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Compare French Guiana (2001) - Costa Rica (2002)

Compare French Guiana (2001) z Costa Rica (2002)

 French Guiana (2001)Costa Rica (2002)
 French GuianaCosta Rica
Administrative divisions none (overseas department of France) 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Age structure 0-14 years:
30.47% (male 27,669; female 26,428)

15-64 years:
64.05% (male 61,457; female 52,266)

65 years and over:
5.48% (male 4,937; female 4,805) (2001 est.)
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.)
Agriculture - products rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber
Airports 11 (2000 est.) 152 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total:
4

over 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
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)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
7

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
5 (2000 est.)
total: 121


914 to 1,523 m: 28


under 914 m: 93 (2002)
Area total:
91,000 sq km

land:
89,150 sq km

water:
1,850 sq km
total: 51,100 sq km


land: 50,660 sq km


water: 440 sq km


note: includes Isla del Coco
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Indiana slightly smaller than West Virginia
Background First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou. 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.
Birth rate 22.02 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 19.83 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues:
$225 million

expenditures:
$390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996)
revenues: $1.91 billion


expenditures: $2.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) (2000 est.)
Capital Cayenne San Jose
Climate tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Coastline 378 km 1,290 km
Constitution 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) 7 November 1949
Country name conventional long form:
Department of Guiana

conventional short form:
French Guiana

local long form:
none

local short form:
Guyane
conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica


conventional short form: Costa Rica


local long form: Republica de Costa Rica


local short form: Costa Rica
Currency French franc (FRF); euro (EUR) Costa Rican colon (CRC)
Death rate 4.77 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $1.2 billion (1988) $4.6 billion (2001 est.)
Dependency status overseas department of France -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas department of France) 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
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas department of France) 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
Disputes - international Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa) legal dispute over navigational rights of Rio San Juan on border with Nicaragua
Economic aid - recipient $NA -
Economy - overview The economy is tied closely to that of France through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry which provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and manioc are the major crops. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers. 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.
Electricity - consumption 409.2 million kWh (1999) 5.895 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 532 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 22 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 440 million kWh (1999) 6.887 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 1%


hydro: 83%


nuclear: 0%


other: 16% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Environment - current issues NA 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
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
Ethnic groups black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10% white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%
Exchange rates Euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996) 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)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Dominique VIAN (since NA January 1997)

head of government:
President of the General Council Andre LECANTE (since NA March 1998); President of the Regional Council Antoine KARAM (since 22 March 1992)

cabinet:
NA

elections:
French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and Regional Councils are appointed by the members of those councils
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%
Exports $155 million (f.o.b., 1997) $5 billion (2001)
Exports - commodities shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence, clothing coffee, bananas, sugar; pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment
Exports - partners France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (1997) US 51.8%, EU 20%, Central America 10.6%, Puerto Rico 2.8%, Mexico 1.7% (2000)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description the flag of France is used 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
GDP purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1998 est.) purchasing power parity - $31.9 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
NA%

industry:
NA%

services:
NA%
agriculture: 11%


industry: 37%


services: 52% (2000) (2000)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $6,000 (1998 est.) purchasing power parity - $8,500 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 0.3% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 4 00 N, 53 00 W 10 00 N, 84 00 W
Geography - note mostly an unsettled wilderness 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:
1,817 km

paved:
817 km

unpaved:
1,000 km (1998)
total: 37,273 km


paved: 7,827 km


unpaved: 29,446 km (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: 2%


highest 10%: 35% (2001) (2001)
Illicit drugs small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe 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
Imports $625 million (c.i.f., 1997) $6.5 billion (2001)
Imports - commodities food (grains, processed meat), machinery and transport equipment, fuels and chemicals raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
Imports - partners France 52%, US 14%, Trinidad and Tobago 6% (1997) US 53.2%, EU 10.3%, Mexico 6.2%, Venezuela 5.3%, Central America 4.9% (2000)
Independence none (overseas department of France) 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Industrial production growth rate NA% -2.1% (2001 est.)
Industries construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Infant mortality rate 13.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 10.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.5% (1992) 12.1% (2001 est.)
International organization participation FZ, WCL, WFTU 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
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) 3 (of which only one is legal) (2000)
Irrigated land 20 sq km (1993 est.) 1,260 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local court based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana) Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
Labor force 58,800 (1997) 1.9 million (1999) (1999)
Labor force - by occupation services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980) agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries total:
1,183 km

border countries:
Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
total: 639 km


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

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
90%

other:
10% (1996 est.)
arable land: 4.41%


permanent crops: 5.48%


other: 90.11% (1998 est.)
Languages French Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon
Legal system French legal system based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)

elections:
General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to be held NA 2006); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2004)

election results:
General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - PS 28.28%, various left parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, Walwari Committee 6%; seats by party - PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6, independents 3, Walwari Committee 2

note:
one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; 2 seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 25 May - 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, PSG 1
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
Life expectancy at birth total population:
76.3 years

male:
72.97 years

female:
79.79 years (2001 est.)
total population: 76.22 years


male: 73.68 years


female: 78.89 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
83%

male:
84%

female:
82% (1982 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 95.5%


male: 95.5%


female: 95.5% (1999 est.)
Location Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Map references South America Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine none (2000 est.) total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,716 GRT/NA DWT


ships by type: passenger 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of France -
Military branches French Forces, Gendarmerie no regular indigenous military forces; Air Section, Ministry of Public Forces (Fuerza Publica)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $NA $69 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% 1.6% (FY99)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
49,495 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 1,058,283 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
32,052 (2001 est.)
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 Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Nationality noun:
French Guianese (singular and plural)

adjective:
French Guianese
noun: Costa Rican(s)


adjective: Costa Rican
Natural hazards high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
Natural resources bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish hydropower
Net migration rate 10.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines - petroleum products 176 km
Political parties and leaders Guianese Socialist Party or PSG [Antoine KARAM]; Guyana Democratic Forces or FDG [Georges OTHILY]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Roland HO-WEN-SZE]; Socialist Party or PS [Pierre RIBARDIERE] (may be a subset of PSG); Walwari Committee [Christine TAUBIRA-DELANON] 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
Political pressure groups and leaders NA 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]
Population 177,562 (July 2001 est.) 3,834,934 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 21% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate 2.74% (2001 est.) 1.61% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 14 (including 6 repeaters), shortwave 6 (including 5 repeaters) (1998) AM 50, FM 43, shortwave 19 (1998)
Radios 104,000 (1997) 980,000 (1997)
Railways 0 km (1995) total: 950 km


narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified) (2000 est.)
Religions Roman Catholic Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, other Protestant 0.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.13 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
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.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Telephone system general assessment:
NA

domestic:
fair open wire and microwave radio relay system

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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)
Telephones - main lines in use 47,000 (1997) 450,000 (1998)


note: 584,000 installed in 1997, but only about 450,000 were in use in 1998
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 143,000 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 3 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997) 6 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997)
Terrain low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
Total fertility rate 3.17 children born/woman (2001 est.) 2.42 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 21.4% (1998) 5.2% (2000 est.)
Waterways 3,300 km navigable by native craft

note:
460 km navigable by small oceangoing vessels and coastal and river steamers
730 km (seasonally navigable)
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