San Jose: population, births and deaths, construction and crime
San Jose is a province of Costa Rica, the largest of 7 by population. INEC's projection puts the population of San Jose at 1,657,287 on 30 June 2024, 32.1% of Costa Rica's 5,164,860 and the highest of 7.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in San Jose: Construction permits in San Jose covered 711,922 square metres of new building and extensions in 2024, down 1.5% on 2023 and 18.6% of the national 3,820,422 square metres (3rd highest of 7).
- Health in San Jose: Mothers living in San Jose gave birth to 12,808 babies in 2024, a birth rate of 7.7 per 1,000 residents, 2nd lowest of 7 (national 8.9). The 2023 figure in INEC's anuario was 14,001 births.
- Poverty and living standards in San Jose: The Judicial Investigation Organism handled 250 intentional homicides in San Jose in 2024 and 218 in 2023, 28.4% of the national 879 in 2024.
Is the population of San Jose growing?
The population of San Jose was 1,651,767 on 30 June 2023 and 1,657,287 on 30 June 2024, an increase of 0.33%; the national figure changed by 0.56% and growth in San Jose is 2nd lowest of 7.
Source: INEC Costa Rica · saved copyWhat is the population density of San Jose?
San Jose had 333.5 inhabitants per square kilometre in mid-2024, the highest of 7, against 100.9 for Costa Rica as a whole.
Source: INEC Costa Rica · saved copyHow many women and men live in San Jose?
Of the 1,657,287 residents of San Jose in 2024, 840,685 are women and 816,603 men, or 102.9 women per 100 men (national 100.2).
Source: INEC Costa Rica · saved copyAre there more births than deaths in San Jose?
In 2024 there were 12,808 births and 10,223 deaths among residents of San Jose, a natural increase of 2,585 people (1.6 per 1,000 residents, the lowest of 7).
Source: INEC Costa Rica · saved copyHow many marriages are there in San Jose each year?
7,120 marriages were registered in San Jose in 2024, 4.3 per 1,000 residents (3rd lowest of 7; national 4.3).
Source: INEC Costa Rica · saved copyHow provinces are governed in Costa Rica
Provinces (7). No elected government. Used for elections and statistics.
Every tier of government in Costa Rica
Other provinces of Costa Rica
- Alajuela 1,067,200
- Heredia 542,110
- Cartago 532,077
- Puntarenas 502,255
- Limon 453,600
- Guanacaste 410,331
Up a level: Costa Rica · government and power in Costa Rica · cities
Sources
- INEC Costa Rica: Anuario Estadistico 2023-2024, Economia: tables 5.15 to 5.17 (construction area, value and housing permits by province), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ad3ab4d7eeb9…)
- INEC Costa Rica: Anuario Estadistico 2023-2024, Poblacion: tables 10.4 (density), 10.5 (population, births, deaths) and 10.16 (infant mortality) by province, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1a8625b39cd9…)
- INEC Costa Rica: Anuario Estadistico 2023-2024, Social: tables 12.6 and 12.7 (homicides and suicides, Poder Judicial) and 12.28 (district Social Development Index 2023, Mideplan), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e8115b94fa09…)
- INEC Costa Rica: Estadisticas vitales 2024: population, births, deaths and marriages (tables 3.1 to 3.64, by province), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1577bf56feca…)
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