Statistical information Costa Rica 1999

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 coordinates: 10 00 N, 84 00 W
Map reference:
Central America and the CaribbeanAreaTotal: 51,100 km²
Land: 50,660 km²
Water: 440 km²
Note: includes Isla del Coco
Comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundariesTotal: 639 km
Border countries: (2) Nicaragua 309 km;
, Panama 330 kmCoastline: 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Natural resources: hydropower
Land useArable land: 6%
Permanent crops: 5%
Permanent pastures: 46%
Forests and woodland: 31%
Other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,200 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active volcanoes
Geographytop of pagePopulation: 3,674,490 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 1.89% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Costa Rican(s)
Adjective: Costa Rican
Ethnic groups: white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%
Languages: Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 33% (male 622,260; female 593,720)
15-64 years: 62% (male 1,150,900; female 1,121,970)
65 years and over: 5% (male 85,526; female 100,114) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.89% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.46 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.16 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.63 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching; soil erosion
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 12.89 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 76.04 years
Male: 73.6 years
Female: 78.61 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.76 children born/woman (1999 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 expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 94.8%
Male: 94.7%
Female: 95% (1995 est.)
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: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May 1998); First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998), Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998); note_president is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May 1998); First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998), Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998); note_president is both the chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
Elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 1 February 1998 (next to be held NA February 2002)
Election results: Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ elected president; percent of vote_Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 46.6%, Jose Miguel CORRALES (PLN) 44.6%
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 1 February 1998 (next to be held NA February 2002)
Election results: percent of vote by party_PUSC 41%, PLN 35%, minority parties 24%; seats by party_PUSC 27, PLN 23, minority parties 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime DAREMBLUM
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, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Tampa
In the us consulates: Austin
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD
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 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. Economic growth has rebounded from -0.9% in 1996 to 3% in 1997 and an estimated 5.5% in 1998. Inflation rose to 22.5% in 1995, dropped to 11.1% in 1997, and reached an estimated 12% in 1998. Unemployment appears moderate at 5.6%, but substantial underemployment continues. Furthermore, large government deficits_fueled by interest payments on the massive internal debt_have undermined efforts to maintain the quality of social services. Curbing inflation, reducing the deficit, and improving public sector efficiency remain key challenges to the government. President RODRIGUEZ has called for an increased economic role for the private sector, but political resistance to privatization has stalled much of his economic program.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $6,700 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 15%
Industry: 24%
Services: 61% (1997)
Agriculture products: coffee, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber
Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate: 10.5% (1992)
Labor force: 868,300
By occupation industry and commerce: 23.3%
By occupation governmentand services: 55.1%
By occupation agriculture: 21.6% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.6% (1998 est.), much underemployment
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini 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: $3.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Commodities: manufactured products, coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar (1997)
Partners: US, Benelux, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, El Salvador, Netherlands, UK, France (1997)
Imports: $4.5 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum (1997)
Partners: US, Japan, Mexico, Venezuela, Guatemala, Germany (1997)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $3.2 billion (October 1996 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1_272.58 (January 1999), 257.23 (1998), 232.60 (1997), 207.69 (1996), 179.73 (1995), 157.07 (1994)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 4.785 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 14.11%
Production by source hydro: 75.44%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 10.45% (1996)
Consumption: 4.931 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 44 million kWh (1996)
Imports: 190 million kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 281,042 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: very good domestic telephone service
Domestic: NA
International: connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station_1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $55 million (1995)
Percent of gdp: 2% (1995)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 156 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 28
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 18
With paved runways under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 128
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 29
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 99 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: petroleum products 176 km
RailwaysTotal: 950 km
Narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified)
RoadwaysWaterways: 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