Child mortality rate in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Child mortality rate was 0.8% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.8%
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
159th
of 236 countries
All-time high
13.1%
in 1950
All-time low
0.8%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Costa Rica, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
In 2023, child mortality rate in Costa Rica stood at 0.8%. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Costa Rica peaked at 13.1% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2023.
That places Costa Rica 159th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality rate in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 13.1% | — |
| 1951 | 12.9% | -1.5% |
| 1952 | 12.8% | -1.3% |
| 1953 | 12.5% | -1.8% |
| 1954 | 12.3% | -2.1% |
| 1955 | 11.9% | -2.6% |
| 1956 | 11.5% | -3.4% |
| 1957 | 11.1% | -3.9% |
| 1958 | 10.6% | -4.1% |
| 1959 | 10.2% | -3.9% |
| 1960 | 9.9% | -3.5% |
| 1961 | 9.6% | -2.9% |
| 1962 | 9.4% | -2.2% |
| 1963 | 9.2% | -1.7% |
| 1964 | 9.0% | -1.8% |
| 1965 | 8.9% | -1.9% |
| 1966 | 8.7% | -2.4% |
| 1967 | 8.4% | -3.1% |
| 1968 | 8.1% | -3.4% |
| 1969 | 7.7% | -4.9% |
| 1970 | 7.3% | -5.4% |
| 1971 | 6.8% | -7.1% |
| 1972 | 6.2% | -8.0% |
| 1973 | 5.7% | -9.2% |
| 1974 | 5.1% | -10.7% |
| 1975 | 4.5% | -11.6% |
| 1976 | 3.9% | -12.0% |
| 1977 | 3.5% | -11.8% |
| 1978 | 3.1% | -10.9% |
| 1979 | 2.8% | -9.4% |
| 1980 | 2.6% | -7.5% |
| 1981 | 2.4% | -5.7% |
| 1982 | 2.3% | -4.0% |
| 1983 | 2.3% | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 2.2% | -2.8% |
| 1985 | 2.1% | -3.0% |
| 1986 | 2.1% | -3.5% |
| 1987 | 2.0% | -4.2% |
| 1988 | 1.9% | -3.8% |
| 1989 | 1.8% | -5.5% |
| 1990 | 1.7% | -4.5% |
| 1991 | 1.7% | -3.3% |
| 1992 | 1.6% | -4.0% |
| 1993 | 1.6% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 1.5% | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 1.5% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 1.4% | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 1.4% | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 1.3% | -3.4% |
| 2001 | 1.3% | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 1.2% | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 1.2% | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 1.2% | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 1.1% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 1.1% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 1.1% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 1.1% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 1.0% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 1.0% | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 0.9% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 0.9% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 0.9% | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 0.9% | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 0.8% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 0.8% | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 0.8% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 0.8% | -2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 11.9% | 10.2% | 13.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.9% | 7.7% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.9% | 2.8% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.2% | 1.8% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.2% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
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 0-14, female, annual growth rate -2.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.0896 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -2.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.0935 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Costa Rica?
- Child mortality rate in Costa Rica was 0.8% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 13.1% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2023.
- How does Costa Rica rank for child mortality rate?
- Costa Rica ranks 159th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of children who die before reaching the age of 5.