Costa Rica Urban Population
Urban population as % of total SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS
Costa Rica's urban population was 79.77% in 2025, ranked 58th globally. This represents a 0.6% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Costa Rica's urban population stood at 79.77% in 2025, a rise of +0.46% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 79.77% by 2025. Costa Rica ranked 58th globally.
Costa Rica’s urban population has risen dramatically over the 66‑year span from 34.11 % in 1960 to 79.77 % in 2025, marking the highest share recorded in the series and placing the country 58th globally. The acceleration intensified after the 1990s, when rapid economic diversification and infrastructure investment prompted rural‑to‑urban migration, and the share has hovered near the 80 % threshold for the past decade. This level is comparable to peers such as Mexico (80.02 %) and the United States (80.14 %), suggesting that Costa Rica has joined the group of highly urbanised economies despite its smaller size. The sustained rise reflects continued expansion of service sectors and housing development in the Central Valley, while the agricultural base has contracted proportionally. Future shifts in housing policy, transport investment, or a resurgence of agro‑tourism could temper the upward trajectory, but current patterns indicate that the urban share will likely remain close to the present peak in the near term.
Data & projection
| Year | Urban Population | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 80.67% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 80.22% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 79.77% | - | - |
| 2025 | 79.77% | +0.46% | #58 |
| 2024 | 79.31% | +0.43% | #158 |
| 2023 | 78.88% | +0.44% | #157 |
| 2022 | 78.44% | +0.45% | #154 |
| 2021 | 77.99% | +0.47% | #154 |
| 2020 | 77.52% | +0.48% | #153 |
| 2019 | 77.04% | +0.49% | #152 |
| 2018 | 76.55% | +0.50% | #151 |
| 2017 | 76.05% | +0.51% | #151 |
| 2016 | 75.54% | +0.52% | #151 |
| 2015 | 75.02% | +0.53% | #150 |
| 2014 | 74.49% | +0.54% | #149 |
| 2013 | 73.94% | +0.55% | #148 |
| 2012 | 73.39% | +0.55% | #148 |
| 2011 | 72.84% | +1.33% | #147 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Costa Rica matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 1995. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw urban population improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Rica's urban population was 79.77% in 2025. Ranked 58th globally. This represents a 0.6% increase from the previous year.
Costa Rica's urban population peaked at 79.77% in 2025.
The lowest urban population in Costa Rica was 34.11% in 1960.
Costa Rica ranks 58th globally in urban population as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Costa Rica's urban population is projected to reach 79.77% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The urban population of Costa Rica in 2025 was 79.77%. This ranks 58th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_costa-rica_urban-population,
title = {Costa Rica Urban Population},
url = {https://historysaid.com/costa-rica/urban-population/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}