Greater Metropolitan Area (Costa Rica)
Greater Metropolitan Area
Gran Área Metropolitana | ||
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View of the Greater Metropolitan Area facing east | ||
Interactive Map of San José Metropolitan Area
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| Coordinates: 9°55′59″N 84°04′59″W / 9.933°N 84.083°W | ||
| Country | Costa Rica | |
| Province(s) | San José Alajuela Cartago Heredia | |
| Area | ||
• Total | 2,044 km2 (789 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,100 m (3,600 ft) | |
| Population (2019) | ||
• Total | 3,160,000 | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 | |
The Greater Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica (Spanish: Gran Área Metropolitana, GAM) is the largest urban agglomeration in the country, comprising areas of high population density surrounding the capital, San José, which geographically corresponds to the Central Valley and extended to include the Guarco Valley, where some of the cantons of the Cartago province are located.
The proper definition and delimitation corresponds to the National Institute of Statistics and Census of Costa Rica (INEC) and could vary over time. According to the 2011 census, the GAM had a population of 3.1 million inhabitants (about 60% of Costa Rica's population) in an area of 2,044 km² (3.84% of the country's area).