San Rafael Population 2026
San Rafael has a population of 25,410, making it the #23 biggest city in 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, located in San José. Roughly 0.5% of Costa Rica's population lives here. It is about 13× smaller than San José, the country's biggest city.
Population (city proper)
25,410
Rank in Costa Rica
#23
Coordinates
9.93°N, 84.14°W
~1,037 m elevation · America/Costa_Rica
Distance to capital (San José)
6 km
4 miles, straight line
Other big cities in San José
| City | Population | Rank in Costa Rica |
|---|---|---|
| San José | 335,007 | #1 |
| San Isidro | 34,877 | #7 |
| Curridabat | 34,586 | #8 |
| San Vicente | 34,447 | #9 |
| San Vicente de Moravia | 34,447 | #10 |
| Purral | 30,034 | #12 |
| San Miguel | 28,827 | #14 |
| San Pedro | 27,477 | #15 |
Cities near San Rafael
- San Felipe24,985 people · ~4 km away
- San José335,007 people · ~6 km away
- San Juan26,047 people · ~7 km away
- San Juan de Dios15,469 people · ~8 km away
- Heredia21,947 people · ~8 km away
- San Pablo21,662 people · ~9 km away
FAQ
What is the population of San Rafael?
San Rafael has a population of 25,410 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #23 biggest city in Costa Rica.
What region is San Rafael in?
San Rafael is located in San José, Costa Rica.
Is San Rafael the capital of Costa Rica?
No, the capital of Costa Rica is San José, about 6 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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