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Compare Saint Martin (2008) - Costa Rica (2004)

Compare Saint Martin (2008) z Costa Rica (2004)

 Saint Martin (2008)Costa Rica (2004)
 Saint MartinCosta Rica
Administrative divisions - 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Age structure - 0-14 years: 29.5% (male 597,332; female 570,008)


15-64 years: 65% (male 1,300,206; female 1,271,010)


65 years and over: 5.5% (male 101,270; female 116,681) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products - coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber
Airports 1 149 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1
total: 30


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 18


under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 119


914 to 1,523 m: 24


under 914 m: 95 (2004 est.)
Area total: 54.4 sq km


land: 54.4 sq km


water: NEGL
total: 51,100 sq km


land: 50,660 sq km


water: 440 sq km


note: includes Isla del Coco
Area - comparative more than one-third the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than West Virginia
Background Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 and set about exploiting its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the island in 1633, but continued to be harassed by the Dutch. The Spanish finally relinquished St. Martin to the French and Dutch, who divided it amongst themselves in 1648. The cultivation of sugar cane introduced slavery to the island in the late 18th century; the practice was not abolished until 1848. The island became a free port in 1939; the tourism industry was dramatically expanded during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2003, the populace of St. Martin voted to secede from Guadeloupe and in 2007, the northern portion of the island became a French overseas collectivity. 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 - 18.99 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget - revenues: $2.313 billion


expenditures: $2.851 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)
Capital name: Marigot


geographical coordinates: 18 04 N, 63 05 W


time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


daylight savings: +1 hour
San Jose
Climate temperature averages 80-85 degrees all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; July-Novemeber is the hurricane season tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Coastline 58.9 km (for entire island) 1,290 km
Constitution 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) 7 November 1949
Country name conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin


conventional short form: Saint Martin


local long form: Collectivity d'outre mer de Saint-Martin


local short form: Saint-Martin
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 - Costa Rican colon (CRC)
Death rate - 4.32 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external - $5.366 billion (2003 est.)
Dependency status overseas collectivity of France -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas collectivity of France) chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Douglas M. BARNES


embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose


mailing address: APO AA 34020


telephone: [506] 220-3939


FAX: [506] 519-2305
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas collectivity 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, Denver, Durham (North Carolina), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Francisco, St. Paul, and Tampa


consulate(s): Austin
Disputes - international - legal dispute over navigational rights of Rio San Juan on the border with Nicaragua remains unsolved
Economy - overview The economy of Saint Martin centers around tourism with 85% of the labor force engaged in this sector. Over one million visitors come to the island each year with most arriving through the Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten. No significant agriculture and limited local fishing means that almost all food must be imported. Energy resources and manufactured goods are also imported, primarily from Mexico and the United States. Saint Martin is reported to have the highest per capita income in the Caribbean. 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 deficit and massive internal debt. The reduction of inflation remains a difficult problem because of rises in the price of imports, labor market rigidities, and fiscal deficits. Costa Rica recently concluded negotiations to participate in the US - Central American Free Trade Agreement, which, if ratified by the Costa Rican Legislature, would result in economic reforms and an improved investment climate.
Electricity - consumption - 6.109 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports - 379 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports - 128 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production - 6.839 billion kWh (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m


highest point: Pic du Paradis 424 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Environment - current issues fresh water supply is dependent on desalinization of sea water 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 creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia), white, East Indian white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%
Exchange rates euros per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003) Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 398.663 (2003), 359.817 (2002), 328.871 (2001), 308.187 (2000), 285.685 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by Prefect Dominique LACROIX (since 21 March 2007)


head of government: President of the Territorial Council Louis-Constant FLEMING (since 16 July 2007)


cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory economic, social, and cultural council


election: French president elected by popular vote to a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council is elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term


election results: Louis-Constant FLEMING unanimously elected president by the Territorial Council on 16 July 2007
chief of state: President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); First Vice President Lineth SABORIO (since 8 May 2002); Second Vice President Luis FISHMAN (since 8 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 - NA (2001)
Exports - commodities - coffee, bananas, sugar; pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment
Exports - partners - US 14.2%, Guatemala 3%, Nicaragua 2.7% (2003)
Fiscal 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 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 - purchasing power parity - $35.34 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1%


industry: 15%


services: 84% (2000)
agriculture: 8.5%


industry: 29.4%


services: 62.1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $9,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - 5.6% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 05 N, 63 57 W 10 00 N, 84 00 W
Geography - note the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the World shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten 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: 35,892 km


paved: 7,896 km


unpaved: 27,996 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share - 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 is rising, particularly crack cocaine
Imports - NA (2001)
Imports - commodities crude petroleum, food, manufactured items raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
Imports - partners US, Mexico (2006) US 23.2%, Mexico 4.7%, Venezuela 3.2% (2003)
Independence none (overseas collectivity of France) 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Industrial production growth rate - 8% (2003 est.)
Industries tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Infant mortality rate - total: 10.26 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 11.17 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 9.4% (2003 est.)
International organization participation UPU BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, 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 - 1,260 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch - Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
Labor force - 1.758 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation 85% directly or indirectly employed in tourist industry agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries total: 15 km


border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 15 km
total: 639 km


border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Land use - arable land: 4.41%


permanent crops: 5.88%


other: 89.71% (2001)
Languages French (official language), English, Dutch, French Patois, Spanish, Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles) Spanish (official), English
Legal system the laws of France, where applicable, apply based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Territorial Council (23 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 1 and 8 July 2007 (next to be held July 2012)


election results: percent of seats by party - UPP 49%, RRR 42.2%, Reussir Saint-Martin 8.9%; seats by party - UPP 16, RRR 6, Reussir Saint-Martin 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; note - seats by party as of January 2005 - PUSC 19, PLN 16, PAC 8, PML 5, PRC 1, Patriotic Union 3, Homeland First 1, Authentic Member from Heredia 1, Democratic National Alliance 1, independent 2
Life expectancy at birth - total population: 76.63 years


male: 74.07 years


female: 79.33 years (2004 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 96%


male: 95.9%


female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
Location island 300 km southeast of Puerto Rico 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


continental shelf: 200 nm
Merchant marine - total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,716 GRT/ DWT


by type: passenger 1


registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of France -
Military branches - no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $64 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 0.4% (2003)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 1,101,887 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 736,007 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 41,709 (2004 est.)
National holiday Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is Schoalcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848) Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Nationality - noun: Costa Rican(s)


adjective: Costa Rican
Natural hazards - occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
Natural resources salt hydropower
Net migration rate - 0.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Pipelines - refined products 242 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders Union Pour le Progres or UPP [Louis Constant FLEMING]; Rassemblement Responsabilite Reussite or RRR [Alain RICHARDSON]; Reussir Saint-Martin [Jean-Luc HAMLET] Authentic Member from Heredia [Jose SALAS]; Citizen Action Party or PAC [Otton SOLIS]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Justo OROZCO]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Juan Carlos CHAVES Mora]; Democratic National Alliance [Emilia RODRIGUEZ]; General Union Party or PUGEN [Carlos Alberto FERNANDEZ Vega]; Homeland First [Juan Jose VARGAS]; Independent Worker Party or PIO [Jose Alberto CUBERO Carmona]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Victor GONZALEZ]; 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 Rescue Party or PRN [Carlos VARGAS Solano]; Patriotic Union [Humberto ARCE]; Popular Vanguard [Trino BARRANTES Araya]; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Lorena VASQUEZ Badilla]
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]
Population 33,102 (October 2004 census) 3,956,507 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line - 20.6% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate - 1.52% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors - Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas
Radio broadcast stations FM 3 (2007) AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002)
Railways - total: 950 km


narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified) (2003)
Religions Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu 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: 1.05 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 (2004 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age, universal 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Telephone system general assessment: fully integrated access


domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems


international: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Gudaloupe
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 - 1.132 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 528,047 (2002)
Television broadcast stations - 20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)
Terrain - coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
Total fertility rate - 2.33 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Transportation - note nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located in Sint Maarten -
Unemployment rate - 6.7% (2003 est.)
Waterways - 730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2004)
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