Prison population rate in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Prison population rate was 345 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023. ▲ Rising
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.
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 growth rate, by level of development -1.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 123,827 people (2100)
- Population density 73.96 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.0% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.32 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 31,632 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.32 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.32 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.5% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.33 live births per woman (2023)
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.