Share of births attended by skilled health staff in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Share of births attended by skilled health staff was 99.0% in 2019. ▬ Flat
Share of births attended by skilled health staff in Costa Rica, 1986–2019
Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of total.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of births attended by skilled health staff in Costa Rica is 99.0%, measured in 2019.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of births attended by skilled health staff in Costa Rica peaked at 99.2% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 90.0%, in 2015.
Costa Rica ranks 69th of 169 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of births attended by skilled health staff in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % of total | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 97.0% | — |
| 1992 | 98.0% | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 97.0% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 98.0% | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 98.2% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 96.6% | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 98.0% | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 98.5% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 98.2% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 98.5% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 98.5% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 98.6% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 98.7% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 99.1% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 99.1% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 95.3% | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 98.4% | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 98.9% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 99.0% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 99.2% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 90.0% | -9.3% |
| 2016 | 98.8% | +9.8% |
| 2017 | 98.7% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 98.5% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 99.0% | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 97.0% | 97.0% | 97.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 97.8% | 97.0% | 98.2% | 4 |
| 2000s | 98.4% | 96.6% | 99.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 97.6% | 90.0% | 99.2% | 10 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 67 Thailand 99.1% compare
- 67 United States of America 99.1% compare
- 69 Antigua and Barbuda 99.0% compare
- 69 Bahamas 99.0% compare
- 69 Iran, Islamic Republic of 99.0% compare
- 69 Uzbekistan 99.0% compare
More health data for Costa Rica
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.78 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4617 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,632 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 35 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 2.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0374 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 2.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0338 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of births attended by skilled health staff in Costa Rica?
- Share of births attended by skilled health staff in Costa Rica was 99.0% in 2019, according to Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of births attended by skilled health staff recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 99.2% in 2014.
- What is the lowest share of births attended by skilled health staff recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 90.0% in 2015.
- How does Costa Rica rank for share of births attended by skilled health staff?
- Costa Rica ranks 69th out of 169 countries with data for 2019.
- Is share of births attended by skilled health staff rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of births attended by skilled health staff. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Skilled health staff refers to professionals trained to give the necessary supervision, care, and advice to women during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period; to conduct deliveries on their own; and to care for newborns.