Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished was 2.7 percent in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Costa Rica, 2015–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in percent.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 2.7 percent for share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and up 50.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Costa Rica peaked at 2.9 percent in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.8 percent, in 2015.
That places Costa Rica 80th out of 125 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | percent | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1.8 percent | — |
| 2016 | 1.9 percent | +5.6% |
| 2017 | 2.2 percent | +15.8% |
| 2018 | 2.4 percent | +9.1% |
| 2019 | 2.6 percent | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 2.8 percent | +7.7% |
| 2021 | 2.9 percent | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 2.8 percent | -3.4% |
| 2023 | 2.7 percent | -3.6% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 2.7 percent is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.95 percent, 1.4× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 2.7 percent is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 11.9 percent, 23% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 2.18 percent | 1.8 percent | 2.6 percent | 5 |
| 2020s | 2.8 percent | 2.7 percent | 2.9 percent | 4 |
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 share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Costa Rica?
- Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished in Costa Rica was 2.7 percent in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 2.9 percent in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8 percent in 2015.
- How does Costa Rica rank for share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished?
- Costa Rica ranks 80th out of 125 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished 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 (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population defined as severely food insecure vs. undernourished. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Both metrics indicate that someone does not get enough food (in terms of calories) to eat: these metrics should be strongly correlated. Severe food insecurity is measured based on food security questionnaires among households. Undernourishment is based on estimates of actual calorie intake across the population.