Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (66 seats; members areelected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the NationalAssembly (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 11 July 2002 (next to be held July2007); National Assembly - last held 27 May and 26 June 2002 (nextto be held by May 2007)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - FDP 56, other 10; National Assembly - percent of vote byparty - NA; seats by party - FDP 83, UDR 6, UPADS 3, other 45
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:the most important of the many parties are the Democratic andPatriotic Forces or FDP [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president] (analliance of Convention for Alternative Democracy, Congolese LaborParty or PCT, Liberal Republican Party, National Union for Democracyand Progress, Patriotic Union for the National Reconstruction, andUnion for the National Renewal); Congolese Movement for Democracyand Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Pan-AfricanUnion for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Rally forDemocracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre ThystereTCHICAYA, president]; Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR[Raymond Damasge NGOLLO]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR;Union of Democratic Forces or UFD [Sebastian EBAO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC; General Union of CongolesePupils and Students or UGEEC; Revolutionary Union of Congolese Womenor URFC; Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSC
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW (signatory), UN, UN Security Council(temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULIchancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Robert WEISBERGembassy: NAmailing address: NAtelephone: [243] (88) 43608note: the embassy is temporarily collocated with the US Embassy inthe Democratic Republic of the Congo (US Embassy Kinshasa, 310Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa)
Flag description:divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; theupper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red;uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Congo, Republic of the
Economy - overview:The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, anindustrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and agovernment characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oilhas supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing amajor share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s,rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to financelarge-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5%annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government hasmortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings throughoil-backed loans that have contributed to a growing debt burden andchronic revenue shortfalls. Economic reform efforts have beenundertaken with the support of international organizations, notablythe World Bank and the IMF. However, the reform program came to ahalt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, whoreturned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publiclyexpressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms andprivatization and in renewing cooperation with internationalfinancial institutions. Economic progress was badly hurt by slumpingoil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998,which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The currentadministration presides over an uneasy internal peace and facesdifficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducingpoverty. Recovery of oil prices has boosted the economy's GDP andnear-term prospects. In March 2006, the World Bank and theInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) approved Heavily Indebted PoorCountries (HIPC) treatment for Congo.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$4.958 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$5.093 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,300 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 6.2%industry: 55.3%services: 38.5% (2006 est.)
Labor force:NA
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.6% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):27.2% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.985 billionexpenditures: $1.664 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee,cocoa; forest products
Industries:petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil,soap, flour, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate:0% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:6.847 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.3% hydro: 99.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:5.127 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:1.25 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:9 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:267,100 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:6,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:93.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$1.215 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$5.996 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds
Exports - partners:China 38.4%, US 28.6%, Taiwan 11.6%, South Korea 7.1% (2005)
Imports:$1.964 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:France 23.2%, China 10.2%, US 7.3%, India 7.2%, Italy 6.7%, Belgium4.6% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$547 million (2006 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 -513.168 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99(2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Congo, Republic of the
Telephones - main lines in use:13,800 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:490,000 (2005)
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 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:36,000 (2005)
Transportation Congo, Republic of the
Airports: 32 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 4over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 281,524 to 2,437 m: 6914 to 1,523 m: 11under 914 m: 11 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 89 km; liquid petroleum gas 4 km; oil 744 km (2006)
Railways: total: 894 km narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 17,289 km paved: 864 km unpaved: 16,425 km (2004)
Waterways:4,385 km (on Congo and Oubanqui rivers) (2005)
Merchant marine:registered in other countries: 1 (Congo, Democratic Republic of the1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Brazzaville, Djeno, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire
Military Congo, Republic of the
Military branches:Congolese Armed Forces (FAC): Army, Congolese Air Force (Armee del'Air Congolaise), 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: 688,628females age 18-49: 685,388 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 406,016females age 18-49: 394,745 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 38,464females age 18-49: 38,082 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$85.22 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (2005 est.)
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:refugees (country of origin): 56,380 (Democratic Republic ofCongo), 6,478 (Rwanda)IDPs: 48,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992; most IDPs are ethnicLari) (2006)
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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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: 236.7 sq kmland: 236.7 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 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from Aprilto November and a more humid season from December to March
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: 16.67%permanent crops: 8.33%other: 75% (2005)
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, Hazardous Wastes, 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, where most of thepopulation lives, consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanicisles, including the largest, Rarotonga, at 67 sq km
People Cook Islands
Population:21,388 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 34.1% (male 2,718/female 2,388)15-64 years: 59.5% (male 4,531/female 4,395)65 years and over: 6.4% (male 489/female 469) (2001 census)
Median age:total: 25.3 yearsmale: 24.7 yearsfemale: 25.9 years (2001 census)
Population growth rate:-1.2% between 1996-2001 (2001 census)
Birth rate:21 births/1,000 population (2001 census)
Death rate:NA deaths/1,000 population
Sex ratio:1.07 male(s)/female (2001 census)
Infant mortality rate:total: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Total fertility rate:3.1 children born/woman (2001 census)
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%,Seventh-Day Adventists 7.9%, Church of Latter Day Saints 3.8%, otherProtestant 5.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3% (2001 census)
Languages:English (official), Maori
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA%
People - note: 2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017
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:name: Avaruageographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 Wtime difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
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 John BRYAN (since 6 September 2005),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:bicameral Parliament consisting of a lower house or LegislativeAssembly with 25 seats (24 seats representing districts of the CookIslands and one seat representing Cook Islanders living overseas;members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and anupper house or House of Ariki made up of traditional leaderselections: last held 26 September 2006 (next to be held by 2011)election results: percent of vote by party - Demo 51.9%, CIP 45.5%,independent 2.7%; seats by party - Demo 15, CIP 8, independent 1note: the House of Ariki advises on traditional matters andmaintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers
Judicial branch:High Court
Political parties and leaders:Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]; Democratic Party or Demo[Dr. Terepai MAOATE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, FAO, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IOC, ITUC, OPCW, PIF,Sparteca, SPC, 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, employing about 70% of theworking population, provides the economic base with major exportsmade up of copra and citrus fruit. Black pearls are the CookIsland's leading export. Manufacturing activities are limited tofruit processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits areoffset by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid,overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, the countrylived beyond its means, maintaining a bloated public service andaccumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent reforms, including thesale of state assets, the strengthening of economic management, theencouragement of tourism, and a debt restructuring agreement, haverekindled investment and growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$183.2 million (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$183.2 million (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$9,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15.1% industry: 9.6% services: 75.3% (2004)
Labor force: 6,820 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 29% industry: 15% services: 56% (1995)
Unemployment rate:13.1% (2005)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $70.95 millionexpenditures: $69.05 million; including capital expenditures of$5.744 million (FY05/06)
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:28 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:26.04 million kWh (2004 est.)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:420 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$26.67 million (2005)
Exports:$5.222 million (2005)
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% (2004)
Imports:$81.04 million (2005)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
Imports - partners:New Zealand 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2004)
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 - 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004),1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002)
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 hosts:1,456 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:3,600 (2002)
Transportation Cook Islands
Airports: 9 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 71,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 320 kmpaved: 33 kmunpaved: 287 km (2003)
Merchant marine:total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 48,422 GRT/51,900 DWTby type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3foreign-owned: 5 (Norway 1, NZ 1, Sweden 3) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Avatiu
Military Cook Islands
Military branches:no regular military forces; Ministry of Police and DisasterManagement (2005)
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 8 February, 2007
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@Coral Sea Islands
Introduction Coral Sea Islands
Background:Scattered over more than three-quarters of a million squarekilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territoryof Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a smallmeteorological staff on the Willis Islets. Automated weatherstations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands andreefs.
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) (2005)
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 Transport and Regional Services
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 terminals: 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 8 February, 2007
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@Costa Rica
Introduction Costa Rica
Background:Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initialattempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to acombination of factors, including: disease from mosquito-infestedswamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It wasnot until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago wasestablished in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The arearemained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, CostaRica became one of several Central American provinces that jointlydeclared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joinedthe United Provinces of Central America, but this federationdisintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed itssovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only twobrief periods of violence have marred the country's democraticdevelopment. Although it still maintains a large agriculturalsector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strongtechnology and tourism industries. The standard of living isrelatively high. Land ownership 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: 4.4% permanent crops: 5.87% other: 89.73% (2005)
Irrigated land:1,080 sq km (2003)
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:4,075,261 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28.3% (male 590,261/female 563,196)15-64 years: 66% (male 1,359,750/female 1,329,346)65 years and over: 5.7% (male 108,041/female 124,667) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 26.4 yearsmale: 26 yearsfemale: 26.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.45% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:18.32 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.36 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 10.58 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 8.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.02 yearsmale: 74.43 yearsfemale: 79.74 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.24 children born/woman (2006 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:name: San Josegeographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 Wtime difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during StandardTime)
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 Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May 2006);First Vice President Laura CHINCHILLA (since 8 May 2006); SecondVice President Kevin CASAS Zamora (since 8 May 2006); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May2006); First Vice President Laura CHINCHILLA (since 8 May 2006);Second Vice President Kevin CASAS Zamora (since 8 May 2006)cabinet: Cabinet selected by the presidentelections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticketby popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held 5February 2006 (next to be held February 2010)election results: Oscar ARIAS Sanchez elected president; percent ofvote - Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (PLN) 40.9%; Otton SOLIS (PAC) 39.8%,Otto GUEVARA Guth (PML) 8%, Ricardo TOLEDO (PUSC) 3%
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 5 February 2006 (next to be held February 2010)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -PLN 25, PAC 17, PML 6, PUSC 5, other 4
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 [GerardoJusto OROZCO Alvarez]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Vladimir DE LACRUZ]; General Union Party or PUGEN [Carlos Alberto FERNANDEZ Vega];Homeland First or PP [Juan Jose VARGAS Fallas]; Independent WorkerParty or PIO [Jose Alberto CUBERO Carmona]; Libertarian MovementParty or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; National Christian Alliance Partyor ANC [Juan Carlos CHAVEZ Mora]; National Integration Party or PIN[Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National Liberation Party or PLN [FranciscoAntonio PACHECO]; National Patriotic Party or PPN [Daniel EnriqueREYNOLDS Vargas]; National Restoration Party or PRN [CarlosAVENDANO]; Nationalist Democratic Alliance or ADN [Jose MiguelVILLALOBOS Umana]; Patriotic Union or UP [Humberto ARCE Salas];Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Luis FILMAN]; Union for ChangeParty or UPC [Antonio ALVAREZ Desanti]; United Leftist Coalition orIU [Humberto VARGAS Carbonel]
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, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL,OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tomas DUENAS chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945 FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Hammond (temporary location in Louisiana), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa (temporarily closed), Washington, DC consulate(s): San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mark LANGDALE embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020 telephone: [506] 519-2000 FAX: [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. The government continues tograpple with its large internal and external deficits and sizableinternal debt. The reduction of inflation remains a difficultproblem because of rising import prices, labor market rigidities,and fiscal deficits. The country also needs to reform its tax systemand its pattern of public expenditure. The current administrationhas made it a priority to pass the necessary reforms to implementthe US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). CAFTAimplementation would result in an improved investment climate.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$48.77 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$20.77 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.7% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$12,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.6% industry: 31% services: 60.4% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 1.866 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 20% industry: 22% services: 58% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.6% (2006 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:46.5 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):12.1% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3.134 billionexpenditures: $3.475 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:53.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes;beef; timber
Industries:microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing,construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate:8.4% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:8.4 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.5% hydro: 81.9% nuclear: 0% other: 16.6% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:7.574 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:440 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:202 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:44,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-1.176 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$7.931 billion (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, bananas, sugar, pineapples; textiles, electroniccomponents, medical equipment
Exports - partners:US 42.6%, Hong Kong 6.9%, Netherlands 6.4%, Guatemala 4.2% (2005)
Imports:$10.88 billion (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
Imports - partners:US 41.3%, Japan 5.6%, Venezuela 4.8%, Mexico 4.8%, Ireland 4.3%,Brazil 4.2%, China 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$2.5 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$6.42 billion (30 June 2006 est.)
Currency (code):Costa Rican colon (CRC)
Currency code:CRC
Exchange rates:Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 513.302 (2006), 477.79 (2005),437.91 (2004), 398.66 (2003), 359.82 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Costa Rica
Telephones - main lines in use:1,388,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.101 million (2005)
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:12,751 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (of which only one is legal) (2000)
Internet users:1 million (2005)
Transportation Costa Rica
Airports: 157 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 32 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 9 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 125 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 101 (2006)
Pipelines: refined products 242 km (2006)
Railways: total: 278 km narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 35,330 km paved: 8,621 km unpaved: 26,709 km (2004)
Waterways:730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,308 GRT/743 DWTby type: passenger/cargo 2 (2006)
Ports and terminals:Caldera, Puerto Limon
Military Costa Rica
Military branches:no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security,Government, and Police (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 997,690females age 18-49: 968,290 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 829,874females age 18-49: 809,343 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 41,097females age 18-49: 39,243
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$83.46 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.4% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Costa Rica
Disputes - international:in September 2005, Costa Rica took its case before the ICJ toadvocate the navigation, security, and commercial rights of CostaRican vessels using the Rio San Juan over which Nicaragua retainssovereignty
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 9,470 (Colombia) (2006)
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 8 February, 2007
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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. In December 1999, amilitary coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history -overthrew the government. Junta leader Robert GUEI blatantly riggedelections held in late 2000 and declared himself the winner. Popularprotest forced him to step aside and brought runner-up LaurentGBAGBO into power. Ivorian dissidents and disaffected members of themilitary launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002. Rebelforces claimed the northern half of the country, and in January 2003were granted ministerial positions in a unity government under theauspices of the Linas-Marcoussis Peace Accord. President GBAGBO andrebel forces resumed implementation of the peace accord in December2003 after a three-month stalemate, but issues that sparked thecivil war, such as land reform and grounds for citizenship, remainunresolved. The central government has yet to exert control over thenorthern regions and tensions remain high between GBAGBO andopposition leaders. Several thousand French and West African troopsremain in Cote d'Ivoire to maintain peace and facilitate thedisarmament, 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: 10.23%permanent crops: 11.16%other: 78.61% (2005)
Irrigated land:730 sq km (2003)
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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling 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:17,654,843note: 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 (July2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 40.8% (male 3,546,674/female 3,653,990)15-64 years: 56.4% (male 5,024,575/female 4,939,677)65 years and over: 2.8% (male 238,793/female 251,134) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 19.2 yearsmale: 19.4 yearsfemale: 18.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.03% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:35.11 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:14.84 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)