The 1994 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

and pastures:

       45%

       forest and woodland:

       34%

       other:

       8%

       Irrigated land:

       1,180 sq km (1989 est.)

       Environment:

       current issues:

       deforestation, largely a result of land clearing for cattle ranching;

       soil erosion

       natural hazards:

       subject to occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast;

       frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active

       volcanoes

       international agreements:

       party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear

       Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not

       ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Marine Life Conservation

      @Costa Rica, People

      Population: 3,342,154 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.31% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 25.48 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 3.52 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 11 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.8 years male: 75.88 years female: 79.81 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.06 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican Ethnic divisions: white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%, Indian 1%, Chinese 1% Religions: Roman Catholic 95% Languages: Spanish (official), English; spoken around Puerto Limon Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 93% male: 93% female: 93% Labor force: 868,300 by occupation: industry and commerce 35.1%, government and services 33%, agriculture 27%, other 4.9% (1985 est.)

      @Costa Rica, Government

      Names:

       conventional long form:

       Republic of Costa Rica

       conventional short form:

       Costa Rica

       local long form:

       Republica de Costa Rica

       local short form:

       Costa Rica

       Digraph:

       CS

       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 and head of government:

       President Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (since 8 May 1994); First Vice

       President Rodrigo OREAMUNO Blanco (since 8 May 1994); Second Vice

       President Rebeca GRYNSPAN Mayufis (since 8 May 1994); election last

       held 6 February 1994 (next to be held February 1998); results -

       President FIGUERES (PLN party) 49.7%, Miquel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC

       party) 47.5%

       cabinet:

       Cabinet; selected by the president

       Legislative branch:

       unicameral

       Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa):

       elections last held 6 February 1994 (next to be held February 1998);

       results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (61 total) PLN 28, PUSC

       29, minority parties 4

       Judicial branch:

       Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

       Political parties and leaders:

       National Liberation Party (PLN), Manuel AGUILAR Bonilla; Social

       Christian Unity Party (PUSC), Rafael Angel CALDERON Fournier; Marxist

       Popular Vanguard Party (PVP), Humberto VARGAS Carbonell; New Republic

       Movement (MNR), Sergio Erick ARDON Ramirez; Progressive Party (PP),

       Isaac Felipe AZOFEIFA Bolanos; People's Party of Costa Rica (PPC),

       Lenin CHACON Vargas; Radical Democratic Party (PRD), Juan Jose

       ECHEVERRIA Brealey

       Other political or pressure groups:

       Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers (CCTD; Liberation

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

       affiliate); Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers (CATD,

       Communist Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; National

       Association for Economic Development (ANFE); Free Costa Rica Movement

       (MCRL, rightwing militants); National Association of Educators (ANDE)

       Member of:

       AG (observer), BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,

       ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,

       IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL,

       UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

       Diplomatic representation in US:

       chief of mission:

       Ambassador Gonzalo FACIO Segreda

       chancery:

       2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

       telephone:

       (202) 234–2945

       FAX:

       (202) 265–4795

       consulate(s) general:

       Albuquerque, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,

       New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego,

       San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

       consulate(s):

       Austin and Raleigh

       US diplomatic representation:

       chief of mission:

       (vacant); Charge d' Affaires Joseph BECELIA

       embassy:

       Pavas Road, San Jose

       mailing address:

       APO AA 34020

       telephone:

       [506] 20–39-39

       FAX:

       (506) 20–2305

       Flag:

       five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white,

       and blue, with the