Flag description:
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
EconomyCongo, Republic of the
Economy - overview:
The economy is a mixture of subsistence agriculture, an industrial sector based largely on oil, and support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings through oil-backed loans that have contributed to a growing debt burden and chronic revenue shortfalls. Economic reform efforts have been undertaken with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. However, the reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. Economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. Recovery of oil prices has boosted the economy's GDP and near-term prospects. In March 2006, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) treatment for Congo.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$12.86 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$7.657 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.6% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,400 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.6% industry: 57.1% services: 37.3% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
Unemployment rate:
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
40.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.295 billion expenditures: $2.444 billion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.7% (2007 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$1.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$204.3 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
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:
-12% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
444 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
564 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
411 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.3% hydro: 99.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
261,000 bbl/day
Oil - consumption:
7,677 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
230,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - imports:
1,702 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.6 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
180 million cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
180 million cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
-$1.491 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$5.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds
Exports - partners:
US 41%, China 36.5%, Taiwan 3.6% (2007)
Imports:
$2.634 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
France 18.1%, South Korea 14.7%, China 12.6%, Italy 10.3%, India 4.7%, US 4.2% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$1.449 billion (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.206 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$5 billion (2000 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Currency (code):
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 483.6 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)
CommunicationsCongo, Republic of the
Telephones - main lines in use:
15,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.334 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order; fixed-line infrastructure inadequate providing less than 1 connection per 100 persons; in the absence of an adequate fixed line infrastructure, mobile-cellular subscribership has surged reaching 35 per 100 persons domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable international: country code - 242; 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 (2001)
Televisions:
33,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.cg
Internet hosts:
5 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
70,000 (2006)
TransportationCongo, Republic of the
Airports:
31 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 9 (2007)
Pipelines:
gas 89 km; liquid petroleum gas 4 km; oil 758 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 894 km narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
total: 17,289 km paved: 864 km unpaved: 16,425 km (2004)
Waterways:
1,125 km (commercially navigable on Congo and Oubanqui rivers) (2006)
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 1 (Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Brazzaville, Djeno, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire
MilitaryCongo, Republic of the
Military branches:
Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army, Navy,Congolese Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise), Gendarmerie,Special Presidential Security Guard (GSSP) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; women allowed to serve (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 842,771 females age 16-49: 833,624 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 519,296 females age 16-49: 509,564 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 45,671 female: 45,248 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.1% of GDP (2006)
Transnational IssuesCongo, Republic of the
Disputes - international:
the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 46,341 (Democratic Republic of Congo);6,564 (Rwanda)IDPs: 48,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992; most IDPs are ethnicLari) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Republic of the Congo is a source and destination country for children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; girls are trafficked from rural areas within the country for commercial sexual exploitation, forced street vending, and domestic servitude; children are trafficked from other African countries for domestic servitude, forced market vending, and forced labor in the fishing industry tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Republic of the Congo is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007; struggling to recover from six years of civil conflict that ended in 2003, the Republic of the Congo's capacity to address trafficking is handicapped; the government neither monitors its borders for trafficking activity nor provides specialized anti-trafficking training for law enforcement officials; the government does not encourage victims to assist in trafficking investigations or prosecutions, and has not taken measures to reduce demand for commercial sex acts in the Republic of the Congo (2008)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Cook Islands
IntroductionCook Islands
Background:
Named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965, residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are continuing problems.
GeographyCook Islands
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 236.7 sq km land: 236.7 sq km water: 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 oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to 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 m highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Natural resources:
Land use:
arable land: 16.67% permanent crops: 8.33% other: 75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards:
typhoons (November to March)
Environment - current issues:
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, 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 the population lives, consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic isles, including the largest, Rarotonga, at 67 sq km
PeopleCook Islands
Population:
12,271 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: (male 1,834/female 1,624) 15-64 years: (male 3,973/female 3,747) 65 years and over: (male 542/female 551)
Median age:
total: 29.8 years male: 29 years female: 30.4 years (2001 census)
Population growth rate:
NA (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
16.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2001 census)
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.1 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 10 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
0.2% of GDP (2001)
People - note:
2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017
GovernmentCook Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands former: Harvey Islands
Dependency status:
self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense, in consultation with the Cook Islands
Government type:
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Avarua geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence 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); New Zealand High Commissioner Brian DONNELLY (since 21 February 2008), representative of New Zealand head of government: Prime Minister Jim MARURAI (since 14 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Terepai MAOATE (since 9 August 2005) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament elections: the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consisting of a Legislative Assembly (or lower house) (24 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and a House of Ariki (or upper house) made up of traditional leaders note: the House of Ariki advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence but has no legislative powers elections: 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 1
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:
Reform Conference (lobby for political system changes) other: various groups lobbying for political change
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMSO, 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 and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag
EconomyCook Islands
Economy - overview:
Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country from foreign markets, the limited size of domestic markets, lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture, employing about one-third of the working population, provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Black pearls are the Cook Islands' leading export. Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are offset by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, the country lived beyond its means, maintaining a bloated public service and accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent reforms, including the sale of state assets, the strengthening of economic management, the encouragement of tourism, and a debt restructuring agreement, have rekindled 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:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $70.95 million expenditures: $69.05 million (FY05/06)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2005 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:
30 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
27.9 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
463.7 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
475.5 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
$26.67 million (2005)
Exports:
$5.222 million (2005)
Exports - commodities:
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Exports - partners:
Australia 34%, Japan 27%, NZ 25%, US 8% (2006)
Imports:
$81.04 million (2005)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
Imports - partners:
NZ 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
$13.1 million; note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater part (1995)
Debt - external:
$141 million (1996 est.)
Currency (code):
NZ dollar (NZD)
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)
CommunicationsCook Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
6,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,500 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex domestic: individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable international: country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (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:
2,234 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
3,600 (2002)
TransportationCook Islands
Airports:
9 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 320 km paved: 33 km unpaved: 287 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 26 by type: cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 8, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 17 (Latvia 1, Lithuania 1, NZ 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 5, Sweden 8) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Avatiu
MilitaryCook Islands
Military branches:
no regular military forces; National Police Department (2007)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 157 female: 133 (2008 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request
Transnational IssuesCook Islands
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Coral Sea Islands
IntroductionCoral Sea Islands
Background:
Scattered over more than three-quarters of a million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on the Willis Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs.
GeographyCoral Sea Islands
Location:
Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: less than 3 sq km land: less than 3 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 780,000 sq km, with the Willis Islets the most important
Area - comparative:
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 m highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m
Natural resources:
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
PeopleCoral Sea Islands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station on Willis Island (July 2007 est.)
GovernmentCoral Sea Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands
Dependency status:
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department
Legal system:
the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:
administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department
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
EconomyCoral Sea Islands
Economy - overview:
no economic activity
CommunicationsCoral Sea Islands
Communications - note:
there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland
TransportationCoral Sea Islands
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
MilitaryCoral Sea Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational IssuesCoral Sea Islands
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Costa Rica
IntroductionCosta Rica
Background:
Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including: disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.
GeographyCosta Rica
Location:
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the NorthPacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 51,100 sq km land: 50,660 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Isla del Coco
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 639 km border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Coastline:
1,290 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Terrain:
coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Natural resources:
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 4.4% permanent crops: 5.87% other: 89.73% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,080 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
112.4 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.68 cu km/yr (29%/17%/53%) per capita: 619 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
Environment - current issues:
deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65
PeopleCosta Rica
Population:
4,195,914 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.2% (male 584,782/female 557,952) 15-64 years: 66.8% (male 1,416,456/female 1,384,692) 65 years and over: 6% (male 116,461/female 135,571) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.1 years male: 26.7 years female: 27.6 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.388% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
17.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.01 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.92 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.4 years male: 74.79 years female: 80.14 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.17 children born/woman (2008 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.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2008)
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 write total population: 94.9% male: 94.7% female: 95.1% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2004)
GovernmentCosta Rica
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica conventional short form: Costa Rica local long form: Republica de Costa Rica local short form: Costa Rica
Government type:
democratic republic
Capital:
name: San Jose geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
7 November 1949
Legal system:
based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts 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); Second Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May 2006); First Vice President Laura CHINCHILLA (since 8 May 2006); Second Vice President (vacant) cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held 5 February 2006 (next to be held in February 2010) election results: Oscar ARIAS Sanchez elected president; percent of vote - 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 in February 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLN 25, PAC 17, PML 6, PUSC 5, PASE 1, PFA 1, PRN 1, PUN 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for renewable eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Authentic Member from Heredia [Jose SALAS]; Citizen Action Party orPAC [Epsy CAMPBELL Barr]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC[Gerardo Justo OROZCO Alvarez]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [MarcoNUNEZ Gonzalez]; General Union Party or PUGEN [Carlos AlbertoFERNANDEZ Vega]; Homeland First or PP [Juan Jose VARGAS Fallas];Independent Worker Party or PIO [Jose Alberto CUBERO Carmona];Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; NationalChristian Alliance Party or ANC [Juan Carlos CHAVEZ Mora]; NationalIntegration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; NationalLiberation Party or PLN [Francisco Antonio PACHECO Fernandez];National Patriotic Party or PPN [Daniel Enrique REYNOLDS Vargas];National Restoration Party or PRN [Fabio Enrique DELGADO Hernandez];National Union Party or PUN [Arturo ACOSTA Mora]; NationalistDemocratic Alliance or ADN [Jose Miguel VILLALOBOS Umana]; PatrioticUnion or UP [Jose Miguel CORRALES Bolanos]; Social Christian UnityParty or PUSC [Luis FISHMAN Zonzinski]; Union for Change Party orUPC [Antonio ALVAREZ Desanti]; United Leftist Coalition or IU[Humberto VARGAS Carbonel]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate); Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party affiliate); Costa Rican Exporter's Chamber or CADEXCO; Costa Rican Solidarity Movement; Costa Rican Union of Private Sector Enterprises or UCCAEP [Rafael CARRILLO]; Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP; National Association for Economic Development or ANFE; National Association of Educators or ANDE; National Association of Public and Private Employees or ANEP [Albino VARGAS]; Rerum Novarum or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [Gilbert BROWN]
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS,OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, 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, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa (temporarily closed), Washington, DC consulate(s): San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter CIANCHETTE 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 on the hoist side of the red band; above the coat of arms a light blue ribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just below it near the top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the words, REPUBLICA COSTA RICA
EconomyCosta Rica
Economy - overview:
Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has remained around 20% for nearly 20 years, and the strong social safety net that had been put into place by the government has eroded due to increased financial constraints on government expenditures. Immigration from Nicaragua has increasingly become a concern for the government. The estimated 300,000-500,000 Nicaraguans estimated to be in Costa Rica legally and illegally are an important source of (mostly unskilled) labor, but also place heavy demands on the social welfare system. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and high education levels, as well as the fiscal incentives offered in the free-trade zones. Exports have become more diversified in the past 10 years due to the growth of the high-tech manufacturing sector, which is dominated by the microprocessor industry. Tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange, as Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity makes it a key destination for ecotourism. The government continues to grapple with its large internal and external deficits and sizable internal debt. Reducing inflation remains a difficult problem because of rising import prices, labor market rigidities, and fiscal deficits. Tax and public expenditure reforms will be necessary to close the budget gap. In October 2007, a national referendum voted in favor of the US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$45.77 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$26.24 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.8% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,100 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.6% industry: 29.4% services: 62.1% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
1.92 million note: this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: