2010 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.

Area

land

51,060 sq km

total

51,100 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

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

619 cu m/yr (2000)

total

2.68 cu km/yr (29%/17%/53%)

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

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%

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

continental shelf

200 nm

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 and landslides; active volcanoes

volcanism

Arenal (elev. 1,670 m, 5,479 ft), which erupted in 2010, is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (elev. 3,432 m, 11,260 ft), situated just east of San Jose, has the potential to spew ash over the capital city as it did between 1963 and 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Miravalles, Poas, Rincon de la Vieja, and Turrialba

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) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

16.65 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

4.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

9,700 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

8.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

10.59 deaths/1,000 live births

total

9.72 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official), English

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.28 years (2010 est.)

male

74.93 years

total population

77.54 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

95.1% (2000 census)

male

94.7%

total population

94.9%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

intermediate

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever (2009)

Median age

female

28.9 years (2010 est.)

male

27.9 years

total

28.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Costa Rican

noun

Costa Rican(s)

Net migration rate

1.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

4,516,220 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.347% (2010 est.)

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)

female

12 years (2005)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.93 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

63% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

9 56 N, 84 05 W

name

San Jose

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 Anne Slaughter ANDREW

embassy

Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose

FAX

[506] 2519-2305

mailing address

APO AA 34020

telephone

[506] 2519-2000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Meta Shanon FIGUERES Boggs

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

FAX

[1] (202) 265-4795

telephone

[1] (202) 234-2945 or 2946

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet selected by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda (since 8 May 2010); First Vice President Alfio PIVA Mesen (since 8 May 2010); Second Vice President Luis LIBERMAN Ginsburg (since 8 May 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda elected president; percent of vote - Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda (PLN) 46.7%; Otton SOLIS (PAC) 25.1%, Otto GUEVARA Guth (ML) 20.8%

elections

president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held on 7 February 2010 (next to be held in February 2014)

head of government

President Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda (since 8 May 2010); First Vice President Alfio PIVA Mesen (since 8 May 2010); Second Vice President Luis LIBERMAN Ginsburg (since 8 May 2010)

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 toward the hoist side of the red band; Costa Rica retained the earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when, in response to revolutionary activity in Europe, it was decided to incorporate the French colors into the national flag and a central red stripe was added; today the blue color is said to stand for the sky, opportunity, and perseverence, white denotes peace, happiness, and wisdom, while red represents the blood shed for freedom, as well as the generosity and vibrancy of the people note: somewhat resembles the flag of North Korea; similar to the flag of Thailand but with the blue and red colors reversed

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, 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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLN 23, PAC 10, ML 9, PUSC 6, PASE 4, other 5

elections

last held on 7 February 2010 (next to be held in February 2014)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Jose Maria ZELEDON Brenes/Manuel Maria GUTIERREZ note: adopted 1949; the anthem's music was originally written for an 1853 welcome ceremony for diplomatic missions from the United States and United Kingdom; the lyrics were added in 1903

name

"Himno Nacional de Costa Rica" (National Anthem of Costa Rica)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Political parties and leaders

Accessibility Without Exclusion or PASE [Oscar Andres LOPEZ Arias]; Citizen Action Party or PAC [Alberto CANAS Escalante]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Gerardo Justo OROZCO Alvarez]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Marco GONZALEZ Nunez]; Frente Amplio [Jose MERINO del Rio]; Homeland First or PP (Patria Primero) [Juan Jose VARGAS Fallas]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; National Democratic Alliance or ADN [Jose Miguel VILLALOBOS Umana]; National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National Liberation Party or PLN [Francisco Antonio PACHECO Fernandez]; National Rescue Party or PRN [Fabio Enrique DELGADO Hernandez]; National Union Party or PUN [Arturo ACOSTA Mora]; Patriotic Alliance [Mariano FIGUERES Olsen]; Patriotic Union or UP [Jose Miguel CORRALES Bolanos]; Popular Vanguard [Trino BARRANTES Araya]; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Luis FISHMAN Zonzinski]; Union for Change Party or UPC [Antonio ALVAREZ Desanti]

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

Central bank discount rate

23% (31 December 2009) 25% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

19.72% (31 December 2009 est.) 15.83% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.469 billion (2010 est.) -$537 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$9.126 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $7.972 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

48 (2008) 45.9 (1997)

Economy - overview

Prior to the global economic crisis, Costa Rica enjoyed stable economic growth. The economy contracted 0.7% in 2009, but resumed growth at more than 3% in 2010. While the traditional agricultural exports of bananas, coffee, sugar, and beef are still the backbone of commodity export trade, a variety of industrial and specialized agricultural products have broadened export trade in recent years. High value added goods and services, including microchips, have further bolstered exports. 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; and Costa Rica has attracted one of the highest levels of foreign direct investment per capita in Latin America. However, many business impediments, such as high levels of bureaucracy, difficulty of enforcing contracts, and weak investor protection, remain. Poverty has remained around 15-20% 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. Unlike the rest of Central America, Costa Rica is not highly dependent on remittances as they only represent about 2% of GDP. 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. The US-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force on 1 January 2009, after significant delays within the Costa Rican legislature. CAFTA-DR will likely lead to increased foreign direct investment in key sectors of the economy, including the insurance and telecommunications sectors recently opened to private investors. President CHINCHILLA is likely to push for fiscal reform in the coming year, seeking to boost revenue, possibly through revised tax legislation, to fund an increase in security services and education.

Electricity - consumption

8.064 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

77.16 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

203.2 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

8.808 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar - 526.68 (2010), 573.29 (2009), 530.41 (2008), 519.53 (2007), 511.3 (2006)

Exports

$10.01 billion (2010 est.) $8.847 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 32.61%, Netherlands 12.82%, China 11.81%, Mexico 4.2% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

6.3%

industry

22.9%

services

70.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$11,400 (2010 est.) $11,100 (2009 est.) $11,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.5% (2010 est.) -0.7% (2009 est.) 2.6% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$35.02 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$51.3 billion (2010 est.) $49.57 billion (2009 est.) $49.91 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$13.69 billion (2010 est.) $10.87 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 44.72%, Mexico 7.65%, Venezuela 5.56%, China 5.15%, Japan 4.36% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.8% (2010 est.) 7.8% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

2.17 million note: this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

14%

industry

22%

services

64% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.452 billion (31 December 2009) $1.887 billion (31 December 2008) $2.035 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

44,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

2,117 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

47,860 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

16% (2006 est.)

Public debt

44.1% of GDP (2010 est.) 42% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.584 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $4.066 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$16.81 billion (31 December 2009) $15.84 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$547 million (31 December 2010 est.) $539 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$13.92 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $12.17 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$15.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $14.74 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$4.504 billion (31 December 2010 est) $3.992 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

6.6% (2010 est.) 7.8% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

multiple privately-owned television stations and 1 publicly-owned television station; cable network services are widely available; more than 100 privately-owned radio stations and a public radio network (2007)

Internet country code

.cr

Internet hosts

34,024 (2010)

Internet users

1.485 million (2009)

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; under the terms of CAFTA-DR, the state-run telecommunications monopoly scheduled to be opened to competition from domestic and international firms, has been delayed by the nation's telecommunications regulator.

international

country code - 506; landing points for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), MAYA-1, and the Pan American Crossing submarine cables 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) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.493 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.95 million (2009)

Airports

151 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

39 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 12 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

112 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 94 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

passenger/cargo 1 (2010)

total

1

Pipelines

refined products 796 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Caldera, Puerto Limon

Railways

narrow gauge

278 km 1.067-m gauge note: none of the railway network is in use (2008)

total

278 km

Roadways

paved

8,621 km

total

35,330 km

unpaved

26,709 km (2004)

Waterways

730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,241,183 females age 16-49: 1,217,037 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,044,923 females age 16-49: 1,026,432 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

40,745 (2010 est.)

male

42,486

Military branches

no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police (2010)

Military expenditures

0.6% of GDP (2009)

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 January 12, 2011 ======================================================================

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

9,699-11,500 (Colombia) (2007)