Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Total population living in extreme poverty by world region was 38,887 people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Costa Rica, 1981–2025
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2025, total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Costa Rica stood at 38,887 people. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 40.9% on the previous year and down 66.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Costa Rica peaked at 823,440 people in 1981 and was at its lowest, 38,887 people, in 2025.
That places Costa Rica 84th out of 120 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 823,440 people | — |
| 1986 | 542,709 people | -34.1% |
| 1989 | 438,267 people | -19.2% |
| 1990 | 433,388 people | -1.1% |
| 1991 | 548,888 people | +26.7% |
| 1992 | 453,268 people | -17.4% |
| 1993 | 397,313 people | -12.3% |
| 1994 | 324,067 people | -18.4% |
| 1995 | 374,666 people | +15.6% |
| 1996 | 425,204 people | +13.5% |
| 1997 | 335,723 people | -21.0% |
| 1998 | 282,767 people | -15.8% |
| 1999 | 358,677 people | +26.8% |
| 2000 | 384,983 people | +7.3% |
| 2001 | 304,815 people | -20.8% |
| 2002 | 267,611 people | -12.2% |
| 2003 | 284,468 people | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 276,874 people | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 214,871 people | -22.4% |
| 2006 | 222,993 people | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 137,583 people | -38.3% |
| 2008 | 149,807 people | +8.9% |
| 2009 | 162,390 people | +8.4% |
| 2010 | 100,640 people | -38.0% |
| 2011 | 125,565 people | +24.8% |
| 2012 | 119,527 people | -4.8% |
| 2013 | 124,605 people | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 113,798 people | -8.7% |
| 2015 | 117,567 people | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 116,949 people | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 85,926 people | -26.5% |
| 2018 | 115,057 people | +33.9% |
| 2019 | 86,484 people | -24.8% |
| 2020 | 168,739 people | +95.1% |
| 2021 | 109,277 people | -35.2% |
| 2022 | 81,245 people | -25.7% |
| 2023 | 78,602 people | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 65,853 people | -16.2% |
| 2025 | 38,887 people | -40.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 601,472 people | 438,267 people | 823,440 people | 3 |
| 1990s | 393,396 people | 282,767 people | 548,888 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 240,640 people | 137,583 people | 384,983 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 110,612 people | 85,926 people | 125,565 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 90,434 people | 38,887 people | 168,739 people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
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 total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Costa Rica?
- Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Costa Rica was 38,887 people in 2025, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 823,440 people in 1981.
- What is the lowest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 38,887 people in 2025.
- How does Costa Rica rank for total population living in extreme poverty by world region?
- Costa Rica ranks 84th out of 120 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population living in extreme poverty by world region rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 66.9%. 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 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Total population living in extreme poverty by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.