Rescue Party or PRN [Carlos VARGAS Solano]; Patriotic Union
[Humberto ARCE]; Popular Vanguard [Trino BARRANTES Araya]; Social
Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Lorena VASQUEZ Badilla]
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); Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP; National
Association for Economic Development or ANFE; National Association
of Educators or ANDE; Rerum Novarum or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [Gilbert
Brown]
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tomas DUENAS consulate(s): Austin consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Durham (North Carolina), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Francisco, St. Paul, and Tampa FAX: [1] (202) 265–4795 telephone: [1] (202) 234–2945 chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Douglas M.
BARNES
embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose
mailing address: APO AA 34020
telephone: [506] 220–3939
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. Poverty has been substantially
reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has
been put into place. Foreign investors remain attracted by the
country's political stability and high education levels, and tourism
continues to bring in foreign exchange. Low prices for coffee and
bananas have hurt the agricultural sector. The government continues
to grapple with its large deficit and massive internal debt. The
reduction of inflation remains a difficult problem because of rises
in the price of imports, labor market rigidities, and fiscal
deficits. Costa Rica recently concluded negotiations to participate
in the US - Central American Free Trade Agreement, which, if
ratified by the Costa Rican Legislature, would result in economic
reforms and an improved investment climate.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $35.34 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.6% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $9,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.5% industry: 29.4% services: 62.1% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.2% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
20.6% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.1% highest 10%: 36.8% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
45.9 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.4% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
1.758 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.7% (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.313 billion
expenditures: $2.851 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.)
Public debt:
56.1% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes;
beef; timber
Industries:
microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing,
construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
6.839 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
6.109 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
379 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
128 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
37,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Current account balance:
$-970 million (2003)
Exports:
$6.176 billion (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, bananas, sugar; pineapples; textiles, electronic
components, medical equipment
Exports - partners:
US 14.2%, Guatemala 3%, Nicaragua 2.7% (2003)
Imports:
$7.057 billion (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
Imports - partners:
US 23.2%, Mexico 4.7%, Venezuela