Urbanization Growth in Costa Rica from 1990 to 2023

Costa Rica's urban population surged from 50% in 1990 to 82.6% in 2023. Rapid growth began in the 1990s, when urban centers like San José expanded with new job opportunities and better public services, attracting rural migration. By 2010, urbanization had reached 71.7%, and this trend continued into the 2020s, boosted by Costa Rica’s emphasis on sustainable urban development and eco-friendly infrastructure. The rate reached 82.6% in 2023, underscoring the country's urban-centric growth pattern over three decades.