*Costa Rica, Government
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Rafael Angel CALDERON Fournier (since 8 May 1990); First Vice
President German SERRANO Pinto (since 8 May 1990); Second Vice President
Arnoldo LOPEZ Echandi (since 8 May 1990)
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:
Suite 211, 1825 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
(202) 234-2945 through 2947
consulates general:
Albuquerque, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Diego,
San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate:
Buffalo
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Luis GUINOT, Jr.
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 coat of arms in a white disk on the hoist side of the red
band
*Costa Rica, Economy
Overview:
In 1992 the economy grew at an estimated 5.4%, up from the 2.5% gain of 1991
and the gain of 1990. Increases in agricultural production (on the strength
of good coffee and banana crops) and in nontraditional exports are
responsible for much of the growth. In 1992 consumer prices rose by 17%,
below the 27% of 1991. The trade deficit of $100 million was substantially
below the 1991 deficit of $270 million. Unemployment is officially reported
at 4.0%, but much underemployment remains. External debt, on a per capita
basis, is among the world's highest.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $6.4 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
5.4% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,000 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
17% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4% (1992)
Budget:
revenues $1.1 billion; expenditures $1.34 billion, including capital
expenditures of $110 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
$1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar
partners:
US 75%, Germany, Guatemala, Netherlands, UK, Japan
Imports:
$1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
partners:
US 45%, Japan, Guatemala, Germany
External debt:
$3.2 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.0% (1991); accounts for 19% of GDP
Electricity:
927,000 kW capacity; 3,612 million kWh produced, 1,130 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer,
plastic products
Agriculture:
accounts for 17% of GDP and 70% of exports; cash commodities - coffee, beef,
bananas, sugar; other food crops include corn, rice, beans, potatoes;
normally self-sufficient in food except for grain; depletion of forest
resources resulting in lower timber output
Illicit drugs:
illicit production of cannabis on small scattered plots; transshipment
country for cocaine from South America
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.4 billion; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $935 million;
Communist countries (1971-89), $27 million
Currency:
1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos
*Costa Rica, Economy
Exchange rates:
Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1 - 137.72 (January 1993), 134.51 (1992),
122.43 (1991), 91.58 (1990), 81.504 (1989), 75.805 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Costa Rica, Communications
Railroads:
950 km total, all 1.067-meter gauge; 260 km electrified
Highways:
15,400 km total; 7,030 km paved, 7,010 km gravel, 1,360 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
about 730 km, seasonally navigable
Pipelines:
petroleum products 176 km
Ports:
Puerto Limon, Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puntarenas
Merchant marine:
1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,878 GRT/4,506 DWT
Airports:
total:
162
usable:
144
with permanent-surface runways:
28
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
8
Telecommunications:
very good domestic telephone service; 292,000 telephones; connection into
Central American Microwave System; broadcast stations - 71 AM, no FM, 18 TV,
13 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
*Costa Rica, Defense Forces
Branches:
Civil Guard, Rural Assistance Guard
note:
constitution prohibits armed forces
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 851,713; fit for military service 573,854; reach military
age (18) annually 31,987 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $22 million, 0.5% of GDP (1989)