Costa Rica

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Costa Rica

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

National name República de Costa Rica/Republic of Costa Rica Area 51,100 sq km/19,729 sq mi Capital San José Language Spanish (official) Religion Roman Catholic 95% (state religion) Time difference GMT -6 Major holidays 1 January, 19 March, 11 April, 1 May, 29 June, 25 July, 2, 15 August, 15 September, 12 October, 8, 25 December; variable: Corpus Christi, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Holy Thursday


GEOGRAPHY

Major towns/cities Alajuela, Cartago, Limón, Puntarenas, San Isidro, Desamparados Major ports Limón, Puntarenas Physical features high central plateau and tropical coasts; Costa Rica was once entirely forested, containing an estimated 5% of the Earth's flora and fauna Airports two international airports and two regional airports; total passengers carried: 781,000 (2003 est) Railways total length: 1,288 km/800 mi; rail system ceased operating in 1995 Roads total road network: 35,881 km/22,295 mi, of which 22.5% paved (2003 est); passenger cars: 185.4 per 1,000 people (2003 est)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state and government Óscar Arias Sánchez from 2006 Political system liberal democracy Political executive limited presidency Administrative divisions seven provinces Political parties National Liberation Party (PLN), left of centre; Christian Socialist Unity Party (PUSC), centrist coalition; ten minor parties Death penalty abolished in 1877 Armed forces army abolished in 1948; paramilitary forces of 8,400 (2006 est) Defence spend (% GDP) 0.6 (2004 est) Education spend (% GDP) 5.1 (2003 est) Health spend (% GDP) 5.8 (2004)


ECONOMY

Currency colón GDP (US$) 19.4 billion (2005 est) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 6.5 (2006 est) GNI (US$) 19.9 billion (2005 est) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 9,680 (2005 est) Consumer price inflation 13% (2006 est) Unemployment 6.6% (2005 est) Labour force 15.2% agriculture, 21.6% industry, 63.2% services (2005) Foreign debt (US$) 5.2 billion (2005 est) Major trading partners USA, Japan, Venezuela, Mexico, Guatemala, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Nicaragua, Ireland Resources gold, salt, hydro power Industries food processing, chemical products, beverages, paper and paper products, textiles and clothing, plastic goods, electrical equipment Exports industrial and manufactured products, bananas, coffee, sugar, cocoa, textiles, seafood, meat, tropical fruit. Principal market: USA 40.1% (2005) Imports raw materials for industry and agriculture, consumer goods, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials. Principal source: USA 41% (2005) Arable land 4.4% (2006 est) Agricultural products bananas, coffee, sugar cane, maize, potatoes, tobacco, tropical fruit; livestock rearing (cattle and pigs); fishing


POPULATION

Population 4,398,800 (2006 est) Population growth rate 1.5% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 86 (2006 est) Urban population (% of total) 62 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 29%, 15–59 63%, 60+ 8% (2005 est) Ethnic groups about 96% of the population is of European descent, mostly Spanish, and about 2% is of African origin, 1% is Amerindian, 1% Chinese Life expectancy 77 (men); 81 (women) (2005–10) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 13 (2004) Education (compulsory years) 10 Literacy rate 96% (men); 96% (women) (2004 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 17.2 (2004 est) Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) 1.4 (2003 est) HIV infection (% of population aged 15–49) 0.3 (2005 est) AIDS deaths <100 (2005 est) Access to drinking-water source (% of total population) 100 (urban); 92 (rural) (2002)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Landline telephones (per 100 people) 32.1 (2005 est) Mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people) 25.5 (2005 est) Radios (per 1,000 people) 816 (2001 est) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 251 (2004 est) Personal computer users (per 100 people) 21.9 (2005 est) Internet users (per 100 people) 23.6 (2005 est)


CHRONOLOGY

1502 Visited by Christopher Columbus, who named the area Costa Rica (the rich coast), observing gold decorations worn by Guaymi American Indians. 1506 Colonized by Spain, but fierce guerrilla resistance by indigenous population; many died from exposure to European diseases. 18th century Settlements began to be established in fertile central highlands, including San José and Alajuela. 1808 Coffee introduced from Cuba and soon became staple crop. 1821 Independence achieved from Spain; joined initially with Mexico. 1824 Became part of United Provinces (Federation) of Central America, also embracing El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. 1838 Became fully independent when it seceded from Federation. later 19th century Immigration by Europeans to run and work small coffee farms. 1940–44 Liberal reforms, including recognition of workers' rights and minimum wages, introduced by President Rafael Angel Calderón Guradia, founder of the United Christian Socialist Party (PUSC). 1948 Brief civil war following disputed presidential election. 1949 New constitution adopted, giving vote to women and blacks. National army abolished and replaced by civil guard. José Figueres Ferrer, cofounder of the PLN, elected president; he embarked on ambitious socialist programme, nationalizing banks and introducing social security system. 1958–73 Mainly conservative administrations. 1978 Sharp deterioration in the state of economy. 1982 Harsh austerity programme introduced. 1985 Following border clashes with Nicaraguan Sandinista forces, US-trained antiguerrilla guard formed. 1986 Oscar Arias Sanchez (PLN) won presidency on neutralist platform. 1987 Arias won Nobel Prize for Peace for devising Central American peace plan signed by leaders of Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. 1998 Miguel Angel Rodriguez Echeverria (PUSC) elected president. 2002 Abel Pacheco of ruling Social Christian Unity Party won second round of presidential elections. 2003 Strikes held by energy and telecommunications workers and by teachers prompted the resignations of three ministers. 2004 Concern over corruption mounted as three former presidents were investigated over contractor payments. 2005 Serious flooding along Caribbean coast led government to declare national emergency. 2006 Following tight presidential election race, Oscar Arias declared winner. 2007 To increase Chinese investment, diplomatic allegiance switched from Taiwan to China.


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