2006 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

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.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

157 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

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

total

125 914 to 1,523 m: 24

under 914 m

101 (2006)

Area

land

50,660 sq km

note

includes Isla del Coco

total

51,100 sq km

water

440 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Background

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

Birth rate

18.32 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$3.195 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)

revenues

$2.722 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

9 56 N, 84 05 W

name

San Jose

time difference

UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

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

Coastline

1,290 km

Constitution

7 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

Currency (code)

Costa Rican colon (CRC)

Currency code

CRC

Current account balance

$-955 million (2005 est.)

Death rate

4.36 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$5.049 billion (2005 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Mark LANGDALE

embassy

Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose

mailing address

APO AA 34020

telephone

[506] 519-2000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Tomas DUENAS

telephone

[1] (202) 234-2945

Disputes - international

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index

46.5 (2000)

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. 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 internal and external deficits and sizable internal debt. The reduction of inflation remains a difficult problem because of rises in the price of imports, labor market rigidities, and fiscal deficits. The country also needs to reform its tax system and its pattern of public expenditure. Costa Rica is the only signatory to the US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) that has not ratified it. CAFTA implementation would result in economic reforms and an improved investment climate.

Electricity - consumption

7.12 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

115 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

50 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

7.726 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

1.5%

hydro

81.9%

nuclear

0%

other

16.6% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

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

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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 477.79 (2005), 437.91 (2004), 398.66 (2003), 359.82 (2002), 328.87 (2001)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet selected by the president

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

election results

Oscar ARIAS Sanchez elected president; percent of vote - Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (PLN) 40.9%; Otto SOLIS (PAC) 39.8%, Otto GUEVARA Guth (PML) 8%, Ricardo TOLEDO (PUSC) 3%; note - official results pending the resolution of election challenges

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 February 2010)

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)

Exports

$7.005 billion (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 42.6%, Hong Kong 6.9%, Netherlands 6.4%, Guatemala 4.2% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 265-4795

[506] 519-2305

consulate(s)

San Francisco

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

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Costa Rica

Flag description

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

8.8%

industry

29.9%

services

61.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$11,400 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.9% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$19.38 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$45.67 billion (2005 est.)

Geographic coordinates

10 00 N, 84 00 W

Geography - note

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

Government type

democratic republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

900 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

12,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

36.8% (2002)

lowest 10%

1.1%

Illicit drugs

transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots; domestic cocaine consumption, particularly crack cocaine, is rising This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

Imports

$9.69 billion (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum

Imports - partners

US 41.3%, Japan 5.6%, Venezuela 4.8%, Mexico 4.8%, Ireland 4.3%, Brazil 4.2%, China 4.2% (2005)

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Industrial production growth rate

5.7% (2005 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

8.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

10.58 deaths/1,000 live births

total

9.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

13.8% (2005 est.)

International organization participation

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, 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

Internet country code

.cr

Internet hosts

12,751 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

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

Internet users

1 million (2005) Transportation Costa Rica

Investment (gross fixed)

19.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Irrigated land

1,080 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)

Labor force

1.82 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

20%

industry

22%

services

58% (1999 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km

total

639 km

Land use

arable land

4.4%

other

89.73% (2005)

permanent crops

5.87%

Languages

Spanish (official), English

Legal system

based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has 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)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLN 25, PAC 18, PML 6, PUSC 4, other 4

elections

last held 5 February 2006 (next to be held February 2010)

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.74 years (2006 est.)

male

74.43 years

total population

77.02 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.1% (2003 est.) Government Costa Rica

male

95.9%

total population

96%

Location

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

968,290 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

997,690

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

809,343 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

829,874

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

39,243

males age 18-49

41,097

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

26.9 years (2006 est.)

male

26 years

total

26.4 years

Merchant marine

by type

passenger/cargo 2 (2006)

total

2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,308 GRT/743 DWT

Military branches

no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police (2006)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$83.46 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.4% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Costa Rica

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (2004)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Nationality

adjective

Costa Rican

noun

Costa Rican(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural hazards

occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes

Natural resources

hydropower

Net migration rate

0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

40,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2003)

Pipelines

refined products 242 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

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 [Lorena VASQUEZ Badilla]; Union for Change Party or UPC [Antonio ALVAREZ Desanti]; United Leftist Coalition or IU [Humberto VARGAS Carbonel]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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]

Population

4,075,261 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

18% (2004 est.)

Population growth rate

1.45% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Caldera, Puerto Limon Military Costa Rica

Public debt

56.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002)

Radios

980,000 (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

278 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

total

278 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

8,266 (Colombia) (2005)

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.313 billion (2005 est.)

Roadways

paved

8,075 km

total

35,889 km

unpaved

27,814 km (2003)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Telephone system

domestic

point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available

general assessment

good domestic telephone service in terms of breadth of coverage; restricted cellular telephone service

international

country code - 506; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); two submarine cables (1999)

Telephones - main lines in use

1,388,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.101 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)

Televisions

525,000 (1997)

Terrain

coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes

Total fertility rate

2.24 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.6% (2005 est.)

Waterways

730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2005)