2009 Edition

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. In January 2008, Costa Rica assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2008-09 term.

Area

total: 51,100 sq km country comparison to the world: 129 land: 51,060 sq km water: 40 sq km note: includes Isla del Coco

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Climate

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

Coastline

1,290 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

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

Irrigated land

1,080 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

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

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

hydropower

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

112.4 cu km (2000)

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.7% (male 581,916/female 555,216) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,443,606/female 1,411,168) 65 years and over: 6.2% (male 120,969/female 141,002) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

17.43 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Death rate

4.34 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Education expenditures

4.9% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 76

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

9,700 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Infant mortality rate

total: 8.77 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 160 male: 9.66 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.58 years country comparison to the world: 54 male: 74.96 years female: 80.34 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

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

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2009)

Median age

total: 27.5 years male: 27.1 years female: 28 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican

Net migration rate

0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Population

4,253,877 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Population growth rate

1.356% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Religions

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)

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

Sex ratio

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 (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.14 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Urbanization

urban population: 63% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter CIANCHETTE embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020 telephone: [506] 519-2000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Luis DIEGO Escalante chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945 or 2946

Executive branch

chief of state: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May 2006); First Vice President (vacant); 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 (vacant); 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%

FAX

[1] (202) 265-4795 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

[506] 519-2305

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

Government type

democratic republic

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International organization participation

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, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

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

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) 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; note - as of 1 January 2009: seats by party - PLN 25, PAC 16, PML 5, PUSC 5, PASE 1, PFA 1, PRN 1, independent 3

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Political parties and leaders

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 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); 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

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $4.6 billion expenditures: $4.531 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

25% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 10 17% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.83% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 65 12.8% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$2.648 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 -$1.578 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$9.249 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 89 $8.416 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

48 (2008) country comparison to the world: 31 45.9 (1997)

Economy - overview

Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. 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 and the production of medical devices. Tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange, as Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity makes it a key destination for ecotourism. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and relatively high education levels, as well as the fiscal incentives offered in the free-trade zones. Costa Rica has attracted one of the highest levels of foreign direct investment per capita in Latin America. 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 in Costa Rica legally and illegally are an important source of - mostly unskilled - labor, but also place heavy demands on the social welfare system. Under the ARIAS administration, the government has made strides in reducing internal and external debt - in 2007, Costa Rica had its first budget surplus in 50 years. Reducing inflation remains a difficult problem because of rising commodity import prices and labor market rigidities, though lower oil prices will decrease upward pressures. The Central Bank is moving towards a more flexible exchange rate system to focus on inflation targeting by 2010. The US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) entered into force on 1 January 2009, after significant delays within the Costa Rican legislature. Nevertheless, economic growth has slowed in 2009 as the global downturn reduced export demand and invesment inflows.

Electricity - consumption

8.064 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Electricity - exports

77.16 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

203.2 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

8.808 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Exchange rates

Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar - 530.41 (2008 est.), 519.53 (2007), 511.3 (2006), 477.79 (2005), 437.91 (2004)

Exports

$9.738 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $9.266 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 23.9%, Netherlands 13.3%, China 12.9%, UK 5%, Mexico 4.9% (2008)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 6.5% industry: 25.9% services: 67.6% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$11,600 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $11,500 (2007 est.) $10,800 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 136 7.8% (2007 est.) 8.8% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$29.66 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$48.84 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 $47.6 billion (2007 est.) $44.16 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 35.5% (2005)

Imports

$14.55 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 $12.29 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 42.9%, Mexico 6.9%, Venezuela 6.3%, Japan 5.4%, China 4.7%, Brazil 4.2% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

-1.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

13.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 182 9.4% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

24.3% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Labor force

2.06 million country comparison to the world: 120 note: this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica (2008 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 98 $2.035 billion (31 December 2007) $1.944 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 180

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Oil - consumption

45,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Oil - exports

2,117 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Oil - imports

47,860 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl country comparison to the world: 195

Population below poverty line

16% (2006 est.)

Public debt

42.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 58% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.799 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 $4.114 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$532 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 $525.9 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$18.96 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 63 $8.803 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$15.15 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 66 $12.91 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$4.209 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 58 $4.504 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$3.143 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 81 $2.87 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

4.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 4.6% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.cr

Internet hosts

34,066 (2009) country comparison to the world: 89

Internet users

1.46 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 76

Radio broadcast stations

AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002)

Telephone system

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 - main lines in use

1.438 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 66

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.887 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 122

Television broadcast stations

20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)

Airports

151 (2009) country comparison to the world: 36

Airports - with paved runways

total: 38 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 12 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 113 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 94 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 1 country comparison to the world: 161 by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2008)

Pipelines

refined products 796 km (2008)

Ports and terminals

Caldera, Puerto Limon

Railways

total: 278 km country comparison to the world: 124 narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge note: none of the railway network is in use (2008)

Roadways

total: 35,330 km country comparison to the world: 94 paved: 8,621 km unpaved: 26,709 km (2004)

Waterways

730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2008) country comparison to the world: 75

Manpower available for military service

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

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 971,224 females age 16-49: 936,978 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 40,698 female: 38,808 (2009 est.)

Military branches

no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police (2009)

Military expenditures

0.4% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 164

Disputes - international

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 Rio San Juan over which Nicaragua retains sovereignty

Illicit drugs

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; seizures of smuggled cash in Costa Rica and at the main border crossing to enter Costa Rica from Nicaragua have risen in recent years (2008) page last updated on November 11, 2009

Refugees and internally displaced persons

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

Trafficking in persons

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)