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