Country Guide

Tanzania Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique


Geographic coordinates:
6 00 S, 35 00 E


Map references:
Africa


Area:
total:947,300 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 31
land:885,800 sq km
water:61,500 sq km
note:includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar


Area - comparative:
slightly larger than twice the size of California


Land boundaries:
total:3,861 km
border countries:Burundi 451 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 459 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km


Coastline:
1,424 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm


Climate:
varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands


Terrain:
plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:Kilimanjaro 5,895 m (highest point in Africa)


    Natural resources:
hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel


Land use:
arable land:12.25%
permanent crops:1.79%
other:85.96% (2011)


Irrigated land:
1,843 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
96.27 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
96.27 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought


Environment - current issues:
soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and one of only two mountains on the continent that has glaciers (the other is Mount Kenya); bordered by three of the largest lakes on the continent: Lake Victoria (the world's second-largest freshwater lake) in the north, Lake Tanganyika (the world's second deepest) in the west, and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) in the southwest

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Tanzanian(s)
adjective:Tanzanian


Ethnic groups:
mainland - African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and African


Languages:
Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages


Religions:
mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim


Population:
49,639,138country comparison to the world: 26
note:estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.)



Age structure:
0-14 years:44.6% (male 11,173,655/female 10,962,186)
15-24 years:19.5% (male 4,838,216/female 4,841,338)
25-54 years:29.5% (male 7,340,129/female 7,289,483)
55-64 years:3.5% (male 745,214/female 985,524)
65 years and over:2.9% (male 629,483/female 833,910) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:92.4 %
youth dependency ratio:86.1 %
elderly dependency ratio:6.2 %
potential support ratio:16.1 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:17.4 years
male:17.1 years
female:17.7 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
2.8% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 18


Birth rate:
36.82 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 17


Death rate:
8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 92


Net migration rate:
-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 136


Urbanization:
urban population:26.7% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:4.77% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
DAR ES SALAAM (capital) 3.588 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.76 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
19.6


Maternal mortality rate:
460 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


    Infant mortality rate:
total:43.74 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 49
male:45.78 deaths/1,000 live births
female:41.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:61.24 yearscountry comparison to the world: 190
male:59.91 years
female:62.62 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
4.95 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 17


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
34.4% (2009/10)


Health expenditures:
7.3% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.01 physicians/1,000 population (2006)


Hospital bed density:
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 77.9% of population
rural: 44% of population
total: 53.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 22.1% of population
rural: 56% of population
total: 46.8% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 24.9% of population
rural: 7.5% of population
total: 12.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 75.1% of population
rural: 92.5% of population
total: 87.8% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
5.1% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 13


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,472,400 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 7


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
80,000 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 4


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
5% (2008)country comparison to the world: 156


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
16.2% (2010)country comparison to the world: 44


Education expenditures:
6.2% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 37

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic
total population:67.8%
male:75.5%
female:60.8% (2010 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:9 years
male:9 years
female:9 years (2012)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:7.1% (2011)country comparison to the world: 129

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania
conventional short form:Tanzania
local long form:Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania
local short form:Tanzania
former:United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar


Government type:
republic


Capital:
name:Dar es Salaam; note - legislative offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital, and the National Assembly now meets there on a regular basis; the executive branch with all ministries and diplomatic representation remains in Dar es Salaam
geographic coordinates:6 48 S, 39 17 E
time difference:UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
30 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Geita, Iringa, Kagera, Kaskazini Pemba (Pemba North), Kaskazini Unguja (Zanzibar North), Katavi, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Kusini Pemba (Pemba South), Kusini Unguja (Zanzibar Central/South), Lindi, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Mjini Magharibi (Zanzibar Urban/West), Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Njombe, Pwani (Coast), Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Singida, Tabora, Tanga


Independence:
26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent on 9 December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent on 10 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar on 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania on 29 October 1964


National holiday:
Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)


Constitution:
several previous; latest adopted 25 April 1977; amended many times, last in 2012; note - in 2012, the Tanzania Constitutional Review Commission was formed, and in June 2013, completed the first draft of a new constitution (2013)


Legal system:
English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005); Vice President Mohammed Gharib BILAL (since 6 November 2010); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005); Vice President Mohammed Gharib BILAL (since 6 November 2010)
note:Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government for matters internal to Zanzibar; Ali Mohamed SHEIN elected to that office on 31 October 2010, sworn in 3 November 2010
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly
elections:president and vice president elected on the same ballot by popular vote for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 October 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president
election results:Jakaya KIKWETE elected president; percent of vote - Jakaya KIKWETE 61.2%, Willibrod SLAA 26.3%, Ibrahim LIPUMBA 8.1%, other 4.4%


Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (357 seats; 239 members elected by popular vote, 102 allocated to women nominated by the president, 5 to members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives; members serve five-year terms, up to 10 additional members appointed by the president, 1 seat reserved for the Attorney General); note - in addition to enacting laws that apply to the entire United Republic of Tanzania, the Assembly enacts laws that apply only to the mainland; Zanzibar has its own House of Representatives with jurisdiction exclusive to Zanzibar (the Zanzibar House of Representatives has 50 seats; members elected by universal suffrage to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 31 October 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results:National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 259, CHADEMA 48, CUF 34, NCCR-M 4, other 7, Zanzibar representatives 5; Zanzibar House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 28, CUF 22


    Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Court of Appeal of the United Republic of Tanzania (consists of the chief justice and 14 justices); High Court of the United Republic for Mainland Tanzania (consists of the principal judge and 30 judges organized into commercial, land, and labor courts); High Court of Zanzibar (consists of the chief justice and NA judges)
judge selection and term of office:Court of Appeal and High Court justices appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission for Tanzania, a judicial body of high level judges and 2 members appointed by the national president; Court of Appeal and High Court judges appointed until mandatory retirement at age 60 but can extended; High Court of Zanzibar judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Commission of Zanzibar; judge tenure NA
subordinate courts:Resident Magistrates Courts; Kadhi courts (for Islamic family matters); district and primary courts


Political parties and leaders:
Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Party of Democracy and Development) or CHADEMA [Willibrod SLAA]
Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary Party) [Jakaya Mrisho KIKWETE]
Civic United Front or CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA]
Democratic Party or DP [Christopher MTIKLA] (unregistered)
National Convention for Construction and Reform - Mageuzi or NCCR-M [Hashim RUNGWE]
Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Mutamwega MUGAHWYA]
United Democratic Party or UDP [Fahma DOVUTWA]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Economic and Social Research Foundation or ESRF


International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, EAC, EADB, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Liberata Rutageruka MULAMULA (since 17 July 2013)
chancery:1232 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:[1] (202) 939-6125
FAX:[1] (202) 797-7408


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Mark Bradley CHILDRESS (since 7 April 2014)
embassy:686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani, Dar es Salaam
mailing address:P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
telephone:[255] (22) 229-4000
FAX:[255] (22) 229-4970 or 4971


Flag description:
divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue; the banner combines colors found on the flags of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; green represents the natural vegetation of the country, gold its rich mineral deposits, black the native Swahili people, and blue the country's many lakes and rivers, as well as the Indian Ocean


National symbol(s):
Uhuru (Freedom) torch


National anthem:
name:'Mungu ibariki Afrika' (God Bless Africa)

lyrics/music:collective/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA
note:adopted 1961; the anthem, which is also a popular song in Africa, shares the same melody with that of Zambia, but has different lyrics; the melody is also incorporated into South Africa's anthem

Economy

Economy - overview:
Tanzania is one of the world's poorest economies in terms of per capita income, however, it has achieved high overall growth rates based on gold production and tourism. Tanzania has largely completed its transition to a liberalized market economy, though the government retains a presence in sectors such as telecommunications, banking, energy, and mining. The economy depends on agriculture, which accounts for more than one-quarter of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs about 80% of the work force. The World Bank, the IMF, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's aging economic infrastructure, including rail and port infrastructure that are important trade links for inland countries. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private-sector growth and investment, and the government has increased spending on agriculture to 7% of its budget. The financial sector in Tanzania has expanded in recent years and foreign-owned banks account for about 48% of the banking industry's total assets. Competition among foreign commercial banks has resulted in significant improvements in the efficiency and quality of financial services, though interest rates are still relatively high, reflecting high fraud risk. All land in Tanzania is owned by the government, which can lease land for up to 99 years. Proposed reforms to allow for land ownership, particularly foreign land ownership, remain unpopular. Continued donor assistance and solid macroeconomic policies supported a positive growth rate, despite the world recession. In 2008, Tanzania received the world's largest Millennium Challenge Compact grant, worth $698 million, and in December 2012 the Millennium Challenge Corporation selected Tanzania for a second Compact. Dar es Salaam used fiscal stimulus and loosened monetary policy to ease the impact of the global recession. GDP growth in 2009-13 was a respectable 6-7% per year due to high gold prices and increased production.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$79.29 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$74.12 billion (2012 est.)
$69.31 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$31.94 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
6.9% (2012 est.)
6.4% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,700 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
$1,600 (2012 est.)
$1,600 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
25.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
25.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
17.4% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:60.3%
government consumption:17.2%
investment in fixed capital:40.2%
investment in inventories:0.6%
exports of goods and services:30.1%
imports of goods and services:-48.5%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:27.6%
industry:25%
services:47.4% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves, corn, wheat, cassava (manioc, tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats


Industries:
agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine); mining (diamonds, gold, and iron), salt, soda ash; cement, oil refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer


Industrial production growth rate:
7.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

Labor force:
25.59 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:80%
industry and services:20% (2002 est.)


Unemployment rate:
NA%


Population below poverty line:
36% (2002 est.)


    Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:2.8%
highest 10%:29.6% (2007)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37.6 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 77
34.6 (2000)


Budget:
revenues:$7.117 billion
expenditures:$8.917 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
22.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-5.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174


Public debt:
42.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
41.7% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
16% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
8.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
3.7% (31 December 2009 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13.6% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
15.46% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$4.594 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
$4.16 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$7.702 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
$6.824 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$7.326 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
$7.061 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.803 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$4.857 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
-$4.195 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$5.92 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$5.912 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton


Exports - partners:
India 15.2%, China 11.1%, Japan 6.2%, Germany 5.1%, UAE 4.8% (2012)


Imports:
$11.16 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$10.32 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial raw materials, crude oil


Imports - partners:
China 21.3%, India 16.3%, South Africa 6.4%, Kenya 6%, UAE 5% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.343 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$4.053 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
note:excludes gold


Debt - external:
$13.82 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$11.82 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA


Exchange rates:
Tanzanian shillings (TZS) per US dollar -
1,609.2 (2013 est.)
1,583 (2012 est.)
1,409.3 (2010 est.)
1,320.3 (2009)
1,178.1 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
4.302 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122


Electricity - consumption:
3.403 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207


Electricity - imports:
50 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
841,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
33.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
66.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132


Crude oil - production:
10 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl
country comparison to the world: 199


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
43,310 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138


Refined petroleum products - imports:
30,750 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91


Natural gas - production:
860 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67


Natural gas - consumption:
780 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140


Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.513 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
7.228 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
161,100 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 133


Telephones - mobile cellular:
27.22 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 39


Telephone system:
general assessment:telecommunications services are marginal; system operating below capacity and being modernized for better service; small aperture terminal (VSAT) system under construction
domestic:fixed-line telephone network inadequate with less than 1 connection per 100 persons; mobile-cellular service, aided by multiple providers, is increasing rapidly and in 2011 exceeded a subscriber base of 50 telephones per 100 persons; trunk service provided by open-wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and fiber-optic cable; some links being made digital
international:country code - 255; landing point for the EASSy fiber-optic submarine cable system linking East Africa with Europe and North America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2010)



    Broadcast media:
a state-owned TV station and multiple privately owned TV stations; state-owned national radio station supplemented by more than 40 privately owned radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available (2007)


Internet country code:
.tz


Internet hosts:
26,074 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 110


Internet users:
678,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 111

Transportation

Airports
166 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 34


Airports - with paved runways
total:10
over 3,047 m:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
914 to 1,523 m:2 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:156
over 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:24
914 to 1,523 m:98
under 914 m:
33 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 311 km; oil 891 km; refined products 8 km (2013)


Railways
total:3,689 kmcountry comparison to the world: 47
narrow gauge:969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,720 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)


    Roadways
total:86,472 kmcountry comparison to the world: 53
paved:7,092 km
unpaved:79,380 km (2010)


Waterways



Merchant marine
total:94
country comparison to the world: 52
by type:bulk carrier 6, cargo 66, carrier 4, chemical tanker 1, container 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned:42 (Japan 1, Romania 1, Saudi Arabia 1, Syria 23, Turkey 13, UAE 3)
registered in other countries:3 (Panama 2, UK 1) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar

Transportation - note
the International Maritime Bureau reports that shipping in territorial and offshore waters in the Indian Ocean remain at risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships, especially as Somali-based pirates extend their activities south; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Military

Military branches
Tanzania People's Defense Force (Jeshi la Wananchi la Tanzania, JWTZ): Army, Naval Wing (includes Coast Guard), Air Defense Command (includes Air Wing), National Service (2007)


Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:9,985,445 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:5,860,339
females age 16-49:5,882,279 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:512,294
female:514,164 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
1.13% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 90
1.12% of GDP (2011)
1.13% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River; Malawi contends that the entire lake up to the Tanzanian shoreline is its territory, while Tanzania claims the border is in the center of the lake; the conflict was reignited in 2012 when Malawi awarded a license to a British company for oil exploration in the lake


    Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):64,569 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 35,183 (Burundi) (2013)


Trafficking in persons



Illicit drugs
targeted by traffickers moving hashish, Afghan heroin, and South American cocaine transported down the East African coastline, through airports, or overland through Central Africa; Zanzibar likely used by traffickers for drug smuggling; traffickers in the past have recruited Tanzanian couriers to move drugs through Iran into East Asia
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook

LookForAttorney.com | Country Guide of Laos

Country Guide

Laos Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam


Geographic coordinates:
18 00 N, 105 00 E


Map references:
Southeast Asia


Area:
total:236,800 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 84
land:230,800 sq km
water:6,000 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Utah


Land boundaries:
total:5,083 km
border countries:Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km


Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)


Maritime claims:
lowest point:Mekong River 70 m
highest point:Phu Bia 2,817 m


    Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones


Land use:
arable land:5.91%
permanent crops:0.42%
other:93.67% (2011)


Irrigated land:
3,100 sq km (2005)


Total renewable water resources:
333.5 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
333.5 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
floods, droughts


Environment - current issues:
unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective:Lao or Laotian


Ethnic groups:
Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26% (2005 census)


Languages:
Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages


Religions:
Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)


Population:
6,803,699 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 104


Age structure:
0-14 years:34.8% (male 1,195,364/female 1,173,520)
15-24 years:21.3% (male 719,205/female 728,729)
25-54 years:35% (male 1,176,018/female 1,208,452)
55-64 years:5.1% (male 169,291/female 175,815)
65 years and over:3.7% (male 116,299/female 141,006) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:62.6 %
youth dependency ratio:56.4 %
elderly dependency ratio:6.2 %
potential support ratio:16.1 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:22 years
male:21.7 years
female:22.3 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.59% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 78


Birth rate:
24.76 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 58


Death rate:
7.74 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 109


Net migration rate:
-1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 150


Urbanization:
urban population:34.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:4.41% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
VIENTIANE (capital) 810,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years:0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.97 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.82 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
470 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:54.53 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 33
male:60.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female:48.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:63.51 yearscountry comparison to the world: 182
male:61.54 years
female:65.56 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.9 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 60


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
38.4% (2005)


Health expenditures:
2.8% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2009)


Hospital bed density:
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 83.7% of population
rural: 64.9% of population
total: 71.5% of population
unimproved:
urban: 16.3% of population
rural: 35.1% of population
total: 28.5% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 90.4% of population
rural: 50.5% of population
total: 64.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 9.6% of population
rural: 49.5% of population
total: 35.4% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 96


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
11,500 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 99


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
400 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 98


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
2.6% (2008)country comparison to the world: 179


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
31.6% (2006)country comparison to the world: 13


Education expenditures:
2.8% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 147

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:72.7%
male:82.5%
female:63.2% (2005 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:10 years
male:11 years
female:10 years (2012)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
conventional short form:Laos
local long form:Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
local short form:Pathet Lao (unofficial)


Government type:
Communist state


Capital:
name:Vientiane (Viangchan)
geographic coordinates:17 58 N, 102 36 E
time difference:UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 capital city* (nakhon luang, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhouang


Independence:
19 July 1949 (from France)


National holiday:
Republic Day, 2 December (1975)


Constitution:
previous 1947 (preindependence); latest promulgated 13-15 August 1991; amended 2003 (2003)


Legal system:
civil law system similar in form to the French system


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8 June 2006); Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006)
head of government:Prime Minister THONGSING Thammavong (since 24 December 2010); First Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May 2002), Deputy Prime Ministers SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998), THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 27 March 2001), and [vacant]; note - Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. DOUANGCHAI Phichit was killed in a 17 May 2014 plane crash and no replacement has yet been named
cabinet:ministers appointed by president, approved by National Assembly
elections:president and vice president elected by National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held on 30 April 2011 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister nominated by the president and elected by the National Assembly for five-year term
election results:CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG Volachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA; THONGSING Thammavong elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA


Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (132 seats; members elected by popular vote from a list of candidates selected by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 30 April 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 128, independents 4


    Judicial branch:
highest court(s):People's Supreme Court (consists of NA judges)
judge selection and term of office:president of People's Supreme Court elected by National Assembly on recommendation of National Assembly Standing Committee; vice president of People's Supreme Court and judges appointed by National Assembly Standing Committee; term of office NA
subordinate courts:provincial, municipal, district, and military courts


Political parties and leaders:
Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI Saignason]; other parties proscribed

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA


International organization participation:
ADB, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador SENG Soukhathivong (since 4 June 2010)
chancery:2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 332-6416
FAX:[1] (202) 332-4923


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador David A. CLUNE (since 16 September 2013)
embassy:19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam, Vientiane
mailing address:American Embassy Vientiane, APO AP 96546
telephone:[856] 21-26-7000
FAX:[856] 21-26-7190


Flag description:
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band; the red bands recall the blood shed for liberation; the blue band represents the Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk symbolizes the full moon against the Mekong River, but also signifies the unity of the people under the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, as well as the country's bright future


National symbol(s):
elephant


National anthem:
name:'Pheng Xat Lao' (Hymn of the Lao People)

lyrics/music:SISANA Sisane/THONGDY Sounthonevichit
note:music adopted 1945, lyrics adopted 1975; the anthem's lyrics were changed following the 1975 Communist revolution that overthrew the monarchy

Economy

Economy - overview:
The government of Laos, one of the few remaining one-party communist states, began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, were striking - growth averaged 6% per year from 1988-2008 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis that began in 1997. Laos' growth exceeded 7% per year during 2008-13. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a country with an underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. It has a basic, but improving, road system, and limited external and internal land-line telecommunications. Electricity is available in 83 % of the country. Laos' economy is heavily dependent on capital-intensive natural resource exports. The labor force, however, still relies on agriculture, dominated by rice cultivation in lowland areas, which accounts for about 25% of GDP and 73% of total employment. Economic growth has reduced official poverty rates from 46% in 1992 to 26% in 2010. The economy also has benefited from high-profile foreign direct investment in hydropower, copper and gold mining, logging, and construction though some projects in these industries have drawn criticism for their environmental impacts. Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US in 2004 and applied for Generalized System of Preferences trade benefits in 2013 after being admitted to the World Trade Organization earlier in the year. Laos is in the process of implementing a value-added tax system. Simplified investment procedures and expanded bank credits for small farmers and small entrepreneurs will improve Laos' economic prospects. The government appears committed to raising the country's profile among investors, but suffered through a fiscal crisis in 2013 brought about by public sector wage increases, fiscal mismanagement, and revenue shortfalls. The World Bank has declared that Laos' goal of graduating from the UN Development Program's list of least-developed countries by 2020 is achievable, and the country is preparing to enter the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$20.78 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
$19.18 billion (2012 est.)
$17.78 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$10.1 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
8.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
7.9% (2012 est.)
8% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,100 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
$2,900 (2012 est.)
$2,700 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
27.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
26.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
25.2% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:66.9%
government consumption:9.8%
investment in fixed capital:31.7%
investment in inventories:-1.3%
exports of goods and services:40%
imports of goods and services:-48.4%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:24.8%
industry:32%
services:37.5% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; cassava (manioc, tapioca), water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry


Industries:
mining (copper, tin, gold, gypsum); timber, electric power, agricultural processing, rubber, construction, garments, cement, tourism


Industrial production growth rate:
11% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12

Labor force:
3.373 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:73.1%
industry:6.1%
services:20.6% (2012 est.)


Unemployment rate:
1.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
2.5% (2009 est.)


    Population below poverty line:
22% (2013 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:3.3%
highest 10%:30.3% (2008)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.7 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 83
34.6 (2002)


Budget:
revenues:$2.481 billion
expenditures:$2.642 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
24.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-1.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77


Public debt:
46.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
49.1% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
4.3% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
4.3% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 94
4% (31 December 2009)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
23.2% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
22.3% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$1.389 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$1.154 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$4.071 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
$3.673 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$4.716 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$4.034 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.012 billion (2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$484.3 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
-$315.5 million (2012 est.)


Exports:
$2.313 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$1.984 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold, cassava


Exports - partners:
Thailand 34%, China 21.5%, Vietnam 12.2% (2012)


Imports:
$3.238 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
$2.744 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods


Imports - partners:
Thailand 62.1%, China 16.2%, Vietnam 7.3% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$845.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$796.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$6.69 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$6.288 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$15.14 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$12.44 billion (31 December 2011 est.)


Exchange rates:
kips (LAK) per US dollar -
7,875.9 (2013 est.)
8,007.3 (2012 est.)
8,258.8 (2010 est.)
8,516.04 (2009)
8,760.69 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
3.629 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127


Electricity - consumption:
2.4 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136


Electricity - exports:
2.537 billion kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41


Electricity - imports:
1 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
3.217 million kW (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
2.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
97.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191


Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
3,391 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191


Refined petroleum products - imports:
3,160 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
1.404 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
112,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 143


Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.492 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 99


Telephone system:
general assessment:service to general public is improving; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas
domestic:4 service providers with mobile cellular usage growing very rapidly
international:country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and a second to be developed by China (2012)



Broadcast media:
6 TV stations operating out of Vientiane - 3 government-operated and the others commercial; 17 provincial stations operating with nearly all programming relayed via satellite from the government-operated stations in Vientiane; Chinese and Vietnamese programming relayed via satellite from Lao National TV; broadcasts available from stations in Thailand and Vietnam in border areas; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems provide access to a wide range of foreign stations; state-controlled radio with state-operated Lao National Radio (LNR) broadcasting on 5 frequencies - 1 AM, 1 SW, and 3 FM; LNR's AM and FM programs are relayed via satellite constituting a large part of the programming schedules of the provincial radio stations; Thai radio broadcasts available in border areas and transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are also accessible (2012)


    Internet country code:
.la


Internet hosts:
1,532 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 166


Internet users:
300,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 130

Transportation

Airports
41 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 103


Airports - with paved runways
total:8
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
914 to 1,523 m:1 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:33
1,524 to 2,437 m:2
914 to 1,523 m:9
under 914 m:
22 (2013)


    Pipelines
refined products 540 km (2013)


Roadways
total:39,568 kmcountry comparison to the world: 89
paved:530 km
unpaved:39,038 km (2007)


Waterways

Military

Military branches
Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force (2011)


Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18-months (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:1,574,362
females age 16-49:1,607,856 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:1,111,629
females age 16-49:1,190,035 (2010 est.)


Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:71,400
female:73,038 (2010 est.)


    Military expenditures
NA% (2012)
0.23% of GDP (2011)
NA% (2010)


Military - note
serving one of the world's least developed countries, the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) is small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced; its mission focus is border and internal security, primarily in countering ethnic Hmong insurgent groups; together with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the government, the Lao People's Army (LPA) is the third pillar of state machinery, and as such is expected to suppress political and civil unrest and similar national emergencies, but the LPA also has upgraded skills to respond to avian influenza outbreaks; there is no perceived external threat to the state and the LPA maintains strong ties with the neighboring Vietnamese military (2008)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River; concern among Mekong River Commission members that China's construction of dams on the Mekong River and its tributaries will affect water levels; Cambodia and Vietnam are concerned about Laos' extensive upstream dam construction


    Illicit drugs
estimated opium poppy cultivation in 2008 was 1,900 hectares, about a 73% increase from 2007; estimated potential opium production in 2008 more than tripled to 17 metric tons; unsubstantiated reports of domestic methamphetamine production; growing domestic methamphetamine problem (2007)
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook

LookForAttorney.com | Country Guide of Haiti
LookForAttorney.com | Country Guide of Benin
LookForAttorney.com | Country Guide of Honduras

Country Guide

Benin Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo


Geographic coordinates:
9 30 N, 2 15 E


Map references:
Africa


Area:
total:112,622 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 102
land:110,622 sq km
water:2,000 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania


Land boundaries:
total:2,123 km
border countries:Burkina Faso 386 km, Niger 277 km, Nigeria 809 km, Togo 651 km


Coastline:
121 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:200 nm

Climate:
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north


Terrain:
mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:Mont Sokbaro 658 m


    Natural resources:
small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber


Land use:
arable land:22.48%
permanent crops:2.61%
other:74.9% (2011)


Irrigated land:
230.4 sq km (2008)


Total renewable water resources:
26.39 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
26.39 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March


Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective:Beninese


Ethnic groups:
Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%, Yoruba and related 12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Peulh and related 7%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%, Dendi and related 2.5%, other 1.6% (includes Europeans), unspecified 2.9% (2002 census)


Languages:
French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)


Religions:
Catholic 27.1%, Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, Protestant 10.4% (Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%), other Christian 5.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census)


Population:
10,160,556country comparison to the world: 88
note:estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.)



Age structure:
0-14 years:43.8% (male 2,269,896/female 2,179,026)
15-24 years:20.1% (male 1,036,963/female 1,001,400)
25-54 years:29.9% (male 1,530,283/female 1,504,201)
55-64 years:3.5% (male 149,883/female 205,701)
65 years and over:2.8% (male 112,830/female 170,373) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:83 %
youth dependency ratio:77.7 %
elderly dependency ratio:5.3 %
potential support ratio:18.9 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:17.7 years
male:17.4 years
female:18.1 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
2.81% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 17


Birth rate:
36.51 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 20


Death rate:
8.39 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 83


Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 99


Urbanization:
urban population:44.9% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:4.12% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
COTONOU (seat of government) 924,000; PORTO-NOVO (capital) 314,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.67 male(s)/female
total population:1.01 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
20.3


Maternal mortality rate:
350 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:57.09 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 26
male:60.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female:53.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:61.07 yearscountry comparison to the world: 191
male:59.75 years
female:62.47 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
5.04 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 16


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
12.9% (2012)


Health expenditures:
4.6% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2008)


Hospital bed density:
0.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 84.5% of population
rural: 69.1% of population
total: 76.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 15.5% of population
rural: 30.9% of population
total: 23.9% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 25.3% of population
rural: 5.1% of population
total: 14.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 74.7% of population
rural: 94.9% of population
total: 85.7% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.1% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 45


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
71,500 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 53


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,100 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 52


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
6% (2008)country comparison to the world: 151


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
20.2% (2006)country comparison to the world: 30


Education expenditures:
5.3% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 64

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:42.4%
male:55.2%
female:30.3% (2010 census)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:11 years
male:13 years
female:9 years (2011)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:0.8%country comparison to the world: 147
male:1.1%
female:0.6% (2002)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form:Benin
local long form:Republique du Benin
local short form:Benin
former:Dahomey


Government type:
republic


Capital:
name:Porto-Novo (official capital); Cotonou (seat of government)
geographic coordinates:6 29 N, 2 37 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou


Independence:
1 August 1960 (from France)


National holiday:
National Day, 1 August (1960)


Constitution:
previous 1946, 1958 (preindependence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990 (2012)


Legal system:
civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006); Prime Minister Pascal KOUPAKI (since 28 May 2011)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 13 March 2011 (next to be held in March 2016)
election results:Thomas YAYI Boni re-elected president; percent of vote - Thomas YAYI Boni 53.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI 35.6%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE 6.1%, other 5.2%


Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 30 April 2011 (next to be held in 2015)
election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FCBE 41, UN 30, other 12


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the court president and 3 chamber presidents organized into an administrative division, judicial chamber, and chamber of accounts) Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 7 members including the court president); High Court of Justice (consists of the Constitutional Court members, 6 members appointed by the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court president)
note - jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice is to limited cases of high treason by the national president or members of the government
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the national president upon the advice of the National Assembly; judges appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members - 4 appointed by the National Assembly and 3 by the national president; members appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; High Court of Justice 'other' members elected by the National Assembly; member tenure NA
subordinate courts:Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; district courts; village courts; Assize courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Be African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance of Progress Forces or AFP; Benin Renaissance or RB [Rosine SOGLO]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Force Cowrie for an Emerging Benin or FCBE [Yayi BONI]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Theophile NATA]; Key Force or FC [Lazare SÈHOUÉTO]; Movement for the People's Alternative or MAP [Olivier CAPO-CHICHI]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Dominique HOUNGNINOU]; Social Democrat Party or PSD [Emmanuel GOLOU]; Union for Democracy and National Solidarity or UDS [Sacca LAFIA]; Union for the Relief or UPR [Issa SALIFOU]; Union Makes the Nation or UN [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI] (superceded Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD)
note:approximately 20 additional minor parties


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Be African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance of Progress Forces or AFP; Benin Renaissance or RB [Rosine SOGLO]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Force Cowrie for an Emerging Benin or FCBE [Yayi BONI]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Theophile NATA]; Key Force or FC [Lazare SÈHOUÉTO]; Movement for the People's Alternative or MAP [Olivier CAPO-CHICHI]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Dominique HOUNGNINOU]; Social Democrat Party or PSD [Emmanuel GOLOU]; Union for Democracy and National Solidarity or UDS [Sacca LAFIA]; Union for the Relief or UPR [Issa SALIFOU]; Union Makes the Nation or UN [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI] (superceded Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD)
note:approximately 20 additional minor parties



International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Omar AROUNA (since 21 May 2014)
chancery:2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 232-6656
FAX:[1] (202) 265-1996


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Michael RAYNOR (since 24 May 2012)
embassy:Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address:01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone:[229] 21-30-06-50
FAX:[229] 21-30-66-82


Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side; green symbolizes hope and revival, yellow wealth, and red courage


National symbol(s):
leopard


National anthem:
name:'L'Aube Nouvelle' (The Dawn of a New Day)

lyrics/music:Gilbert Jean DAGNON
note:adopted 1960

Economy

Economy - overview:
The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output had averaged almost 4% before the global recession and it has returned to roughly that level in 2011-12. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to raise growth, Benin plans to attract more foreign investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the development of new food processing systems and agricultural products, and encourage new information and communication technology. Specific projects to improve the business climate by reforms to the land tenure system, the commercial justice system, and the financial sector were included in Benin's $307 million Millennium Challenge Account grant signed in February 2006. The 2001 privatization policy continues in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation with Benin benefiting from a G-8 debt reduction announced in July 2005, while pressing for more rapid structural reforms. An insufficient electrical supply continues to adversely affect Benin's economic growth though the government recently has taken steps to increase domestic power production. Private foreign direct investment is small, and foreign aid accounts for the majority of investment in infrastructure projects. Cotton, a key export, suffered from flooding in 2010-11, but high prices supported export earnings. The government agreed to a 25% increase in civil servant salaries in 2011, following a series of strikes, increasing pressure on the national budget. Benin has appealed for international assistance to mitigate piracy against commercial shipping in its territory.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$16.65 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$15.86 billion (2012 est.)
$15.04 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.359 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
5.4% (2012 est.)
3.5% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,600 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
$1,600 (2012 est.)
$1,500 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
9.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
9% of GDP (2012 est.)
7.9% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:NA cu m
government consumption:12.7%
investment in fixed capital:18.6%
investment in inventories:0.2%
exports of goods and services:13.2%
imports of goods and services:-26%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:31.6%
industry:12.9%
services:55.6% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
cotton, corn, cassava (manioc, tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock


Industries:
textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement


Industrial production growth rate:
3.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79

Labor force:
3.662 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95


Unemployment rate:
NA%


Population 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" />

Country Guide

Honduras Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and Nicaragua


Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 86 30 W


Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean


Area:
total:112,090 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 103
land:111,890 sq km
water:200 sq km


Area - comparative:
Area comparison map: '>


Land boundaries:
total:1,575 km
border countries:Guatemala 244 km, El Salvador 391 km, Nicaragua 940 km


Coastline:
Caribbean Sea 669 km; Gulf of Fonseca 163 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:natural extension of territory or to 200 nm


    Climate:
subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains


Terrain:
mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m


Natural resources:
timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower


Land use:
arable land:9.07%
permanent crops:3.91%
other:87.02% (2011)


Irrigated land:
878.5 sq km (2007)


Total renewable water resources:
95.93 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
95.93 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast


Environment - current issues:
urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, with heavy metals


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Honduran(s)
adjective:Honduran


Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%


Languages:
Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects


Religions:
Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%


Demographic profile:
Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and has the world's highest murder rate. More than half of the population lives in poverty and per capita income is one of the lowest in the region. Poverty rates are higher among rural and indigenous people and in the south, west, and along the eastern border than in the north and central areas where most of Honduras' industries and infrastructure are concentrated. The increased productivity needed to break Honduras' persistent high poverty rate depends, in part, on further improvements in educational attainment. Although primary-school enrollment is near 100%, educational quality is poor, the drop-out rate and grade repetition remain high, and teacher and school accountability is low.


Population:
8,598,561country comparison to the world: 94
note:estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.)



Age structure:
0-14 years:34.8% (male 1,529,578/female 1,465,188)
15-24 years:21.2% (male 928,756/female 892,629)
25-54 years:35.3% (male 1,530,429/female 1,502,916)
55-64 years:4.7% (male 187,771/female 217,093)
65 years and over:3.9% (male 150,681/female 193,520) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:64.7 %
youth dependency ratio:57.2 %
elderly dependency ratio:7.4 %
potential support ratio:13.5 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:21.9 years
male:21.6 years
female:22.3 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.74% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 71


Birth rate:
23.66 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 65


Death rate:
5.13 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 183


Net migration rate:
-1.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 153


Urbanization:
urban population:52.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:3.06% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
TEGUCIGALPA (capital) 1.088 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.79 male(s)/female
total population:1.01 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
20.4


    Maternal mortality rate:
100 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:18.72 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 96
male:21.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female:16.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:70.91 yearscountry comparison to the world: 147
male:69.24 years
female:72.65 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.86 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 65


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
65.2% (2005/06)


Health expenditures:
9.1% of GDP (2009)


Physicians density:
0.37 physicians/1,000 population (2005)


Hospital bed density:
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 96.8% of population
rural: 81.5% of population
total: 89.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3.2% of population
rural: 18.5% of population
total: 10.4% of population (2012 est.)


LookForAttorney.com | Country Guide of Uruguay
Railways
total:44 km
country comparison to the world: 131
narrow gauge:44 km 1.067-m gauge
note:(4 km are in use) (2012)


    Roadways
total:14,742 kmcountry comparison to the world: 123
paved:3,367 km
unpaved:11,375 km (1,543 km summer only)
note:there are another 8,951 km of non-offical roads used by the coffee industry (2012)


Waterways
465 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 85


Merchant marine
total:88country comparison to the world: 55
by type:bulk carrier 5, cargo 39, carrier 2, chemical tanker 5, container 1, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned:47 (Bahrain 5, Canada 1, Chile 1, China 2, Egypt 2, Greece 4, Israel 1, Japan 4, Lebanon 2, Montenegro 1, Panama 1, Singapore 11, South Korea 6, Taiwan 1, Thailand 2, UAE 1, UK 1, US 1) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela

Military

Military branches
Honduran Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras, FFAA): Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Honduran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Hondurena, FAH) (2012)


Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary 2- to 3-year military service; no conscription (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:2,045,914
females age 16-49:1,991,418 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:1,525,578
females age 16-49:1,539,688 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:95,895
female:92,087 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
1.05% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 97
1.13% of GDP (2011)
1.05% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of 'bolsones' (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border in 1992 with final settlement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned in the ICJ ruling, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca; Honduras claims the Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize in its constitution, but agreed to a joint ecological park around the cays should Guatemala consent to a maritime corridor in the Caribbean under the OAS-sponsored 2002 Belize-Guatemala Differendum


    Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs:17,000 (violence, extortion, threats, forced recruitment by urban gangs) (2013 est.)


Trafficking in persons



Illicit drugs
transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption; corruption is a major problem; some money-laundering activity
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook

Find Attorney in Major Cities

  • Australia
  • Brisbane
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Sydney
  • Brazil
  • Brasilia
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Sao Paulo
  • Canada
  • Toronto
  • Montreal
  • Calgary
  • Ottawa
  • Edmonton
  • Vancouver
  • Gatineau
  • France
  • Paris
  • Marseille
  • Lyon
  • Toulouse
  • Nice
  • Germany
  • Berlin
  • Hamburg
  • Munich
  • Cologne
  • Frankfurt
  • Stuttgart
  • Düsseldorf
  • Mexico
  • Mexico City
  • Ecatepec
  • Guadalajara
  • Puebla
  • Juárez
  • Tijuana
  • León

    • Country Guide

    Costa Rica Facts

    Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

    Geography

    Location:
    Central 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:51,100 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 130
    land:51,060 sq km
    water:40 sq km
    note:includes Isla del Coco


    Area - comparative:
    slightly smaller than West Virginia


    Land boundaries:
    total:661 km
    border countries:Nicaragua 313 km, Panama 348 km


    Coastline:
    1,290 km


    Maritime claims:
    territorial sea:12 nm
    exclusive economic zone:200 nm
    continental shelf:200 nm


    Climate:
    tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands


    Terrain:
    coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes


    		    Elevation extremes:
    lowest point:Pacific Ocean 0 m
    highest point:Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m


    Natural resources:
    hydropower


    Land use:
    arable land:4.89%
    permanent crops:6.46%
    other:88.65% (2011)


    Irrigated land:
    1,031 sq km (2003)


    Total renewable water resources:
    112.4 cu km (2011)


    Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
    112.4 cu km (2011)

    Natural hazards:
    occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes


    Environment - current issues:
    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


    Geography - note:
    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

    People and Society

    Nationality:
    noun: Costa Rican(s)
    adjective:Costa Rican


    Ethnic groups:
    white or mestizo 83.6%, mulato 6.7%, indigenous 2.4%, black of African descent 1.1%, other 1.1%, none 2.9%, unspecified 2.2% (2011 est.)


    Languages:
    Spanish (official), English


    Religions:
    Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%


    Demographic profile:
    Costa Rica's political stability, high standard of living, and well-developed social benefits system set it apart from its Central American neighbors. Through the government's sustained social spending - almost 20% of GDP annually - Costa Rica has made tremendous progress toward achieving its goal of providing universal access to education, healthcare, clean water, sanitation, and electricity. Since the 1970s, expansion of these services has led to a rapid decline in infant mortality, an increase in life expectancy at birth, and a sharp decrease in the birth rate. The average number of children born per women has fallen from about 7 in the 1960s to 3.5 in the early 1980s to below replacement level today. Costa Rica's poverty rate is lower than in most Latin American countries, but it has stalled at around 20% for almost two decades.


    Population:
    4,755,234 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 124


    Age structure:
    0-14 years:23.5% (male 570,311/female 545,026)
    15-24 years:17.5% (male 423,340/female 407,335)
    25-54 years:43.8% (male 1,045,296/female 1,035,273)
    55-64 years:8.3% (male 193,205/female 201,377)
    65 years and over:6.8% (male 154,467/female 179,604) (2014 est.)


    Dependency ratios:
    total dependency ratio:43.6 %
    youth dependency ratio:33.2 %
    elderly dependency ratio:10.4 %
    potential support ratio:9.6 (2014 est.)


    Median age:
    total:30 years
    male:29.5 years
    female:30.5 years (2014 est.)


    Population growth rate:
    1.24% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 96


    Birth rate:
    16.08 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 123


    Death rate:
    4.49 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 204


    Net migration rate:
    0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 64


    Urbanization:
    urban population:64.7% of total population (2011)
    rate of urbanization:2.06% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


    Major urban areas - population:
    SAN JOSE (capital) 1.515 million (2011)


    Sex ratio:
    at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
    0-14 years:1.05 male(s)/female
    15-24 years:1.04 male(s)/female
    25-54 years:1.01 male(s)/female
    55-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
    65 years and over:0.86 male(s)/female
    total population:1.01 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


    Maternal mortality rate:
    40 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


    Infant mortality rate:
    total:8.7 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 151
    male:9.5 deaths/1,000 live births
    female:7.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    		    Life expectancy at birth:
    total population:78.23 yearscountry comparison to the world: 58
    male:75.59 years
    female:81.01 years (2014 est.)


    Total fertility rate:
    1.91 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 139


    Contraceptive prevalence rate:
    82.2% (2010)


    Health expenditures:
    10.9% of GDP (2011)


    Physicians density:
    1.32 physicians/1,000 population (2000)


    Hospital bed density:
    1.2 beds/1,000 population (2011)


    Drinking water source:
    improved:
    urban: 99.6% of population
    rural: 90.9% of population
    total: 96.6% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 0.4% of population
    rural: 9.1% of population
    total: 3.4% of population (2012 est.)


    Sanitation facility access:
    improved:
    urban: 94.9% of population
    rural: 92% of population
    total: 93.9% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 5.1% of population
    rural: 8% of population
    total: 6.1% of population (2012 est.)


    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
    0.3% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 92


    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
    9,800 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 105


    HIV/AIDS - deaths:
    300 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 100


    Major infectious diseases:


    Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
    23.7% (2008)country comparison to the world: 73


    Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
    1.1% (2009)country comparison to the world: 131


    Education expenditures:
    6.3% of GDP (2009)country comparison to the world: 34

    Literacy:
    definition:age 15 and over can read and write
    total population:96.3%
    male:96%
    female:96.5% (2011 est.)


    School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
    total:14 years
    male:13 years
    female:14 years (2012)


    Child labor - children ages 5-14:



    Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
    total:18.4%country comparison to the world: 67
    male:15%
    female:24.2% (2012)

    Government

    Country name:
    conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
    conventional short form:Costa Rica
    local long form:Republica de Costa Rica
    local short form:Costa Rica


    Government type:
    democratic republic


    Capital:
    name:San Jose
    geographic coordinates:9 56 N, 84 05 W
    time difference:UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


    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:
    previous 1825; latest adopted 7 November 1949; amended many times, last in 2005 (2005)


    Legal system:
    civil law system based on Spanish civil code; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court


    International law organization participation:
    accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


    Suffrage:
    18 years of age; universal and compulsory


    Executive branch:
    chief of state:President Luis Guillermo SOLIS Rivera (since 8 May 2014); First Vice President Helio FALLAS Venega (since 8 May 2014); Second Vice President Ana Helena CHACÓN Echeverría (since 8 May 2014); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
    head of government:President Luis Guillermo SOLIS Rivera (since 8 May 2014); First Vice President Helio FALLAS Venega (since 8 May 2014); Second Vice President Ana Helena CHACÓN Echeverría (since 8 May 2014)
    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 on 2 February 2014, with a runoff on 6 April 2014 (next to be held in February 2018)
    election results:Luis Guillermo SOLIS Rivera elected president; percent of vote - Luis Guillermo SOLIS Rivera (PAC) 77.81%; Johnny ARAYA (PLN) 22.19%


    Legislative branch:
    unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
    elections:last held on 2 February 2014 (next to be held in February 2018)
    election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLN 18, PAC 13, FA 9, PUSC 9, PML 3, other 5


    Judicial branch:
    highest court(s):Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 22 judges organized into 3 cassation chambers each with 5 judges, and the Constitutional Chamber with 7 judges)
    judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court of Justice judges elected by the National Assembly for 8-year terms with renewal decided by the National Assembly
    subordinate courts:appellate courts; first instance and justice of the peace courts; Superior Electoral Tribunal


    Political parties and leaders:
    Accessibility Without Exclusion or PASE [Oscar Andres LOPEZ Arias]
    Citizen Action Party or PAC [Olivier PEREZ Gonzalez]
    Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Gerardo Justo OROZCO Alvarez]
    Broad Front (Frente Amplio) or PFA [Ana Patricia MORA]
    Libertarian Movement Party or ML [Victor Danilo CUBERO Corrales]
    National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]
    National Liberation Party or PLN [Bernal JIMENEZ]
    National Restoration Party or PRN [Carlos AVENDANO]
    Patriotic Alliance [Jorge ARAYA Westover]
    Popular Vanguard [Humberto VARGAS]
    Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Gerardo VARGAS]


    		    Political pressure groups and leaders:
    Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist Party affiliate)


    International organization participation:
    BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


    Diplomatic representation in the US:
    chief of mission:Ambassador Shanon Muni FIGUERES Boggs (since 7 September 2010)
    chancery:2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
    telephone:[1] (202) 480-2200
    FAX:[1] (202) 265-4795
    consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Washington DC; note - Honorary Consulate: Dallas (Texas), Denver (Colorado), Tucson (Arizona)
    consulate(s):Austin


    Diplomatic representation from the US:
    chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Gonzalo GALLEGOS
    embassy:Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose
    mailing address:APO AA 34020
    telephone:[506] 2519-2000
    FAX:[506] 2519-2305


    Flag description:
    five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk toward the hoist side of the red band; Costa Rica retained the earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when, in response to revolutionary activity in Europe, it was decided to incorporate the French colors into the national flag and a central red stripe was added; today the blue color is said to stand for the sky, opportunity, and perseverance, white denotes peace, happiness, and wisdom, while red represents the blood shed for freedom, as well as the generosity and vibrancy of the people


    National symbol(s):
    clay-colored robin known as Yiguirro


    National anthem:
    name:'Himno Nacional de Costa Rica' (National Anthem of Costa Rica)

    lyrics/music:Jose Maria ZELEDON Brenes/Manuel Maria GUTIERREZ
    note:adopted 1949; the anthem's music was originally written for an 1853 welcome ceremony for diplomatic missions from the United States and United Kingdom; the lyrics were added in 1903

    Economy

    Economy - overview:
    Prior to the global economic crisis, Costa Rica enjoyed stable economic growth. The economy contracted 1.3% in 2009 but resumed growth at about 4.5% per year in 2010-12. While the traditional agricultural exports of bananas, coffee, sugar, and beef are still the backbone of commodity export trade, a variety of industrial and specialized agricultural products have broadened export trade in recent years. High value-added goods and services, including microchips, have further bolstered exports. Tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange, as Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity makes it a key destination for ecotourism. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and relatively high education levels, as well as the incentives offered in the free-trade zones; and Costa Rica has attracted one of the highest levels of foreign direct investment per capita in Latin America. However, many business impediments remain, such as high levels of bureaucracy, legal uncertainty due to overlapping and at times conflicting responsibilities between agencies, difficulty of enforcing contracts, and weak investor protection. Poverty has remained around 20-25% for nearly 20 years, and the strong social safety net that had been put into place by the government has eroded due to increased financial constraints on government expenditures. Unlike the rest of Central America, Costa Rica is not highly dependent on remittances as they only represent about 2% of GDP. Immigration from Nicaragua has increasingly become a concern for the government. The estimated 300,000-500,000 Nicaraguans in Costa Rica legally and illegally are an important source of mostly unskilled labor but also place heavy demands on the social welfare system. The US-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force on 1 January 2009 after significant delays within the Costa Rican legislature. CAFTA-DR has increased foreign direct investment in key sectors of the economy, including the insurance and telecommunications sectors recently opened to private investors. President CHINCHILLA was not able to gain legislative approval for fiscal reform, her top priority, though she continued to pursue fiscal reform in 2012. President CHINCHILLA and the PLN were successful in passing a tax on corporations to fund an increase for security services.


    GDP (purchasing power parity):
    $61.43 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 91
    $59.35 billion (2012 est.)
    $56.45 billion (2011 est.)
    note:data are in 2013 US dollars


    GDP (official exchange rate):
    $48.51 billion (2013 est.)


    GDP - real growth rate:
    3.5% (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 93
    5.1% (2012 est.)
    4.4% (2011 est.)


    GDP - per capita (PPP):
    $12,900 (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 102
    $12,700 (2012 est.)
    $12,200 (2011 est.)
    note:data are in 2013 US dollars


    Gross national saving:
    16.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 101
    15.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
    16.2% of GDP (2011 est.)


    GDP - composition, by end use:
    household consumption:64.7%
    government consumption:17.9%
    investment in fixed capital:20.9%
    investment in inventories:0.8%
    exports of goods and services:35.2%
    imports of goods and services:-39.5%
    (2013 est.)


    GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
    agriculture:6.2%
    industry:21.3%
    services:72.5% (2013 est.)


    Agriculture - products:
    bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef, poultry, dairy; timber


    Industries:
    microprocessors, food processing, medical equipment, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products


    Industrial production growth rate:
    4.3% (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 66

    Labor force:
    2.222 million
    country comparison to the world: 117
    note:this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica (2013 est.)



    Labor force - by occupation:
    agriculture:14%
    industry:22%
    services:64% (2006 est.)


    Unemployment rate:
    7.9% (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 85
    7.8% (2012 est.)


    		    Population below poverty line:
    24.8% (2011 est.)


    Household income or consumption by percentage share:
    lowest 10%:1.2%
    highest 10%:39.5% (2009 est.)


    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
    50.3 (2009)
    country comparison to the world: 19
    45.9 (1997)


    Budget:
    revenues:$7.197 billion
    expenditures:$9.621 billion (2013 est.)


    Taxes and other revenues:
    14.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 194

    Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
    -5% of GDP (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 168


    Public debt:
    55% of GDP (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 56
    51.9% of GDP (2012 est.)


    Fiscal year:
    calendar year


    Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    5.6% (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 164
    4.5% (2012 est.)


    Central bank discount rate:
    $NA (31 December 2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 5
    23% (31 December 2009 est.)


    Commercial bank prime lending rate:
    $NA (31 December 2013 est.)
    $NA (31 December 2012 est.)


    Stock of narrow money:
    $4.633 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 103
    $4.197 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


    Stock of broad money:
    $14.57 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 92
    $14.95 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


    Stock of domestic credit:
    $22.92 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 76
    $21.93 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


    Market value of publicly traded shares:
    $2.015 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


    Current account balance:
    -$2.673 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 154
    -$2.341 billion (2012 est.)


    Exports:
    $11.66 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 91
    $11.44 billion (2012 est.)


    Exports - commodities:
    bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar; beef; seafood; electronic components, medical equipment


    Exports - partners:
    US 38.9%, Netherlands 7.5%, Panama 5.1%, Hong Kong 4.6%, Nicaragua 4.4% (2012)


    Imports:
    $17.56 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 82
    $16.75 billion (2012 est.)


    Imports - commodities:
    raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum, construction materials


    Imports - partners:
    US 49.8%, China 8.2%, Mexico 6.6% (2012)


    Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
    $7.406 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 80
    $6.857 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


    Debt - external:
    $15.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 89
    $13.81 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


    Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
    $21.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 70
    $18.98 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


    Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
    $1.681 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 73
    $1.481 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


    Exchange rates:
    Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar -
    500.9 (2013 est.)
    502.9 (2012 est.)
    525.83 (2010 est.)
    573.29 (2009)
    530.41 (2008)

    Energy

    Electricity - production:
    9.473 billion kWh (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 96


    Electricity - consumption:
    8.532 billion kWh (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 92


    Electricity - exports:
    135 million kWh (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 73


    Electricity - imports:
    164 million kWh (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 89


    Electricity - installed generating capacity:
    2.8 million kW (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 91


    Electricity - from fossil fuels:
    32.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 176


    Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
    0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 69


    Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
    55.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 36


    Electricity - from other renewable sources:
    12.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 23


    Crude oil - production:
    290.7 bbl/day (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 116


    Crude oil - exports:
    0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 99


    Crude oil - imports:
    10,040 bbl/day (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 78


    		    Crude oil - proved reserves:
    0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 118


    Refined petroleum products - production:
    10,630 bbl/day (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 104


    Refined petroleum products - consumption:
    50,200 bbl/day (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 100


    Refined petroleum products - exports:
    1,898 bbl/day (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 102


    Refined petroleum products - imports:
    40,290 bbl/day (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 80


    Natural gas - production:
    0 cu m (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 117


    Natural gas - consumption:
    0 cu m (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 134


    Natural gas - exports:
    0 cu m (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 83


    Natural gas - imports:
    0 cu m (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 178


    Natural gas - proved reserves:
    0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 125


    Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
    6.806 million Mt (2011 est.)

    Communications

    Telephones - main lines in use:
    1.018 million (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 75


    Telephones - mobile cellular:
    6.151 million (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 100


    Telephone system:
    general assessment:good domestic telephone service in terms of breadth of coverage; under the terms of CAFTA-DR, the state-run telecommunications monopoly is scheduled to be opened to competition from domestic and international firms, but has been slow to open to competition
    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; landing points for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), MAYA-1, and the Pan American Crossing submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)



    		    Broadcast media:
    multiple privately owned TV stations and 1 publicly owned TV station; cable network services are widely available; more than 100 privately owned radio stations and a public radio network (2007)


    Internet country code:
    .cr


    Internet hosts:
    147,258 (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 78


    Internet users:
    1.485 million (2009)
    country comparison to the world: 82

    Transportation

    Airports
    161 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 35


    Airports - with paved runways
    total:47
    2,438 to 3,047 m:2
    1,524 to 2,437 m:2
    914 to 1,523 m:27
    under 914 m:16 (2013)


    Airports - with unpaved runways
    total:114
    914 to 1,523 m:18
    under 914 m:
    96 (2013)


    Pipelines
    refined products 662 km (2013)


    Railways
    total:278 kmcountry comparison to the world: 122
    narrow gauge:278 km 1.067-m gauge
    note:none of the railway network is in use (2008)


    		    Roadways
    total:39,018 kmcountry comparison to the world: 90
    paved:10,133 km
    unpaved:28,885 km (2010)


    Waterways
    730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2011)
    country comparison to the world: 75


    Merchant marine
    total:1country comparison to the world: 154
    by type:passenger/cargo 1 (2010)



    Ports and terminals
    major seaport(s):Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) Puerto Limon; Pacific Ocean - Caldera

    Military

    Military branches
    no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police (2011)


    Manpower available for military service
    males age 16-49:1,255,798
    females age 16-49:1,230,202 (2010 est.)


    Manpower fit for military service
    males age 16-49:1,058,419
    females age 16-49:1,037,053 (2010 est.)


    		    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
    male:42,201
    female:40,444 (2010 est.)

    Transnational Issues

    Disputes - international
    Costa Rica and Nicaragua regularly file border dispute cases over the delimitations of the San Juan River and the northern tip of Calero Island to the International Court of Justice (ICJ); in 2009, the ICJ ruled that Costa Rican vessels carrying out police activities could not use the river, but official Costa Rican vessels providing essential services to riverside inhabitants and Costa Rican tourists could travel freely on the river; in 2011, the ICJ provisionally ruled that both countries must remove personnel from the disputed area; in 2013, the ICJ rejected Nicaragua's 2012 suit to halt Costa Rica's construction of a highway paralleling the river on the grounds of irreparable environmental damage; in 2013, the ICJ, regarding the disputed territory, ordered that Nicaragua should refrain from dredging or canal construction and refill and repair damage caused by trenches connecting the river to the Caribbean and upheld its 2010 ruling that Nicaragua must remove all personnel; in early 2014, Costa Rica brought Nicaragua to the ICJ over offshore oil concessions in the disputed region


    		    Refugees and internally displaced persons
    refugees (country of origin):16,586 (Colombia) (2013)


    Illicit drugs
    transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis in remote areas; domestic cocaine consumption, particularly crack cocaine, is rising; significant consumption of amphetamines; seizures of smuggled cash in Costa Rica and at the main border crossing to enter Costa Rica from Nicaragua have risen in recent years (2008)
     Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook