Costa Rica

Costa Rica

Introduction

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.

Geography

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 references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total: 51,100 sq km
country comparison to the world: 130 land:51,060 sq km
water:40 sq km
note:includes Isla del Coco

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries

total: 639 km
border countries:Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 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 volcanoes

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
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

1,080 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

112.4 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 2.68cu km/yr (29%/17%/53%)
per capita:619cu m/yr (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. 1,670 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

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

Environment – 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
signed, but not ratified:Marine Life Conservation

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

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Costa Rican(s)
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%

Population

4,576,562 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123

Age structure

0-14 years: 24.6% (male 574,876/female 549,664)
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.)

Median age

total: 28.8 years
male:28.4 years
female:29.2 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.308% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90

Birth rate

16.54 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122

Death rate

4.33 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204

Net migration rate

0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55

Urbanization

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

Major cities – population

SAN JOSE (capital) 1.416 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/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.)

Maternal mortality rate

44 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 102

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.45 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 153 male:10.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female:8.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.72 years
country comparison to the world: 55 male:75.1 years
female:80.46 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.93 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

Health expenditures

10.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 25

Physicians density

1.32 physicians/1,000 population (2000)
country comparison to the world: 88

Hospital bed density

1.2 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 135

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 91% of population
total: 97% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 9% of population
total: 3% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 95% of population
rural: 96% of population
total: 95% of population
unimproved:
urban: 5% of population
rural: 4% of population
total: 5% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

9,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases:dengue fever (2009)

Education expenditures

6.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 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)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 11%
country comparison to the world: 97 male:9.6%
female:13.4% (2008)

Government

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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal and compulsory

Executive branch

chief of state: 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)

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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist Party affiliate)

Chamber of Coffee Growers

Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate)

Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party affiliate)

Costa Rican Exporter’s Chamber or CADEXCO

Costa Rican Solidarity Movement

Costa Rican Union of Private Sector Enterprises or UCCAEP [Rafael CARRILLO]

Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP

National Association for Economic Development or ANFE

National Association of Educators or ANDE

National Association of Public and Private Employees or ANEP [Albino VARGAS]

Rerum Novarum or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [Gilbert BROWN]

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
chancery:2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 234-2945 or 2946
FAX:[1] (202) 265-4795
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Anne Slaughter ANDREW
embassy:Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose
mailing address:APO AA 34020
telephone:[506] 2519-2000
FAX:[506] 2519-2305

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 symbol(s)

clay-colored robin known as Yiguirro

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 United States and United Kingdom

the lyrics were added in 1903

Economy

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$51.17 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91 $49.12 billion (2009 est.)
$49.76 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$35.78 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

4.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90 -1.3% (2009 est.)
2.7% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$11,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98 $11,000 (2009 est.)
$11,300 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 6.5%
industry:22.5%
services:71% (2010 est.)

Labor force

2.052 million
country comparison to the world: 119 note:this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica (2010 est.)

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 14%
industry:22%
services:64% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77 8.4% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

16% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%:39.4% (2009)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

50.3 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 23 45.9 (1997)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

Budget

revenues: $5.217 billion
expenditures:$7.083 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

14.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147

Public debt

42.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67 42.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161 7.8% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

21.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7 23% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17.091% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25 19.723% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.484 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104 $2.615 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$18.68 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84 $16.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$18.07 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84 $14.65 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.445 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 99 $1.452 billion (31 December 2009)
$1.887 billion (31 December 2008)

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.)
country comparison to the world: 134

Electricity – production

9.29 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92

Electricity – consumption

8.247 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91

Electricity – exports

166 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity – imports

70 million kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

263 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

Oil – consumption

47,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

Oil – exports

2,087 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112

Oil – imports

44,110 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Current account balance

-$1.299 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145 -$576 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$9.375 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90 $8.838 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar

beef

seafood

electronic components, medical equipment

Exports – partners

US 33.6%, China 11.7%, Netherlands 11.7%, UK 11.5% (2010)

Imports

$12.95 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82 $10.88 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum, construction materials

Imports – partners

US 40.1%, Mexico 6.6%, Japan 5.6%, China 5.3% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.627 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88 $4.066 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$9.239 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94 $8.59 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$13.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77 $12.39 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$88.3 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82 $544.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar -
513 (2010)
573.29 (2009)
530.41 (2008)
519.53 (2007)
511.3 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

151 (2010)
country comparison to the world:36

Airports – with paved runways

total: 39
2,438 to 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:2
914 to 1,523 m:23
under 914 m:12 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 112
914 to 1,523 m:18
under 914 m:94 (2010)

Pipelines

refined products 662 km (2010)

Railways

total: 278 km
country comparison to the world: 122 narrow gauge:278 km 1.067-m gauge
note:none of the railway network is in use (2010)

Roadways

total: 38,049 km
country comparison to the world: 94 paved:9,619 km
unpaved:28,430 km (2008)

Waterways

730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 75

Merchant marine

total: 1
country comparison to the world: 152 by type:passenger/cargo 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Caldera, Puerto Limon

Military

Military branches

no regular military forces

Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,255,798
females age 16-49:1,230,202 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,058,419
females age 16-49:1,037,053 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 42,201
female:40,444 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

0.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 155

Transnational Issues

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 (country of origin): 9,699-11,500 (Colombia) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Costa Rica is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor

Costa Rican women and children are subjected to sex trafficking within the country

women and girls from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and other Latin American countries have been identified in Costa Rica as victims of sex trafficking and forced domestic service

child sex tourism is a serious problem

Costa Rica is increasingly a destination for men from other Central American countries and from Asian countries subjected to conditions of forced labor, particularly in the agriculture, construction, and fishing sectors
tier rating:Tier 2 Watch List – Costa Rica did not demonstrate evidence of overall increasing efforts over the previous reporting period

authorities failed to convict or sentence any trafficking offenders, did not maintain specialized services or shelters for trafficking victims, and made limited efforts to raise public awareness about human trafficking

however, the government has made efforts including implementation of procedures to identify and assist trafficking victims, increased staffing of the anti-trafficking police unit, and the creation of a special team to identify potential trafficking victims among migrants (2011)

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)