Exports - commodities:petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds
Exports - partners:China 26.8%, Taiwan 19.2%, North Korea 8.4%, US 7.3%, France 5.5%,South Korea 4.8% (2004)
Imports:$749.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:France 32.7%, US 10.1%, Germany 6.2%, Italy 6%, China 5.2%,Netherlands 4.5% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$40.42 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$5 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$159.1 million (1995)
Currency (code):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 - 528.29(2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Congo, Republic of the
Telephones - main lines in use:7,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:330,000 (2003)
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: country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (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 hosts:46 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:15,000 (2003)
Transportation Congo, Republic of the
Railways: total: 894 km narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 12,800 km paved: 1,242 km unpaved: 11,558 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:4,385 km (on Congo and Oubanqui rivers) (2004)
Pipelines:gas 53 km; oil 646 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Brazzaville, Djeno, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire
Airports:32 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 28 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)
Military Congo, Republic of the
Military branches:Congolese Armed Forces (FAC): Army, Air Force (Armee de l'AirCongolaise), Navy, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard (2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 686,123 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 360,492 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 34,281 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$126.5 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.8% (2004)
Transnational Issues Congo, Republic of the
Disputes - international:about 7,000 Congolese refugees fleeing internal civil conflictssince the mid-1990s still reside in the Democratic Republic of theCongo; the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River withthe Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in thePool Malebo/Stanley Pool area
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 60,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992; most IDPs are ethnicLari) (2004)
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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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 kmland: 240 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:120 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA
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: 21,388 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate:NA
Birth rate:NA
Death rate:NA
Sex ratio:NA
Infant mortality rate:total: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Total fertility rate:NA children born/woman (2005 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:Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%, part Cook Island Maori 5.8%,other 6.5% (2001 census)
Religions:Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Roman Catholic 16.8%, SeventhDay Saint 7.9%, Church of Latter Day Saints 3.8%, other Protestant5.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3% (2001 census)
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 9 February 2001); NewZealand High Commissioner Kurt MEYER (since July 2001),representative of New Zealandhead of government: Prime Minister Jim MARURAI (since 14 December2004); Deputy Prime Minister Terepai MAOATE (since 9 August 2005)cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectivelyresponsible to Parliamentelections: 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 minister
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote toserve five-year terms)elections: last held 7 September 2004 (next to be held by 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -CIP 10, DAP 9, Demo Tumu 4, independent 1; note - one seat undecidedpending by-electionnote: 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 [TearikiHEATHER]; Demo Party Tumu [Robert WOONTON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFRCS, IOC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca,UNESCO, UPU, 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.)
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)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.2% (2000 est.)
Budget:revenues: $28 millionexpenditures: $27 million, including capital expenditures of $3.3million (FY00/01 est.)
Agriculture - products: copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry
Industries:fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:1% (2002)
Electricity - production:27 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:25.11 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:450 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
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:New Zealand 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 (code):New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:NZD
Exchange rates:New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003),2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001), 2.2012 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Cook Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:6,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,500 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers internationaldirect dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telexdomestic: 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: country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:14,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (outer islands receive satellite broadcasts) (2004)
Televisions:4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ck
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:3,600 (2002)
Transportation Cook Islands
Highways: total: 320 km paved: 33 km unpaved: 287 km (2000)
Ports and harbors:Avatiu
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,074 GRT/7,520 DWTby type: petroleum tanker 1 (2005)
Airports:9 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 71,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Cook Islands
Military branches:no regular military forces; Ministry of Police and DisasterManagement (2004)
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 20 October, 2005
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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 kmland: less than 3 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a seaarea of about 780,000 sq km, with the Willis Islets the mostimportant
Area - comparative:NA
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:3,095 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 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) (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km
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 (2005 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
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 20 October, 2005
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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:Central 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 kmland: 50,660 sq kmwater: 440 sq kmnote: 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); 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: 5.88% other: 89.71% (2001)
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, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
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:4,016,173 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28.9% (male 593,540/female 566,361)15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,330,481/female 1,300,664)65 years and over: 5.6% (male 104,564/female 120,563) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 26.03 yearsmale: 25.59 yearsfemale: 26.5 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.48% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:18.6 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:4.33 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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 (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 9.95 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 10.85 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.84 yearsmale: 74.26 yearsfemale: 79.55 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.28 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:12,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:900 (2003 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 long form: Republica de Costa Ricalocal short form: 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 8 May 2002); Second VicePresident (vacant); note - the president is both the chief of stateand head of governmenthead of government: President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); FirstVice President Lineth SABORIO (since 8 May 2002); Second VicePresident (vacant); note - the president is both the chief of stateand 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 February2006)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; note - seats by party as ofJanuary 2005 - PUSC 19, PLN 16, PAC 8, PML 5, PRC 1, Patriotic Union3, Homeland First 1, Authentic Member from Heredia 1, DemocraticNational Alliance 1, independent 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected foreight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Authentic Member from Heredia [Jose SALAS]; Citizen Action Party orPAC [Otton SOLIS]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [JustoOROZCO]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Juan Carlos CHAVES Mora];Democratic National Alliance [Emilia RODRIGUEZ]; General Union Partyor PUGEN [Carlos Alberto FERNANDEZ Vega]; Homeland First [Juan JoseVARGAS]; Independent Worker Party or PIO [Jose Alberto CUBEROCarmona]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth];National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Victor GONZALEZ]; NationalIntegration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; NationalLiberation Party or PLN [Francisco Antonio PACHECO]; NationalPatriotic Party or PPN [Daniel Enrique REYNOLDS Vargas]; NationalRescue Party or PRN [Carlos VARGAS Solano]; Patriotic Union[Humberto ARCE]; Popular Vanguard [Trino BARRANTES Araya]; SocialChristian Unity Party or PUSC [Lorena VASQUEZ Badilla]
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, 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), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Tomas DUENASchancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), andTampaconsulate(s): Austin
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Douglas M.BARNESembassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Josemailing address: APO AA 34020telephone: [506] 220-3939FAX: [506] 519-2305
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. Foreign investors remain attracted by thecountry's political stability and high education levels, and tourismcontinues to bring in foreign exchange. Low prices for coffee andbananas have hurt the agricultural sector. The government continuesto grapple with its large deficit and massive internal debt. Thereduction of inflation remains a difficult problem because of risesin the price of imports, labor market rigidities, and fiscaldeficits. The country also needs to reform its tax system and itspattern of public expenditure. Costa Rica recently concludednegotiations to participate in the US-Central American Free TradeAgreement, which, if ratified by the Costa Rican Legislature, wouldresult in economic reforms and an improved investment climate.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$37.97 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $9,600 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.5% industry: 29.7% services: 61.8% (2004 est.)
Labor force:1.81 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.6% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:18% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.1% highest 10%: 36.8% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:45.9 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):11.5% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.497 billionexpenditures: $3.094 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:58% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes;beef; timber
Industries:microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing,construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate:3.1% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:6.614 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.5% hydro: 81.9% nuclear: 0% other: 16.6% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:5.733 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:477 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:59 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:37,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Current account balance:$-980.3 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$6.184 billion (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, bananas, sugar; pineapples; textiles, electroniccomponents, medical equipment
Exports - partners:US 46.9%, Netherlands 5.3%, Guatemala 4.4% (2004)
Imports:$7.842 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
Imports - partners:US 46.1%, Japan 5.9%, Mexico 5.1%, Brazil 4.2% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.736 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$5.962 billion (2004 est.)
Currency (code):Costa Rican colon (CRC)
Currency code:CRC
Exchange rates:Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 437.91 (2004), 398.66 (2003),359.82 (2002), 328.87 (2001), 308.19 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Costa Rica
Telephones - main lines in use:1.132 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:528,047 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: good domestic telephone service in terms ofbreadth of coverage; restricted cellular telephone servicedomestic: point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave,fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service isavailableinternational: country code - 506; connected to Central AmericanMicrowave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean); two submarine cables (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002)
Radios:980,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)
Televisions:525,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.cr
Internet hosts:10,826 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (of which only one is legal) (2000)
Internet users:800,000 (2002)
Transportation Costa Rica
Railways: total: 278 km narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 35,303 km paved: 4,236 km unpaved: 31,067 km (2002)
Waterways:730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2004)
Pipelines:refined products 242 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Caldera, Puerto Limon
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,716 GRT/ DWTby type: passenger/cargo 2 (2005)
Airports:149 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 30 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 119 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 95 (2004 est.)
Military Costa Rica
Military branches:no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security,Government, and Police
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 997,690 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 829,874 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 41,097 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$64.2 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.4% (2003)
Transnational Issues Costa Rica
Disputes - international: legal dispute over navigational rights of Rio San Juan on the border with Nicaragua remains unresolved
Illicit drugs:transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America;illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots; domesticcocaine consumption, particularly crack cocaine, is rising
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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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.Ivorian dissidents and disaffected members of the military launcheda failed coup attempt in September 2002. Rebel forces claimed thenorthern half of the country and in January 2003 were grantedministerial positions in a unity government under the auspices ofthe Linas-Marcoussis Peace Accord. President GBAGBO and rebel forcesresumed implementation of the peace accord in December 2003 after athree-month stalemate, but issues that sparked the civil war, suchas land reform and grounds for nationality remain unresolved. Thecentral government has yet to exert control over the northernregions and tensions remain high between GBAGBO and rebel leaders.Several thousand French and West African troops remain in Coted'Ivoire to maintain peace and facilitate the disarmament,demobilization, and rehabilitation process.
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 kmland: 318,000 sq kmwater: 4,460 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:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 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, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoabeans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower
Land use:arable land: 9.75%permanent crops: 13.84%other: 76.41% (2001)
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 inWest Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewageand industrial and agricultural effluents
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94, Wetlandssigned, 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:17,298,040note: 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 (July2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41% (male 3,490,536/female 3,596,208)15-64 years: 56.3% (male 4,920,726/female 4,820,326)65 years and over: 2.7% (male 231,514/female 238,730) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 19.05 yearsmale: 19.36 yearsfemale: 18.76 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.06% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:35.51 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:14.94 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 90.83 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 107.64 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 73.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 48.62 yearsmale: 46.05 yearsfemale: 51.27 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.58 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:570,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:47,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria, yellow fever, and others are highrisks in some locationswater contact: schistosomiasis (2004)
Nationality:noun: Ivoirian(s)adjective: Ivoirian
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 and14,000 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 long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoirelocal short form: Cote d'Ivoireformer: Ivory Coast
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:19 regions; Agneby, Bafing, Bas-Sassandra, Denguele, Dix-HuitMontagnes, Fromager, Haut-Sassandra, Lacs, Lagunes, Marahoue,Moyen-Cavally, Moyen-Comoe, N'zi-Comoe, Savanes, Sud-Bandama,Sud-Comoe, Vallee du Bandama, Worodougou, Zanzan
Independence:7 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 7 August (1960)
Constitution:new constitution adopted 4 August 2000
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);head 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 October 2005);prime minister 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 October 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -FPI 96, PDCI-RDA 94, RDR 5, PIT 4, other 2, independents 22, vacant 2note: a Senate is scheduled to be created in the next full electionin 2005
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:Citizen's Democratic Union or UDCY [Eg Theodore MEL]; DemocraticParty of Cote d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally or PDCI-RDA [HenriKonan BEDIE]; Ivorian Popular Front or FPI [Laurent GBAGBO]; IvorianWorker's Party or PIT [Francis WODIE]; Rally of the Republicans orRDR [Alassane OUATTARA]; Union for Democracy and Peace or UDPCI[Paul Akoto YAO]; over 20 smaller parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, 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, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL,WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Daouda DIABATE chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300 FAX: [1] (202) 462-9444
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Aubrey HOOKSembassy: 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 weather conditions. Despite government attempts todiversify the economy, it is still heavily dependent on agricultureand related activities, engaging 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 to 5% annual growth during1996-99. Growth was negative in 2000-03 because of the difficulty ofmeeting the conditions of international donors, continued low pricesof key exports, and severe civil war. In November 2004 the situationdeteriorated when President GBAGBO's troops attacked and killed nineFrench peacekeeping forces, and the UN imposed an arms embargo.Political uncertainty has clouded the economic outlook for 2005,with fear among Ivorians spreading, foreign investment shriveling,businessmen fleeing, travel within the country falling, and criminalelements that traffic in weapons and diamonds gaining ground.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$24.78 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 27.8% industry: 19.4% services: 52.8% (2004 est.)
Labor force:6.7 million (68% agricultural) (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:13% in urban areas (1998)
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):1.4% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):11.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.412 billionexpenditures: $2.767 billion, including capital expenditures of $420million (2004 est.)
Public debt:74.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc(tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber
Industries:foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, truck and busassembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity,ship construction and repair
Industrial production growth rate:15% (1998 est.)
Electricity - production:4.759 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 61.9% hydro: 38.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.976 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:1.45 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)