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This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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| Introduction | Costa Rica | Top of Page

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 | Top of Page

Location: | Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Geographic coordinates: | 10 00 N, 84 00 W
Map references: | Central America and the Caribbean
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
Land boundaries: | total: 639 km border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Coastline: | 1,290 km
Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: | tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Terrain: | coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Natural resources: | hydropower
Land use: | arable land: 4.4% permanent crops: 5.87% other: 89.73% (2005)
Irrigated land: | 1,080 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards: | occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
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
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 | Top of Page

Population: | 4,075,261 (July 2006 est.)
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.)
Median age: | total: 26.4 years male: 26 years female: 26.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate: | 1.45% (2006 est.)
Birth rate: | 18.32 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: | 4.36 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate: | 0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
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: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | 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: | total population: 77.02 years male: 74.43 years female: 79.74 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 2.24 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 12,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 900 (2003 est.)
Nationality: | noun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican
Ethnic groups: | white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%
Religions: | Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%
Languages: | Spanish (official), English
Literacy: | 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: | 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: | democratic republic
Capital: | 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: | 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Independence: | 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: | Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: | 7 November 1949
Legal system: | based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: | 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 February 2010) 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
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 February 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLN 25, PAC 18, PML 6, PUSC 4, other 4
Judicial branch: | Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
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]
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
Diplomatic representation in the US: | 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: | 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: | 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: | 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity): | $45.67 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): | $19.38 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 5.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): | $11,400 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 8.8% industry: 29.9% services: 61.4% (2005 est.)
Labor force: | 1.82 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 20% industry: 22% services: 58% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: | 6.6% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line: | 18% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 1.1% highest 10%: 36.8% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 46.5 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 13.8% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): | 19.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $2.722 billion expenditures: $3.195 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Public debt: | 56.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products: | coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber
Industries: | microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate: | 5.7% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production: | 7.726 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - consumption: | 7.12 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports: | 115 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports: | 50 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption: | 40,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports: | NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: | NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance: | $-955 million (2005 est.)
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)
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)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $2.313 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external: | $5.049 billion (2005 est.)
Currency (code): | Costa Rican colon (CRC)
Exchange rates: | Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 477.79 (2005), 437.91 (2004), 398.66 (2003), 359.82 (2002), 328.87 (2001)
Fiscal year: | calendar year

| Communications | Costa Rica | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | 1,388,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 1.101 million (2005)
Telephone system: | general assessment: 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: | AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002)
Television broadcast stations: | 20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)
Internet country code: | .cr
Internet hosts: | 12,751 (2006)
Internet users: | 1 million (2005)

| Transportation | Costa Rica | Top of Page

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)
Pipelines: | refined products 242 km (2006)
Railways: | total: 278 km narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: | total: 35,889 km paved: 8,075 km unpaved: 27,814 km (2003)
Waterways: | 730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2005)
Merchant marine: | total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,308 GRT/743 DWT by type: passenger/cargo 2 (2006)
Ports and terminals: | Caldera, Puerto Limon

| Military | Costa Rica | Top of Page

Military branches: | no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police (2006)
Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service: | males age 18-49: 997,690 females age 18-49: 968,290 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: | males age 18-49: 829,874 females age 18-49: 809,343 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually: | males age 18-49: 41,097 females age 18-49: 39,243
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 0.4% (2005 est.)

| Transnational Issues | Costa Rica | Top of Page

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
Refugees and internally displaced persons: | refugees (country of origin): 8,266 (Colombia) (2005)
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