Santa Bárbara is the number 4 canton of the province of Heredia, Costa Rica. The canton is part of the Greater Metropolitan Area. Its head is the city of Santa Bárbara, located 8 km west of Heredia. According to the 2011 National Census, the population of the canton was 36,243 inhabitants, of which 6.8% were born abroad. The same census highlights that there were 10,107 occupied homes, of which 76.4% were in good condition and there were problems of overcrowding in 2.9% of the houses.87.8% of its inhabitants lived in urban areas. Among other data, the literacy level of the canton is 98.5%, with an average schooling of 8.8 years.
The 2011 National Census details that the economically active population is distributed as follows: Primary Sector: 5.9%. Secondary Sector: 24.5%. Tertiary Sector: 69.6% The main agricultural activities are the crops of vegetables, coffee and sugarcane and livestock. To the north of the region, the Central Volcanic Mountain Forest Reserve is located. As well as a zone of mineralization of volcanic sulfur.