Urban population in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Urban population was 79.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Urban population in Costa Rica, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Costa Rica is 79.7%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Costa Rica peaked at 79.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 34.1%, in 1960.
Costa Rica ranks 59th of 215 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 35.5% | 34.1% | 38.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 41.0% | 38.8% | 42.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 44.9% | 42.9% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 53.1% | 48.6% | 58.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 64.4% | 59.0% | 70.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.6% | 71.5% | 77.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.6% | 77.5% | 79.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More climate change data for Costa Rica
- Population growth 0.4% (2025)
- Population, total 5.15 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 1.0% (2025)
- Urban population 4.11 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 29.2% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 3.45 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 3.1% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 26.6% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 28.2% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 28.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Costa Rica?
- Urban population in Costa Rica was 79.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 79.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.1% in 1960.
- How does Costa Rica rank for urban population?
- Costa Rica ranks 59th out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.