participation
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, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime DAREMBLUM chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 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 from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD embassy: Pavas Road, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly Political parties and leaders: Social Christian Unity Party or NA] note: mainly a two-party system--PUSC and PLN; numerous small parties share less than 25% of population's support Political pressure groups and leaders: 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
Legal system
based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
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 NA 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
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Economy
Agriculture--products
coffee, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber
Budget
revenues: $1.1 billion expenditures: $1.34 billion, including capital expenditures of $110 million (1991 est.)
Currency
1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos
Debt--external
$3.2 billion (October 1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient
$107.1 million (1995)
Economy--overview
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. Economic growth has rebounded from -0.9% in 1996 to 3% in 1997 and an estimated 5.5% in 1998. Inflation rose to 22.5% in 1995, dropped to 11.1% in 1997, and reached an estimated 12% in 1998. Unemployment appears moderate at 5.6%, but substantial underemployment continues. Furthermore, large government deficits--fueled by interest payments on the massive internal debt--have undermined efforts to maintain the quality of social services. Curbing inflation, reducing the deficit, and improving public sector efficiency remain key challenges to the government. President RODRIGUEZ has called for an increased economic role for the private sector, but political resistance to privatization has stalled much of his economic program.
Electricity--consumption
4.931 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
44 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
190 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
4.785 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 14.11% hydro: 75.44% nuclear: 0% other: 10.45% (1996)
Exchange rates
Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1--272.58 (January 1999), 257.23 (1998), 232.60 (1997), 207.69 (1996), 179.73 (1995), 157.07 (1994)
Exports
$3.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities
manufactured products, coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar (1997)
Exports--partners
US, Benelux, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, El Salvador, Netherlands, UK, France (1997)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$24 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 15% industry: 24% services: 61% (1997)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$6,700 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
5.5% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 34.7% (1996)
Imports
$4.5 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities
raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum (1997)
Imports--partners
US, Japan, Mexico, Venezuela, Guatemala, Germany (1997)
Industrial production growth rate
10.5% (1992)
Industries
food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
12% (1998 est.)
Labor force
868,300
Labor force--by occupation
industry and commerce 23.3%, government and services 55.1%, agriculture 21.6% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
5.6% (1998 est.); much underemployment
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 71, FM 0, shortwave 13
Radios
NA
Telephone system
very good domestic telephone service domestic: NA international: connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones
281,042 (1983 est.)
Television broadcast stations
6 (in addition, there are 11 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions
340,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Airports
156 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 28 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 128 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 99 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 35,597 km paved: 6,051 km unpaved: 29,546 km (1997 est.)
Merchant marine
none
Pipelines
petroleum products 176 km Ports and harbors: Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas
Railways
total: 950 km narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified)
Waterways
about 730 km, seasonally navigable
Military and Security
Military branches
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
$55 million (1995)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
2% (1995)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 988,887 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 662,827 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
18 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 36,751 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
none
Illicit drugs
transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots