Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) in Costa Rica

Costa Rica: Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) was 2.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
2.6%
Change on year
down 23.5%
World rank
65th
of 120 countries
All-time high
46.4%
in 1981
All-time low
2.6%
in 2024
Years of data
38
1981–2024

Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) in Costa Rica, 1981–2024

010203040501981200220241981: 46.4 % of population1986: 30.6 % of population1989: 23.4 % of population1990: 22.1 % of population1991: 26 % of population1992: 22.6 % of population1993: 18.4 % of population1994: 15.8 % of population1995: 16.5 % of population1996: 18.6 % of population1997: 16.1 % of population1998: 12.8 % of population1999: 15.5 % of population2000: 15.8 % of population2001: 12.5 % of population2002: 11.4 % of population2003: 11.4 % of population2004: 10.6 % of population2005: 9.2 % of population2006: 9.1 % of population2007: 6.6 % of population2008: 6.4 % of population2009: 6.6 % of population2010: 4.5 % of population2011: 5.2 % of population2012: 4.7 % of population2013: 4.7 % of population2014: 4.7 % of population2015: 4.7 % of population2016: 4.4 % of population2017: 3.6 % of population2018: 4.3 % of population2019: 3.8 % of population2020: 6.4 % of population2021: 4.1 % of population2022: 4 % of population2023: 3.4 % of population2024: 2.6 % of population

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of population.

Analysis

In 2024, poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (ppp) in Costa Rica stood at 2.6%. That is the lowest value across all 38 years on record.

That represents a change of down 23.5% on the previous year and down 44.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (ppp) in Costa Rica peaked at 46.4% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 2024.

Costa Rica ranks 65th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) in Costa Rica, year by year

Annual values for Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) (% of population) in Costa Rica, 1981 to 2024.
Year % of population Change
1981 46.4%
1986 30.6% -34.1%
1989 23.4% -23.5%
1990 22.1% -5.6%
1991 26.0% +17.6%
1992 22.6% -13.1%
1993 18.4% -18.6%
1994 15.8% -14.1%
1995 16.5% +4.4%
1996 18.6% +12.7%
1997 16.1% -13.4%
1998 12.8% -20.5%
1999 15.5% +21.1%
2000 15.8% +1.9%
2001 12.5% -20.9%
2002 11.4% -8.8%
2003 11.4% +0.0%
2004 10.6% -7.0%
2005 9.2% -13.2%
2006 9.1% -1.1%
2007 6.6% -27.5%
2008 6.4% -3.0%
2009 6.6% +3.1%
2010 4.5% -31.8%
2011 5.2% +15.6%
2012 4.7% -9.6%
2013 4.7% +0.0%
2014 4.7% +0.0%
2015 4.7% +0.0%
2016 4.4% -6.4%
2017 3.6% -18.2%
2018 4.3% +19.4%
2019 3.8% -11.6%
2020 6.4% +68.4%
2021 4.1% -35.9%
2022 4.0% -2.4%
2023 3.4% -15.0%
2024 2.6% -23.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 33.5% 23.4% 46.4% 3
1990s 18.4% 12.8% 26.0% 10
2000s 10.0% 6.4% 15.8% 10
2010s 4.5% 3.6% 5.2% 10
2020s 4.1% 2.6% 6.4% 5

Countries ranked near Costa Rica

  1. 63 Serbia 3.2% compare
  2. 64 Argentina 2.8% compare
  3. 66 Tunisia 2.4% compare
  4. 67 Mongolia 2.3% compare
  5. 68 Albania 2.1% compare

See the full ranking of 120 places →

More population data for Costa Rica

All data for Costa Rica →

Frequently asked questions

What is poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (ppp) in Costa Rica?
Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (ppp) in Costa Rica was 2.6% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (ppp) recorded in Costa Rica?
The highest recorded value was 46.4% in 1981.
What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (ppp) recorded in Costa Rica?
The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 2024.
How does Costa Rica rank for poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (ppp)?
Costa Rica ranks 65th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
Is poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (ppp) rising or falling in Costa Rica?
Over the last ten years it is down 44.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) in Costa Rica. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/poverty-headcount-ratio-at-3-20-a-day-ppp-percent-of-population/costa-rica/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) (% of population)
Unit
% of population
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
120 places, 2,250 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release