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Compare Saint Kitts and Nevis (2008) - Costa Rica (2006)

Compare Saint Kitts and Nevis (2008) z Costa Rica (2006)

 Saint Kitts and Nevis (2008)Costa Rica (2006)
 Saint Kitts and NevisCosta Rica
Administrative divisions 14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capesterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Age structure 0-14 years: 27.2% (male 5,472/female 5,218)


15-64 years: 64.9% (male 12,779/female 12,752)


65 years and over: 7.9% (male 1,300/female 1,828) (2007 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 sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber
Airports 2 (2007) 157 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
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: 125


914 to 1,523 m: 24


under 914 m: 101 (2006)
Area total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km)


land: 261 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 51,100 sq km


land: 50,660 sq km


water: 440 sq km


note: includes Isla del Coco
Area - comparative 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than West Virginia
Background First settled by the British in 1623, the islands became an associated state with full internal autonomy in 1967. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. Saint Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed. Nevis continues in its efforts to try and separate from Saint Kitts. 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 17.89 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 18.32 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget revenues: $89.7 million


expenditures: $128.2 million (2003 est.)
revenues: $2.722 billion


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


geographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 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, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November) tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Coastline 135 km 1,290 km
Constitution 19 September 1983 7 November 1949
Country name conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis


conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis


former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
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 8.16 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 4.36 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external $314 million (2004) $5.049 billion (2005 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis 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 chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Izben Cordinal WILLIAMS


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


telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636


FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740


consulate(s) general: New York
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 joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea 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 $3.52 million (2005) -
Economy - overview Sugar was the traditional mainstay of the Saint Kitts economy until the 1970s. Following the 2005 harvest, the government closed the sugar industry after decades of losses of 3-4% of GDP annually. To compensate for employment losses, the government has embarked on a program to diversify the agricultural sector and to stimulate other sectors of the economy. Activities such as tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking have assumed larger roles in the economy and have contributed to the recent robust growth. Tourism revenues are now the chief source of the islands' foreign exchange; about 341,800 tourists visited Nevis in 2005. The current government is constrained by a high debt burden, public debt reached 190% of GDP by the end of 2005, largely attributable to public enterprise losses. 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 116.3 million kWh (2005) 7.12 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 115 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 50 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production 125 million kWh (2005) 7.726 billion kWh (2003)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 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, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected 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 predominantly black; some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%
Exchange rates East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003) 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: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN (since 1 January 1996)


head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July 1995); Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation with 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; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
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 0 bbl/day (2004) NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco coffee, bananas, sugar, pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment
Exports - partners US 62%, Canada 9.4%, Netherlands 6.6%, Azerbaijan 5% (2006) US 42.6%, Hong Kong 6.9%, Netherlands 6.4%, Guatemala 4.2% (2005)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red 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: 3.5%


industry: 25.8%


services: 70.7% (2001)
agriculture: 8.8%


industry: 29.9%


services: 61.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 6% (2007 est.) 5.9% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 17 20 N, 62 45 W 10 00 N, 84 00 W
Geography - note with coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat and ball, the two volcanic islands are separated by a three-km-wide channel called The Narrows; on the southern tip of long, baseball bat-shaped Saint Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in the center of its almost circular namesake island and its ball shape complements that of its sister island 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 South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; some money-laundering activity 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 871.6 bbl/day (2004) NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities machinery, manufactures, food, fuels raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
Imports - partners US 48.9%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.1%, Spain 4.6%, UK 4.5% (2006) US 41.3%, Japan 5.6%, Venezuela 4.8%, Mexico 4.8%, Ireland 4.3%, Brazil 4.2%, China 4.2% (2005)
Independence 19 September 1983 (from UK) 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 5.7% (2005 est.)
Industries tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Infant mortality rate total: 13.74 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 15.44 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 11.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 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) 8.7% (2005 est.) 13.8% (2005 est.)
International organization participation ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO 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 NA 1,080 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts and Nevis) Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
Labor force 18,170 (June 1995) 1.82 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation - 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: 19.44%


permanent crops: 2.78%


other: 77.78% (2005)
arable land: 4.4%


permanent crops: 5.87%


other: 89.73% (2005)
Languages English Spanish (official), English
Legal system based on English common law based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11 popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 25 October 2004 (next to be held by 2009)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SKNLP 7, CCM 2, NRP 1, PAM 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: 72.66 years


male: 69.81 years


female: 75.69 years (2007 est.)
total population: 77.02 years


male: 74.43 years


female: 79.74 years (2006 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school


total population: 97.8%


male: NA%


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


total population: 96%


male: 95.9%


female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
Location Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to 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


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm
Merchant marine total: 104 ships (1000 GRT or over) 465,056 GRT/663,511 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 66, chemical tanker 8, container 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 15, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 2


foreign-owned: 76 (Belgium 1, Egypt 2, Estonia 1, Greece 2, India 1, Iran 1, Latvia 4, Monaco 1, Romania 1, Russia 14, Spain 1, Syria 5, Tanzania 1, Turkey 13, Ukraine 5, UAE 22, Yemen 1) (2007)
total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,308 GRT/743 DWT


by type: passenger/cargo 2 (2006)
Military branches Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes Coast Guard), Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis 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 NA 0.4% (2005 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 19 September (1983) Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Nationality noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)


adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian
noun: Costa Rican(s)


adjective: Costa Rican
Natural hazards hurricanes (July to October) occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
Natural resources arable land hydropower
Net migration rate -3.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Pipelines - refined products 242 km (2006)
Political parties and leaders Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Vance AMORY]; Nevis Reformation Party or NRP [Joseph PARRY]; People's Action Movement or PAM [Lindsay GRANT]; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS] 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 39,349 (July 2007 est.) 4,075,261 (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 18% (2004 est.)
Population growth rate 0.623% (2007 est.) 1.45% (2006 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2003) AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002)
Railways total: 50 km


narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists (2006)
total: 278 km


narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Religions Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic 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: 1.07 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.049 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.002 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.711 male(s)/female


total population: 0.988 male(s)/female (2007 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: good inter-island and international connections


domestic: inter-island links via Eastern Caribbean Fiber Optic cable; construction of enhanced wireless infrastructure launched in November 2004


international: country code - 1-869; with the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables providing connectivity, international calls are carried either by submarine cable or Intelsat
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 25,000 (2004) 1,388,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 10,000 (2004) 1.101 million (2005)
Television broadcast stations 1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2003) 20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)
Terrain volcanic with mountainous interiors coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
Total fertility rate 2.29 children born/woman (2007 est.) 2.24 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate 4.5% (1997) 6.6% (2005 est.)
Waterways - 730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2005)
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