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Compare Costa Rica (2002) - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (2001)

Compare Costa Rica (2002) z Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (2001)

 Costa Rica (2002)Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (2001)
 Costa RicaSaint Vincent and the Grenadines
Administrative divisions 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
Age structure 0-14 years: 30.8% (male 603,270; female 575,766)


15-64 years: 63.9% (male 1,239,618; female 1,211,641)


65 years and over: 5.3% (male 95,182; female 109,457) (2002 est.)
0-14 years:
29.61% (male 17,466; female 16,865)

15-64 years:
64.04% (male 38,074; female 36,179)

65 years and over:
6.35% (male 3,162; female 4,196) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish
Airports 152 (2001) 6 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 30


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 19


under 914 m: 8 (2002)
total:
5

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 121


914 to 1,523 m: 28


under 914 m: 93 (2002)
total:
1

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Area total: 51,100 sq km


land: 50,660 sq km


water: 440 sq km


note: includes Isla del Coco
total:
389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)

land:
389 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than West Virginia twice the size of Washington, DC
Background Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural country, it has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread. Disputed between France and Great Britain in the 18th century, Saint Vincent was ceded to the latter in 1783. Autonomy was granted in 1969, and independence in 1979.
Birth rate 19.83 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 17.91 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $1.91 billion


expenditures: $2.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) (2000 est.)
revenues:
$85.7 million

expenditures:
$98.6 million, including capital expenditures of $25.7 million (1997 est.)
Capital San Jose Kingstown
Climate tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Coastline 1,290 km 84 km
Constitution 7 November 1949 27 October 1979
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
conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Currency Costa Rican colon (CRC) East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Death rate 4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 6.16 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $4.6 billion (2001 est.) $99.3 million (1998)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador John J. DANILOVICH


embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose


mailing address: APO AA 34020


telephone: [506] 220-3939


FAX: [506] 220-2305
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime DAREMBLUM Rosenstein


chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945


FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795


consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Francisco, St. Paul, and Tampa


consulate(s): Austin
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ellsworth JOHN

chancery:
3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

telephone:
[1] (202) 364-6730

FAX:
[1] (202) 364-6736
Disputes - international legal dispute over navigational rights of Rio San Juan on border with Nicaragua none
Economic aid - recipient - $47.5 million (1995); note - EU $34.5 million (1998)
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. However, traditional export sectors have not kept pace. Low coffee prices and an overabundance of bananas have hurt the agricultural sector. The government continues to grapple with its large deficit and massive internal debt and with the need to modernize the state-owned electricity and telecommunications sector. Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is the most important sector of this lower-middle-income economy. The services sector, based mostly on a growing tourist industry, is also important. The government has been relatively unsuccessful at introducing new industries, and a high unemployment rate persists. The continuing dependence on a single crop represents the biggest obstacle to the islands' development; tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in both 1994 and 1995. The tourism sector has considerable potential for development over the next decade. Recent growth has been stimulated by strong activity in the construction sector and an improvement in tourism. There is a small manufacturing sector and a small offshore financial sector whose particularly restrictive secrecy laws have caused some international concern.
Electricity - consumption 5.895 billion kWh (2000) 76.3 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 532 million kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 22 million kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 6.887 billion kWh (2000) 82 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 1%


hydro: 83%


nuclear: 0%


other: 16% (2000)
fossil fuel:
73.17%

hydro:
26.83%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Soufriere 1,234 m
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 pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Ethnic groups white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1% black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, Carib Amerindian 2%
Exchange rates Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 343.08 (January 2002), 328.87 (2001), 308.19 (2000), 285.68 (1999), 257.23 (1998), 232.60 (1997) East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Executive branch chief of state: President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); First Vice President Lineth SABORIO (since NA May 2002); Second Vice President Luis FISHMAN (since NA May 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); First Vice President Lineth SABORIO (since NA May 2002); Second Vice President Luis FISHMAN (since NA May 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president


elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 February 2002; run-off election held 7 April 2002 (next to be held NA February 2006)


election results: Abel PACHECO elected president; percent of vote - Abel PACHECO (PUSC) 58%; Rolando ARAYA (PLN) 42%
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General David JACK (since 29 September 1989)

head of government:
Prime Minister Ralph GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Exports $5 billion (2001) $53.7 million (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities coffee, bananas, sugar; pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, tennis racquets
Exports - partners US 51.8%, EU 20%, Central America 10.6%, Puerto Rico 2.8%, Mexico 1.7% (2000) Caricom countries 49%, UK 16%, US 10% (1995)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description 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 three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern
GDP purchasing power parity - $31.9 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $322 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 11%


industry: 37%


services: 52% (2000) (2000)
agriculture:
10.6%

industry:
17.5%

services:
71.9% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $8,500 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,800 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 0.3% (2001 est.) 2% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 10 00 N, 84 00 W 13 15 N, 61 12 W
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 the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
Highways total: 37,273 km


paved: 7,827 km


unpaved: 29,446 km (1998 est.)
total:
1,040 km

paved:
320 km

unpaved:
720 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 2%


highest 10%: 35% (2001) (2001)
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Illicit drugs transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots; domestic cocaine consumption is rising, particularly crack cocaine transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
Imports $6.5 billion (2001) $185.6 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels
Imports - partners US 53.2%, EU 10.3%, Mexico 6.2%, Venezuela 5.3%, Central America 4.9% (2000) US 36%, Caricom countries 28%, UK 13% (1995)
Independence 15 September 1821 (from Spain) 27 October 1979 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate -2.1% (2001 est.) -0.9% (1997 est.)
Industries microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Infant mortality rate 10.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 16.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 12.1% (2001 est.) 2% (1999 est.)
International organization participation BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 3 (of which only one is legal) (2000) 15 (2000)
Irrigated land 1,260 sq km (1998 est.) 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly) Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Labor force 1.9 million (1999) (1999) 67,000 (1984 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.) agriculture 26%, industry 17%, services 57% (1980 est.)
Land boundaries total: 639 km


border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 4.41%


permanent crops: 5.48%


other: 90.11% (1998 est.)
arable land:
10%

permanent crops:
18%

permanent pastures:
5%

forests and woodland:
36%

other:
31% (1993 est.)
Languages Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon English, French patois
Legal system based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on English common law
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 3 February 2002 (next to be held 3 February 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUSC 19, PLN 17, PAC 14, PML 6, PRC 1
unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators; representatives are elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 28 March 2001 (next to be held by NA March 2006)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ULP 12, NDP 3
Life expectancy at birth total population: 76.22 years


male: 73.68 years


female: 78.89 years (2002 est.)
total population:
72.56 years

male:
70.83 years

female:
74.34 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 95.5%


male: 95.5%


female: 95.5% (1999 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:
96%

male:
96%

female:
96% (1970 est.)
Location Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
contiguous zone:
24 NM

continental shelf:
200 NM

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,716 GRT/NA DWT


ships by type: passenger 1 (2002 est.)
total:
800 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,705,336 GRT/10,134,002 DWT

ships by type:
barge carrier 1, bulk 131, cargo 395, chemical tanker 29, combination bulk 12, combination ore/oil 1, container 46, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large-load carrier 4, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 56, refrigerated cargo 42, roll on/roll off 49, short-sea passenger 11, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 1

note:
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: China 4, Ireland 1, France 1, Greece 3, Hong Kong 1, Croatia 10, India 1, Japan 2, Monaco 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 2, Netherlands Antilles 1, Pakistan 1, Russia 1, Slovenia 5, UAE 1 (2000 est.)
Military branches no regular indigenous military forces; Air Section, Ministry of Public Forces (Fuerza Publica) Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (includes Special Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure $69 million (FY99) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.6% (FY99) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,058,283 (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 707,927 (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 39,411 (2002 est.) -
National holiday Independence Day, 15 September (1821) Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Nationality noun: Costa Rican(s)


adjective: Costa Rican
noun:
Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)

adjective:
Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Natural hazards occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat
Natural resources hydropower hydropower, cropland
Net migration rate 0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) -7.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines petroleum products 176 km -
Political parties and leaders Agricultural Labor Action or PALA [Carlos Alberto SOLIS Blanco]; Citizen Action Party or PAC [Otton SOLIS]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Justo OROZCO]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Jose M. NUNEZ]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Alejandro MADRIGAL]; National Independent Party or PNI [Jorge GONZALEZ Marten]; National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National Liberation Party or PLN [Sonia PICADO]; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Luis Manuel CHACON]


note: mainly a two-party system - PUSC and PLN - until the 3 February 2002 election in which the PAC captured a significant percentage, forcing a run-off in April 2002
National Reform Party or NRP [Joel MIGUEL]; New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Ken BOYEA]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [leader NA]; United People's Movement or UPM [Adrian SAUNDERS]; Unity Labor Party or ULP [Ralph GONSALVES] (formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
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] NA
Population 3,834,934 (July 2002 est.) 115,942 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 21% (1999 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 1.61% (2002 est.) 0.4% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas Kingstown
Radio broadcast stations AM 50, FM 43, shortwave 19 (1998) AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 980,000 (1997) 77,000 (1997)
Railways total: 950 km


narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified) (2000 est.)
0 km
Religions Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, other Protestant 0.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other 4.8%, none 3.2% Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, Seventh-Day Adventist, Hindu, other Protestant
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: 0.87 male(s)/female


total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.75 male(s)/female

total population:
1.03 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal and compulsory 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: very good domestic telephone service


domestic: point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available


international: connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); two submarine cables (1999)
general assessment:
adequate system

domestic:
islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines

international:
VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and to Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Telephones - main lines in use 450,000 (1998)


note: 584,000 installed in 1997, but only about 450,000 were in use in 1998
20,500 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular 143,000 (2000) NA
Television broadcast stations 6 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997) 1 (plus three repeaters) (1997)
Terrain coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes volcanic, mountainous
Total fertility rate 2.42 children born/woman (2002 est.) 2.06 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.2% (2000 est.) 22% (1997 est.)
Waterways 730 km (seasonally navigable) none
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