The 1999 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

largely a result of

       the clearing of land for cattle ranching; soil erosion

      Environment—international agreements:

       party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered

       Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the

       Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,

       Wetlands, Whaling

       signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life

       Conservation

      People

      Population: 3,674,490 (July 1999 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 33% (male 622,260; female 593,720)

       15–64 years: 62% (male 1,150,900; female 1,121,970)

       65 years and over: 5% (male 85,526; female 100,114) (1999 est.)

      Population growth rate: 1.89% (1999 est.)

      Birth rate: 22.46 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

      Death rate: 4.16 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

      Net migration rate: 0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

      Sex ratio:

       at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

       under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

       15–64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

       65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

       total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 12.89 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.04 years male: 73.6 years female: 78.61 years (1999 est.)

      Total fertility rate: 2.76 children born/woman (1999 est.)

      Nationality: noun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican

      Ethnic groups: white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%,

       Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%

      Religions: Roman Catholic 95%

      Languages: Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon

      Literacy:

       definition: age 15 and over can read and write

       total population: 94.8%

       male: 94.7%

       female: 95% (1995 est.)

      Government

      Country name:

       conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica

       conventional short form: Costa Rica

       local long form: Republica de Costa Rica

       local short form: Costa Rica

      Data code: CS

      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: 9 November 1949

      Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

      Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

      Executive branch:

       chief of state: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May 1998);

       First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998), Second

       Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998);

       note—president is both the chief of state and head of government

       head of government: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May

       1998); First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998),

       Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998);

       note—president is both the chief of state and head of government

       cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president

       elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket

       by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 1 February

       1998 (next to be held NA February 2002)

       election results: Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ elected president; percent

       of vote—Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 46.6%, Jose Miguel CORRALES

       (PLN) 44.6%

      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 1 February 1998 (next to be held NA February

       2002)

       election results: percent of vote by party—PUSC 41%, PLN 35%,

       minority parties 24%; seats by party—PUSC 27, PLN 23, minority

       parties 7

      Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), justices are

       elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly

      Political parties and leaders: Social Christian Unity Party or

       NA]

       note: mainly a two-party system—PUSC and PLN; numerous small parties

       share less than 25% of population's support

      Political pressure groups and leaders: Costa Rican Confederation

       of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party affiliate);

       Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate);

       Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist

       Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; National Association

       for Economic Development or ANFE; Free Costa Rica Movement or MCRL

       (rightwing militants); National Association of Educators or ANDE;

       Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP

      International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,

       G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,

       ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,

       LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UN

       Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL,

       WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

      Diplomatic representation in the US:

       chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime DAREMBLUM

       chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

       consulate(s) general: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Durham,

       Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia,

       San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and

       Tampa

       consulate(s): Austin

      Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD embassy: Pavas Road, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020

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