Context
The chart above shows the evolution of street network disconnectedness of the most connected and most disconnected cities in Costa Rica, for both new street additions (left) and the aggregate street network (right).
Costa Rica in context: Street-network sprawl of new development
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Costa Rica rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Costa Rica, we can consider three of its most populous regions: San José, Cartago and Puntarenas. Disconnectivity in the most populous cities in Costa Rica follow the same country trend.
How do development practices in Costa Rica fare in comparison to others in the world? Most recently in 2006-2020, street construction in Costa Rica was the 162nd-most disconnected out of the 179 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other countries in the world, street construction in Costa Rica has become more connected. Costa Rica ranked 133rd in 1975, 158th in 1976-1990, 161st in 1991-2005 and 162nd in 2006-2020.
The largest city in Costa Rica is San José, with a population of 2027600 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in San José as of 2020, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 5.07, which is very sprawly. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in San José rose steadily.
Costa Rica in context: Aggregate street-network sprawl
As of 2020, the city with the most disconnected street network in Costa Rica is San José with an SNDi of 5.07, which is very sprawly. Conversely, the most connected city is Liberia with an SNDi of 2.97, which is moderately connected. See these two cities’ trends in the above graph, or dive deeper into each: Liberia, San José.
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Costa Rica rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Costa Rica, we can consider three of its most populous regions: San José, Cartago and Puntarenas. Disconnectivity in the most populous cities in Costa Rica follow the same country trend.
To date, Costa Rica is the 149th-most disconnected out of the 179 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other countries in the world, the street network in Costa Rica has become more connected. Costa Rica ranked 133rd in 1975, 144th in 1976-1990, 149th in 1991-2005 and 149th in 2006-2020.
The largest city in Costa Rica is San José, with a population of 2027600 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in San José as of 2020, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 5.07, which is very sprawly. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in San José rose steadily.