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Compare United Arab Emirates (2006) - Costa Rica (2002)

Compare United Arab Emirates (2006) z Costa Rica (2002)

 United Arab Emirates (2006)Costa Rica (2002)
 United Arab EmiratesCosta Rica
Administrative divisions 7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn (Quwayn) 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Age structure 0-14 years: 24.9% (male 331,012/female 317,643)


15-64 years: 71.2% (male 1,125,286/female 726,689)


65 years and over: 3.9% (male 74,700/female 27,383)


note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2006 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 dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber
Airports 37 (2006) 152 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 23


over 3,047 m: 10


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 3 (2006)
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: 14


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 4 (2006)
total: 121


914 to 1,523 m: 28


under 914 m: 93 (2002)
Area total: 82,880 sq km


land: 82,880 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 slightly smaller than Maine slightly smaller than West Virginia
Background The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In 1971, six of these states - Abu Zaby, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah. The UAE's per capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. Its generosity with oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in the affairs of the region. 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 18.96 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) 19.83 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $34.93 billion


expenditures: $29.41 billion; including capital expenditures of $3.4 billion (2005 est.)
revenues: $1.91 billion


expenditures: $2.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) (2000 est.)
Capital name: Abu Dhabi


geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E


time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
San Jose
Climate desert; cooler in eastern mountains tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Coastline 1,318 km 1,290 km
Constitution 2 December 1971; made permanent in 1996 7 November 1949
Country name conventional long form: United Arab Emirates


conventional short form: none


local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah


local short form: none


former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States


abbreviation: UAE
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 4.4 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) 4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $34.47 billion (2005 est.) $4.6 billion (2001 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Michele J. SISON


embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi


mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi


telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200


FAX: [971] (2) 414-2603


consulate(s) general: Dubai
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 chief of mission: Ambassador Saqr Ghobash Said GHOBASH


chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400


FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432


consulate(s): New York, Houston
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 the United Arab Emirate 2006 Yearbook published a map and text rescinding the 1974 boundary with Saudi Arabia, as stipulated in a treaty filed with the UN in 1993, on the grounds that the agreement was not formally ratified; boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and maps showing the alignment have not been published; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which Iran occupies legal dispute over navigational rights of Rio San Juan on border with Nicaragua
Economic aid - donor since its founding in 1971, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has given about $5.2 billion in aid to 56 countries (2004) -
Economy - overview The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth is based on oil and gas output (about 30% of GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30 years ago, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. At present levels of production, oil and gas reserves should last for more than 100 years. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up its utilities to greater private sector involvement. Higher oil revenue, strong liquidity, and cheap credit in 2005 led to a surge in asset prices (shares and real estate) and consumer inflation. Any sharp correction to the UAE's equity markets could damage investor and consumer sentiment and affect bank asset quality. In April 2004, the UAE signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with Washington and in November 2004 agreed to undertake negotiations toward a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US. 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 38.32 billion kWh (2002) 5.895 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2004) 532 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2004) 22 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 45.12 billion kWh (2004) 6.887 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 1%


hydro: 83%


nuclear: 0%


other: 16% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m


highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Environment - current issues lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills 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, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
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 Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982)


note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)
white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%
Exchange rates Emirati dirhams per US dollar - 3.6725 (2005), 3.6725 (2004), 3.6725 (2003), 3.6725 (2002), 3.6725 (2001)


note: officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002
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 KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 3 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006)


head of government: Prime Minister and Vice President MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SULTAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990) and HAMDAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 October 2003)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president


note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the seven emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets four times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power


elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC for five-year terms (no term limits); election last held 3 November 2004 upon the death of the UAE's Founding Father and first President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (next to be held 2009); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president


election results: KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan elected president by a unanimous vote of the FSC; MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum unanimously reaffirmed vice president
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 2.5 million bbl/day (2004 est.) $5 billion (2001)
Exports - commodities crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates coffee, bananas, sugar; pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment
Exports - partners Japan 24.6%, South Korea 9.8%, Thailand 5.6%, India 4.3% (2005) 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 three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side 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 - $31.9 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 4%


industry: 58.5%


services: 37.5% (2002 est.)
agriculture: 11%


industry: 37%


services: 52% (2000) (2000)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $8,500 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 8.8% (2005 est.) 0.3% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 24 00 N, 54 00 E 10 00 N, 84 00 W
Geography - note strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil 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
Heliports 4 (2006) -
Highways - 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 the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its proximity to Southwest Asian drug producing countries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving, but informal banking remains unregulated 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 0 bbl/day (2004) $6.5 billion (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
Imports - partners UK 10%, China 9.7%, US 9.4%, India 9.2%, Germany 5.9%, Japan 5.4%, France 4.7%, Singapore 4.1% (2005) US 53.2%, EU 10.3%, Mexico 6.2%, Venezuela 5.3%, Central America 4.9% (2000)
Independence 2 December 1971 (from UK) 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Industrial production growth rate 4% (2000) -2.1% (2001 est.)
Industries petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, textiles microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Infant mortality rate total: 14.09 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 16.57 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 11.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
10.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 10.5% (2005 est.) 12.1% (2001 est.)
International organization participation ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO 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) - 3 (of which only one is legal) (2000)
Irrigated land 760 sq km (2003) 1,260 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president) Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
Labor force 2.8 million (2005 est.) 1.9 million (1999) (1999)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 7%


industry: 15%


services: 78% (2000 est.)
agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries total: 867 km


border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
total: 639 km


border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Land use arable land: 0.77%


permanent crops: 2.27%


other: 96.96% (2005)
arable land: 4.41%


permanent crops: 5.48%


other: 90.11% (1998 est.)
Languages Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon
Legal system federal court system introduced in 1971; applies to all emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah, which are not fully integrated into the federal judicial system; all emirates have secular courts to adjudicate criminal, civil, and commercial matters and Islamic courts to review family and religious disputes based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; members appointed by the rulers of the constituent states to serve two-year terms)


elections: President KHALIFA in December 2005 announced that indirect elections would be held in early 2006 for half of the seats in the FNC; the other half would be filled by appointment


note: reviews legislation, but cannot change or veto
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: 75.44 years


male: 72.92 years


female: 78.08 years (2006 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: 77.9%


male: 76.1%


female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 95.5%


male: 95.5%


female: 95.5% (1999 est.)
Location Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Map references Middle East 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
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total: 58 ships (1000 GRT or over) 656,003 GRT/891,837 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 7, chemical tanker 5, container 6, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 20, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 1


foreign-owned: 10 (Greece 2, Kuwait 8)


registered in other countries: 259 (Bahamas 16, Barbados 1, Belize 5, Cambodia 1, Comoros 6, Cyprus 11, Dominica 2, Georgia 1, Hong Kong 2, India 6, Iran 1, Jordan 11, Kiribati 1, North Korea 6, Liberia 18, Malta 5, Marshall Islands 3, Mexico 1, Mongolia 5, Norway 1, Panama 105, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 19, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 11, Saudi Arabia 1, Sierra Leone 3, Singapore 7, Somalia 1, Sri Lanka 2, Syria 1, unknown 5) (2006)
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,716 GRT/NA DWT


ships by type: passenger 1 (2002 est.)
Military branches Army, Navy (includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air and Air Defense Force, paramilitary forces (includes Federal Police Force) no regular indigenous military forces; Air Section, Ministry of Public Forces (Fuerza Publica)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $1.6 billion (FY00) $69 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 3.1% (FY00) 1.6% (FY99)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 1,058,283 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - 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 Independence Day, 2 December (1971) Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Nationality noun: Emirati(s)


adjective: Emirati
noun: Costa Rican(s)


adjective: Costa Rican
Natural hazards frequent sand and dust storms occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
Natural resources petroleum, natural gas hydropower
Net migration rate 0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) 0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines condensate 520 km; gas 2,580 km; liquid petroleum gas 300 km; oil 2,950 km; oil/gas/water 5 km; refined products 156 km (2006) petroleum products 176 km
Political parties and leaders none 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 2,602,713 (July 2006 est.) 3,834,934 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 21% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate 1.52% (2006 est.) 1.61% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors - Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas
Radio broadcast stations AM 13, FM 8, shortwave 2 (2004) AM 50, FM 43, shortwave 19 (1998)
Radios - 980,000 (1997)
Railways - total: 950 km


narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified) (2000 est.)
Religions Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4% 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: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.55 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 2.73 male(s)/female


total population: 1.43 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 (2002 est.)
Suffrage none 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Telephone system general assessment: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai


domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber optic and coaxial cable


international: country code - 971; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; submarine cables to Qatar, Bahrain, India, and Pakistan; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia
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 1.237 million (2005) 450,000 (1998)


note: 584,000 installed in 1997, but only about 450,000 were in use in 1998
Telephones - mobile cellular 4.535 million (2005) 143,000 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 15 (2004) 6 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997)
Terrain flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
Total fertility rate 2.88 children born/woman (2006 est.) 2.42 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 2.4% (2001) 5.2% (2000 est.)
Waterways - 730 km (seasonally navigable)
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