Poverty Level Falls, But Inequality Rises
According to the country's National Statistics and Census Institute, it said on Tuesday, that although Costa Rica's poverty level has reduced by one percent, the country's inequality has increased.

The survey, which was titled "the Households and Budgets Survey," put the country's poverty level in 2006 at 20.2 percent, one percentage point lower than that of last year.

Extreme poverty level fell to 5.3 percent from 5.6 percent a year earlier, it said.

The survey, however, reported a higher "Gini coefficient" - a statistical measure that increases as income is less evenly distributed - with 0.018 up over 0.408 a year earlier.

The Pacific Coast regions including Cuanacaste and Puntarenas reported rising numbers of poor people, while the northern coast regions, including the Caribbean coast and the central valley area, reported fewer numbers of poor.

Higher poverty level areas went to the rural regions, with 23 percent compared to the 18.3 percent in cities, it said.

Victor Cespedes, president of the Institute, told reporters on Tuesday that 53,000 new jobs were created last year with 43,000 joining the workforce.

However, statistics showed that the new jobs mostly went to rich people.