Economy (Costa Rica)
====================


     Overview:
         In 1991 the economy grew at an estimated 2.5%, down somewhat from the 3.6%
         gain of 1990 and below the strong 5.5% gain of 1989. Increases in
         agricultural production (on the strength of good coffee and banana crops)
         and in construction have been offset by lower rates of growth for industry.
         In 1991 consumer prices rose by 27%, about the same as in 1990. The trade
         deficit of $270 million was substantially below the 1990 deficit of $677
         million. Unemployment is officially reported at 4.6%, but much
         underemployment remains. External debt, on a per capita basis, is among the
         world's highest.
     GDP:
         exchange rate conversion - $5.9 billion, per capita $1,900; real growth rate
         2.5% (1991 est.)
     Inflation rate (consumer prices):
         27% (1991 est.)
     Unemployment rate:
         4.6% (1991)
     Budget:
         revenues $831 million; expenditures $1.08 billion, including capital
         expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
     Exports:
         $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
       commodities:
         coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar
       partners:
         US 75%, Germany, Guatemala, Netherlands, UK, Japan
     Imports:
         $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
       commodities:
         petroleum, machinery, consumer durables, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs
       partners:
         US 40%, Japan, Guatemala, Germany
     External debt:
         $4.5 billion (1990)
     Industrial production:
         growth rate 2.3% (1990 est.); accounts for 23% of GDP
     Electricity:
         927,000 kW capacity; 3,408 million kWh produced, 1,095 kWh per capita (1991)
     Industries:
         food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer,
         plastic products
     Agriculture:
         accounts for 20-25% of GDP and 70% of exports; cash commodities - coffee,
         beef, bananas, sugar; other food crops include corn, rice, beans, potatoes;
         normally self-sufficient in food except for grain; depletion of forest
         resources resulting in lower timber output
     Illicit drugs:
         illicit production of cannabis on small scattered plots; transshipment
         country for cocaine from South America
     Economic aid:
         US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.4 billion; Western (non-US)
         countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $935 million;
         Communist countries (1971-89), $27 million
     Currency:
         Costa Rican colon (plural - colones); 1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos
     Exchange rates:
         Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1 - 136.35 (January 1992), 122.43 (1991),
         91.58 (1990), 81.504 (1989), 75.805 (1988), 62.776 (1987)