Statistical information Costa Rica 1989

Costa Rica in the World
top of pageBackground: Costa Rica declared its independence from Spain in 1821. After a turbulent beginning it inaugurated an era of peaceful democracy in 1889, subsequently interrupted only twice, by a dictatorial interlude in 1917-19 and an armed uprising in 1948. Increasing the role of the private sector while maintaining the government's social safety net and keeping under control the budget deficit, unemployment, and inflation are key current issues.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries:
639 km total
Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Coastline: 1,290 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: 200 nm Extended economic zone:200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; dry season (December to April; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: coastal plains separated by rugged mountains
ElevationNatural resources: hydropower potential
Land use: 6% arable land; 7% permanent crops; 45% meadows and pastures; 34% forest and woodland; 8% other; includes 1% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 2,953,908 (July 1989), growth rate 2.7% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Costa Rican(s; adjective - Costa Rican
Ethnic groups: 96% white (including mestizo), 3% black, 1% Indian
Languages: Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon
Religions: 95% Roman Catholic
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 29 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 4 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: subject to occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active volcanoes; deforestation; soil erosion
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 78 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 3.3 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 93%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
Government type: democratic republic
Capital: San Jose
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia; Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Dependent areasIndependence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 9 November 1949
Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal and compulsory age 18 and over
Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government - President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May 1986; First Vice President Jorge Manuel DENGO Obregon (since 8 May 1986; Second Vice President Victoria GARRON de Doryan (since 8 May 1986)
Legislative branch: Civil Guard, Rural Assistance Guard
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: CACM, Central American Democratic Community, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDB - Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, IWC - International Wheat Council, OAS, ODECA, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPEB, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Danilo JIMENEZ; Chancery at Suite 211, 1825 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,009; telephone (202) 234-2,945 through 2,947; there are Costa Rican Consulates General at Albuquerque, Boston, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Tampa, and Consulates in Austin, Buffalo, Honolulu, and Raleigh; US - Ambassador Dean R. HINTON; Embassy at Avenida 3 and Calle I, San Jose (mailing address is APO Miami 34,020; telephone Õ506å 33-11-55
Flag description
: five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue with the coat of arms in a white disk on the hoist side of the red band
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: In 1988 the economy grew at a 3.8% rate, slightly lower than the 4.8% of 1989. Gains in agricultural production (on the strength of good coffee and banana crops) and in construction, were partially offset by declines in the rates of growth for the industry and commerce sectors. In 1987 consumer prices rose by 16% followed by a 25% rise in 1988. Unemployment is officially reported at 6.2%, but much underemployment remains. External debt, on a per capita basis, was among the world's highest in December 1988.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, rice, corn, cocoa, livestock products; an illegal producer of cannabis for the international drug trade
Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1988)
Labor force: 868,300; industry and commerce 35.1%, government and services 33%, agriculture 27%, other 4.9% (1985 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6.2% (1987)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $700 million; expenditures $792 million, including capital expenditures of $167 million (1987)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $1.23 billion (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar
Partners: US, FRG, Guatemala, Netherlands, UK, Japan
Imports: $1.41 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
Commodities: petroleum, machinery, consumer durables, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs
Partners: US 35%, Japan, Guatemala, FRG
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $4.3 billion (1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1 - 80.75 (March 1989), 75.805 (1988), 62.776 (1987), 55.986 (1986), 50.453 (1985)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 825,000 kW capacity; 2,916 million kWh produced, 1,010 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: NA
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 199 total, 184 usable; 26 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 11 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelines: refined products, 176 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: about 730 km, seasonally navigable
Merchant marine: 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,370 GRT/16,916 DWT
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs