San Diego Population 2026
San Diego has a population of 16,991, making it the #32 biggest city in 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, located in Cartago Province. Roughly 0.3% of Costa Rica's population lives here. It is about 20× smaller than San José, the country's biggest city.
Population (city proper)
16,991
Rank in Costa Rica
#32
Coordinates
9.90°N, 84.00°W
~1,292 m elevation · America/Costa_Rica
Distance to capital (San José)
10 km
6 miles, straight line
Other big cities in Cartago Province
Cities near San Diego
- Curridabat34,586 people · ~4 km away
- Patarrá23,983 people · ~4 km away
- San Pedro27,477 people · ~6 km away
- Purral30,034 people · ~7 km away
- San Miguel28,827 people · ~7 km away
- Guadalupe26,005 people · ~8 km away
FAQ
What is the population of San Diego?
San Diego has a population of 16,991 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #32 biggest city in Costa Rica.
What region is San Diego in?
San Diego is located in Cartago Province, Costa Rica.
Is San Diego the capital of Costa Rica?
No, the capital of Costa Rica is San José, about 10 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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