Agricultural land in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Agricultural land was 16,923 sq. km in 2023. ▼ Falling
Agricultural land in Costa Rica, 1961–2023
Source: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
In 2023, agricultural land in Costa Rica stood at 16,923 sq. km.
The figure is down 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in Costa Rica peaked at 27,480 sq. km in 1984 and was at its lowest, 13,950 sq. km, in 1961.
That places Costa Rica 125th out of 209 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 63 years of available data.
Agricultural land in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 13,950 sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 14,100 sq. km | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 14,200 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1964 | 14,850 sq. km | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 15,550 sq. km | +4.7% |
| 1966 | 16,350 sq. km | +5.1% |
| 1967 | 16,360 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1968 | 17,160 sq. km | +4.9% |
| 1969 | 17,900 sq. km | +4.3% |
| 1970 | 18,560 sq. km | +3.7% |
| 1971 | 18,870 sq. km | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 18,870 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 20,480 sq. km | +8.5% |
| 1974 | 20,480 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 21,220 sq. km | +3.6% |
| 1976 | 22,050 sq. km | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 22,870 sq. km | +3.7% |
| 1978 | 23,600 sq. km | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 24,430 sq. km | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 25,160 sq. km | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 25,990 sq. km | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 26,790 sq. km | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 26,820 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 27,480 sq. km | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 26,810 sq. km | -2.4% |
| 1986 | 26,120 sq. km | -2.6% |
| 1987 | 25,390 sq. km | -2.8% |
| 1988 | 24,630 sq. km | -3.0% |
| 1989 | 23,780 sq. km | -3.5% |
| 1990 | 21,986 sq. km | -7.5% |
| 1991 | 22,036 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 21,600 sq. km | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 21,130 sq. km | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 20,950 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 20,480 sq. km | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 19,950 sq. km | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 19,530 sq. km | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 19,150 sq. km | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 18,880 sq. km | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 18,400 sq. km | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 18,330 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 18,260 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 18,290 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 18,220 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 18,050 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 18,150 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 18,000 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 17,930 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 18,160 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 18,190 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 18,190 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 18,120 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 18,010 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 17,850 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 17,592 sq. km | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 17,427 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 17,263 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 17,217 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 17,172 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 17,126 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 17,025 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 16,923 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 16,923 sq. km | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15,602 sq. km | 13,950 sq. km | 17,900 sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 21,143 sq. km | 18,560 sq. km | 24,430 sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 25,897 sq. km | 23,780 sq. km | 27,480 sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 20,569 sq. km | 18,880 sq. km | 22,036 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 18,179 sq. km | 17,930 sq. km | 18,400 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 17,703 sq. km | 17,172 sq. km | 18,190 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,999 sq. km | 16,923 sq. km | 17,126 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More agriculture & rural data for Costa Rica
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0337 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 672.15 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2027 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture share gdp 3.37 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 3.37 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.1% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in Costa Rica?
- Agricultural land in Costa Rica was 16,923 sq. km in 2023, according to FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest agricultural land recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 27,480 sq. km in 1984.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,950 sq. km in 1961.
- How does Costa Rica rank for agricultural land?
- Costa Rica ranks 125th out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Agricultural land (sq. km). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Agricultural land refers to the land area that is arable, under permanent crops, and under permanent pastures. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded. Land under permanent crops is land cultivated with crops that occupy the land for long periods and need not be replanted after each harvest, such as cocoa, coffee, and rubber. This category includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land under trees grown for wood or timber. Permanent pasture is land used for five or more years for forage, including natural and cultivated crops.