Statistical information Costa Rica 1995

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 pageLocation: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Central America and the CaribbeanAreaTotal area total: 51,100 km²
Land: 50,660 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Note: includes Isla del Coco
Land boundaries: total 639 km, Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Coastline: 1,290 km
Maritime claimsExclusive 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 useArable land: 6%
Permanent crops: 7%
Meadows and pastures: 45%
Forest and woodland: 34%
Other: 8%
Irrigated land: 1,180 km² (1989 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 3,419,114 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 2.24% (1995 est.)
NationalityNoun: Costa Rican(s)
Adjective: Costa Rican
Ethnic groups: white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%, Indian 1%, Chinese 1%
Languages: Spanish (official), English; spoken around Puerto Limon
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 35% (female 585,976; male 617,456)
15-64 years: 60% (female 1,013,491; male 1,036,195)
65 years and over: 5% (female 88,050; male 77,946) (July 1995 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.24% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 24.88 births/1000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 3.47 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.02 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching; soil erosion
Current issues natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active volcanoes
Current issues international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Marine Life Conservation
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 10.3 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 78.11 years
Male: 76.21 years
Female: 80.1 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.01 children born/woman (1995 est.)
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: age 15 and over can read and write (1984)
Total population: 93%
Male: 93%
Female: 93%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional 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: 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: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branchChief of state and head of government: President Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (since 8 May 1994); First Vice President Rodrigo OREAMUNO Blanco (since 8 May 1994); Second Vice President Rebeca GRYNSPAN Mayufis (since 8 May 1994); election last held 6 February 1994 (next to be held February 1998); results - President FIGUERES (PLN party) 49.7%, Miquel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC party) 47.5%
Cabinet: Cabinet; selected by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Assembly Asamblea Legislativa: elections last held 6 February 1994 (next to be held February 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (61 total) PLN 28, PUSC 29, minority parties 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: AG (observer), BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia PICADO
In the us chancery: 2,114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 234-2,945
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 265-4,795
In the us consulates general: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Durham, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
In the us consulates: Austin
From the us chief of mission: US Ambassador to Costa Rica Peter DE VOS
From the us embassy: Pavas Road, San Jose
From the us mailing address: APO AA 34,020
From the us telephone: [506] 220-3,939
From the us FAX: [506] 220-2,305
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: Costa Rica's basically stable and progressive economy depends especially on tourism and export of bananas, coffee, and other agricultural products. In 1994 the economy grew at an estimated 4.3%, compared with 6.5% in 1993, 7.7% in 1992, and 2.1% in 1991. Inflation in 1993 dropped to 9% from 17% in 1992 and 25% in 1991, an indication of basic financial stability. Unemployment is officially reported at only 4.0%, but there is much underemployment. Costa Rica signed a free trade agreement with Mexico in 1994.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 4.3% (1994 est.)
Real gdp per capita: $5,050 (1994 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 19% of GDP and 70% of exports; cash commodities - coffee, beef, bananas, sugar; other food crops include corn, rice, beans, potatoes; normally self-sufficient in food except for grain; depletion of forest resources resulting in lower timber output
Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate: 10.5% (1992; accounts for 22% of GDP
Labor force: 868,300
By occupation industry and commerce: 35.1%
By occupation governmentand services: 33%
By occupation agriculture: 27%
By occupation other: 4.9% (1985est.)
Unemployment rate: 4% (1993; much underemployment
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $1.1 billion
Expenditures: $1.34 billion, including capital expenditures of $110 million (1991 est.)
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: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
Commodoties: coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar
Partners: US, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, El Salvador, Netherlands, UK, France
Imports: $2.9 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
Commodoties: raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
Partners: US, Japan, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, Germany
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $3.2 billion (1991)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1 - 164.39 (December 1994), 157.07 (1994), 142.17 (1993), 134.51 (1992), 122.43 (1991), 91.58 (1990)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 1,040,000 kW
Production: 4.1 billion kWh
Production consumption per capita: 1,164 kWh (1993)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone system: 292,000 telephones; very good domestic telephone service
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: connection into Central American Microwave System; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $22 million, 0.5% of GDP (1989)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 174
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 17
With paved runways under 914 m: 117
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2438 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 36
HeliportsPipelines: petroleum products 176 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: about 730 km, seasonally navigable
Merchant marine: none
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots