Economy of Costa Rica

Natural Resources

Among natural resources, Costa Rica's most valuable is its fertile volcanic soil. Forests of pines, oaks and tropical hardwoods such as cedrelas and mahoganies cover about a third of the land. Costa Rica also has small deposits of bauxite and manganese.

Labor Force

Around one fourth of Costa Rica's workers are engaged in farming or ranching. Bananas, beef cattle, cacao (seeds used to make chocolate), coffee, corn, rice and sugar rank as the chief agricultural products in Costa Rica. Farmers also grow oranges, beans, potatoes and other fruits and vegetables. Manufacturing employs about a fifth of the labor force and is growing rapidly. The leading manufactured products include cement, clothing, cosmetics, fertilizer, furniture, machinery, medicines, processed foods and textiles.

International Trade

Costa Rica's economy depends heavily on foreign trade. Exports include bananas, beef, coffee and sugar. Costa Rica's chief imports include petroleum, chemicals and manufactured goods. Computer chips, manufactured near San Jose, became one of Costa Rica's leading exports in the late 1990's. The United States is Costa Rica's major trading partner. Costa Rica belongs to the Central American Common Market, an economic union formed to stimulate trade among its members.

Logistics

The Pan American Highway links all of Costa Rica's provincial capitals except Limón and Puntarenas. Railroads connect the port cities of Limón and Puntarenas to San José. Costa Rica has an average of about 1 automobile for every 15 people. Costa Rican Airlines has flights from San José to major Central American cities in addition to Mexico and the United States.

Most Costa Rican families own a radio and there is around one television set for every six people. Costa Rica's four daily newspapers are all published in San José.