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Compare Costa Rica (2006) - Saint Lucia (2001)

Compare Costa Rica (2006) z Saint Lucia (2001)

 Costa Rica (2006)Saint Lucia (2001)
 Costa RicaSaint Lucia
Administrative divisions 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose 11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux Fort
Age structure 0-14 years: 28.3% (male 590,261/female 563,196)


15-64 years: 66% (male 1,359,750/female 1,329,346)


65 years and over: 5.7% (male 108,041/female 124,667) (2006 est.)
0-14 years:
32.13% (male 25,951; female 24,874)

15-64 years:
62.59% (male 48,568; female 50,430)

65 years and over:
5.28% (male 3,120; female 5,235) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
Airports 157 (2006) 2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 32


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 19


under 914 m: 9 (2006)
total:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 125


914 to 1,523 m: 24


under 914 m: 101 (2006)
-
Area total: 51,100 sq km


land: 50,660 sq km


water: 440 sq km


note: includes Isla del Coco
total:
620 sq km

land:
610 sq km

water:
10 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than West Virginia 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Background Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including: disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread. The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.
Birth rate 18.32 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) 21.8 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $2.722 billion


expenditures: $3.195 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
revenues:
$141.2 million

expenditures:
$146.7 million, including capital expenditures of $25.1 million (FY97/98 est.)
Capital name: San Jose


geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W


time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Castries
Climate tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August
Coastline 1,290 km 158 km
Constitution 7 November 1949 22 February 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 Lucia
Currency - East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Death rate 4.36 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) 5.36 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $5.049 billion (2005 est.) $131.6 million (1998)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Mark LANGDALE


embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose


mailing address: APO AA 34020


telephone: [506] 519-2000


FAX: [506] 519-2305
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Tomas DUENAS


chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945


FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795


consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Hammond (temporary location in Louisiana), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa (temporarily closed), Washington, DC


consulate(s): San Francisco
chief of mission:
Ambassador Sonia Merlyn JOHNNY

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

telephone:
[1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795

FAX:
[1] (202) 364-6728

consulate(s) general:
Miami and New York
Disputes - international in September 2005, Costa Rica took its case before the ICJ to advocate the navigation, security, and commercial rights of Costa Rican vessels using the Río San Juan over which Nicaragua retains sovereignty none
Economic aid - recipient - $51.8 million (1995)
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 internal and external deficits and sizable internal debt. The reduction of inflation remains a difficult problem because of rises in the price of imports, labor market rigidities, and fiscal deficits. The country also needs to reform its tax system and its pattern of public expenditure. Costa Rica is the only signatory to the US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) that has not ratified it. CAFTA implementation would result in economic reforms and an improved investment climate. The recent changes in the EU import preference regime and the increased competition from Latin American bananas have made economic diversification increasingly important in Saint Lucia. Improvement in the construction sector and growth of the tourism industry helped expand GDP in 1998-99. The agriculture sector registered its fifth year of decline in 1997 primarily because of a severe decline in banana production. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean, and the government is beginning to develop regulations for the small offshore financial sector.
Electricity - consumption 7.12 billion kWh (2003) 102.3 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 115 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 50 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 7.726 billion kWh (2003) 110 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

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:
Mount Gimie 950 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 deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, 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 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%
Exchange rates Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 477.79 (2005), 437.91 (2004), 398.66 (2003), 359.82 (2002), 328.87 (2001) East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Executive branch chief of state: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May 2006); First Vice President Laura CHINCHILLA (since 8 May 2006); Second Vice President Kevin CASAS Zamora (since 8 May 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May 2006); First Vice President Laura CHINCHILLA (since 8 May 2006); Second Vice President Kevin CASAS Zamora (since 8 May 2006)


cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president


elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held 5 February 2006 (next to be held February 2010)


election results: Oscar ARIAS Sanchez elected president; percent of vote - Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (PLN) 40.9%; Otto SOLIS (PAC) 39.8%, Otto GUEVARA Guth (PML) 8%, Ricardo TOLEDO (PUSC) 3%; note - official results pending the resolution of election challenges
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September 1997)

head of government:
Prime Minister Kenneth ANTHONY (since 24 May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)

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 or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general
Exports NA bbl/day $68.3 million (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities coffee, bananas, sugar, pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Exports - partners US 42.6%, Hong Kong 6.9%, Netherlands 6.4%, Guatemala 4.2% (2005) UK 50%, US 24%, Caricom countries 16% (1995)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
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 blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
GDP - purchasing power parity - $700 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 8.8%


industry: 29.9%


services: 61.4% (2005 est.)
agriculture:
10.7%

industry:
32.3%

services:
57% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $4,500 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5.9% (2005 est.) 0.5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 10 00 N, 84 00 W 13 53 N, 60 68 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 -
Highways - total:
1,210 km

paved:
63 km

unpaved:
1,147 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 1.1%


highest 10%: 36.8% (2002)
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, particularly crack cocaine, is rising transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
Imports NA bbl/day $319.4 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
Imports - partners US 41.3%, Japan 5.6%, Venezuela 4.8%, Mexico 4.8%, Ireland 4.3%, Brazil 4.2%, China 4.2% (2005) US 36%, Caricom countries 22%, UK 11%, Japan 5%, Canada 4% (1995)
Independence 15 September 1821 (from Spain) 22 February 1979 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 5.7% (2005 est.) -8.9% (1997 est.)
Industries microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing
Infant mortality rate total: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 10.58 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 8.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
15.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 13.8% (2005 est.) 2.5% (2000 est.)
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, IPU, 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 ACCT (associate), ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 15 (2000)
Irrigated land 1,080 sq km (2003) 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 (jurisdiction extends to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Labor force 1.82 million (2005 est.) 43,800
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 20%


industry: 22%


services: 58% (1999 est.)
agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)
Land boundaries total: 639 km


border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 4.4%


permanent crops: 5.87%


other: 89.73% (2005)
arable land:
8%

permanent crops:
21%

permanent pastures:
5%

forests and woodland:
13%

other:
53% (1993 est.)
Languages Spanish (official), English English (official), 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 5 February 2006 (next to be held February 2010)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLN 25, PAC 18, PML 6, PUSC 4, other 4
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; six members appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)

elections:
House of Assembly - last held 23 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)

election results:
House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SLP 16, UWP 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 77.02 years


male: 74.43 years


female: 79.74 years (2006 est.)
total population:
72.57 years

male:
69 years

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


total population: 96%


male: 95.9%


female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:
67%

male:
65%

female:
69% (1980 est.)
Location Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm
contiguous zone:
24 NM

continental shelf:
200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,308 GRT/743 DWT


by type: passenger/cargo 2 (2006)
none (2000 est.)
Military branches no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police (2006) Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure $83.46 million (2005 est.) $5 million (FY91/92)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 0.4% (2005 est.) 2% (FY91/92)
National holiday Independence Day, 15 September (1821) Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Nationality noun: Costa Rican(s)


adjective: Costa Rican
noun:
Saint Lucian(s)

adjective:
Saint Lucian
Natural hazards occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes hurricanes and volcanic activity
Natural resources hydropower forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential
Net migration rate 0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) -4.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines refined products 242 km (2006) -
Political parties and leaders Authentic Member from Heredia [Jose SALAS]; Citizen Action Party or PAC [Otton SOLIS]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Gerardo Justo OROZCO Alvarez]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Vladimir DE LA CRUZ]; General Union Party or PUGEN [Carlos Alberto FERNANDEZ Vega]; Homeland First or PP [Juan Jose VARGAS Fallas]; Independent Worker Party or PIO [Jose Alberto CUBERO Carmona]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Juan Carlos CHAVEZ Mora]; National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National Liberation Party or PLN [Francisco Antonio PACHECO]; National Patriotic Party or PPN [Daniel Enrique REYNOLDS Vargas]; National Restoration Party or PRN [Carlos AVENDANO]; Nationalist Democratic Alliance or ADN [Jose Miguel VILLALOBOS Umana]; Patriotic Union or UP [Humberto ARCE Salas]; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Lorena VASQUEZ Badilla]; Union for Change Party or UPC [Antonio ALVAREZ Desanti]; United Leftist Coalition or IU [Humberto VARGAS Carbonel] National Freedom Party or NFP [Martinus FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Kenneth ANTHONY]; United Workers Party or UWP [Dr. Morella JOSEPH]
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 4,075,261 (July 2006 est.) 158,178 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 18% (2004 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 1.45% (2006 est.) 1.23% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors - Castries, Vieux Fort
Radio broadcast stations AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002) AM 2, FM 7 (plus 3 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios - 111,000 (1997)
Railways total: 278 km


narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
0 km
Religions Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2% Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 7%, Anglican 3%
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 (2006 est.)
at birth:
1.07 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal and compulsory 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: good domestic telephone service in terms of breadth of coverage; restricted cellular 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: country code - 506; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); two submarine cables (1999)
general assessment:
adequate system

domestic:
system is automatically switched

international:
direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados; international calls beyond these countries are carried by Intelsat from Martinique
Telephones - main lines in use 1,388,500 (2005) 37,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1.101 million (2005) 1,600 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002) 3 (of which two are commercial stations and one is a community antenna television or CATV channel) (1997)
Terrain coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Total fertility rate 2.24 children born/woman (2006 est.) 2.38 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 6.6% (2005 est.) 15% (1996 est.)
Waterways 730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2005) none
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