Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population (%) was 13.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Costa Rica, 2015–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Costa Rica is 13.9%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 9.7% on the previous year and up 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Costa Rica peaked at 16.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 12.2%, in 2015.
That places Costa Rica 80th out of 130 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population (%) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 12.2% | — |
| 2016 | 12.9% | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 13.7% | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 14.5% | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 15.3% | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 15.9% | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 16.2% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 16.2% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 15.4% | -4.9% |
| 2024 | 13.9% | -9.7% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 13.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.9%, 1.6× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 13.9% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 29.6%, 47% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 13.7% | 12.2% | 15.3% | 5 |
| 2020s | 15.5% | 13.9% | 16.2% | 5 |
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 35 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -3.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0248 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -3.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0259 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Costa Rica?
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Costa Rica was 13.9% in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 16.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.2% in 2015.
- How does Costa Rica rank for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population?
- Costa Rica ranks 80th out of 130 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of people in the population who live in households classified as moderately or severely food insecure. A household is classified as moderately or severely food insecure when at least one adult in the household has reported to have been exposed, at times during the year, to low quality diets and might have been forced to also reduce the quantity of food they would normally eat because of a lack of money or other resources.