Map of Costa Rica | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors including: disease from mosquito-infested swamps brutal heat resistance by natives and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821 Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America but this federation disintegrated in 1838 at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. In 1949 Costa Rica dissolved its armed forces. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.


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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

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 51,100 km²
Rank: 130
Land: 51,060 km²
Water: 40 km²
Note: includes Isla del Coco
Comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries
Total: 639 km
Border countries: (2) Nicaragua 309 km; Panama 330 km

Coastline: 1290 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
Extremes 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: 1080 km² (2008)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 112.4 km³ (2000)

Natural hazards: occasional earthquakes hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
Volcanism: Arenal (elev. 1670 m) which erupted in 2010 is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (elev. 3,432 m) situated just east of San Jose has the potential to spew ash over the capital city as it did between 1963 and 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Miravalles Poas Rincon de la Vieja and Turrialba

Geography
Note: 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


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Population: 4,576,562 (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 123
Growth rate: 1.308% (2011 est.)
Growth rate rank: 90
Below poverty line: 16% (2006 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Costa Rican
Adjective: Costa Rican

Ethnic groups: white (including mestizo) 94% black 3% Amerindian 1% Chinese 1% other 1%

Languages: Spanish (official) English

Religions: Roman Catholic 76.3% Evangelical 13.7% Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3% other Protestant 0.7% other 4.8% none 3.2%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 24.6%
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 1,588,940/female 1,571,573)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 135,017/female 156,492) (2011 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 28.8 years
Male: 28.4 years
Female: 29.2 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.308% (2011 est.)
Rank: 90

Birth rate: 16.54 births/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 122

Death rate: 4.33 deaths/1000 population (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 204

Net migration rate: 0.87 migrant(s)/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 55

Population distribution

Urbanization
Urban population: 64% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas

Environment
Current 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 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
International agreements signed but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 9.45 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 153
Male: 10.3 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 8.56 deaths/1000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.72 years
Rank: 55
Male: 75.1 years
Female: 80.46 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.93 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Rank: 134

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 1.32 physicians/1000 population (2000)
Rank: 88

Hospital bed density: 1.2 beds/1000 population (2008)
Rank: 135

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 86
People living with hivaids: 9,800 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 99
Deaths: fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 83

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: intermediate
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2009)

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: 6.3% of GDP (2009)
Rank: 24

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 94.9%
Male: 94.7%
Female: 95.1% (2000 census)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 12 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 12 years (2005)

Youth unemployment


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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

Dependent areas

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day 15 September (1821)

Constitution: 7 November 1949

Legal system: civil law system based on Spanish civil code; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda ; First Vice President Alfio PIVA Mesen (since 8 May 2010); Second Vice President Luis LIBERMAN Ginsburg (since 8 May 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda (since 8 May 2010); First Vice President Alfio PIVA Mesen (since 8 May 2010); Second Vice President Luis LIBERMAN Ginsburg (since 8 May 2010)
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 on 7 February 2010 (next to be held in February 2014)
Election results: Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda elected president; percent of vote - Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda (PLN) 46.7%; Otton SOLIS (PAC) 25.1% Otto GUEVARA Guth (ML) 20.8%

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held on 7 February 2010 (next to be held in February 2014)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLN 23 PAC 10 ML 9 PUSC 6 PASE 4 other 5

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]

International organization participation: BCIE CACM FAO G-77 IADB IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC 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 WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Muni FIGUERES Boggs
In the us chancery: 2,114 S Street NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 234-2,945 or 2,946
In the us fax: [1] (202) 265-4,795
In the us consulate general: Atlanta Chicago Houston Los Angeles Miami New Orleans New York San Francisco San Juan (Puerto Rico)
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Anne Slaughter ANDREW
From the us embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O Pavas San Jose
From the us mailing address: APO AA 34,020
From the us telephone: [506] 2,519-2000
From the us fax: [506] 2,519-2,305

Flag description: five horizontal bands of blue (top) white red (double width) white and blue with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk toward the hoist side of the red band; Costa Rica retained the earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when in response to revolutionary activity in Europe it was decided to incorporate the French colors into the national flag and a central red stripe was added; today the blue color is said to stand for the sky opportunity and perseverance white denotes peace happiness and wisdom while red represents the blood shed for freedom as well as the generosity and vibrancy of the people
Note: somewhat resembles the flag of North Korea; similar to the flag of Thailand but with the blue and red colors reversed

National symbols: clay-colored robin known as Yiguirro

National anthem
Name: 'Himno Nacional de Costa Rica'
Lyricsmusic: Jose Maria ZELEDON Brenes/Manuel Maria GUTIERREZ
Note: adopted 1949; the anthem's music was originally written for an 1853 welcome ceremony for diplomatic missions from the United States and United Kingdom; the lyrics were added in 1903

National heritage


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Economy overview: Prior to the global economic crisis Costa Rica enjoyed stable economic growth. The economy contracted 0.7% in 2009 but resumed growth at more than 3% in 2010. 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; and Costa Rica has attracted one of the highest levels of foreign direct investment per capita in Latin America. However many business impediments such as high levels of bureaucracy difficulty of enforcing contracts and weak investor protection remain. Poverty has remained around 15-20% 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. The US-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force on 1 January 2009 after significant delays within the Costa Rican legislature. CAFTA-DR will likely lead to increased foreign direct investment in key sectors of the economy including the insurance and telecommunications sectors recently opened to private investors. President CHINCHILLA is likely to push for fiscal reform in the coming year seeking to boost revenue possibly through revised tax legislation to fund an increase in security services and education.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 91
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 88

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 98
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 6.5%
Industry: 22.5%
Services: 71% (2010 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: 1.8% (2010 est.)
Rank: 134

Labor force: 2.052 million
Rank: 119
Note: this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica (2010 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 14%
By occupation industry: 22%
By occupation services: 64% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate: 8.4% (2009 est.)
Rank: 77

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 16% (2006 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 1.7%
Highest 10: 39.4% (2009)

Distribution of family income gini index: 45.9 (1997)
Rank: 23

Budget
Revenues: $5.217 billion
Expenditures: $7.083 billion (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -5.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 147

Taxes and other revenues: 14.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
Rank: 189

Public debt: 42.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 67

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 7.8% (2009 est.)
Rank: 161

Central bank discount rate: 23% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 7

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 19.723% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 25

Stock of narrow money: $2.615 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 104

Stock of broad money: $16.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 84

Stock of domestic credit: $14.65 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 84

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 99

Current account balance: -$576 million (2009 est.)
Rank: 145

Exports: $8.838 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 90
Commodities: bananas pineapples coffee melons ornamental plants sugar; beef; seafood; electronic components medical equipment
Partners: US 33.6% China 11.7% Netherlands 11.7% UK 11.5% (2010)

Imports: $10.88 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 82
Commodities: raw materials consumer goods capital equipment petroleum construction materials
Partners: US 40.1% Mexico 6.6% Japan 5.6% China 5.3% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $4.066 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 88

Debt external: $8.59 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Rank: 94

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $12.39 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 77

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $544.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 82

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 9.29 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Production rank: 92
Consumption: 8.247 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 91
Exports: 166 million kWh (2008 est.)
Imports: 70 million kWh (2008 est.)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Production rank: 169
Consumption: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 167
Exports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 80
Imports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Imports rank: 105
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2011 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 124

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 1.482 million (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 66
Mobile cellular: 3.035 million (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 122

Telephone system
General assessment: good domestic telephone service in terms of breadth of coverage; under the terms of CAFTA-DR the state-run telecommunications monopoly scheduled to be opened to competition from domestic and international firms has been delayed by the nation's telecommunications regulator.
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 points for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) MAYA-1 and the Pan American Crossing submarine cables 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) (2009)

Broadcast media: multiple privately-owned television stations and 1 publicly-owned television station; cable network services are widely available; more than 100 privately-owned radio stations and a public radio network (2007)

Internet
Country code: .cr
Hosts: 34,024 (2010)
Hosts rank: 97
Users: 1.485 million (2009)
Users rank: 82

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 0.6% of GDP (2009)
Rank: 155

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 151 (2010)
Rank: 36
With paved runways total: 39
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 23
With paved runways under 914 m: 12 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 112
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 18
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 94 (2010)

Heliports

Pipelines: refined products 662 km (2010)

Railways
Total: 278 km
Rank: 122
Narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge
Note: none of the railway network is in use (2010)

Roadways
Total: 38,049 km
Rank: 94
Paved: 9,619 km
Unpaved: 28,430 km (2008)

Waterways: 730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2010)
Rank: 75

Merchant marine
Total: 1
Rank: 152
By type: passenger/cargo 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals: Caldera Puerto Limon


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Disputes international: the ICJ has given Costa Rica until January 2008 to reply and Nicaragua until July 2008 to rejoin before rendering its decision on the navigation security and commercial rights of Costa Rican vessels on the Rio San Juan over which Nicaragua retains sovereignty

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees: 9,699-11,500 (Colombia) (2007)

Illicit drugs: transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis in remote areas; domestic cocaine consumption particularly crack cocaine is rising; significant consumption of amphetamines; seizures of smuggled cash in Costa Rica and at the main border crossing to enter Costa Rica from Nicaragua have risen in recent years (2008)