GDP:purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 10%industry: 48%services: 42% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:NA
Unemployment rate:NA%
Budget:revenues: $870 millionexpenditures: $970 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1997 est.)
Industries:petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil,soap, flour, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate:0% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:358.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.3% hydro: 99.7% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:633 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:300 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:275,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:93.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:495.5 million cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products
Exports:$2.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds
Exports - partners:Taiwan 28.1%, South Korea 20.4%, China 9.3%, US 8.4%, Germany 6.6%,France 5.2% (2002)
Imports:$730 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:France 22.1%, Italy 8.5%, Belgium 6%, US 5.2%, India 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:$5 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$159.1 million (1995)
Currency:Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsibleauthority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:XAF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 697(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Congo, Republic of the
Telephones - main lines in use:22,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:3,300 (1998)
Telephone system:general assessment: services barely adequate for government use;key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo;intercity lines frequently out of orderdomestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay andcoaxial cableinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)
Radios:341,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:33,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.cg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:500 (2001)
Transportation Congo, Republic of the
Railways: total: 894 km narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 12,800 km paved: 1,242 km unpaved: 11,558 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:1,120 kmnote: the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) rivers provide 1,120 km ofcommercially navigable water transport; other rivers are used forlocal traffic only
Pipelines:gas 53 km; oil 673 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire
Airports:31 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 11 (2002)
Military Congo, Republic of the
Military branches:Army, Air Force, Navy, Gendarmerie, National Police
Military manpower - military age:20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 754,814 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 381,556 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 31,644 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$84 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.8% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Congo, Republic of the
Disputes - international:most of the Congo River boundary with the Democratic Republic ofthe Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on thedivision of the river or its islands, except in the StanleyPool/Pool Malebo area)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Cook Islands
Introduction Cook Islands
Background:Named after Captain Cook, who sighted them in 1770, the islandsbecame a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrativecontrol was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965 residents choseself-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigrationof skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits arecontinuing problems.
Geography Cook Islands
Location:Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, aboutone-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:21 14 S, 159 46 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 240 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 240 sq km
Area - comparative:1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:120 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental marginterritorial sea: 12 NMexclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain:low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Te Manga 652 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use:arable land: 17.39%permanent crops: 13.04%other: 69.57% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:typhoons (November to March)
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Law of the Seasigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated,coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands consist of eight elevated,fertile, volcanic isles where most of the populace lives
People Cook Islands
Population: 21,008 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Population growth rate:NA% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:NA (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: NA%male: NA%female: NA%
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NA yearsmale: NA yearsfemale: NA years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Cook Islander(s)adjective: Cook Islander
Ethnic groups:Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%,Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%
Religions:Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook IslandsChristian Church)
Languages:English (official), Maori
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Cook Islands
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Cook Islandsformer: Harvey Islands
Dependency status:self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islandsis fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retainsresponsibility for external affairs and defense, in consultationwith the Cook Islands
Government type:self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital:Avarua
Administrative divisions:none
Independence:none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to fullindependence by unilateral action)
National holiday:Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)
Constitution:4 August 1965
Legal system:based on New Zealand law and English common law
Suffrage:NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Frederick GOODWIN (since NA); New Zealand HighCommissioner Kurt MEYER (since NA), representative of New Zealandelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative isappointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner isappointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of themajority coalition usually becomes prime ministerhead of government: Prime Minister Dr. Robert WOONTON (since 12February 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Ngamau MUNOKOA (since 5November 2003)cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectivelyresponsible to Parliament
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote toserve five-year terms)elections: last held 16 June 1999 (next to be held by NA 2004)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -CIP 12, DAP 12, NAP 1note: the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters andmaintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers
Judicial branch:High Court
Political parties and leaders:Cook Islands People's Party or CIP [Geoffrey HENRY]; DemocraticAlliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP[Norman GEORGE]; Cook Islands National Party or CIN [Teariki HEATHER]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFRCS(associate), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Flag description:blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant anda large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island)centered in the outer half of the flag
Economy Cook Islands
Economy - overview:Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands'economic development is hindered by the isolation of the countryfrom foreign markets, the limited size of domestic markets, lack ofnatural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, andinadequate infrastructure. Agriculture provides the economic basewith major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Manufacturingactivities are limited to fruit processing, clothing, andhandicrafts. Trade deficits are offset by remittances from emigrantsand by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980sand 1990s, the country lived beyond its means, maintaining a bloatedpublic service and accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequentreforms, including the sale of state assets, the strengthening ofeconomic management, the encouragement of tourism, and a debtrestructuring agreement, have rekindled investment and growth.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $105 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.1% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 17%industry: 7.8%services: 75.2% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.2% (2000 est.)
Labor force:8,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56% note: shortage of skilled labor (1995)
Unemployment rate:13% (1996)
Budget:revenues: $28 millionexpenditures: $27 million, including capital expenditures of $3.3million (FY 00/01 est.)
Industries:fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:1% (2002)
Electricity - production:27.43 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:25.51 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:450 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry
Exports:$9.1 million (2000)
Exports - commodities:copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearlsand pearl shells; clothing
Exports - partners:Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2000)
Imports:$50.7 million (2000)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
Imports - partners:NZ 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2000)
Debt - external:$141 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$13.1 million; note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greaterpart (1995)
Currency:New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:NZD
Exchange rates:New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.3535 (January 2002), 2.3776(2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Cook Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:5,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:0 (1994)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: the individual islands are connected by a combination ofsatellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HFradiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by smallexchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, andfiber-optic cableinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:14,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ck
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Cook Islands
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 320 km paved: 33 km unpaved: 287 km (2000)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Avarua, Avatiu
Airports:7 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 61,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Military Cook Islands
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation withthe Cook Islands and at its request
Transnational Issues Cook Islands
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Coral Sea Islands
Introduction Coral Sea Islands
Background:Scattered over some 1 million square kilometers of ocean, the CoralSea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They areuninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on the WillisIslets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupymany other islands and reefs.
Geography Coral Sea Islands
Location:Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates:18 00 S, 152 00 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: less than 3 sq kmnote: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a seaarea of about 780,000 sq km, with the Willis Islets the mostimportantwater: 0 sq kmland: less than 3 sq km
Area - comparative:NA
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:3,095 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM
Climate:tropical
Terrain:sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:occasional tropical cyclones
Environment - current issues:no permanent fresh water resources
Geography - note:important nesting area for birds and turtles
People Coral Sea Islands
Population:no indigenous inhabitantsnote: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorologicalstation (July 2003 est.)
Government Coral Sea Islands
Country name:conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territoryconventional short form: Coral Sea Islands
Dependency status:territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by theDepartment of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Legal system:the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment,Sport, and Territories
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:the flag of Australia is used
Economy Coral Sea Islands
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Communications Coral Sea Islands
Communications - note:there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefsrelaying data to the mainland
Transportation Coral Sea Islands
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Military Coral Sea Islands
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly bythe Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activitiesof visitors
Transnational Issues Coral Sea Islands
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Costa Rica
Introduction Costa Rica
Background:Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the late 19thcentury, only two brief periods of violence have marred itsdemocratic development. Although still a largely agriculturalcountry, it has expanded its economy to include strong technologyand tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Landownership is widespread.
Geography Costa Rica
Location:Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the NorthPacific 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 kmwater: 440 sq kmnote: includes Isla del Cocoland: 50,660 sq km
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: continental shelf: 200 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainyseason (May to November); cooler in highlands
Terrain:coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Natural resources:hydropower
Land use: arable land: 4.41% permanent crops: 5.48% other: 90.11% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:1,260 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequentflooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; activevolcanoes
Environment - current issues:deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearingof land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastalmarine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; airpollution
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine LifeConservation
Geography - note:four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of SanJose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu,erupted destructively in 1963-65
People Costa Rica
Population:3,896,092 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 30.1% (male 600,812; female 573,375)15-64 years: 64.4% (male 1,269,667; female 1,241,097)65 years and over: 5.4% (male 98,156; female 112,985) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 25.4 yearsmale: 24.9 yearsfemale: 25.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.56% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:19.4 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 10.56 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 9.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 11.49 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.43 yearsmale: 73.87 yearsfemale: 79.11 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.38 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:11,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:890 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Costa Rican(s)adjective: Costa Rican
Ethnic groups:white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%,other 1%
Religions:Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%,other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%
Languages:Spanish (official), English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96%male: 95.9%female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
Government Costa Rica
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Costa Ricaconventional short form: Costa Ricalocal short form: Costa Ricalocal long form: Republica de 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:7 November 1949
Legal system:based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislativeacts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); FirstVice President Lineth SABORIO (since NA May 2002); Second VicePresident Luis FISHMAN (since NA May 2002); note - the president isboth the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); FirstVice President Lineth SABORIO (since NA May 2002); Second VicePresident Luis FISHMAN (since NA May 2002); note - the president isboth the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet selected by the presidentelections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 February2002; run-off election held 7 April 2002 (next to be held NAFebruary 2006)election results: Abel PACHECO elected president; percent of vote -Abel PACHECO (PUSC) 58%; Rolando ARAYA (PLN) 42%
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats;members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 3 February 2002 (next to be held 3 February2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -PUSC 19, PLN 17, PAC 14, PML 6, PRC 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected foreight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Agricultural Labor Action or PALA [Carlos Alberto SOLIS Blanco];Citizen Action Party or PAC [Otton SOLIS]; Costa Rican RenovationParty or PRC [Justo OROZCO]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Jose M.NUNEZ]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth];National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Alejandro MADRIGAL];National Independent Party or PNI [Jorge GONZALEZ Marten]; NationalIntegration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; NationalLiberation Party or PLN [Sonia PICADO]; Social Christian Unity Partyor PUSC [Luis Manuel CHACON]note: mainly a two-party system - PUSC and PLN - until the 3February 2002 election in which the PAC captured a significantpercentage, forcing a run-off in April 2002
Political pressure groups and leaders:Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (CommunistParty affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; Confederated Union ofWorkers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate); Costa RicanConfederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Partyaffiliate); Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP; NationalAssociation for Economic Development or ANFE; National Associationof Educators or ANDE; Rerum Novarum or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [GilbertBrown]
International organization participation:BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL,OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime DAREMBLUM Rosensteinchancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Durham (NorthCarolina), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York,Phoenix, San Antonio, San Francisco, St. Paul, and Tampaconsulate(s): AustinFAX: [1] (202) 265-4795telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John J. DANILOVICH embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020 telephone: [506] 220-3939 FAX: [506] 220-2305
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 onthe hoist side of the red band; above the coat of arms a light blueribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just below it nearthe top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the words,REPUBLICA COSTA RICA
Economy Costa Rica
Economy - overview:Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism,agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantiallyreduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net hasbeen put into place. At the same time, distribution of incomeremains severely unequal. Foreign investors remain attracted by thecountry's political stability and high education levels, and tourismcontinues to bring in foreign exchange. However, traditional exportsectors have not kept pace. Low coffee prices and an overabundanceof bananas have hurt the agricultural sector. The governmentcontinues to grapple with its large deficit and massive internaldebt, with the need to modernize the state-owned electricity andtelecommunications sector, and with the problem of bringing downinflation.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $32 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $8,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9% industry: 30% services: 61% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.6% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 34.6% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:45.9 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:1.9 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.3% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.91 billionexpenditures: $2.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2000 est.)
Industries:microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing,construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate:2.9% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:6.839 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.5% hydro: 81.9% other: 16.6% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:6.109 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:379 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:128 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:37,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber
Exports: $5.1 billion (2002)
Exports - commodities: coffee, bananas, sugar; pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment
Exports - partners:US 31.5%, Netherlands 8.9%, UK 4.5% (2002)
Imports:$6.4 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities:raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
Imports - partners:US 36.7%, Japan 4.4%, Mexico 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:$4.8 billion (2002 est.)
Currency:Costa Rican colon (CRC)
Currency code:CRC
Exchange rates:Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 359.82 (2002), 328.87 (2001),308.19 (2000), 285.69 (1999), 257.23 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Costa Rica
Telephones - main lines in use:450,000 (1998)note: 584,000 installed in 1997, but only about 450,000 were in usein 1998
Telephones - mobile cellular:143,000 (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: very good domestic telephone servicedomestic: point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave,fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service isavailableinternational: connected to Central American Microwave System;satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); twosubmarine cables (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 50, FM 43, shortwave 19 (1998)
Radios:980,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:6 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:525,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.cr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (of which only one is legal) (2000)
Internet users:384,000 (2002)
Transportation Costa Rica
Railways: total: 950 km narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified) (2002)
Highways: total: 35,892 km paved: 7,896 km unpaved: 27,996 km (2000)
Waterways:730 km (seasonally navigable)
Pipelines:refined products 421 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,716 GRT/ DWTships by type: passenger 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:151 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 30 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 121 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 93 (2002)
Military Costa Rica
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; Air Section, Ministry ofPublic Forces (Fuerza Publica)
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,080,254 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 722,043 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 41,453 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$69 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.6% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Costa Rica
Disputes - international: legal dispute over navigational rights of Rio San Juan on border with Nicaragua
Illicit drugs:transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America;illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots; domesticcocaine consumption is rising, particularly crack cocaine
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Cote d'Ivoire
Introduction Cote d'Ivoire
Background:Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the development ofcocoa production for export, and foreign investment made Coted'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the tropical African states,but did not protect it from political turmoil. On 25 December 1999,a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history -overthrew the government led by President Henri Konan BEDIE. Juntaleader Robert GUEI held elections in late 2000, but excludedprominent opposition leader Alassane OUATTARA, blatantly rigged thepolling results, and declared himself winner. Popular protest forcedGUEI to step aside and brought runner-up Laurent GBAGBO into power.GBAGBO spent his first two years in office trying to consolidatepower to strengthen his weak mandate, but he was unable to appeasehis opponents, who launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002.Rebel forces claimed the northern half of the country and in January2003 were granted ministerial positions in a unity government.However, the central government has yet to exert control over thenorthern regions and tension remains high between GBAGBO and rebelleaders. Several thousand French and West African troops remain inCote d'Ivoire to maintain peace and help implement the peace accords.
Geography Cote d'Ivoire
Location:Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghanaand Liberia
Geographic coordinates:8 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 322,460 sq kmwater: 4,460 sq kmland: 318,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:total: 3,110 kmborder countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km,Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km
Coastline:515 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200 NMexclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warmand dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet(June to October)
Terrain:mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 mhighest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt,bauxite, copper, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 9.28% permanent crops: 13.84% other: 76.88% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:730 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainyseason torrential flooding is possible
Environment - current issues: deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apartfrom the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated
People Cote d'Ivoire
Population:16,962,491note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 45.4% (male 3,796,393; female 3,902,210)15-64 years: 52.4% (male 4,541,997; female 4,347,531)65 years and over: 2.2% (male 179,323; female 195,037) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 17 yearsmale: 17.3 yearsfemale: 16.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.15% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:40.01 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:18.41 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 98.33 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 80.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 115.29 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 42.65 yearsmale: 40.34 yearsfemale: 45.04 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.51 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:9.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:770,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:75,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Ivorian(s)adjective: Ivorian
Ethnic groups:Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8% (includes 130,000 Lebanese and20,000 French) (1998)
Religions:Christian 20-30%, Muslim 35-40%, indigenous 25-40% (2001)note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim(70%) and Christian (20%)
Languages:French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widelyspoken
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 50.9%male: 57.9%female: 43.6% (2003 est.)
Government Cote d'Ivoire
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoireconventional short form: Cote d'Ivoirelocal short form: Cote d'Ivoireformer: Ivory Coastlocal long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire
Government type:republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960
Capital:Yamoussoukro; note - although Yamoussoukro has been the officialcapital since 1983, Abidjan remains the commercial andadministrative center; the US, like other countries, maintains itsEmbassy in Abidjan
Administrative divisions:58 departments (departements, singular - departement); Abengourou,Abidjan, Aboisso, Adiake, Adzope, Agboville, Agnibilekrou, Alepe,Bocanda, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou, Bouafle,Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Dabou, Daloa, Danane, Daoukro,Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Bassam,Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Jacqueville, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota,Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro,Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tiebissou,Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toulepleu, Toumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro,Zuenoula
Independence:7 August (1960) (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 7 August (1960)
Constitution:3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time 27 July1998
Legal system:based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial reviewin the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Laurent GBAGBO (since 26 October 2000);note - took power following a popular overthrow of the interimleader Gen. Robert GUEI who had claimed a dubious victory inpresidential elections; Gen. GUEI himself had assumed power on 25December 1999, following a military coup against the government offormer President Henri Konan BEDIEhead of government: Prime Minister Seydou DIARRA (since 25 January2003); note - appointed as transitional Prime Minister by PresidentGBAGBO as part of a French brokered peace plancabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 26 October 2000 (next to be held NA 2005); primeminister appointed by the presidentelection results: Laurent GBAGBO elected president; percent of vote- Laurent GBAGBO 59.4%, Robert GUEI 32.7%, Francis WODIE 5.7%, other2.2%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (225 seats;members are elected in single- and multi-district elections bydirect popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: elections last held 10 December 2000 with by-elections on14 January 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)note: a Senate is scheduled to be created in the next full electionin 2005election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -FPI 96, PDCI-RDA 94, RDR 5, PIT 4, other 2, independents 22, vacant 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consists of four chambers: JudicialChamber for criminal cases, Audit Chamber for financial cases,Constitutional Chamber for judicial review cases, and AdministrativeChamber for civil cases; there is no legal limit to the number ofmembers
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally orPDCI-RDA [Aime Henri Konan BEDIE]; Ivorian Popular Front or FPI[Laurent GBAGBO]; Ivorian Worker's Party or PIT [Francis WODIE];Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Alassane OUATTARA]; Union forDemocracy and Peace or UDPCI [leader NA]; over 20 smaller parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC,OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU,WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pascal Dago KOKORA chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 FAX: [1] (202) 462-9444 telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Arlene RENDERembassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjanmailing address: B. P. 1712, Abidjan 01telephone: [225] 20 21 09 79FAX: [225] 20 22 32 59
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, andgreen; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has thecolors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; alsosimilar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white,and red; design was based on the flag of France
Economy Cote d'Ivoire
Economy - overview:Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest producers and exportersof coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil. Consequently, the economy ishighly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for theseproducts and to weather conditions. Despite government attempts todiversify the economy, it is still largely dependent on agricultureand related activities, which engage roughly 68% of the population.After several years of lagging performance, the Ivorian economybegan a comeback in 1994, due to the 50% devaluation of the CFAfranc and improved prices for cocoa and coffee, growth innontraditional primary exports such as pineapples and rubber,limited trade and banking liberalization, offshore oil and gasdiscoveries, and generous external financing and debt reschedulingby multilateral lenders and France. Moreover, government adherenceto donor-mandated reforms led to a jump in growth to 5% annuallyduring 1996-99. Growth was negative in 2000-02 because of thedifficulty of meeting the conditions of international donors,continued low prices of key exports, and severe civil war fighting.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $24.03 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-1.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 29% industry: 22% services: 49% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 37% (1995)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 28.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:36.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:68% agricultural (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:13% in urban areas (1998)
Budget:revenues: $1.72 billionexpenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $420million (2001 est.)