Alajuela Population 2026
Alajuela has a population of 47,494, making it the #3 biggest city in 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, located in Alajuela Province. Roughly 0.9% of Costa Rica's population lives here. It is about 7.1× smaller than San José, the country's biggest city.
Population (city proper)
47,494
Rank in Costa Rica
#3
Coordinates
10.02°N, 84.21°W
~955 m elevation · America/Costa_Rica
Distance to capital (San José)
17 km
11 miles, straight line
Other big cities in Alajuela Province
Cities near Alajuela
- Heredia21,947 people · ~11 km away
- San Pablo21,662 people · ~13 km away
- San Rafael25,410 people · ~13 km away
- San Juan26,047 people · ~16 km away
- San José335,007 people · ~17 km away
- San Felipe24,985 people · ~17 km away
FAQ
What is the population of Alajuela?
Alajuela has a population of 47,494 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #3 biggest city in Costa Rica.
What region is Alajuela in?
Alajuela is located in Alajuela Province, Costa Rica.
Is Alajuela the capital of Costa Rica?
No, the capital of Costa Rica is San José, about 17 km away.
Sources & notes
Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.
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