Costa Rica - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Costa Rica was 4,114,567 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 4,114,567 in 2020 and a minimum value of 455,848 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 455,848
1961 474,148
1962 493,128
1963 514,437
1964 542,013
1965 570,091
1966 598,643
1967 627,676
1968 657,149
1969 687,010
1970 717,288
1971 747,906
1972 778,990
1973 810,060
1974 837,360
1975 865,925
1976 895,957
1977 927,374
1978 960,245
1979 994,492
1980 1,030,054
1981 1,066,955
1982 1,105,307
1983 1,144,972
1984 1,186,697
1985 1,243,702
1986 1,302,633
1987 1,363,498
1988 1,426,488
1989 1,491,822
1990 1,559,812
1991 1,630,405
1992 1,703,472
1993 1,778,651
1994 1,855,766
1995 1,934,473
1996 2,014,762
1997 2,096,262
1998 2,178,261
1999 2,259,648
2000 2,339,858
2001 2,436,984
2002 2,532,442
2003 2,626,685
2004 2,720,493
2005 2,814,376
2006 2,908,608
2007 3,002,810
2008 3,096,961
2009 3,190,512
2010 3,283,623
2011 3,376,037
2012 3,466,591
2013 3,555,161
2014 3,641,667
2015 3,726,120
2016 3,808,499
2017 3,888,685
2018 3,966,558
2019 4,041,885
2020 4,114,567

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization