Costa Rica - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Costa Rica was 80.77 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 80.77 in 2020, while its lowest value was 34.25 in 1960.

Definition: 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.

Source: United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 34.25
1961 34.33
1962 34.40
1963 34.61
1964 35.20
1965 35.79
1966 36.39
1967 36.99
1968 37.60
1969 38.21
1970 38.83
1971 39.45
1972 40.07
1973 40.66
1974 41.00
1975 41.35
1976 41.70
1977 42.05
1978 42.40
1979 42.75
1980 43.10
1981 43.45
1982 43.80
1983 44.16
1984 44.54
1985 45.45
1986 46.35
1987 47.26
1988 48.18
1989 49.09
1990 50.00
1991 50.92
1992 51.83
1993 52.74
1994 53.65
1995 54.56
1996 55.47
1997 56.37
1998 57.26
1999 58.16
2000 59.05
2001 60.41
2002 61.75
2003 63.08
2004 64.39
2005 65.67
2006 66.94
2007 68.17
2008 69.39
2009 70.58
2010 71.74
2011 72.87
2012 73.95
2013 74.97
2014 75.94
2015 76.86
2016 77.74
2017 78.56
2018 79.34
2019 80.08
2020 80.77

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. Percentages urban are the numbers of persons residing in an area defined as ''urban'' per 100 total population. They are calculated by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Particular caution should be used in interpreting the figures for percentage urban for different countries. 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: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization