Costa Rica Coffee Plantations Shrink 6.4% in 30 Years

Costa Rica’s coffee farms are disappearing—not because growers have given up on the crop, but because land is more profitable as housing or other crops. Over the past three decades, the country’s coffee-growing area has shrunk significantly, forcing farmers to adapt or exit the industry.

The answer is clear: between 1984 and 2015, Costa Rica’s coffee plantations fell 6.4%, from 89,881 hectares to 84,133 hectares, as urban expansion and global market shifts reshaped rural land use.

Shrinking Coffee Farmland Under Urban Pressure

According to Costa Rica’s El Financiero newspaper (Dec 14), coffee cultivation has steadily declined over 30 years. In 1984, the country had 89,881 hectares dedicated to coffee; by 2015, that number had dropped to 84,133 hectares—a 6.4% reduction. This loss is especially visible around metropolitan areas, where coffee farms have been replaced by real estate development.

The decline isn’t just in land area. The number of individual coffee farms has also fallen sharply. Data from Costa Rica’s National Statistics Office and the Fourth National Agricultural Census (2014) show that coffee farm numbers dropped from 34,464 in the late 20th century to just 26,527 by 2014—a 23% decrease.

Other Crops Take Over the Land

While coffee farms shrink, other agricultural sectors are expanding. Pineapple cultivation, for example, has grown 15-fold—from 2,497 hectares in 1984 to 37,660 hectares by 2014. Sugar cane farms saw a 34% drop in the number of operations, but a 38% increase in total planted area. Banana farms quadrupled in number and grew 60% in area. These competing crops, along with oil palm and rice, are taking over land once used for coffee.

The shift is most dramatic near urban centers. While coffee farming has decreased in the Greater Metropolitan Area, some regions outside the city—like Los Santos—have seen an increase in coffee cultivation.

Price Volatility and Low Productivity Add to the Struggle

The global coffee market has also played a major role. Coffee prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange have seesawed wildly. On December 1, 2023, the price closed at $117 per 100 pounds—down from $230 per 100 pounds just five years earlier. Such volatility makes long-term planning difficult for farmers.

Beyond land loss and market swings, Costa Rica’s coffee sector faces deeper challenges. The country’s coffee productivity is low, averaging just 24 fanegas per hectare today, down from an already modest 30 fanegas per hectare historically. Experts agree that modernizing farms and developing climate- and pest-resistant coffee varieties are essential to sustaining the industry.

Where Coffee Farming Persists in Costa Rica

Although metropolitan zones have lost coffee farms, some regions remain strongholds. Key coffee-growing areas now include Perez Zeledon, Coto Brus, and Naranjo. These regions continue to produce coffee, though they face the same pressures of rising land values and global price shifts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much has Costa Rica’s coffee farming area decreased in 30 years?

Costa Rica’s coffee farming area has decreased by 6.4% over the past 30 years, dropping from 89,881 hectares in 1984 to 84,133 hectares in 2015.

Why are coffee farms being replaced in Costa Rica?

Coffee farms are being replaced primarily by real estate development, especially near metropolitan areas, and by other more profitable crops like pineapple, banana, and sugar cane.

Has the number of coffee farms in Costa Rica also declined?

Yes, the number of individual coffee farms has dropped by 23%, from 34,464 to 26,527 between the late 20th century and 2014, according to national census data.

What is affecting coffee prices in Costa Rica?

Global coffee price volatility, such as the drop from $230 to $117 per 100 pounds on the New York Mercantile Exchange in just five years, has made coffee farming less profitable.

What regions in Costa Rica still grow coffee?

Coffee farming remains active in regions like Perez Zeledon, Coto Brus, and Naranjo, which are outside the main metropolitan zones.

Why is productivity low in Costa Rican coffee farming?

Productivity is low, averaging just 24 fanegas per hectare, due to outdated farming methods and the need for more climate-resilient coffee varieties and modernized farm practices.

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