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.

Land boundaries:

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

Natural resources: hydropower potential

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

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

Birth rate: 29 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 4 deaths/1000 population (1989)

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

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

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)

Literacy: 93%

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

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

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

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 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

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.

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.)

Unemployment rate: 6.2% (1987)

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

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Debt external: $4.3 billion (1988)

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)

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

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: NA

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

Pipelines: refined products, 176 km

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