 | |
| Geography |
|
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
|
| 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
|
| Area: |
total: 51,100 sq km
land:
51,060 sq km
water:
40 sq km
note:
includes Isla del Coco
Size comparison:
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
|
| Current Environment 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
|
| International Environment 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
|
| ^Back to Top |
| People |
| Population: |
4,253,877 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
|
| 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.)
|
| Median age: |
total: 27.5 years
male:
27.1 years
female:
28 years (2009 est.)
|
| Population growth rate: |
1.356% (2009 est.)
|
| Birth rate: |
17.43 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
|
| Death rate: |
4.34 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
|
| Net migration rate: |
0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 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:
0.86 male(s)/female
total population:
1.02 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
|
| Infant mortality rate: |
total: 8.77 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
9.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
7.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
|
| Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 77.58 years
male:
74.96 years
female:
80.34 years (2009 est.)
|
| Total fertility rate: |
2.14 children born/woman (2009 est.)
|
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.4% (2007 est.)
|
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
9,700 (2007 est.)
|
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
fewer than 200 (2007 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:
94.9%
male:
94.7%
female:
95.1% (2000 census)
|
| ^Back to Top |
| Government |
| 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 (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 7 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%
|
| 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 7 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
|
| Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for renewable eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
|
| 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]
|
| 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
|
| 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
FAX:
[1] (202) 265-4795
consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
|
| 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] 2519-2000
FAX:
[506] 2519-2305
|
| ^Back to Top |
| Economy |
|
Prior to the global economic crisis, Costa Rica enjoyed stable economic growth. The economy contracted by about 2% in 2009. 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, however, many business impediments remain. 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. 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. 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. The US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) entered into force on 1 January 2009, after significant delays within the Costa Rican legislature.
|
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity):
$48.19 billion (2009 est.)
$49.43 billion (2008 est.)
$48.17 billion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
|
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate):
$29.29 billion (2009 est.)
|
| GDP - real growth rate: |
-2.5% (2009 est.)
2.6% (2008 est.)
7.8% (2007 est.)
|
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,300 (2009 est.)
$11,800 (2008 est.)
$11,600 (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
|
| GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 6.5%
industry:
25.5%
services:
68% (2009 est.)
|
| Labor force: |
2.09 million
note:
this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica (2009 est.)
|
| Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 14%
industry:
22%
services:
64% (2006 est.)
|
| Unemployment rate: |
6.4% (2009 est.)
4.9% (2008 est.)
|
| Population below poverty line: |
16% (2006 est.)
|
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%:
35.5% (2005)
|
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: |
48 (2008)
45.9 (1997)
|
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.3% (2009 est.)
13.4% (2008 est.)
|
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed):
20.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
|
| Budget: |
revenues: $3.795 billion
expenditures:
$4.908 billion (2009 est.)
|
| Public debt: |
49.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
42.2% of GDP (2008 est.)
|
| Agriculture - products: |
bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef, poultry, dairy; timber
|
| Industries: |
microprocessors, food processing, medical equipment, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
|
| Industrial production growth rate: |
-5% (2009 est.)
|
| Electricity - production: |
8.808 billion kWh (2007 est.)
|
| Electricity - consumption: |
8.064 billion kWh (2007 est.)
|
| Electricity - exports: |
77.16 million kWh (2008 est.)
|
| Electricity - imports: |
203.2 million kWh (2007 est.)
|
| Oil - production: |
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
|
| Oil - consumption: |
45,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
|
| Oil - exports: |
2,117 bbl/day (2007 est.)
|
| Oil - imports: |
47,860 bbl/day (2007 est.)
|
| Oil - proved reserves: |
0 bbl
|
| Natural gas - production: |
0 cu m (2008 est.)
|
| 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 - proved reserves: |
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
|
| Current account balance: |
$-662 million (2009 est.)
$-2.648 billion (2008 est.)
|
| Exports: |
$8.096 billion (2009 est.)
$9.738 billion (2008 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)
|
| Imports: |
$10.53 billion (2009 est.)
$14.55 billion (2008 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)
|
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$4.089 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$3.799 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
|
| Debt - external: |
$8.057 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$9.249 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
|
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |
$11.64 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$18.96 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
|
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |
$540 million (31 December 2009 est.)
$532 million (31 December 2008 est.)
|
| Market value of publicly traded shares: |
$NA (31 December 2008)
$2.035 billion (31 December 2007)
$1.944 billion (31 December 2006)
|
| Exchange rates: |
Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar - 580.01 (2009), 530.41 (2008), 519.53 (2007), 511.3 (2006), 477.79 (2005)
|
| ^Back to Top |
| Communications |
| Telephones in use: |
1.438 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 66
|
| Cellular Phones in use: |
1.887 million (2008)
|
| 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)
|
| Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002)
|
| Television broadcast stations: |
20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)
|
| Internet country code: |
.cr
|
| Internet hosts: |
34,066 (2009)
|
| Internet users: |
1.46 million (2008)
|
| ^Back to Top |
| Transportation |
| Airports: |
151 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 36
|
| Airports (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 (unpaved runways): |
total: 113
914 to 1,523 m:
19
under 914 m:
94 (2009)
|
| Pipelines: |
refined products 796 km (2008)
|
| Railways: |
total: 278 km
narrow gauge:
278 km 1.067-m gauge
note:
none of the railway network is in use (2008)
|
| Roadways: |
total: 35,330 km
paved:
8,621 km
unpaved:
26,709 km (2004)
|
| Waterways: |
730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2008)
|
| Merchant marine: |
total: 1
by type:
passenger/cargo 1 (2008)
|
| Ports and terminals: |
Caldera, Puerto Limon
|
| ^Back to Top |
| Military |
|
| Military branches: |
no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police (2009)
|
| 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.)
|
| ^Back to Top |
Last Country | Next Country 
» Country List
