Health in San Jose, Costa Rica: official figures
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.
What is the death rate in San Jose?
10,223 residents of San Jose died in 2024, a crude death rate of 6.2 per 1,000 residents, 2nd highest of 7 (national 5.8).
Source: INEC Costa Rica · saved copyWhat is the infant mortality rate in San Jose?
139 infants under one year died in 2024 among mothers resident in San Jose, an infant mortality rate of 10.9 per 1,000 births (2nd highest of 7); the national rate was 10.2 and the 2023 provincial rate in INEC's anuario was 8.3.
Source: INEC Costa Rica · saved copyHow many fetal deaths are there in San Jose?
INEC recorded 79 fetal deaths to mothers resident in San Jose in 2024, 6.2 per 1,000 births, 4th highest of 7 (national 6.2).
Source: INEC Costa Rica · saved copyHow common are teenage births in San Jose?
7.2% of the babies born to mothers living in San Jose in 2024 had a mother under 20 (920 of 12,808 births), 2nd lowest of 7; nationally the share was 8.8%.
Source: INEC Costa Rica · saved copyWho attends births in San Jose?
24.9% of births to mothers resident in San Jose in 2024 were attended by a gynaecologist-obstetrician, 2nd highest of 7; the national share was 24.0%. Most other births were attended by a physician or nurse.
Source: INEC Costa Rica · saved copyHow San Jose compares with other provinces
Birth rate (2024)
San Jose ranks 6 of 7, highest first. Births per 1,000 residents
| Rank | Region | Birth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Limon | 10.8 |
| 2 | Puntarenas | 10.2 |
| 3 | Guanacaste | 10.1 |
| 4 | Alajuela | 9.5 |
| 5 | Cartago | 8.7 |
| 6 | San Jose | 7.7 |
| 7 | Heredia | 7.6 |
Death rate (2024)
San Jose ranks 2 of 7, highest first. Deaths per 1,000 residents
| Rank | Region | Death rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guanacaste | 6.4 |
| 2 | San Jose | 6.2 |
| 3 | Cartago | 5.9 |
| 4 | Puntarenas | 5.9 |
| 5 | Alajuela | 5.5 |
| 6 | Heredia | 5.4 |
| 7 | Limon | 5.3 |
Infant mortality (2024)
San Jose ranks 2 of 7, highest first. Deaths under one year per 1,000 births
| Rank | Region | Infant mortality |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guanacaste | 11.9 |
| 2 | San Jose | 10.9 |
| 3 | Cartago | 10.7 |
| 4 | Puntarenas | 10.6 |
| 5 | Limon | 10.4 |
| 6 | Alajuela | 8.9 |
| 7 | Heredia | 8.5 |
Fetal deaths (2024)
San Jose ranks 4 of 7, highest first. Fetal deaths per 1,000 births
| Rank | Region | Fetal deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Limon | 7.3 |
| 2 | Heredia | 6.8 |
| 3 | Puntarenas | 6.5 |
| 4 | San Jose | 6.2 |
| 5 | Alajuela | 6.0 |
| 6 | Cartago | 5.8 |
| 7 | Guanacaste | 4.8 |
Births to mothers under 20 (2024)
San Jose ranks 6 of 7, highest first. Share of births
| Rank | Region | Births to mothers under 20 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Limon | 11.6% |
| 2 | Puntarenas | 11.5% |
| 3 | Guanacaste | 9.7% |
| 4 | Cartago | 9.1% |
| 5 | Alajuela | 8.7% |
| 6 | San Jose | 7.2% |
| 7 | Heredia | 6.6% |
Births attended by a gynaecologist-obstetrician (2024)
San Jose ranks 2 of 7, highest first. Share of births
| Rank | Region | Births attended by a gynaecologist-obstetrician |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heredia | 58.9% |
| 2 | San Jose | 24.9% |
| 3 | Alajuela | 24.4% |
| 4 | Guanacaste | 19.6% |
| 5 | Puntarenas | 17.7% |
| 6 | Cartago | 15.7% |
| 7 | Limon | 9.5% |
More on San Jose: overview · economy and jobs · poverty and living standards · Costa Rica
Sources
- 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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