Chapter 32
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
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
Economy
Economy--overview: Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years and a strong social safety net has been put into place. Economic growth has rebounded from -0.9% in 1996 to 3% in 1997 and an estimated 5.5% in 1998. Inflation rose to 22.5% in 1995, dropped to 11.1% in 1997, and reached an estimated 12% in 1998. Unemployment appears moderate at 5.6%, but substantial underemployment continues. Furthermore, large government deficits--fueled by interest payments on the massive internal debt--have undermined efforts to maintain the quality of social services. Curbing inflation, reducing the deficit, and improving public sector efficiency remain key challenges to the government. President RODRIGUEZ has called for an increased economic role for the private sector, but political resistance to privatization has stalled much of his economic program.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$24 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,700 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 24% services: 61% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 34.7% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 868,300
Labor force--by occupation: industry and commerce 23.3%, government and services 55.1%, agriculture 21.6% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.6% (1998 est.); much underemployment
Budget: revenues: $1.1 billion expenditures: $1.34 billion, including capital expenditures of $110 million (1991 est.)
Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate: 10.5% (1992)
Electricity--production: 4.785 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 14.11% hydro: 75.44% nuclear: 0% other: 10.45% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 4.931 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 44 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 190 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber
Exports: $3.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: manufactured products, coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar (1997)
Exports--partners: US, Benelux, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, El Salvador, Netherlands, UK, France (1997)
Imports: $4.5 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum (1997)
Imports--partners: US, Japan, Mexico, Venezuela, Guatemala, Germany (1997)
Debt--external: $3.2 billion (October 1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $107.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1--272.58 (January 1999), 257.23 (1998), 232.60 (1997), 207.69 (1996), 179.73 (1995), 157.07 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 281,042 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: very good domestic telephone service domestic: NA international: connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 71, FM 0, shortwave 13
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 6 (in addition, there are 11 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 340,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 950 km narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified)
Highways: total: 35,597 km paved: 6,051 km unpaved: 29,546 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: about 730 km, seasonally navigable
Pipelines: petroleum products 176 km
Ports and harbors: Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 156 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 28 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 128 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 99 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Coast Guard, Air Section, Ministry of Public Security Force (Fuerza Publica); note--during 1996, the Ministry of Public Security reorganized and eliminated the Civil Guard, Rural Assistance Guard, and Frontier Guards as separate entities; they are now under the Ministry and operate on a geographic command basis performing ground security, law enforcement, counternarcotics, and national security (border patrol) functions; the constitution prohibits armed forces
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 988,887 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 662,827 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 36,751 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $55 million (1995)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots
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@Cote d'Ivoire -------------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 322,460 sq km land: 318,000 sq km water: 4,460 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 3,110 km border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km, Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km
Coastline: 515 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons--warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October)
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper
Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 22% other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 680 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible
Environment--current issues: deforestation (most of the country's forests--once the largest in West Africa--have been cleared by the timber industry); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents
Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 15,818,068 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 3,702,051; female 3,664,672) 15-64 years: 51% (male 4,154,440; female 3,952,999) 65 years and over: 2% (male 174,065; female 169,841) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.35% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.76 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.17 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: after Liberia's civil war started in 1990, more than 350,000 refugees fled to Cote d'Ivoire and, by September 1998, according to the UNHCR, about 85,000 remain
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 94.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.05 years male: 44.48 years female: 47.67 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.89 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Ivorian(s) adjective: Ivorian
Ethnic groups: Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%, Agni, Africans from other countries (mostly Burkinabe and Malians, about 3 million), non-Africans 130,000 to 330,000 (French 30,000 and Lebanese 100,000 to 300,000)
Religions: Muslim 60%, Christian 22%, indigenous 18% (some of these are also numbered among the Christians and Muslims)
Languages: French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 48.5% male: 57% female: 40%
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire local short form: Cote d'Ivoire former: Ivory Coast
Data code: IV
Government type: republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960
Capital: Yamoussoukro note: although Yamoussoukro has been the capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the administrative center; the US, like other countries, maintains its Embassy in Abidjan
Administrative divisions: 50 departments (departements, singular--departement); Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adzope, Agboville, Agnibilekrou, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou, Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Daloa, Danane, Daoukro, Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota, Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro, Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula note: Cote d'Ivoire may have a new administrative structure consisting of 58 departments; the following additional departments have been reported but not yet confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN); Adiake', Ale'pe', Dabon, Grand Bassam, Jacqueville, Tiebissou, Toulepleu, Bocanda
Independence: 7 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 7 August
Constitution: 3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time July 1998
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Henri Konan BEDIE (since 7 December 1993); note--succeeded to the presidency following the death of President Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY, who had served continuously since November 1960 head of government: Prime Minister Daniel Kablan DUNCAN (since 10 December 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 22 October 1995 (next to be held October 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Henri Konan BEDIE elected president; percent of vote--Henri Konan BEDIE 96%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (175 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: elections last held 27 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 2000) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PDCI 150, RDR 13, FPI 12 note: a Senate will be created in 2000
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of the Cote
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURCA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Koffi Moise KOUMOUE-KOFFI chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador George MU embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan mailing address: 01 B. P. 1712, Abidjan
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the colors reversed--green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France
Economy
Economy--overview: Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest producers and exporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these products and to weather conditions. Despite attempts by the government to diversify the economy, it is still largely dependent on agriculture and related activities, which engage roughly 68% of the population. After several years of lagging performance, the Ivorian economy began a comeback in 1994, due to the devaluation of the CFA franc and improved prices for cocoa and coffee, growth in nontraditional primary exports such as pineapples and rubber, limited trade and banking liberalization, offshore oil and gas discoveries, and generous external financing and debt rescheduling by multilateral lenders and France. The 50% devaluation of Franc Zone currencies on 12 January 1994 caused a one-time jump in the inflation rate to 26% in 1994, but the rate fell sharply in 1996-98. Moreover, government adherence to donor-mandated reforms led to a jump in growth to 6% annually in 1996-98. Growth may slow in 1999-2000 because of the difficulty of meeting the conditions of international donors and continued low prices of key exports.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$24.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,680 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 31% industry: 20% services: 49% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 28.5% (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $2.3 billion expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $640 million (1997 est.)
Industries: foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, automobile assembly, textiles, fertilizer, construction materials, electricity
Industrial production growth rate: 15% (annual rate, first half 1998)
Electricity--production: 1.88 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 22% hydro: 47% nuclear: 0% other: 31% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.88 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber
Exports: $4.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: cocoa 36%, coffee, tropical woods, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton, fish
Exports--partners: Netherlands 17%, France 15%, Germany 7%, US 6%, Italy 5% (1997)
Imports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: food, consumer goods; capital goods, fuel, transport equipment
Imports--partners: France 28%, Nigeria 20%, US 6%, Italy 5%, Germany 4% (1997)
Debt--external: $16.8 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: ODA, $1 billion (1996 est.)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1--560.01 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 200,000 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: well-developed by African standards but operating well below capacity domestic: open-wire lines and microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 2 coaxial submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 71, FM 4, shortwave 13
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 14 (1997)
Televisions: 810,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 660 km narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge; 25 km double track (1995 est.)
Highways: total: 50,400 km paved: 4,889 km unpaved: 45,511 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 980 km navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons
Ports and harbors: Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro
Merchant marine: total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,200 GRT/1,500 DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 36 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 29 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, Republican Guard (includes Presidential Guard), Sapeur-Pompier (Military Fire Group)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 3,677,627 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,917,433 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 178,860 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $94 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.9% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption; minor transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to the US, and for Latin American cocaine destined for Europe
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@Croatia -------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates: 45 10 N, 15 30 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 56,538 sq km land: 56,410 sq km water: 128 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 2,197 km border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Serbia and Montenegro 266 km (241 km with Serbia; 25 km with Montenegro), Slovenia 670 km
Coastline: 5,790 km (mainland 1,778 km, islands 4,012 km)
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast
Terrain: geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coast, coastline, and islands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Dinara 1,830 m
Natural resources: oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt
Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 38% other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent and destructive earthquakes
Environment--current issues: air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; widespread casualties and destruction of infrastructure in border areas affected by civil strife
Environment--international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification
Geography--note: controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits
People
Population: 4,676,865 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17% (male 404,761; female 383,088) 15-64 years: 68% (male 1,591,831; female 1,591,106) 65 years and over: 15% (male 272,219; female 433,860) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.1% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 11.14 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74 years male: 70.69 years female: 77.52 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.52 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Croat(s) adjective: Croatian
Ethnic groups: Croat 78%, Serb 12%, Muslim 0.9%, Hungarian 0.5%, Slovenian 0.5%, others 8.1% (1991)
Religions: Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox 11.1%, Muslim 1.2%, Protestant 0.4%, others and unknown 10.8%
Languages: Serbo-Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 99% female: 95% (1991 est.)