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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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* Largest cantons of Costa Rica by population
* San José, Costa Rica's capital and largest canton by population

* Alajuela, Costa Rica's second largest canton by population

* Desamparados, Costa Rica's third largest canton by population and suburb of San Jose

* 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

[edit]

* Costa Rica portal
* Government portal

* Provinces of Costa Rica
* Districts of Costa Rica

## Notes

[edit]

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

[edit]

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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