The 2001 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

important nesting area for birds and turtles

      Coral Sea Islands People

      Population: no indigenous inhabitants

      note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (July 2001 est.)

      Coral Sea Islands Government

      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 Department 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

      Coral Sea Islands Economy

      Economy - overview: no economic activity

      Coral Sea Islands Communications

      Communications - note: there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland

      Coral Sea Islands Transportation

      Waterways: none

      Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

      Coral Sea Islands Military

      Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors

      Coral Sea Islands Transnational Issues

      Disputes - international: none

      ======================================================================

      @Costa Rica

      Costa Rica Introduction

      Background: Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural country, it has achieved a relatively high standard of living. Land ownership is widespread. Tourism is a rapidly expanding industry.

      Costa Rica Geography

      Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the

       North Pacific 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 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: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

      territorial sea: 12 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

      Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

      highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m

      Natural resources: hydropower

      Land use: arable land: 6%

      permanent crops: 5%

      permanent pastures: 46%

      forests and woodland: 31%

      other: 12% (1993 est.)

      Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (1993 est.)

      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; water pollution (rivers); coastal marine pollution; wetlands degradation; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution

      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

      Costa Rica People

      Population: 3,773,057 (July 2001 est.)

      Age structure: 0–14 years: 31.38% (male 605,728; female 578,128)

      15–64 years: 63.37% (male 1,209,084; female 1,181,754)

      65 years and over: 5.25% (male 92,314; female 106,049) (2001 est.)

      Population growth rate: 1.65% (2001 est.)

      Birth rate: 20.27 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

      Death rate: 4.3 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

      Net migration rate: 0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 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: 0.87 male(s)/female

      total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 11.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.02 years

      male: 73.49 years

      female: 78.68 years (2001 est.)

      Total fertility rate: 2.47 children born/woman (2001 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.54% (1999 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 12,000 (1999 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - deaths: 750 (1999 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%, other Protestant 0.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%

      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.)

      Costa Rica Government

      Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica

      conventional short form: Costa Rica

      local long form: Republica de Costa Rica

      local