lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m
Natural resources: negligible
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:
current issues: no permanent fresh water resources
natural hazards: occasional, tropical cyclones
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: important nesting area for birds and turtles
People
------
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are three
meteorologists
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands
Data code: CR
Type of government: territory of Australia administered by the
Ministry for Environment, Sport, and Territories
Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used
Economy
-------
Economic overview: no economic activity
Transportation
--------------
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Defense
-------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited
regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over
the activities of visitors
======================================================================
@Costa Rica
----------
Map
---
Location: 10 00 N, 84 00 W -- Middle America, bordering both the
Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and
Panama
Flag
----
Description: 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
Geography
---------
Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 84 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 51,100 sq km
land area: 50,660 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia
note: includes Isla del Coco
Land boundaries:
total: 639 km
border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Coastline: 1,290 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season
(May to November)
Terrain: coastal plains separated by rugged mountains
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Natural resources: hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 7%
meadows and pastures: 45%
forest and woodland: 34%
other: 8%
Irrigated land: 1,180 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: deforestation, largely a result of the clearing of
land for cattle ranching; soil erosion
natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic
coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season;
active volcanoes
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation
People
------
Population: 3,463,083 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 612,624; female 582,566)
15-64 years: 61% (male 1,061,703; female 1,038,403)
65 years and over: 4% (male 77,773; female 90,014) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.06% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 23.84 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 4.14 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
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: 0.86 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.72 years
male: 73.31 years
female: 78.24 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Costa Rican(s)
adjective: Costa Rican
Ethnic divisions: white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%, Indian
1%, Chinese 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 94.8%
male: 94.7%
female: 95%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
conventional short form: Costa Rica
local long form: Republica de Costa Rica
local short form: Costa Rica
Data code: CS
Type of government: democratic republic
Capital: San Jose
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon,
Puntarenas, San Jose
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 9 November 1949
Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review
of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Jose Maria FIGUERES
Olsen (since 8 May 1994), First Vice President Rodrigo OREAMUNO
Blanco (since 8 May 1994), Second Vice President Rebeca GRYNSPAN
Mayufis (since 8 May 1994) were elected for four-year terms by
universal suffrage; election last held 6 February 1994 (next to be
held NA February 1998); results - President FIGUERES (PLN) 49.7%,
Miquel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 47.5%
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa): elections last held 6
February 1994 (next to be held NA February 1998); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (61 total) PLN 28, PUSC 29, minority
parties 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), justices are
elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly
Political parties and leaders: National Liberation Party (PLN),
Rolando ARAYA; Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), Rafael Angel
CALDERON Fournier; Marxist Popular Vanguard Party (PVP), Humberto
VARGAS Carbonell; New Republic Movement (MNR), Sergio Erick ARDON
Ramirez; People's Party of Costa Rica (PPC), Lenin CHACON Vargas;
Radical Democratic Party (PRD), Juan Jose ECHEVERRIA Brealey;
Democratic Force Party (FD), Isaac Felipe AZOFEIFA Bolanos
Other political or pressure groups: Costa Rican Confederation of
Democratic Workers (CCTD), Liberation Party affiliate; Confederated
Union of Workers (CUT), Communist Party affiliate; Authentic
Confederation of Democratic Workers (CATD), Communist Party
affiliate; Chamber of Coffee Growers; National Association for
Economic Development (ANFE); Free Costa Rica Movement (MCRL),
rightwing militants; National Association of Educators (ANDE);
Federation of Public Service Workers (FTSP)
International organization participation: AG (observer), BCIE,
CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,
LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia PICADO
chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945
FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795
consulate(s) general: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Durham,
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia,
San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s): Austin
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter Jon DE VOS
embassy: Pavas Road, San Jose
mailing address: APO AA 34020
telephone: [506] 220-3939
FAX: [506] 220-2305
Flag: 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
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Costa Rica's basically stable and progressive
economy depends especially on tourism and the export of bananas,
coffee, and other agricultural products. Recent trends have been
disappointing. Economic growth slipped from 4.3% in 1994 to 2.5% in
1995, the lowest rate of growth since 1991's 2.1%. Inflation rose
dramatically to 22.5% from 13.5% in 1994, well above the
government's own projection of 18%. Unemployment rose from 4.0% in
1994 to 5.2% in 1995, and substantial underemployment continues.
These economic woes are likely to be exacerbated in 1996 by a
standby arrangement reached with the IMF on 29 November 1995. To
restore fiscal balance, the government agreed to curb inflation,
reduce the fiscal deficit, increase domestic savings, and improve
public sector efficiency while increasing the role of the private
sector. Costa Rica signed a free trade agreement with Mexico in 1994.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $18.4 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2.5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $5,400 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 22.5% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 868,300
by occupation: industry and commerce 35.1%, government and services
33%, agriculture 27%, other 4.9% (1985 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.2% (1995 est.); much underemployment
Budget:
revenues: $1.1 billion
expenditures: $1.34 billion, including capital expenditures of $110
million (1991 est.)
Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, construction
materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate: 10.5% (1992)
Electricity:
capacity: 1,040,000 kW
production: 4.1 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 1,164 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: coffee, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes;
beef; timber (depletion of forest resources has resulted in
declining timber output)
Illicit drugs: transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from
South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered
plots
Exports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar
partners: US, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, El Salvador, Netherlands,
UK, France
Imports: $3 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment,
petroleum
partners: US, Japan, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, Germany
External debt: $4 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1 - 193.93
(December 1995), 179.73 (1995), 157.07 (1994), 142.17 (1993), 134.51
(1992), 122.43 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 950 km
narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified)
note: the entire system was scheduled to be shut down on 31 June
1995 because of insolvency
Highways:
total: 35,560 km
paved: 5,608 km
unpaved: 29,952 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: about 730 km, seasonally navigable
Pipelines: petroleum products 176 km
Ports: Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos,
Puntarenas
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 145
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 16
with paved runways under 914 m: 97
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 29 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 281,042 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: very good domestic telephone service
domestic: NA
international: connected to Central American Microwave System;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 71, FM 0, shortwave 13
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 18
Televisions: 340,000 (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Civil Guard, Coast Guard, Air Section, Rural Assistance
Guard; note - the Constitution prohibits armed forces
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 917,566
males fit for military service: 616,420
males reach military age (18) annually: 33,504 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $55 million, 2.0%
of GDP (1995)
======================================================================
@Cote d'Ivoire
-------------
(also known as Ivory Coast)
Map
---
Location: 8 00 N, 5 00 W -- Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia
Flag
----
Description: three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side),
white, and green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer
and has the colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange;
also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side),
white, and red; design was based on the flag of France
Geography
---------
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Ghana and Liberia
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 322,460 sq km
land area: 318,000 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 3,110 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km,
Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km
Coastline: 515 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three
seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to
May), hot and wet (June to October)
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, manganese, iron ore,
cobalt, bauxite, copper
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 4%
meadows and pastures: 9%
forest and woodland: 26%
other: 52%
Irrigated land: 620 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: deforestation (most of the country's forests - once
the largest in West Africa - have been cleared by the timber
industry); water pollution from sewage and industrial and
agricultural effluents
natural hazards: coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during
the rainy season torrential flooding is possible
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
People
------
Population: 14,762,445 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 3,552,270; female 3,462,462)
15-64 years: 50% (male 3,828,538; female 3,599,920)
65 years and over: 2% (male 164,358; female 154,897) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.92% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 42.48 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 15.7 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
note: since 1989, over 350,000 refugees have fled to Cote d'Ivoire
to escape the civil war in Liberia
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.04 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 82.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 46.73 years
male: 46.23 years
female: 47.25 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.15 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ivorian(s)
adjective: Ivorian
Ethnic divisions: Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%,
Agni, foreign Africans (mostly Burkinabe and Malians, about 3
million), non-Africans 130,000 to 330,000 (French 30,000 and
Lebanese 100,000 to 300,000)
Religions: indigenous 25%, Muslim 60%, Christian 12%
Languages: French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the
most widely spoken
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 40.1%
male: 49.9%
female: 30%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire
local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire
local short form: Cote d'Ivoire
former: Ivory Coast
Data code: IV
Type of government: republic; multiparty presidential regime
established 1960
Capital: Yamoussoukro
note: although Yamoussoukro has been the capital since 1983, Abidjan
remains the administrative center; foreign governments, including
the US, maintain official presences in Abidjan
Administrative divisions: 50 departments (departements, singular -
departement); Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adzope, Agboville,
Agnibilekrou, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou,
Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Daloa, Danane, Daoukro,
Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Lahou,
Guiglo, Issia, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota, Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro,
Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro, Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra,
Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toumodi, Vavoua,
Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula
Independence: 7 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 7 August
Constitution: 3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times,
last time November 1990
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Henri Konan BEDIE (since 7 December 1993)
served the remainder of the term of former President Felix
HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY, who died in office after continuous service from
November 1960; President BEDIE was elected with 96% of the vote at
the last election on 22 October 1995 (next election October 2000);
the president is elected for a five-year term by popular vote
head of government: Prime Minister Daniel Kablan DUNCAN (since 10
December 1993), appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers, appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 27
November 1995 (next to be held November 2000); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (175 total) PDCI 147, RDR 14, FPI 10,
unfilled 4; note - of the unfilled seats, elections for 3 were
postponed because of violence in the electoral districts and 1 seat
remains contested
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of the Cote
d'Ivoire (PDCI), Henri Konan BEDIE; Rally of the Republicans (RDR),
Djeny KOBINA; Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), Laurent GBAGBO; Ivorian
Worker's Party (PIT), Francis WODIE; Ivorian Socialist Party (PSI),
Morifere BAMBA; over 20 smaller parties
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WADB, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Moise KOUMOUE-KOFFI
chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lannon WALKER
embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan
mailing address: 01 B. P. 1712, Abidjan
telephone: [225] 21 09 79
FAX: [225] 22 32 59
Flag: three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white,
and green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has
the colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also
similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white,
and red; design was based on the flag of France
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest
producers and exporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm-kernel oil.
Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in
international prices for coffee and cocoa and to weather conditions.
Despite attempts by the government to diversify, the economy is
still largely dependent on agriculture and related industries. After
several years of lagging performance, the Ivorian economy began a
comeback in 1994, due to improved prices for cocoa and coffee,
growth in nontraditional primary exports such as pineapples and
rubber, trade and banking liberalization, offshore oil and gas
discoveries, and generous external financing and debt rescheduling
by multilateral lenders and France. The 50% devaluation of Franc
Zone currencies on 12 January 1994 caused a one-time jump in the
inflation rate to 32% for 1994, but this rate fell to perhaps 10% in
1995, in part as the economy adjusted to the devaluation. Moreover,
government adherence to donor-mandated reforms led to a budget
surplus in 1994. Real growth of GDP in 1994 was 1.7%, a significant
improvement following several years of negative growth. In 1995
growth picked up to 5%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $21.9 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,500 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 37%
industry: 24%
services: 39% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 5.718 million
by occupation: over 85% of population engaged in agriculture,
forestry, livestock raising; about 11% of labor force are wage
earners, nearly half in agriculture and the remainder in government,
industry, commerce, and professions
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1.9 billion
expenditures: $3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $408
million (1993)
Industries: foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining,
automobile assembly, textiles, fertilizer, construction materials,
electricity
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 1,170,000 kW
production: 1.8 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 123 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn,
rice, manioc, sweet potatoes, sugar; cotton, rubber; timber
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis; mostly for local
consumption; some international drug trade; transshipment point for
Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to
the US
Exports: $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: cocoa 55%, coffee 12%, tropical woods 11%, petroleum,
cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton, fish
partners: France, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Burkina Faso, US, UK
Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: food, capital goods, consumer goods, fuel
partners: France, Nigeria, Japan, Netherlands, US, Italy
External debt: $19 billion (1993)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $552 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January
1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
282.11 (1991)
note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 660 km (1995 est.)
narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge; 25 km double track
Highways:
total: 46,331 km
paved: 3,579 km
unpaved: 42,752 km (1984 est.)
Waterways: 980 km navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal
lagoons
Ports: Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,726 GRT/34,711 DWT
ships by type: container 2, oil tanker 1 (1995 est.)