People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities was 15,709 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Costa Rica, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Costa Rica is 15,709 people, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 15.5% on the previous year and down 70.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Costa Rica peaked at 136,037 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 15,709 people, in 2024.
That places Costa Rica 110th out of 175 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 136,037 people | — |
| 2001 | 129,528 people | -4.8% |
| 2002 | 122,920 people | -5.1% |
| 2003 | 116,278 people | -5.4% |
| 2004 | 109,695 people | -5.7% |
| 2005 | 103,246 people | -5.9% |
| 2006 | 96,910 people | -6.1% |
| 2007 | 90,707 people | -6.4% |
| 2008 | 84,685 people | -6.6% |
| 2009 | 78,850 people | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 73,134 people | -7.2% |
| 2011 | 67,586 people | -7.6% |
| 2012 | 62,312 people | -7.8% |
| 2013 | 57,278 people | -8.1% |
| 2014 | 52,489 people | -8.4% |
| 2015 | 47,945 people | -8.7% |
| 2016 | 43,617 people | -9.0% |
| 2017 | 39,495 people | -9.5% |
| 2018 | 35,579 people | -9.9% |
| 2019 | 31,854 people | -10.5% |
| 2020 | 28,287 people | -11.2% |
| 2021 | 24,873 people | -12.1% |
| 2022 | 21,634 people | -13.0% |
| 2023 | 18,587 people | -14.1% |
| 2024 | 15,709 people | -15.5% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 15,709 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.56 people, 1642.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 15,709 people is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 33,929 people, 46% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 106,886 people | 78,850 people | 136,037 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 51,129 people | 31,854 people | 73,134 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 21,818 people | 15,709 people | 28,287 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More reference data data for Costa Rica
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2987 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.406 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0167 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.3161 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0907 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Costa Rica?
- People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Costa Rica was 15,709 people in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 136,037 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 15,709 people in 2024.
- How does Costa Rica rank for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Costa Rica ranks 110th out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 70.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
If no improved sanitation facility is available, people might practice open defecation or use unimproved sanitation facilities.