Statistical information Costa Rica 1989Costa%20Rica

Map of Costa Rica | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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Costa Rica in the World
Costa Rica in the World

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Costa Rica - Introduction 1989
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Background: 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.


Costa Rica - Geography 1989
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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area

Land boundaries:
639 km total
Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km


Coastline: 1,290 km

Maritime claims
Continental 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

Elevation

Natural resources: hydropower potential
Land use

Land use: 6% arable land; 7% permanent crops; 45% meadows and pastures; 34% forest and woodland; 8% other; includes 1% irrigated

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


Costa Rica - People 1989
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Population: 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 profile
Age structure

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 29 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 4 deaths/1000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1000 population (1989)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: subject to occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active volcanoes; deforestation; soil erosion

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant 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 rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: 93%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


Costa Rica - Government 1989
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Country 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 areas

Independence: 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 participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 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 branch

Political parties and leaders

International 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 representation
In 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 descriptionflag of Costa%20Rica: 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 symbols

National anthem

National heritage


Costa Rica - Economy 1989
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Economy 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 parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture 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.)
Labor force

Unemployment rate: 6.2% (1987)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $700 million; expenditures $792 million, including capital expenditures of $167 million (1987)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $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 gold

Debt external: $4.3 billion (1988)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1 - 80.75 (March 1989), 75.805 (1988), 62.776 (1987), 55.986 (1986), 50.453 (1985)


Costa Rica - Energy 1989
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Electricity
Capacity: 825,000 kW capacity; 2,916 million kWh produced, 1,010 kWh per capita (1988)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


Costa Rica - Communication 1989
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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


Costa Rica - Military 1989
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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: NA

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


Costa Rica - Transportation 1989
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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 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

Heliports

Pipelines: refined products, 176 km

Railways

Roadways

Waterways: 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 terminals


Costa Rica - Transnational issues 1989
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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs


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