The 1996 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

none; offshore anchorage only

      Defense———

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

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

      @Costa Rica—————

      Map—

      Location: 10 00 N, 84 00 W—Middle America, bordering both the

       Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and

       Panama

      Flag——

      Description: five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white disk on the hoist side of the red band

      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 area: 51,100 sq km

       land area: 50,660 sq km

       comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia

       note: includes Isla del Coco

      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

      International disputes: none

      Climate: tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season

       (May to November)

      Terrain: coastal plains separated by rugged mountains

       lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

       highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m

      Natural resources: hydropower potential

      Land use:

       arable land: 6%

       permanent crops: 7%

       meadows 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 the clearing of

       land for cattle ranching; soil erosion

       natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic

       coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season;

       active volcanoes

       international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,

       Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test

       Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -

       Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation

      People———

      Population: 3,463,083 (July 1996 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 35% (male 612,624; female 582,566)

       15–64 years: 61% (male 1,061,703; female 1,038,403)

       65 years and over: 4% (male 77,773; female 90,014) (July 1996 est.)

      Population growth rate: 2.06% (1996 est.)

      Birth rate: 23.84 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

      Death rate: 4.14 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

      Net migration rate: 0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 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

       all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 13.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.72 years male: 73.31 years female: 78.24 years (1996 est.)

      Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1996 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 (1995 est.)

       total population: 94.8%

       male: 94.7%

       female: 95%

      Government—————

      Name of country:

       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

      Type of government: 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) were elected for four-year terms by

       universal suffrage; election last held 6 February 1994 (next to be

       held NA February 1998); results - President FIGUERES (PLN) 49.7%,

       Miquel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 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 NA 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), justices are

       elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly

      Political parties and leaders: National Liberation Party (PLN),

       Rolando ARAYA; Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), Rafael Angel

       CALDERON Fournier; Marxist Popular Vanguard Party (PVP), Humberto

       VARGAS Carbonell; New Republic Movement (MNR), Sergio Erick ARDON