<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Costa Rica<nl>Economy</hdr><body>
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<item><hi format=bold>Overview:</hi> In 1993 the economy grew at an estimated 6.5%, compared with 7.7% in 1992 and 2.1% in 1991. Increases in agricultural production (coffee and bananas), nontraditional exports, and tourism are responsible for much of the growth. 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 4.0%, but much underemployment remains.
<item><hi format=bold>National product:</hi> GDP—purchasing power equivalent—$19.3 billion (1993 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>National product real growth rate:</hi> 6.5% (1993 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>National product per capita:</hi> $5,900 (1993 est.)
<item>• <hi format=ital>consumption per capita:</hi> 1,130 kWh (1992)
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<item><hi format=bold>Industries:</hi> food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
<item><hi format=bold>Agriculture:</hi> 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
<item><hi format=bold>Illicit drugs:</hi> transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis on small scattered plots
<item><hi format=bold>Economic aid:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>recipient:</hi> US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.4 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $935 million; Communist countries (1971-89), $27 million
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<item><hi format=bold>Currency:</hi> 1 Costa Rican colon (C)=100 centimos