Prison population rate in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Prison population rate was 345 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
345 prisoners per 100,000 people
World rank
21st
of 202 countries
All-time high
395 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2018
All-time low
193 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2000
Years of data
11
2000–2023
Prison population rate in Costa Rica, 2000–2023
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in prisoners per 100,000 people.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 345 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Costa Rica peaked at 395 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018 and was at its lowest, 193 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.
Costa Rica ranks 21st of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 193 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 198 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 209 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 206 prisoners per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 214 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 259 prisoners per 100,000 people | +21.0% |
| 2012 | 325 prisoners per 100,000 people | +25.5% |
| 2014 | 370 prisoners per 100,000 people | +13.8% |
| 2016 | 365 prisoners per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 395 prisoners per 100,000 people | +8.2% |
| 2023 | 345 prisoners per 100,000 people | -12.7% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 345 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 2.0× the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 345 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 280 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.2× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 204 prisoners per 100,000 people | 193 prisoners per 100,000 people | 214 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 342.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 259 prisoners per 100,000 people | 395 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 345 prisoners per 100,000 people | 345 prisoners per 100,000 people | 345 prisoners per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 18 Palau 367 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 19 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 361 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 20 Dominica 356 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 21 Belarus 345 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 21 Nauru 345 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 24 Bahamas 336 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Costa Rica
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.9965 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.2884 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.9965 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6681 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,703 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5224 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7399 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -1.0% (2100)
- Population density 73.96 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 123,827 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Costa Rica?
- Prison population rate in Costa Rica was 345 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023, according to Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest prison population rate recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 395 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 193 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does Costa Rica rank for prison population rate?
- Costa Rica ranks 21st out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Prison population rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.