mailing address:
APO AA 34020
telephone:
[506] 20-39-39
FAX:
(506) 20-2305
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

@Costa Rica, Economy

Overview:
In 1993 the economy grew at an estimated 6.5%, compared with 7.7% in
1992 and 2.1% in 1991. Increases in agricultural production (coffee
and bananas), nontraditional exports, and tourism are responsible for
much of the growth. Inflation in 1993 dropped to 9% from 17% in 1992
and 25% in 1991, an indication of basic financial stability.
Unemployment is officially reported at 4.0%, but much underemployment
remains.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $19.3 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
6.5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$5,900 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4% (1993); much underemployment
Budget:
revenues:
$1.1 billion
expenditures:
$1.34 billion, including capital expenditures of $110 million (1991
est.)
Exports:
$1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar
partners:
US, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, El Salvador, Netherlands, UK, France
Imports:
$2.9 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
commodities:
raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
partners:
US, Japan, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, Germany
External debt:
$3.2 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 10.5% (1992); accounts for 22% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
927,000 kW
production:
3.612 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
1,130 kWh (1992)
Industries:
food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials,
fertilizer, plastic products
Agriculture:
accounts for 19% of GDP and 70% of exports; cash commodities - coffee,
beef, bananas, sugar; other food crops include corn, rice, beans,
potatoes; normally self-sufficient in food except for grain; depletion
of forest resources resulting in lower timber output
Illicit drugs:
transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America;
illicit production of cannabis on small scattered plots
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.4 billion; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $935
million; Communist countries (1971-89