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Cantons of Costa Rica

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Costa Rica is administratively divided into seven provinces which are subdivided into 84 cantons, and these are further subdivided into districts. Cantons are the only administrative division in Costa Rica that possess local government in the form of municipalities. Each municipality has its own mayor and several representatives, all of them chosen via municipal elections every four years.

The original 14 cantons were established in 1848, and the number has risen gradually by the division of existing cantons. Law no. 4366 of 19 August 1969, which outlines the creation of administrative divisions of Costa Rica, states that new cantons may only be created if they have at least one percent of the republic's total population, which was 5,044,197 as of the latest estimate (2022).[1][2][a] The newest canton, Puerto Jiménez, was created on June 21, 2022, from the canton of Golfito.[3]

According to the latest population estimate from the National Institute of Statistics and Census, the largest canton by population is the capital San José with a population of 352,381, while the smallest by population is Monteverde with 5,386 residents.[4] The latest report from the National Geographic Institute listed the largest canton by land area as San Carlos, which spans 3,352.14 km2 (1,294.27 sq mi) and the smallest as Flores at 6.75 km2 (2.61 sq mi).[5]

Political structure

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Main article: Local government in Costa Rica

Each canton is controlled by a government unit called Municipalidad.[6] The term reflects the fact that the cantons in Costa Rica have approximately the same function as municipios ("municipalities") in many other Spanish-speaking countries. This administrative unit consists of two bodies: a municipal council (Concejo Municipal) and an executive officer called a mayor (alcalde / alcaldesa municipal), a title that was introduced in 1998.[6]

The mayor's main duties are to liaise with the municipal council, district councils and the entire administrative apparatus of the canton, and to approve and implement the decisions taken by the municipal council.[7] The number of members of the municipal council varies from one canton to another, and they are elected by local elections held every four years.[8] The head of the council is titled the municipal president (presidente municipal). The council's main task is to manage the canton at the local level, and is responsible for planning basic policies and establishing budgets. More specifically, the responsibilities include urban and agricultural planning and organizing cultural affairs, health care, education and industry.[9] Each municipal president appoints a number of working commissions that deal with issues specific to the municipality.[10]

Cities in Costa Rica

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According to the Executive Decree N°41548-MGP (Declara oficial para efectos administrativos, la aprobación de la División Territorial Administrativa de la República), a city in Costa Rica is a ceremonial title awarded to a district or districts which contain the administrative center regardless of factors such as population, population density, or economic indicators. This designation is also known as cabecera de cantón, head city of the canton.[11]

Cantons

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  • Largest cantons of Costa Rica by population
  • Skyline of San José
    San José, Costa Rica's capital and largest canton by population
  • Juan Park in Alajuela
    Alajuela, Costa Rica's second largest canton by population
  • Downtown Desamparados
    Desamparados, Costa Rica's third largest canton by population and suburb of San Jose
  • Pavilion of Ciudad Quesada
    Pavilion of Ciudad Quesada, located in Costa Rica's fourth largest canton by population, San Carlos

  Provincial Capital†

  National Capital and Provincial Capital‡

Canton City[11] Province Population
(2022)[a][2][4] 		Population
(2011)[12] 		Change Land area (km2)[5] Population density (2022)[a][2] Incorporation date[13]
San José‡ San José San José 352,381 288,054 +22.3% 44.62 7,897.4/km2 1848
Escazú Escazú San José 71,500 56,509 +26.5% 34.53 2,070.7/km2 1848
Desamparados Desamparados San José 223,226 208,411 +7.1% 118.89 1,877.6/km2 1862
Puriscal Santiago San José 38,525 33,004 +16.7% 555.02 69.4/km2 1868
Tarrazú San Marcos San José 17,810 16,280 +9.4% 291.27 61.1/km2 1868
Aserrí Aserrí San José 59,588 57,892 +2.9% 168.26 354.1/km2 1882
Mora Colón San José 32,348 26,294 +23.0% 163.47 197.9/km2 1883
Goicoechea Guadalupe San José 132,104 115,084 +14.8% 31.7 4,167.3/km2 1891
Santa Ana Santa Ana San José 58,020 49,123 +18.1% 61.42 944.6/km2 1907
Alajuelita Alajuelita San José 81,012 77,603 +4.4% 21.47 3,773.3/km2 1909
Vázquez de Coronado San Isidro San José 67,078 60,486 +10.9% 223.93 299.5/km2 1910
Acosta San Ignacio San José 22,542 20,209 +11.5% 342.56 65.8/km2 1910
Tibás San Juan San José 74,592 64,842 +15.0% 8.27 9,019.6/km2 1914
Moravia San Vicente San José 59,546 56,919 +4.6% 28.82 2,066.1/km2 1914
Montes de Oca San Pedro San José 53,862 49,132 +9.6% 15.78 3,413.3/km2 1915
Turrubares San Pablo San José 6,173 5,512 +12.0% 416.25 14.8/km2 1920
Dota Santa María San José 9,364 6,948 +34.8% 404.44 23.2/km2 1925
Curridabat Curridabat San José 71,026 65,206 +8.9% 16.06 4,422.5/km2 1929
Pérez Zeledón San Isidro de El General San José 156,917 134,534 +16.6% 1,901.08 82.5/km2 1931
León Cortés Castro San Pablo San José 13,553 12,200 +11.1% 121.89 111.2/km2 1961
Alajuela† Alajuela Alajuela 322,143 254,886 +26.4% 391.62 822.6/km2 1848
San Ramón San Ramón Alajuela 93,264 80,566 +15.8% 1,021.74 91.3/km2 1856
Grecia Grecia Alajuela 76,226 76,898 −0.9% 142.47 535.0/km2 1848
San Mateo San Mateo Alajuela 6,952 6,136 +13.3% 125.03 55.6/km2 1868
Atenas Atenas Alajuela 30,407 25,460 +19.4% 126.31 240.7/km2 1868
Naranjo Naranjo Alajuela 46,647 42,713 +9.2% 127.01 367.3/km2 1886
Palmares Palmares Alajuela 39,148 34,716 +12.8% 38.94 1,005.3/km2 1888
Poás San Pedro Alajuela 36,207 29,199 +24.0% 74.48 486.1/km2 1901
Orotina Orotina Alajuela 24,217 20,341 +19.1% 145.11 166.9/km2 1908
San Carlos Quesada Alajuela 198,742 163,745 +21.4% 3,352.14 59.3/km2 1911
Zarcero Zarcero Alajuela 15,153 12,205 +24.2% 157.36 96.3/km2 1915
Sarchí Sarchí Norte Alajuela 21,562 18,085 +19.2% 136.76 157.7/km2 1949
Upala Upala Alajuela 57,361 43,953 +30.5% 1,592.67 36.0/km2 1970
Los Chiles Los Chiles Alajuela 34,701 23,735 +46.2% 1,332.71 26.0/km2 1970
Guatuso San Rafael Alajuela 18,316 15,508 +18.1% 752.83 24.3/km2 1970
Río Cuarto Río Cuarto Alajuela 14,418 11,074 +30.2% 254.89 56.6/km2 2017
Cartago† Cartago Cartago 165,417 147,898 +11.8% 278.66 593.6/km2 1848
Paraíso Paraíso Cartago 65,941 57,743 +14.2% 476.99 138.2/km2 1848
La Unión Tres Ríos Cartago 99,539 99,399 +0.1% 44.18 2,253.0/km2 1848
Jiménez Juan Viñas Cartago 18,710 14,669 +27.5% 250.07 74.8/km2 1903
Turrialba Turrialba Cartago 82,065 69,616 +17.9% 1,589.25 51.6/km2 1903
Alvarado Pacayas Cartago 17,134 14,312 +19.7% 79.18 216.4/km2 1908
Oreamuno San Rafael Cartago 48,911 45,473 +7.6% 202.9 241.1/km2 1914
El Guarco El Tejar Cartago 47,375 41,793 +13.4% 172 275.4/km2 1939
Heredia† Heredia Heredia 131,901 123,616 +6.7% 283.11 465.9/km2 1848
Barva Barva Heredia 47,699 40,660 +17.3% 56.01 851.6/km2 1848
Santo Domingo Santo Domingo Heredia 45,932 40,072 +14.6% 25.4 1,808.3/km2 1869
Santa Bárbara Santa Bárbara Heredia 39,133 36,243 +8.0% 52.1 751.1/km2 1882
San Rafael San Rafael Heredia 48,848 45,965 +6.3% 48.31 1,011.1/km2 1885
San Isidro San Isidro Heredia 22,806 20,633 +10.5% 26.67 855.1/km2 1905
Belén San Antonio Heredia 23,759 21,633 +9.8% 12.38 1,919.1/km2 1907
Flores San Joaquín Heredia 22,026 20,037 +9.9% 6.75 3,263.1/km2 1915
San Pablo San Pablo Heredia 29,860 27,671 +7.9% 8.34 3,580.3/km2 1961
Sarapiquí Puerto Viejo Heredia 67,153 57,147 +17.5% 2,144.38 31.3/km2 1970
Liberia† Liberia Guanacaste 80,130 62,987 +27.2% 1,442.17 55.6/km2 1848
Nicoya Nicoya Guanacaste 66,268 50,825 +30.4% 1,337.57 49.5/km2 1848
Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Guanacaste 72,366 55,104 +31.3% 1,320.81 54.8/km2 1848
Bagaces Bagaces Guanacaste 23,709 19,536 +21.4% 1,277.93 18.6/km2 1848
Carrillo Filadelfia Guanacaste 48,227 37,122 +29.9% 599.01 80.5/km2 1877
Cañas Cañas Guanacaste 31,738 26,201 +21.1% 687.05 46.2/km2 1878
Abangares Las Juntas Guanacaste 22,211 18,039 +23.1% 646.02 34.4/km2 1915
Tilarán Tilarán Guanacaste 21,232 19,640 +8.1% 669.23 31.7/km2 1923
Nandayure Carmona Guanacaste 11,874 11,121 +6.8% 568.14 20.9/km2 1961
La Cruz La Cruz Guanacaste 26,829 19,181 +39.9% 1,385.38 19.4/km2 1969
Hojancha Hojancha Guanacaste 8,224 7,197 +14.3% 262.99 31.3/km2 1971
Puntarenas† Puntarenas Puntarenas 141,697 115,019 +23.2% 1,786.9 79.3/km2 1862
Esparza Esparza (Espíritu Santo district) Puntarenas 34,808 28,644 +21.5% 217.23 160.2/km2 1848
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Puntarenas 50,562 45,244 +11.8% 2,382.94 21.2/km2 1914
Montes de Oro Miramar Puntarenas 16,395 12,950 +26.6% 247.59 66.2/km2 1915
Osa Puerto Cortés Puntarenas 36,088 29,433 +22.6% 1,932.7 18.7/km2 1940
Quepos Quepos Puntarenas 32,416 26,861 +20.7% 557.85 58.1/km2 1948
Golfito Golfito Puntarenas 44,086 39,150 +12.6% 1,032.32 42.7/km2 1949
Coto Brus San Vito Puntarenas 46,351 38,453 +20.5% 944.24 49.1/km2 1965
Parrita Parrita Puntarenas 20,068 16,115 +24.5% 483.22 41.5/km2 1971
Corredores Ciudad Neily (Corredor district) Puntarenas 51,023 41,831 +22.0% 623.61 81.8/km2 1973
Garabito Jacó Puntarenas 26,672 17,229 +54.8% 316.01 84.4/km2 1980
Monteverde Monteverde Puntarenas 5,386 4,155 +29.6% 53.47 100.7/km2 2021
Puerto Jiménez Puerto Jiménez Puntarenas 10,644 8,789 +21.1% 720.43 14.8/km2 2022
Limón† Limón Limón 116,457 94,415 +23.3% 1,769.38 65.8/km2 1909
Pococí Guápiles Limón 146,320 125,962 +16.2% 2,188.25 66.9/km2 1911
Siquirres Siquirres Limón 63,765 56,786 +12.3% 855.15 74.6/km2 1969
Talamanca Bribrí (Bratsi district) Limón 48,906 30,712 +59.2% 2,792.23 17.5/km2 1911
Matina Matina Limón 45,329 37,721 +20.2% 770.4 58.8/km2 1969
Guácimo Guácimo Limón 49,606 41,266 +20.2% 801.56 61.9/km2 1971
Costa Rica 5,044,197 4,301,712 +17.3% 51,170.45[b] 98.6/km2

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c The Eleventh Population Census (2022) experienced significant issues, including problems stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in only successfully sampling around 60% of homes and estimates having to be used.
  2. ^ Not including Cocos Island's land area.

References

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  1. ^ Comisión Nacional de División Territorial Administrativa (1980). Estudio sobre la División Territorial Administrativa de la Republica de Costa Rica [Study on the Administrative Territorial Division of the Republic of Costa Rica] (in Spanish). Costa Rica: Imprenta Nacional. §53.
  2. ^ a b c Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (July 2023). Estimación de Población y Vivienda 2022: Resultados Generales [2022 Population and Housing Estimate: General Results] (PDF) (in Spanish). San José, Costa Rica. ISBN 978-9930-525-75-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Costa Rica (2022-06-21). "Ley N° 10195 - Creación del Cantón de Puerto Jiménez, Cantón Décimo Tercero de la Provincia de Puntarenas" [Law № 10195 - Creation of the Canton of Puerto Jiménez, Thirteenth Canton of the Province of Puntarenas]. Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  4. ^ a b Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (2023). "Resultados Estimacion de Poblacion y Vivienda 2022" [2022 Population and Housing Estimate Results] (XLSX) (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-06-04. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  5. ^ a b Instituto Geográfico Nacional de Costa Rica (2024-06-20). "DIVISIÓN TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATIVA, 2024 - TOTALES DE PROVINCIAS, CANTONES Y DISTRITOS DE COSTA RICA" [ADMINISTRATIVE TERRITORIAL DIVISION, 2024 - TOTALS OF PROVINCES, CANTONS AND DISTRICTS OF COSTA RICA] (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  6. ^ a b Alfaro and Zeledón (2006). Derechos ciudadanos y el gobierno local en Costa Rica [Rights of citizens and local governments in Costa Rica] (in Spanish). San José: Lara Segura & Asoc. p. 35.
  7. ^ Alfaro and Zeledón (2006). Derechos ciudadanos y el gobierno local en Costa Rica [Rights of citizens and local governments in Costa Rica] (in Spanish). San José: Lara Segura & Asoc. pp. 36–37.
  8. ^ "El Elector" [The Elector] (PDF) (in Spanish). Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones. May 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-01-20. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  9. ^ Unidad de Información y Adiestramiento (1987). La Municipalidad y sus funciones [The Municipality and its functions] (in Spanish). San José. §6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. ^ Unidad de Información y Adiestramiento (1987). La Municipalidad y sus funciones [The Municipality and its functions] (in Spanish). San José. §11.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. ^ a b "Division Territorial Administrativa de Costa Rica" (in Spanish). Sistema Costarricense de Informacion Juridica. September 2, 2009. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  12. ^ "Población total por zona y sexo, según provincia, cantón y distrito" [Total population by area and sex, province, county and district] (in Spanish). Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. 2011. Archived from the original (XLS) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  13. ^ "Division Territorial Administrativa de Costa Rica" [Administrative Territorial Divisions of Costa Rica] (PDF) (in Spanish). Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 2, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2015.

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