Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 2.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Costa Rica, 2015–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Costa Rica stood at 2.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and up 50.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Costa Rica peaked at 2.9% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 2015.
Costa Rica ranks 80th of 125 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1.8% | — |
| 2016 | 1.9% | +5.6% |
| 2017 | 2.2% | +15.8% |
| 2018 | 2.4% | +9.1% |
| 2019 | 2.6% | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 2.8% | +7.7% |
| 2021 | 2.9% | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 2.8% | -3.4% |
| 2023 | 2.7% | -3.6% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 2.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.9%, 1.4× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 2.7% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 11.9%, 23% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 2.2% | 1.8% | 2.6% | 5 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Costa Rica?
- Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Costa Rica was 2.7% in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 2.9% in 2021.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 2015.
- How does Costa Rica rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
- Costa Rica ranks 80th out of 125 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.0%. 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 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 severely food insecure. A household is classified as severely food insecure when at least one adult in the household has reported to have been exposed, at times during the year, to several of the most severe experiences described in the FIES questions, such as to have been forced to reduce the quantity of the food, to have skipped meals, having gone hungry, or having to go for a whole day without eating because of a lack of money or other resources.