Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population was 2.3 % in 2023. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population in Costa Rica, 2014–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population in Costa Rica stood at 2.3 %.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 14.8% on the previous year and up 27.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population in Costa Rica peaked at 2.9 % in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.8 %, in 2014.
Costa Rica ranks 80th of 112 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1.8 % | — |
| 2015 | 1.9 % | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 2.2 % | +15.8% |
| 2017 | 2.4 % | +9.1% |
| 2018 | 2.6 % | +8.3% |
| 2019 | 2.8 % | +7.7% |
| 2020 | 2.9 % | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 2.8 % | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 2.7 % | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 2.3 % | -14.8% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 2.3 % is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.9 %, 1.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 2.3 % is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 6.1 %, 38% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 2.28 % | 1.8 % | 2.8 % | 6 |
| 2020s | 2.67 % | 2.3 % | 2.9 % | 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 severe food insecurity in the total population in Costa Rica?
- Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population in Costa Rica was 2.3 % in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 2.9 % in 2020.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8 % in 2014.
- How does Costa Rica rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population?
- Costa Rica ranks 80th out of 112 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the total population rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.8%. 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 severe food insecurity in the total population (percent) (3-year average) — Value. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.