Overview: In 1990 the economy grew at an estimated 3.5% rate, a decrease from the strong 5.0% gain of the previous year. Gains in agricultural production (on the strength of good coffee and banana crops) and in construction, were partially offset by lower rates of growth for industry. In 1990 consumer prices rose by about 25% and the trade deficit widened. Unemployment is officially reported at 6%, but much underemployment remains. External debt, on a per capita basis, is among the world's highest.

GDP: $5.5 billion, per capita $1,810; real growth rate 3.6% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 6% (1990)

Budget: revenues $831 million; expenditures $1.08 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990); commodities--coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar; partners--US 75%, FRG, Guatemala, Netherlands, UK, Japan

Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1990); commodities--petroleum, machinery, consumer durables, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs; partners--US 35%, Japan, Guatemala, FRG

External debt: $4.5 billion (1989)

Industrial production: growth rate 2.3% (1990 est.); accounts for 23% of GDP

Electricity: 927,000 kW capacity; 2,987 million kWh produced, 980 kWh per capita (1990)

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 (1970-88), $781 million; Communist countries (1971-88), $27 million

Currency: Costa Rican colon (plural--colones); 1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates: Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1--105.82 (January 1991), 91.58 (1990), 81.504 (1989), 75.805 (1988), 62.776 (1987), 55.986 (1986), 50.453 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

NOTE: The information regarding Costa Rica on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Costa Rica Economy 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Costa Rica Economy 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.