Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/58.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 12KB | 320 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Costa.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Costa Rica"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Costa Rica, click {z,"-86.126067,4.246790,-73.876013,13.572054",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean,
between Nicaragua and Panama

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 51,100 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 50,660 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly smaller than West Virginia
{3}note:{4} includes Isla del Coco

{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 639 km
{3}border countries:{4} Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 1,290 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}exclusive economic zone:{4} 200 nm
{3}territorial sea:{4} 12 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} none

{2}Climate:{4} tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November)

{2}Terrain:{4} coastal plains separated by rugged mountains
{3}lowest point:{4} Pacific Ocean 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} hydropower potential

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 6%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 7%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 45%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 34%
{3}other:{4} 8%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} 1,180 sq km (1989 est.)

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} deforestation, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching; soil erosion

{2}natural hazards:{4} occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of
lowlands at onset of rainy season; active volcanoes

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of
the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not
ratified - Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 3,463,083 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 35% (male 612,624; female 582,566)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 61% (male 1,061,703; female 1,038,403)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 4% (male 77,773; female 90,014) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 2.06% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 23.84 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 4.14 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} 0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 1.02 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.86 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 13.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 75.72 years
{3}male:{4} 73.31 years
{3}female:{4} 78.24 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 2.9 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Costa Rican(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Costa Rican

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%, Indian 1%, Chinese 1%

{2}Religions:{4} Roman Catholic 95%

{2}Languages:{4} Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 94.8%
{3}male:{4} 94.7%
{3}female:{4} 95%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Republic of Costa Rica
{3}conventional short form:{4} Costa Rica
{3}local long form:{4} Republica de Costa Rica
{3}local short form:{4} Costa Rica

{2}Type of government:{4} democratic republic

{2}Capital:{4} San Jose

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago,
Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose

{2}Independence:{4} 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

{2}National holiday:{4} Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

{2}Constitution:{4} 9 November 1949

{2}Legal system:{4} based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the
Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

{2}Executive branch:{4}
chief of state and head of government: President Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (since 8 May
1994), First Vice President Rodrigo OREAMUNO Blanco (since 8 May 1994), Second Vice
President Rebeca GRYNSPAN Mayufis (since 8 May 1994) were elected for four-year terms by
universal suffrage; election last held 6 February 1994 (next to be held NA February 1998); results
- President FIGUERES (PLN) 49.7%, Miquel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 47.5%
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet selected by the president

{2}Legislative branch:{4} unicameral
Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa): elections last held 6 February 1994 (next to be held
NA February 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (61 total) PLN 28, PUSC 29,
minority parties 4

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), justices are elected for eight-year terms by the
Legislative Assembly

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} National Liberation Party (PLN), Rolando ARAYA; Social Christian
Unity Party (PUSC), Rafael Angel CALDERON Fournier; Marxist Popular Vanguard Party (PVP),
Humberto VARGAS Carbonell; New Republic Movement (MNR), Sergio Erick ARDON Ramirez;
People's Party of Costa Rica (PPC), Lenin CHACON Vargas; Radical Democratic Party (PRD),
Juan Jose ECHEVERRIA Brealey; Democratic Force Party (FD), Isaac Felipe AZOFEIFA
Bolanos

{2}Other political or pressure groups:{4} Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers (CCTD),
Liberation Party affiliate; Confederated Union of Workers (CUT), Communist Party affiliate;
Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers (CATD), Communist Party affiliate; Chamber of
Coffee Growers; National Association for Economic Development (ANFE); Free Costa Rica
Movement (MCRL), rightwing militants; National Association of Educators (ANDE); Federation of
Public Service Workers (FTSP)

{2}International organization participation:{4} AG (observer), BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Sonia PICADO
{3}chancery:{4} 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}consulate(s) general:{4} Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Durham, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto
Rico)
consulate(s): Austin

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Peter Jon DE VOS
{3}embassy:{4} Pavas Road, San Jose
{3}mailing address:{4} APO AA 34020
{3}telephone:{4} [506] 220-3939
{3}FAX:{4} [506] 220-2305

{2}Flag:{4} 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


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} Costa Rica's basically stable and progressive economy depends especially
on tourism and the export of bananas, coffee, and other agricultural products. Recent trends have
been disappointing. Economic growth slipped from 4.3% in 1994 to 2.5% in 1995, the lowest rate
of growth since 1991's 2.1%. Inflation rose dramatically to 22.5% from 13.5% in 1994, well above
the government's own projection of 18%. Unemployment rose from 4.0% in 1994 to 5.2% in 1995,
and substantial underemployment continues. These economic woes are likely to be exacerbated
in 1996 by a standby arrangement reached with the IMF on 29 November 1995. To restore fiscal
balance, the government agreed to curb inflation, reduce the fiscal deficit, increase domestic
savings, and improve public sector efficiency while increasing the role of the private sector. Costa
Rica signed a free trade agreement with Mexico in 1994.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $18.4 billion (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 2.5% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $5,400 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} NA%
{3}industry:{4} NA%
{3}services:{4} NA%

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 22.5% (1995 est.)

{2}Labor force:{4} 868,300
{3}by occupation:{4} industry and commerce 35.1%, government and services 33%, agriculture 27%,
other 4.9% (1985 est.)

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 5.2% (1995 est.); much underemployment

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $1.1 billion
{3}expenditures:{4} $1.34 billion, including capital expenditures of $110 million (1991 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} 10.5% (1992)

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 1,040,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 4.1 billion kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 1,164 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} coffee, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber (depletion of forest
resources has resulted in declining timber output)

{2}Illicit drugs:{4} transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of
cannabis on small, scattered plots

{2}Exports:{4} $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar
{3}partners:{4} US, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, El Salvador, Netherlands, UK, France

{2}Imports:{4} $3 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
{3}partners:{4} US, Japan, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, Germany

{2}External debt:{4} $4 billion (1995 est.)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $NA

{2}Currency:{4} 1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos

{2}Exchange rates:{4} Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1 - 193.93 (December 1995), 179.73 (1995),
157.07 (1994), 142.17 (1993), 134.51 (1992), 122.43 (1991)

{2}Fiscal year:{4} calendar year


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 950 km
narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified)
{3}note:{4} the entire system was scheduled to be shut down on 31 June !995 because of insolvency

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 35,560 km
{3}paved:{4} 5,608 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 29,952 km (1992 est.)

{2}Waterways:{4} about 730 km, seasonally navigable

{2}Pipelines:{4} petroleum products 176 km

{2}Ports:{4} Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas

{2}Merchant marine:{4} none

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 145
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 2
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 16
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 97
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 29 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 281,042 (1983 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4} very good domestic telephone service
{3}domestic:{4} NA
{3}international:{4} connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 71, FM 0, shortwave 13

{2}Radios:{4} NA

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 18

{2}Televisions:{4} 340,000 (1993 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Civil Guard, Coast Guard, Air Section, Rural Assistance Guard; note - the Constitution
prohibits armed forces

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 917,566
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 616,420
{3}males reach military age (18) annually:{4} 33,504 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $55 million, 2.0% of GDP (1995)