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

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Background:


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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
Land: 51,060 km²
Water: 40 km²
Note: includes Isla del Coco
Comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Country comparison total: 661 km
Country comparison border countries: (2) Nicaragua 313 km; Panama 348 km

Land boundaries
Total: 661 km
Border countries: (2) Nicaragua 313 km; Panama 348 km

Coastline: 1,290 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 active volcanoes

Elevation
Highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,819 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 746 m

Natural resources: hydropower

Land use
Agricultural land: 37.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 25.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 51.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 11.4% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,015 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 830 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 230 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 2.08 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 113 billion m³ (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
Volcanism: Arenal (1,670 m), which erupted in 2010, is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (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
Distribution: roughly half of the nation's population resides in urban areas; the capital of San Jose is the largest city and home to approximately one-fifth of the population
Total: 5,265,575
Male: 2,635,481
Female: 2,630,094 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 0.74% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 25.5% (2022 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Nationality
Noun: Costa Rican(s)
Adjective: Costa Rican

Ethnic groups: White or Mestizo 83.6%, Mulatto 6.7%, Indigenous 2.4%, Black or African descent 1.1%, other 1.1%, none 2.9%, unspecified 2.2% (2011 est.)

Languages: Spanish (official), English
Major-language samples: La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish); Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions: Roman Catholic 47.5%, Evangelical and Pentecostal 19.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, other Protestant 1.2%, other 3.1%, none 27% (2021 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 18.8% (male 506,041/female 482,481)
15-64 years: 70.2% (male 1,862,872/female 1,832,024)
65 years and over: 11.1% (2024 est.) (male 266,568/female 315,589)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 45.1
Youth dependency ratio: 29.8
Elderly dependency ratio: 15.3
Potential support ratio: 6.5 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 35.5 years (2024 est.)
Male: 34.9 years
Female: 36.1 years

Population growth rate: 0.74% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 10.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: roughly half of the nation's population resides in urban areas; the capital of San Jose is the largest city and home to approximately one-fifth of the population

Urbanization
Urban population: 82.6% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.462 million SAN JOSE (capital) (2023)

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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 14.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 8.02 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 5.61 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 22 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 7 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 80.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 77.7 years
Female: 82.9 years

Total fertility rate: 1.43 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 70.9% (2018)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 100% of population
Unimproved rural: 0% of population
Unimproved total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 0% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 1.1 beds/1,000 population (2019)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 99% of population
Improved rural: 97.1% of population
Improved total: 98.7% of population
Unimproved urban: 1% of population
Unimproved rural: 2.9% of population
Unimproved total: 1.3% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 25.7% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 3.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 2.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 8.8% (2020 est.)
Male: 12.9% (2020 est.)
Female: 4.6% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.9% (2018)

Education expenditures: 6.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 98%
Male: 98%
Female: 98.1% (2021)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 17 years
Male: 16 years
Female: 17 years (2019)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 24.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 21% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 28.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
Conventional short form: Costa Rica
Local long form: República de Costa Rica
Local short form: Costa Rica
Etymology: the name means 'rich coast' in Spanish and was first applied in the early colonial period of the 16th century

Government type: presidential republic

Capital
Name: San José
Geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W
Time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: named in honor of Saint Joseph

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
History: many previous; latest effective 8 November 1949
Amendments: proposals require the signatures of at least 10 Legislative Assembly members or petition of at least 5% of qualified voters; consideration of proposals requires two-thirds majority approval in each of three readings by the Assembly, followed by preparation of the proposal as a legislative bill and its approval by simple majority of the Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership; a referendum is required only if approved by at least two thirds of the Assembly; amended many times, last in 2020

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
Citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship by descent only: yes
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022)
Head of government: President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022)
Cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
Elections/appointments: president and vice presidents directly elected on the same ballot by modified majority popular vote (40% threshold) for a 4-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms); election last held on 6 February 2022 with a runoff on 3 April 2022 (next to be held in February 2026 with a runoff in April 2026)
Election results: 2022: Rodrigo CHAVES Robles elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 27.3%, Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 16.8%, Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PNR) 14.9%, Eliecer FEINZAIG Mintz (PLP) 12.4%, Lineth SABORIO Chaverri (PUSC) 12.4%, Jose Maria VILLALTA Florez-Estrada 8.7% (PFA), other 7.5%; percent of vote in second round - Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 52.8%, Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 47.2%; 2018: Carlos ALVARADO Quesada elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 25%; Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 21.6%; Antonio ALVAREZ (PLN) 18.6%; Rodolfo PIZA (PUSC) 16%; Juan Diego CASTRO (PIN) 9.5%; Rodolfo HERNANDEZ (PRSC) 4.9%, other 4.4%; percent of vote in second round - Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 60.7%; Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 39.3%
Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - corresponding to the country's 7 provinces - by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: last held on 6 February 2022 (next to be held in February 2026)
Elections results: percent of vote by party - PLN 24.8%, PPSD 15%, PUSC 11.4%, PNR 10.1%, PLP 9.1%, 8.3%, other 21.3%; seats by party - PLN 19, PPSD 10, PUSC 9, PNR 7, PLP 6, PFA 6; composition - men 30, women 27, percentage women 47.4%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 22 judges organized into 3 cassation chambers each with 5 judges and the Constitutional Chamber with 7 judges)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Justice judges elected by the National Assembly for 8-year terms with renewal decided by the National Assembly
Subordinate courts: appellate courts; trial courts; first instance and justice of the peace courts; Superior Electoral Tribunal

Political parties and leaders: Accessibility Without Exclusion or PASE, Broad Front (Frente Amplio) or PFA, Citizen Action Party or PAC, Costa Rican Renewal Party or PRC, Here Costa Rica Commands Party or ACRM, Liberal Progressive Party or PLP, Libertarian Movement Party or ML, National Integration Party or PIN, National Liberation Party or PLN, National Restoration Party or PRN, New Generation or PNG, New Republic Party or PNR, Social Christian Republican Party or PRSC, Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC of UNIDAD, Social Democratic Progress Party or PPSD

International organization participation: ACS, BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador Catalina CRESPO SANCHO (since 19 April 2023)
In the us chancery: 2,114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 499-2,980
In the us fax: [1] (202) 265-4,795
In the us email address and website: embcr-us@rree.go.cr; [link]
In the us consulates general: Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington DC
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia A. TELLES (since 11 March 2022)
From the us embassy: Calle 98 Via 104, Pavas, San Jose
From the us mailing address: 3,180 St. George's Place, Washington DC 20,521-3,180
From the us telephone: [506] 2,519-2000
From the us fax: [506] 2,519-2,305
From the us email address and website: acssanjose@state.gov; [link]

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 placed 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: yiguirro (clay-colored robin); national colors: blue, white, red

National anthem
Name: 'Himno Nacional de Costa Rica' (National Anthem of Costa Rica)
Lyrics/music: 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 US and UK; the lyrics were added in 1903

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 4 (1 cultural, 3 natural)
Selected world heritage site locales:


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Economy overview: trade-based upper middle-income economy; green economy leader, having reversed deforestation; investing in blue economy infrastructure; declining poverty until hard impacts of COVID-19; lingering inequality and growing government debts have prompted a liquidity crisis

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $134.238 billion (2023 est.); $127.71 billion (2022 est.); $122.15 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 5.11% (2023 est.); 4.55% (2022 est.); 7.94% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $25,800 (2023 est.); $24,700 (2022 est.); $23,700 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 65.4% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 14.9% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 16.2% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: -0.8% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 37.3% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -33% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Industry: 20.5% (2023 est.)
Services: 68% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: sugarcane, pineapples, bananas, milk, oil palm fruit, fruits, oranges, chicken, cassava, rice (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries: medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products

Industrial production growth rate: 8.35% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 2.408 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 8.3% (2023 est.); 11.33% (2022 est.); 15.14% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 24.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 21% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 28.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line: 25.5% (2022 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $20.224 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $19.799 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 14.35% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 71.11% of GDP (2022 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources: 0.82% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 0.53% (2023 est.); 8.27% (2022 est.); 1.73% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on 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: -$844.64 million (2023 est.); -$2.235 billion (2022 est.); -$2.061 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $33.699 billion (2023 est.); $29.404 billion (2022 est.); $23.609 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: US 40%, Netherlands 7%, Guatemala 5%, Belgium 5%, Nicaragua 3% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: medical instruments, orthopedic appliances, bananas, tropical fruits, other foods (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $28.441 billion (2023 est.); $27.07 billion (2022 est.); $21.94 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: US 39%, China 14%, Mexico 5%, Guatemala 3%, Brazil 3% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: refined petroleum, plastic products, medical instruments, cars, broadcasting equipment (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $13.225 billion (2023 est.); $8.554 billion (2022 est.); $6.921 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external: $12.877 billion (2022 est.)
Note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 3.692 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 10.619 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Exports: 773.979 million kWh (2022 est.)
Imports: 54.231 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.14 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources wind: 11% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 75% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 11.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 30,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: (2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton
Imports: 500 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 400 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 62,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions: 7.966 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 74,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 7.892 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 31.43 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 492,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 7.876 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.); 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.); 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.); 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.); 0.7% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security: National Police (Fuerza Pública), Air Surveillance Service (Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea), National Coast Guard Service (Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas), Drug Control Police (Policía Control de Drogas), Border Police (Policia de Fronteras), Professional Migration Police (Policía Profesional de Migración); Ministry of Presidency: Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), Special Intervention Unit (UEI) (2024)
Note: Costa Rica's armed forces were constitutionally abolished in 1949

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 39
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,948,546 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 11.13 million (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TI

Airports: 129 (2024)

Heliports: 8 (2024)

Pipelines: 662 km refined products (2013)

Railways

Roadways
Total: 5,035 km (2017)

Waterways: 730 km (2011) (seasonally navigable by small craft)

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 29,405 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2023)
Stateless persons: 192 (2022)

Illicit drugs: Costa Rica remains a significant transshipment point for cocaine enroute to the United States from South America; a key transit point in international narcotics trafficking; transit and warehousing hub for illicit drug trafficking; growing domestic drug consumption problem; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics