Cropland extent over the long-term in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Cropland extent over the long-term was 513,458 hectares in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
513,458 hectares
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
126th
of 202 countries
All-time high
556,932 hectares
in 2016
All-time low
5,271 hectares
in 1600
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Cropland extent over the long-term in Costa Rica, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cropland extent over the long-term in Costa Rica is 513,458 hectares, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland extent over the long-term in Costa Rica peaked at 556,932 hectares in 2016 and was at its lowest, 5,271 hectares, in 1600.
Costa Rica ranks 126th of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Cropland extent over the long-term in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 256,754 hectares | — |
| 1100 | 270,722 hectares | +5.4% |
| 1200 | 284,346 hectares | +5.0% |
| 1300 | 297,205 hectares | +4.5% |
| 1400 | 308,691 hectares | +3.9% |
| 1500 | 317,907 hectares | +3.0% |
| 1600 | 5,271 hectares | -98.3% |
| 1700 | 13,720 hectares | +160.3% |
| 1710 | 14,694 hectares | +7.1% |
| 1720 | 15,731 hectares | +7.1% |
| 1730 | 16,835 hectares | +7.0% |
| 1740 | 18,010 hectares | +7.0% |
| 1750 | 19,260 hectares | +6.9% |
| 1760 | 20,588 hectares | +6.9% |
| 1770 | 21,998 hectares | +6.8% |
| 1780 | 23,492 hectares | +6.8% |
| 1790 | 25,074 hectares | +6.7% |
| 1800 | 26,747 hectares | +6.7% |
| 1810 | 29,448 hectares | +10.1% |
| 1820 | 32,380 hectares | +10.0% |
| 1830 | 37,633 hectares | +16.2% |
| 1840 | 44,274 hectares | +17.6% |
| 1850 | 50,854 hectares | +14.9% |
| 1860 | 57,270 hectares | +12.6% |
| 1870 | 71,045 hectares | +24.1% |
| 1880 | 89,156 hectares | +25.5% |
| 1890 | 106,308 hectares | +19.2% |
| 1900 | 133,242 hectares | +25.3% |
| 1910 | 161,122 hectares | +20.9% |
| 1920 | 192,877 hectares | +19.7% |
| 1930 | 204,640 hectares | +6.1% |
| 1940 | 256,921 hectares | +25.5% |
| 1950 | 361,175 hectares | +40.6% |
| 1951 | 369,662 hectares | +2.3% |
| 1952 | 379,194 hectares | +2.6% |
| 1953 | 389,589 hectares | +2.7% |
| 1954 | 400,727 hectares | +2.9% |
| 1955 | 412,503 hectares | +2.9% |
| 1956 | 424,862 hectares | +3.0% |
| 1957 | 437,778 hectares | +3.0% |
| 1958 | 451,263 hectares | +3.1% |
| 1959 | 465,333 hectares | +3.1% |
| 1960 | 480,000 hectares | +3.2% |
| 1961 | 480,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 485,000 hectares | +1.0% |
| 1963 | 485,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 485,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 485,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 485,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 486,000 hectares | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 486,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 490,000 hectares | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 493,000 hectares | +0.6% |
| 1971 | 497,000 hectares | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 497,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 490,000 hectares | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 490,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 492,000 hectares | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 495,000 hectares | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 497,000 hectares | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 500,000 hectares | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 503,000 hectares | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 506,000 hectares | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 509,000 hectares | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 512,000 hectares | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 515,000 hectares | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 518,000 hectares | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 523,000 hectares | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 526,000 hectares | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 526,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 523,000 hectares | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 510,000 hectares | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 510,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 515,000 hectares | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 510,000 hectares | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 500,000 hectares | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 520,000 hectares | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 510,000 hectares | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 495,000 hectares | -2.9% |
| 1997 | 490,000 hectares | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 490,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 500,000 hectares | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 490,000 hectares | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 490,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 490,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 500,000 hectares | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 500,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 490,000 hectares | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 505,000 hectares | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 500,000 hectares | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 500,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 530,000 hectares | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 540,000 hectares | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 547,000 hectares | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 547,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 551,000 hectares | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 551,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 550,245 hectares | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 556,932 hectares | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 545,605 hectares | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 536,049 hectares | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 530,222 hectares | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 525,674 hectares | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 526,781 hectares | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 522,902 hectares | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 519,405 hectares | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 516,432 hectares | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 513,458 hectares | -0.6% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 513,458 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 666,510 hectares, 77% of the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 513,458 hectares is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 661,020 hectares, 78% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cropland extent over the long-term in Costa Rica changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1700 | +160.3% | 5,271 hectares | 13,720 hectares |
| 1600 | -98.3% | 317,907 hectares | 5,271 hectares |
| 1950 | +40.6% | 256,921 hectares | 361,175 hectares |
| 1940 | +25.5% | 204,640 hectares | 256,921 hectares |
| 1880 | +25.5% | 71,045 hectares | 89,156 hectares |
| 1900 | +25.3% | 106,308 hectares | 133,242 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 256,754 hectares | 256,754 hectares | 256,754 hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 270,722 hectares | 270,722 hectares | 270,722 hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 284,346 hectares | 284,346 hectares | 284,346 hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 297,205 hectares | 297,205 hectares | 297,205 hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 308,691 hectares | 308,691 hectares | 308,691 hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 317,907 hectares | 317,907 hectares | 317,907 hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 5,271 hectares | 5,271 hectares | 5,271 hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 13,720 hectares | 13,720 hectares | 13,720 hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 14,694 hectares | 14,694 hectares | 14,694 hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 15,731 hectares | 15,731 hectares | 15,731 hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 16,835 hectares | 16,835 hectares | 16,835 hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 18,010 hectares | 18,010 hectares | 18,010 hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 19,260 hectares | 19,260 hectares | 19,260 hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 20,588 hectares | 20,588 hectares | 20,588 hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 21,998 hectares | 21,998 hectares | 21,998 hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 23,492 hectares | 23,492 hectares | 23,492 hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 25,074 hectares | 25,074 hectares | 25,074 hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 26,747 hectares | 26,747 hectares | 26,747 hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 29,448 hectares | 29,448 hectares | 29,448 hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 32,380 hectares | 32,380 hectares | 32,380 hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 37,633 hectares | 37,633 hectares | 37,633 hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 44,274 hectares | 44,274 hectares | 44,274 hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 50,854 hectares | 50,854 hectares | 50,854 hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 57,270 hectares | 57,270 hectares | 57,270 hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 71,045 hectares | 71,045 hectares | 71,045 hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 89,156 hectares | 89,156 hectares | 89,156 hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 106,308 hectares | 106,308 hectares | 106,308 hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 133,242 hectares | 133,242 hectares | 133,242 hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 161,122 hectares | 161,122 hectares | 161,122 hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 192,877 hectares | 192,877 hectares | 192,877 hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 204,640 hectares | 204,640 hectares | 204,640 hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 256,921 hectares | 256,921 hectares | 256,921 hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 409,209 hectares | 361,175 hectares | 465,333 hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 484,700 hectares | 480,000 hectares | 490,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 495,400 hectares | 490,000 hectares | 503,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 516,800 hectares | 506,000 hectares | 526,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 504,000 hectares | 490,000 hectares | 520,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 499,500 hectares | 490,000 hectares | 530,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 545,505 hectares | 530,222 hectares | 556,932 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 520,775 hectares | 513,458 hectares | 526,781 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More agriculture & rural data for Costa Rica
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.5759 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.0996 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.1685 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.3415 hectares per person (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland extent over the long-term in Costa Rica?
- Cropland extent over the long-term in Costa Rica was 513,458 hectares in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cropland extent over the long-term recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 556,932 hectares in 2016.
- What is the lowest cropland extent over the long-term recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,271 hectares in 1600.
- How does Costa Rica rank for cropland extent over the long-term?
- Costa Rica ranks 126th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is cropland extent over the long-term rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Cropland extent over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total cropland area for each separate country over time.