Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices was 2.8% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in Costa Rica, 1981–2023
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in Costa Rica stood at 2.8%. That is the lowest value across all 37 years on record.
The figure is down 9.1% on the previous year and down 30.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in Costa Rica peaked at 43.1% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 2023.
Costa Rica ranks 61st of 119 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 43.1% | — |
| 1986 | 27.4% | -36.5% |
| 1989 | 20.4% | -25.3% |
| 1990 | 19.7% | -3.5% |
| 1991 | 23.7% | +20.3% |
| 1992 | 20.5% | -13.6% |
| 1993 | 16.4% | -20.0% |
| 1994 | 13.9% | -15.1% |
| 1995 | 14.5% | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 17.0% | +17.1% |
| 1997 | 14.1% | -17.1% |
| 1998 | 11.4% | -19.0% |
| 1999 | 13.4% | +16.8% |
| 2000 | 13.9% | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 10.9% | -21.6% |
| 2002 | 9.9% | -9.0% |
| 2003 | 9.9% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 9.4% | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 8.0% | -14.3% |
| 2006 | 7.9% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 5.4% | -32.0% |
| 2008 | 5.4% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 5.7% | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 3.9% | -32.1% |
| 2011 | 4.3% | +11.0% |
| 2012 | 4.1% | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 4.0% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 4.0% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 4.1% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 3.8% | -7.1% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | -25.6% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | +29.9% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | -11.1% |
| 2020 | 5.7% | +75.8% |
| 2021 | 3.4% | -39.8% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | -10.2% |
| 2023 | 2.8% | -9.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 30.3% | 20.4% | 43.1% | 3 |
| 1990s | 16.5% | 11.4% | 23.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.6% | 5.4% | 13.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 2.8% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.8% | 2.8% | 5.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 58 Palestine, State of 4.5% compare
- 59 Montenegro 3.7% compare
- 60 Jamaica 3.1% compare
- 62 Tunisia 2.7% compare
- 63 Uzbekistan 2.7% compare
- 64 Dominican Republic 2.6% compare
More poverty & inequality data for Costa Rica
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 10 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.33 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,807 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -14.41 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 24.93 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 24.9% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in Costa Rica?
- Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in Costa Rica was 2.8% in 2023, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 43.1% in 1981.
- What is the lowest share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 2023.
- How does Costa Rica rank for share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices?
- Costa Rica ranks 61st out of 119 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $3.20 per day.