Part 53
Budget:
revenues: $70.95 million
expenditures: $69.05 million (FY05/06)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 18
Agriculture - products:
copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry
Industries:
fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2002) country comparison to the world: 121
Electricity - production:
31 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - consumption:
28.83 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 200
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Oil - imports:
495 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 183
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 190
Current account balance:
$26.67 million (2005) country comparison to the world: 59
Exports:
$5.222 million (2005) country comparison to the world: 215
Exports - commodities:
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Imports:
$81.04 million (2005) country comparison to the world: 209
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
Debt - external:
$141 million (1996 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Exchange rates:
NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4151 (2008 est.), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004)
Communications ::Cook Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
6,700 (2008) country comparison to the world: 210
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6,700 (2008) country comparison to the world: 212
Telephone system:
general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex
domestic: individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable
international: country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (outer islands receive satellite broadcasts) (2004)
Internet country code:
.ck
Internet hosts:
2,480 (2009) country comparison to the world: 147
Internet users:
5,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 203
Transportation ::Cook Islands
Airports:
9 (2009) country comparison to the world: 157
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 320 km country comparison to the world: 200 paved: 33 km
unpaved: 287 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 26 country comparison to the world: 90 by type: cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 8, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 17 (Latvia 1, Lithuania 1, NZ 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 5, Sweden 8) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Avatiu
Military ::Cook Islands
Military branches:
no regular military forces; National Police Department (2009)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,334
females age 16-49: 2,286 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 148
female: 125 (2009 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request
Transnational Issues ::Cook Islands
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on October 28, 2009
======================================================================
@Coral Sea Islands (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Coral Sea Islands
Background:
Scattered over more than three-quarters of a million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on the Willis Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs.
Geography ::Coral Sea Islands
Location:
Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates:
18 00 S, 152 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: less than 3 sq km country comparison to the world: 247 land: less than 3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 780,000 sq km with the Willis Islets the most important
Area - comparative:
NA
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3,095 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
occasional tropical cyclones
Environment - current issues:
no permanent fresh water resources
Geography - note:
important nesting area for birds and turtles
People ::Coral Sea Islands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station on Willis Island (July 2007 est.)
Government ::Coral Sea Islands
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 Australian Government Attorney-General's Department
Legal system:
the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:
administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department
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
Economy ::Coral Sea Islands
Economy - overview:
no economic activity
Communications ::Coral Sea Islands
Communications - note:
there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland
Transportation ::Coral Sea Islands
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military ::Coral Sea Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues ::Coral Sea Islands
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on July 2, 2009
======================================================================
@Costa Rica (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Costa Rica
Background:
Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including: disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread. In January 2008, Costa Rica assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2008-09 term.
Geography ::Costa Rica
Location:
Central 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 country comparison to the world: 129 land: 51,060 sq km
water: 40 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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 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 including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Natural resources:
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 4.4%
permanent crops: 5.87%
other: 89.73% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,080 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
112.4 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.68 cu km/yr (29%/17%/53%)
per capita: 619 cu m/yr (2000)
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; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65
People ::Costa Rica
Population:
4,253,877 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 581,916/female 555,216)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,443,606/female 1,411,168)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 120,969/female 141,002) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.5 years
male: 27.1 years
female: 28 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.356% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 100
Birth rate:
17.43 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 118
Death rate:
4.34 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 205
Net migration rate:
0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
Urbanization:
urban population: 63% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 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
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.77 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 160 male: 9.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.58 years country comparison to the world: 54 male: 74.96 years
female: 80.34 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.14 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 120
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 84
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,700 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2009)
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%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%
Languages:
Spanish (official), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.9%
male: 94.7%
female: 95.1% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 76
Government ::Costa Rica
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
Government type:
democratic republic
Capital:
name: San Jose
geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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:
7 November 1949
Legal system:
based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May 2006); First Vice President (vacant); Second Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May 2006); First Vice President (vacant); Second Vice President (vacant)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held 5 February 2006 (next to be held in February 2010)
election results: Oscar ARIAS Sanchez elected president; percent of vote - Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (PLN) 40.9%; Otton SOLIS (PAC) 39.8%, Otto GUEVARA Guth (PML) 8%, Ricardo TOLEDO (PUSC) 3%
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 5 February 2006 (next to be held in February 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLN 25, PAC 17, PML 6, PUSC 5, PASE 1, PFA 1, PRN 1, PUN 1; note - as of 1 January 2009: seats by party - PLN 25, PAC 16, PML 5, PUSC 5, PASE 1, PFA 1, PRN 1, independent 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for renewable eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Authentic Member from Heredia [Jose SALAS]; Citizen Action Party or PAC [Epsy CAMPBELL Barr]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Gerardo Justo OROZCO Alvarez]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Marco NUNEZ Gonzalez]; General Union Party or PUGEN [Carlos Alberto FERNANDEZ Vega]; Homeland First or PP [Juan Jose VARGAS Fallas]; Independent Worker Party or PIO [Jose Alberto CUBERO Carmona]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Juan Carlos CHAVEZ Mora]; National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National Liberation Party or PLN [Francisco Antonio PACHECO Fernandez]; National Patriotic Party or PPN [Daniel Enrique REYNOLDS Vargas]; National Restoration Party or PRN [Fabio Enrique DELGADO Hernandez]; National Union Party or PUN [Arturo ACOSTA Mora]; Nationalist Democratic Alliance or ADN [Jose Miguel VILLALOBOS Umana]; Patriotic Union or UP [Jose Miguel CORRALES Bolanos]; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Luis FISHMAN Zonzinski]; Union for Change Party or UPC [Antonio ALVAREZ Desanti]; United Leftist Coalition or IU [Humberto VARGAS Carbonel]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate); Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party affiliate); Costa Rican Exporter's Chamber or CADEXCO; Costa Rican Solidarity Movement; Costa Rican Union of Private Sector Enterprises or UCCAEP [Rafael CARRILLO]; Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP; National Association for Economic Development or ANFE; National Association of Educators or ANDE; National Association of Public and Private Employees or ANEP [Albino VARGAS]; Rerum Novarum or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [Gilbert BROWN]
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Luis DIEGO Escalante
chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945 or 2946
FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter CIANCHETTE
embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose
mailing address: APO AA 34020
telephone: [506] 519-2000
FAX: [506] 519-2305
Flag description:
five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk on the hoist side of the red band; above the coat of arms a light blue ribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just below it near the top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the words, REPUBLICA COSTA RICA
Economy ::Costa Rica
Economy - overview:
Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Exports have become more diversified in the past 10 years due to the growth of the high-tech manufacturing sector, which is dominated by the microprocessor industry and the production of medical devices. Tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange, as Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity makes it a key destination for ecotourism. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and relatively high education levels, as well as the fiscal incentives offered in the free-trade zones. Costa Rica has attracted one of the highest levels of foreign direct investment per capita in Latin America. Poverty has remained around 20% for nearly 20 years, and the strong social safety net that had been put into place by the government has eroded due to increased financial constraints on government expenditures. Immigration from Nicaragua has increasingly become a concern for the government. The estimated 300,000-500,000 Nicaraguans in Costa Rica legally and illegally are an important source of - mostly unskilled - labor, but also place heavy demands on the social welfare system. Under the ARIAS administration, the government has made strides in reducing internal and external debt - in 2007, Costa Rica had its first budget surplus in 50 years. Reducing inflation remains a difficult problem because of rising commodity import prices and labor market rigidities, though lower oil prices will decrease upward pressures. The Central Bank is moving towards a more flexible exchange rate system to focus on inflation targeting by 2010. The US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) entered into force on 1 January 2009, after significant delays within the Costa Rican legislature. Nevertheless, economic growth has slowed in 2009 as the global downturn reduced export demand and invesment inflows.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$48.84 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 $47.6 billion (2007 est.)
$44.16 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$29.66 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 136 7.8% (2007 est.)
8.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,600 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $11,500 (2007 est.)
$10,800 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.5%
industry: 25.9%
services: 67.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
2.06 million country comparison to the world: 120 note: this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica (2008 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 22%
services: 64% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 4.6% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
16% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 35.5% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
48 (2008) country comparison to the world: 31 45.9 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
24.3% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 57
Budget:
revenues: $4.6 billion
expenditures: $4.531 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
42.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 58% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
13.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 182 9.4% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
25% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 10 17% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.83% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 65 12.8% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$4.209 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 58 $4.504 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$3.143 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 81 $2.87 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$15.15 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 66 $12.91 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 98 $2.035 billion (31 December 2007)
$1.944 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef, poultry, dairy; timber
Industries:
microprocessors, food processing, medical equipment, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate:
-1.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 145
Electricity - production:
8.808 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 96
Electricity - consumption:
8.064 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Electricity - exports:
77.16 million kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
203.2 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Oil - consumption:
45,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
Oil - exports: