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Compare Martinique (2006) - Costa Rica (2006)

Compare Martinique (2006) z Costa Rica (2006)

 Martinique (2006)Costa Rica (2006)
 MartiniqueCosta 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: 22.1% (male 48,988/female 47,525)


15-64 years: 67.3% (male 147,082/female 146,470)


65 years and over: 10.6% (male 20,791/female 25,275) (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 pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber
Airports 2 (2006) 157 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (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: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2006)
total: 125


914 to 1,523 m: 24


under 914 m: 101 (2006)
Area total: 1,100 sq km


land: 1,060 sq km


water: 40 sq km
total: 51,100 sq km


land: 50,660 sq km


water: 440 sq km


note: includes Isla del Coco
Area - comparative slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than West Virginia
Background The French began to settle this island in 1635, overcoming resistance from the local Carib inhabitants. In 1660, the suviving natives were rounded up and permanently expelled. The island has subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign occupation. 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 13.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) 18.32 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget revenues: $317.5 million


expenditures: $317.5 million; including capital expenditures of $140 million (1996)
revenues: $2.722 billion


expenditures: $3.195 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Capital name: Fort-de-France


geographic coordinates: 14 36 N, 61 05 W


time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of 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; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Coastline 350 km 1,290 km
Constitution 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) 7 November 1949
Country name conventional long form: Department of Martinique


conventional short form: Martinique


local long form: Departement de la Martinique


local short form: Martinique
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 6.48 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) 4.36 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external $180 million (1994) $5.049 billion (2005 est.)
Dependency status overseas department of France -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas department 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 department 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 $NA; note - substantial annual aid from France (1998) -
Economy - overview The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism, which employs more than 11,000 people, has become more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. 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 1.12 billion 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 1.205 billion kWh (2003) 7.726 billion kWh (2003)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 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 African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, East Indian and Chinese less than 5% white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%
Exchange rates euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001) 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); Prefect Yves DASSONVILLE (since 14 January 2004); note - took office 8 February 2004


head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Alfred MARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998)


cabinet: NA


elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils for six-year terms
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 refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples coffee, bananas, sugar, pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment
Exports - partners France 45%, Guadeloupe 28% (2004) US 42.6%, Hong Kong 6.9%, Netherlands 6.4%, Guatemala 4.2% (2005)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description unofficial flag, derives from the civil ensign flown by French merchant ships and dates to 1766; a blue field quartered by a white cross; in the center of each rectangle is a white, coiled snake representing the venomous Fer-de-lance; the flag of France 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: 6%


industry: 11%


services: 83% (1997 est.)
agriculture: 8.8%


industry: 29.9%


services: 61.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 5.9% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 14 40 N, 61 00 W 10 00 N, 84 00 W
Geography - note the island is dominated by Mount Pelee, which on 8 May 1902 erupted and completely destroyed the city of Saint Pierre, killing 30,000 inhabitants 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
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 point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe 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 petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
Imports - partners France 62%, Venezuela 6%, Germany 4%, Italy 4%, US 3% (2004) 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 department of France) 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 5.7% (2005 est.)
Industries construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Infant mortality rate total: 6.95 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 4.68 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 9.27 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) NA 13.8% (2005 est.)
International organization participation UPU, WCL, WFTU 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 70 sq km (2003) 1,080 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
Labor force 165,900 (1998) 1.82 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 10%


industry: 17%


services: 73% (1997)
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: 9.09%


permanent crops: 10%


other: 80.91% (2005)
arable land: 4.4%


permanent crops: 5.87%


other: 89.73% (2005)
Languages French, Creole patois Spanish (official), English
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 (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)


elections: General Council - last held March 2000 (next to be held in 2006); Regional Council - last held on 28 March 2004 (next to be held by March 2010)


election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - left-wing candidates 13, PPM 11, RPR 6, right-wing candidates 5, PCM 3, UDF 3, PMS 2, independents 2; note - the PPM won a plurality; Regional Council (second round) - percent of vote by party - MIM 53.8%, PPM 30.6%; seats by party - MIM 28, PPM 9, other 4


note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections last held September 2004 (next to be held September 2008); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPM 1, left-wing candidate 1; Martinique also elects 4 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held, first round - 9 June 2002, second round - 16 June 2002 (next to be held not later than June 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1, PMS 1, MIM 1, left-wing candidate 1 (candidacy of the left-wing candidate was found invalid by the Constitutional Council; new elections will be called)
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: 79.18 years


male: 79.5 years


female: 78.85 years (2006 est.)
total population: 77.02 years


male: 74.43 years


female: 79.74 years (2006 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 97.7%


male: 97.4%


female: 98.1% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 96%


male: 95.9%


female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
Location Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Map references Central America and the Caribbean 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: 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 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: Martiniquais (singular and plural)


adjective: Martiniquais
noun: Costa Rican(s)


adjective: Costa Rican
Natural hazards hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years) occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
Natural resources coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land hydropower
Net migration rate -0.03 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 Martinique Communist Party or PCM [Georges ERICHOT]; Martinique Independence Movement or MIM [Alfred MARIE-JEANNE]; Martinique Progressive Party or PPM [Pierre SUEDILE]; Martinique Socialist Party or PMS [Ernest WAN-AJOUHU]; Movement of Democrats and Ecologists for a Sovereign Martinique or Modemas [Garcin MALSA]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Michel CHARLONE]; Socialist Revolution Group or GRS [Philippe PIERRE-CHARLES]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Jean MAREN] 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 Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for Martinique Workers or CSTM [Marc PULVAR]; Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP 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 436,131 (July 2006 est.) 4,075,261 (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 18% (2004 est.)
Population growth rate 0.72% (2006 est.) 1.45% (2006 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 0, FM 14, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002)
Railways - total: 278 km


narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Religions Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 10.5%, Muslim 0.5%, Hindu 0.5%, other 3.5% (1997) 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: 1.02 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female


total population: 0.99 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: domestic facilities are adequate


domestic: NA


international: country code - 596; microwave radio relay to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Saint Lucia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic 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 172,000 (2001) 1,388,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 319,900 (2002) 1.101 million (2005)
Television broadcast stations 11 (plus nine repeaters) (1997) 20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)
Terrain mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
Total fertility rate 1.79 children born/woman (2006 est.) 2.24 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate 27.2% (1998) 6.6% (2005 est.)
Waterways - 730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2005)
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