In 2024, the share of population living on less than 3.20 U.S. dollars per day in Costa Rica amounted to 2.6 percent. Between 1981 and 2024, the figure dropped by 43.8 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Historical dataset showing Costa Rica poverty rate by year from 1981 to 2024.

Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) in Costa Rica was reported at 20.3 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Costa Rica - Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line (% of population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

1,30 (%) in 2024. Population below $1.9 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $1.9 a day at 2005 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.

Costa Rica CR: Multidimensional Poverty Index: scale 0-1 data was reported at 0.037 NA in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.043 NA for 2021. Costa Rica CR: Multidimensional Poverty Index: scale 0-1 data is updated yearly, averaging 0.056 NA from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2022, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.073 NA in 2010 and a record low of 0.037 NA in 2022. Costa Rica CR: Multidimensional Poverty Index: scale 0-1 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. ;Government statistical agencies. Data for EU countires are from the EUROSTAT;;

Number of poor at $1.9 a day of Costa Rica remained stable at 0.1 million persons over the last 10 years. Number of people, in millions, living on less than $1.90 a day at 2011 PPP is calculated by multiplying the poverty rate and the population. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.

Costa Rica CR: Poverty Gap at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data was reported at 5.600 % in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.300 % for 2019. Costa Rica CR: Poverty Gap at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data is updated yearly, averaging 8.950 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2020, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 35.200 % in 1981 and a record low of 3.100 % in 2017. Costa Rica CR: Poverty Gap at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. Poverty gap at $5.50 a day (2011 PPP) is the mean shortfall in income or consumption from the poverty line $5.50 a day (counting the nonpoor as having zero shortfall), expressed as a percentage of the poverty line. This measure reflects the depth of poverty as well as its incidence.; ; World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from around 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

As of July 2024, in Costa Rica, the poverty rate among the population has been higher in the regions of Brunca and the Caribbean Huetar, with around 30 percent of the people in each region experiencing poverty.

Costa Rica CR: Poverty Gap at $1.90 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data was reported at 0.900 % in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.400 % for 2019. Costa Rica CR: Poverty Gap at $1.90 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data is updated yearly, averaging 1.900 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2020, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.000 % in 1981 and a record low of 0.400 % in 2019. Costa Rica CR: Poverty Gap at $1.90 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. Poverty gap at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) is the mean shortfall in income or consumption from the poverty line $1.90 a day (counting the nonpoor as having zero shortfall), expressed as a percentage of the poverty line. This measure reflects the depth of poverty as well as its incidence. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.; ; World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from around 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

Out of all OECD countries, Cost Rica had the highest poverty rate as of 2022, at over 20 percent. The country with the second highest poverty rate was the United States, with 18 percent. On the other end of the scale, Czechia had the lowest poverty rate at 6.4 percent, followed by Denmark.

The significance of the OECD

The OECD, or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, was founded in 1948 and is made up of 38 member countries. It seeks to improve the economic and social well-being of countries and their populations. The OECD looks at issues that impact people’s everyday lives and proposes policies that can help to improve the quality of life.

Poverty in the United States

In 2022, there were nearly 38 million people living below the poverty line in the U.S.. About one fourth of the Native American population lived in poverty in 2022, the most out of any ethnicity. In addition, the rate was higher among young women than young men. It is clear that poverty in the United States is a complex, multi-faceted issue that affects millions of people and is even more complex to solve.

3.2 (%) in 2019. Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $3.20 a day at 2011 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.

The global Multidimensional Poverty Index provides the only comprehensive measure available for non-income poverty, which has become a critical underpinning of the SDGs. The global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) measures multidimensional poverty in over 100 developing countries, using internationally comparable datasets and is updated annually. The measure captures the acute deprivations that each person faces at the same time using information from 10 indicators, which are grouped into three equally weighted dimensions: health, education, and living standards. Critically, the MPI comprises variables that are already reported under the Demographic Health Surveys (DHS), the Multi-Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) and in some cases, national surveys.

The subnational multidimensional poverty data from the data tables are published by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), University of Oxford. For the details of the global MPI methodology, please see the latest Methodological Notes found here.

Costa Rica CR: Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: Household: % of total households data was reported at 16.604 % in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 19.123 % for 2018. Costa Rica CR: Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: Household: % of total households data is updated yearly, averaging 21.256 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2019, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 25.875 % in 2010 and a record low of 16.604 % in 2019. Costa Rica CR: Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: Household: % of total households data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. ;Government statistical agencies. Data for EU countires are from the EUROSTAT;;

Among the OECD countries, Costa Rica had the highest share of children living in poverty, reaching **** percent in 2022. Türkiye followed with a share of ***percent of children living in poverty, while **** percent of children in Spain, Chile, and the United States did the same. On the other hand, only ***** percent of children in Finland were living in poverty.

1.30 (%) in 2024. Population below $1.9 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $1.9 a day at 2005 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.

Costa Rica CR: Proportion of Population Pushed Below the 50% Median Consumption Poverty Line By Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: % data was reported at 0.972 % in 2012. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.568 % for 2004. Costa Rica CR: Proportion of Population Pushed Below the 50% Median Consumption Poverty Line By Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: % data is updated yearly, averaging 0.568 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2012, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.972 % in 2012 and a record low of 0.469 % in 1992. Costa Rica CR: Proportion of Population Pushed Below the 50% Median Consumption Poverty Line By Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. Proportion of population pushed below the 50% median consumption poverty line by out-of-pocket health care expenditure, expressed as a percentage of a total population of a country; ; Wagstaff et al. Progress on Impoverishing Health Spending: Results for 122 Countries. A Retrospective Observational Study, Lancet Global Health 2017; Weighted Average;

Costa Rica CR: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Bottom 40% of Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data was reported at 0.950 % in 2023. Costa Rica CR: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Bottom 40% of Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 0.950 % from Dec 2023 (Median) to 2023, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.950 % in 2023 and a record low of 0.950 % in 2023. Costa Rica CR: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Bottom 40% of Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The growth rate in the welfare aggregate of the bottom 40% is computed as the annualized average growth rate in per capita real consumption or income of the bottom 40% of the population in the income distribution in a country from household surveys over a roughly 5-year period. Mean per capita real consumption or income is measured at 2017 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) using the Poverty and Inequality Platform (http://www.pip.worldbank.org). For some countries means are not reported due to grouped and/or confidential data. The annualized growth rate is computed as (Mean in final year/Mean in initial year)^(1/(Final year - Initial year)) - 1. The reference year is the year in which the underlying household survey data was collected. In cases for which the data collection period bridged two calendar years, the first year in which data were collected is reported. The initial year refers to the nearest survey collected 5 years before the most recent survey available, only surveys collected between 3 and 7 years before the most recent survey are considered. The coverage and quality of the 2017 PPP price data for Iraq and most other North African and Middle Eastern countries were hindered by the exceptional period of instability they faced at the time of the 2017 exercise of the International Comparison Program. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform for detailed explanations.;World Bank, Global Database of Shared Prosperity (GDSP) (http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/brief/global-database-of-shared-prosperity).;;The comparability of welfare aggregates (consumption or income) for the chosen years T0 and T1 is assessed for every country. If comparability across the two surveys is a major concern for a country, the selection criteria are re-applied to select the next best survey year(s). Annualized growth rates are calculated between the survey years, using a compound growth formula. The survey years defining the period for which growth rates are calculated and the type of welfare aggregate used to calculate the growth rates are noted in the footnotes.

Abstract

The World Bank Group is interested in gauging the views of clients and partners who are either involved in development in Costa Rica or who observe activities related to social and economic development. The following survey will give the World Bank Group's team that works in Costa Rica, greater insight into how the Bank's work is perceived. This is one tool the World Bank Group uses to assess the views of its stakeholders, and to develop more effective strategies that support development in Costa Rica. A local independent firm was hired to oversee the logistics of this survey.

This survey was designed to achieve the following objectives: - Assist the World Bank Group in gaining a better understanding of how stakeholders in Costa Rica perceive the Bank Group; - Obtain systematic feedback from stakeholders in Costa Rica regarding: · Their views regarding the general environment in Costa Rica; · Their overall attitudes toward the World Bank Group in Costa Rica; · Overall impressions of the World Bank Group's effectiveness and results, knowledge work and activities, and communication and information sharing in Costa Rica; · Perceptions of the World Bank Group's future role in Costa Rica. - Use data to help inform Costa Rica country team's strategy.

Geographic coverage

Greater Metropolitan Area North South

Analysis unit

Stakeholder

Universe

Stakeholders of the World Bank Group in Costa Rica

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

In April - June 2014, 310 stakeholders of the World Bank Group in Costa Rica were invited to provide their opinions on the WBG's work in the country by participating in a country opinion survey. Participants were drawn from the office of the President; office of a minister; office of a parliamentarian; ministries, ministerial departments, or implementation agencies; consultants/contractors working on WBG-supported projects/programs; project management units (PMUs) overseeing implementation of a project; local government officials; bilateral and multilateral agencies; private sector organizations; private foundations; the financial sector/private banks; NGOs; community based organizations; the media; independent government institutions; trade unions; faith-based groups; academia/research institutes/think tanks; the judiciary branch; and other organizations.

Mode of data collection

Other [oth]

Research instrument

The Questionnaire consists of 8 sections:

A. General Issues Facing Costa Rica: Respondents were asked to indicate whether Costa Rica is headed in the right direction, what they thought were the top three most important development priorities in the country, which areas would contribute most to reducing poverty and generating economic growth in Costa Rica, and how "shared prosperity" would be best achieved.

B. Overall Attitudes toward the World Bank Group (WBG): Respondents were asked to rate their familiarity with the WBG and other regional development banks, their effectiveness in Costa Rica, WBG staff preparedness to help Costa Rica solve its development challenges, WBG's local presence, WBG's capacity building in Costa Rica, their agreement with various statements regarding the WBG's work, and the extent to which the WBG is an effective development partner. Respondents were asked to indicate the WBG's greatest values and weaknesses, the most effective instruments in helping reduce poverty in Costa Rica, in which sectoral areas the WBG should focus most of its resources (financial and knowledge services), and to what reasons respondents attributed failed or slow reform efforts. Respondents were also asked to respond to a few questions about capacity building and whether they believe the World Bank Group should have more or less local presence.

C. World Bank Group's Effectiveness and Results: Respondents were asked to rate the extent to which the WBG's work helps achieve development results in Costa Rica, the extent to which the WBG meets Costa Rica's needs for knowledge services and financial instruments, the importance for the WBG to be involved in twenty nine development areas, and the WBG's level of effectiveness across twenty one of these areas, such as transport, economic growth, public sector governance/reform, poverty reduction, and trade and exports.

D. The World Bank Group's Knowledge Work and Activities: Respondents were asked to indicate how frequently they consult WBG's knowledge work and activities and to rate the effectiveness and quality of the WBG's knowledge work and activities, including how significant of a contribution it makes to development results and its technical quality. Respondents were also asked about the WBG reports, including which of them are the most useful, whether they raised substantive new information, and whether they provided them with useful information in terms of work they do.

E. Working with the World Bank Group: Respondents were asked to rate WBG's technical assistance/advisory work's contribution to solving development challenges and their level of agreement with a series of statements regarding working with the WBG, such as the WBG's "Safeguard Policy" requirements being reasonable, the WBG's speed in disbursing funds, and whether the WBG is risk-averse.

F. The Future Role of the World Bank Group in Costa Rica: Respondents were asked to indicate what the WBG should do to make itself of greater value in Costa Rica, and which services the Bank should offer more of in the country. They were asked whether WBG has moved to the right direction, and the future role international development cooperation should play in Costa Rica.

G. Communication and Information Sharing: Respondents were asked to indicate how they get information about economic and social development issues, how they prefer to receive information from the WBG, and their usage and evaluation of the WBG's websites. Respondents were also asked about their awareness of the WBG's Access to Information policy, were asked to rate WBG's responsiveness to information requests, value of its social media channels, and levels of easiness to find information they needed.

H. Background Information: Respondents were asked to indicate their current position, specialization, whether they professionally collaborate with the WBG, their exposure to the WBG in Costa Rica, which WBG agencies they work with, whether IFC and the Bank work well together, and their geographic location.

Questionnaires were in English and Spanish.

Response rate

A total of 127 stakeholders participated in the survey (41% response rate).

Costa Rica CR: Proportion of People Living Below 50 Percent Of Median Income: % data was reported at 18.700 % in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 19.600 % for 2021. Costa Rica CR: Proportion of People Living Below 50 Percent Of Median Income: % data is updated yearly, averaging 20.000 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2022, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 25.000 % in 1981 and a record low of 18.300 % in 2010. Costa Rica CR: Proportion of People Living Below 50 Percent Of Median Income: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The percentage of people in the population who live in households whose per capita income or consumption is below half of the median income or consumption per capita. The median is measured at 2017 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) using the Poverty and Inequality Platform (http://www.pip.worldbank.org). For some countries, medians are not reported due to grouped and/or confidential data. The reference year is the year in which the underlying household survey data was collected. In cases for which the data collection period bridged two calendar years, the first year in which data were collected is reported.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

Costa Rica CR: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Total Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data was reported at -1.400 % in 2022. Costa Rica CR: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Total Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data is updated yearly, averaging -1.400 % from Dec 2022 (Median) to 2022, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of -1.400 % in 2022 and a record low of -1.400 % in 2022. Costa Rica CR: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Total Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The growth rate in the welfare aggregate of the total population is computed as the annualized average growth rate in per capita real consumption or income of the total population in the income distribution in a country from household surveys over a roughly 5-year period. Mean per capita real consumption or income is measured at 2017 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) using the Poverty and Inequality Platform (http://www.pip.worldbank.org). For some countries means are not reported due to grouped and/or confidential data. The annualized growth rate is computed as (Mean in final year/Mean in initial year)^(1/(Final year - Initial year)) - 1. The reference year is the year in which the underlying household survey data was collected. In cases for which the data collection period bridged two calendar years, the first year in which data were collected is reported. The initial year refers to the nearest survey collected 5 years before the most recent survey available, only surveys collected between 3 and 7 years before the most recent survey are considered. The coverage and quality of the 2017 PPP price data for Iraq and most other North African and Middle Eastern countries were hindered by the exceptional period of instability they faced at the time of the 2017 exercise of the International Comparison Program. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform for detailed explanations.;World Bank, Global Database of Shared Prosperity (GDSP) (http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/brief/global-database-of-shared-prosperity).;;The comparability of welfare aggregates (consumption or income) for the chosen years T0 and T1 is assessed for every country. If comparability across the two surveys is a major concern for a country, the selection criteria are re-applied to select the next best survey year(s). Annualized growth rates are calculated between the survey years, using a compound growth formula. The survey years defining the period for which growth rates are calculated and the type of welfare aggregate used to calculate the growth rates are noted in the footnotes.