Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total was 13.9 % in 2023. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Costa Rica, 2014–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Costa Rica is 13.9 %, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 9.7% on the previous year and up 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Costa Rica peaked at 16.2 % in 2020 and was at its lowest, 12.2 %, in 2014.
Costa Rica ranks 73rd of 121 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 12.2 % | — |
| 2015 | 12.9 % | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 13.7 % | +6.2% |
| 2017 | 14.5 % | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 15.3 % | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 15.9 % | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 16.2 % | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 16.2 % | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 15.4 % | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 13.9 % | -9.7% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 13.9 % is above the median for high income countries, which is 9 %, 1.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 13.9 % is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 29.55 %, 47% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 14.08 % | 12.2 % | 15.9 % | 6 |
| 2020s | 15.43 % | 13.9 % | 16.2 % | 4 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More agriculture & rural data for Costa Rica
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0337 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 672.15 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2027 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 3.4% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 3.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.1% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Costa Rica?
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total in Costa Rica was 13.9 % in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 16.2 % in 2020.
- What is the lowest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.2 % in 2014.
- How does Costa Rica rank for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total?
- Costa Rica ranks 73rd out of 121 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.9%. 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, published as part of Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the total population (percent) (3-year average) — Value. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The Suite of Food Security Indicators presents the core set of food security indicators. Following the recommendation of experts gathered in the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) Round Table on hunger measurement, hosted at FAO headquarters in September 2011, an initial set of indicators aiming to capture various aspects of food insecurity is presented here. The choice of the indicators has been informed by expert judgement and the availability of data with sufficient coverage to enable comparisons across regions and over time. Many of these indicators are produced and published elsewhere by FAO and other international organizations. They are reported here in a single database with the aim of building a wide food security information system. More indicators will be added to this set as more data will become available. Indicators are classified along the four dimensions of food security -- availability, access, utilization and stability.