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Compare French Polynesia (2006) - Costa Rica (2006)

Compare French Polynesia (2006) z Costa Rica (2006)

 French Polynesia (2006)Costa Rica (2006)
 French PolynesiaCosta Rica
Administrative divisions none (overseas lands of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are five archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, Iles Sous-le-Vent


note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Age structure 0-14 years: 26.1% (male 36,541/female 34,999)


15-64 years: 67.9% (male 96,769/female 89,593)


65 years and over: 6.1% (male 8,428/female 8,248) (2006 est.)
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.)
Agriculture - products coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits, coffee; poultry, beef, dairy products coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber
Airports 51 (2006) 157 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways total: 39


over 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 25


under 914 m: 7 (2006)
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)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 12


914 to 1,523 m: 5


under 914 m: 7 (2006)
total: 125


914 to 1,523 m: 24


under 914 m: 101 (2006)
Area total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)


land: 3,660 sq km


water: 507 sq km
total: 51,100 sq km


land: 50,660 sq km


water: 440 sq km


note: includes Isla del Coco
Area - comparative slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut slightly smaller than West Virginia
Background The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996. In recent years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded. 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.
Birth rate 16.68 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) 18.32 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget revenues: $865 million


expenditures: $644.1 million; including capital expenditures of $185 million (1996)
revenues: $2.722 billion


expenditures: $3.195 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Capital name: Papeete


geographic coordinates: 17 32 S, 149 34 W


time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
name: San Jose


geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W


time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate tropical, but moderate tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Coastline 2,525 km 1,290 km
Constitution 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) 7 November 1949
Country name conventional long form: Overseas Lands of French Polynesia


conventional short form: French Polynesia


local long form: Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise


local short form: Polynesie Francaise


former: French Colony of Oceania
conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica


conventional short form: Costa Rica


local long form: Republica de Costa Rica


local short form: Costa Rica
Death rate 4.69 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) 4.36 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external $NA $5.049 billion (2005 est.)
Dependency status overseas lands of France; overseas territory of France from 1946-2004 -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas lands of France) 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
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas lands of France) 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
Disputes - international none 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
Economic aid - recipient $580 million (2004) -
Economy - overview Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With the halt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution to the economy fell sharply. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. Other sources of income are pearl farming and deep-sea commercial fishing. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefits substantially from development agreements with France aimed principally at creating new businesses and strengthening social services. 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.
Electricity - consumption 459.2 million kWh (2003) 7.12 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2003) 115 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2003) 50 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production 493.7 million kWh (2003) 7.726 billion kWh (2003)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 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, 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
Ethnic groups Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4% white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%
Exchange rates Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002), 133.26 (2001)


note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro
Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 477.79 (2005), 437.91 (2004), 398.66 (2003), 359.82 (2002), 328.87 (2001)
Executive branch chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Anne BOQUET (since September 2005)


head of government: President of French Polynesia Oscar TEMARU (since 3 March 2005); President of the Territorial Assembly Antony GEROS (since 9 May 2004)


cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers


elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the territorial government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly for five-year terms (no term limits)
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
Exports NA bbl/day NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat coffee, bananas, sugar, pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment
Exports - partners France 46.3%, Japan 20.8%, Niger 12.8%, US 12.5% (2005) US 42.6%, Hong Kong 6.9%, Netherlands 6.4%, Guatemala 4.2% (2005)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions 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
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 3.1%


industry: 19%


services: 76.9% (2002)
agriculture: 8.8%


industry: 29.9%


services: 61.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% (2001 est.) 5.9% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 15 00 S, 140 00 W 10 00 N, 84 00 W
Geography - note includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 coral); Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru 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
Government - note under certain acts of France, French Polynesia has acquired autonomy in all areas except those relating to police and justice, monetary policy, tertiary education, immigration, and defense and foreign affairs; the duties of its president are fashioned after those of the French prime minister -
Heliports 1 (2006) -
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 1.1%


highest 10%: 36.8% (2002)
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
Imports NA bbl/day NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
Imports - partners France 52.7%, Singapore 14.9%, NZ 6.8%, US 6.6% (2005) US 41.3%, Japan 5.6%, Venezuela 4.8%, Mexico 4.8%, Ireland 4.3%, Brazil 4.2%, China 4.2% (2005)
Independence none (overseas lands of France) 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 5.7% (2005 est.)
Industries tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Infant mortality rate total: 8.29 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 9.55 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 6.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
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.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.1% (2006 est.) 13.8% (2005 est.)
International organization participation FZ, ICFTU, PIF (observer), SPC, UPU, WMO 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
Irrigated land 10 sq km (2003) 1,080 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
Labor force 65,870 (December 2005) 1.82 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 13%


industry: 19%


services: 68% (2002)
agriculture: 20%


industry: 22%


services: 58% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 639 km


border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Land use arable land: 0.75%


permanent crops: 5.5%


other: 93.75% (2005)
arable land: 4.4%


permanent crops: 5.87%


other: 89.73% (2005)
Languages French 61.1% (official), Polynesian 31.4% (official), Asian languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census) Spanish (official), English
Legal system based on French system based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (57 seats - changed from 49 seats for May 2004 election; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 23 May 2004 (next to be held May 2009)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 28, Union for Democracy 27, New Star 1, This Country is Yours 1; after by-elections of 13 February 2005 seating was as follows: People's Rally for the Republic 27, Union for Democracy 27, and Alliance for a New Democracy 3


note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held in 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1, UMP 1
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
Life expectancy at birth total population: 76.1 years


male: 73.69 years


female: 78.63 years (2006 est.)
total population: 77.02 years


male: 74.43 years


female: 79.74 years (2006 est.)
Literacy definition: age 14 and over can read and write


total population: 98%


male: 98%


female: 98% (1977 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 96%


male: 95.9%


female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
Location Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean about one-half of the way from South America to Australia Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Map references Oceania Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm
Merchant marine total: 13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 23,684 GRT/17,291 DWT


by type: cargo 4, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1


foreign-owned: 1 (France 1)


registered in other countries: 2 (Wallis and Futuna 2) (2006)
total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,308 GRT/743 DWT


by type: passenger/cargo 2 (2006)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of France -
Military branches no regular military forces; Gendarmerie and National Police Force no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police (2006)
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $83.46 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 0.4% (2005 est.)
National holiday Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Nationality noun: French Polynesian(s)


adjective: French Polynesian
noun: Costa Rican(s)


adjective: Costa Rican
Natural hazards occasional cyclonic storms in January occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
Natural resources timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower hydropower
Net migration rate 2.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) 0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Pipelines - refined products 242 km (2006)
Political parties and leaders Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN [Nicole BOUTEAU and Philip SCHYLE](includes the parties The New Star and This Country is Yours); Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON]; People's Rally for the Republic of Polynesia or RPR (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; Union for Democracy or UPD [Oscar TEMARU] 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]
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 274,578 (July 2006 est.) 4,075,261 (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 18% (2004 est.)
Population growth rate 1.48% (2006 est.) 1.45% (2006 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998) AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002)
Railways - total: 278 km


narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Religions Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6% Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female


total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2006 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 (2006 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
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)
Telephones - main lines in use 53,400 (2005) 1,388,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 87,000 (2005) 1.101 million (2005)
Television broadcast stations 7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997) 20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)
Terrain mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
Total fertility rate 2.01 children born/woman (2006 est.) 2.24 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate 11.8% (1994) 6.6% (2005 est.)
Waterways - 730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2005)
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