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Photo: Henry Zbyszynski from Capitola California, USA · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 14 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Costa Rica: Poverty & Inequality
How is a country’s income shared, and how many live below a line?
Costa Rica is placed 116th of 159 countries on poverty & inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 2 key statistics. Readings behind it: Gini Index 46.73 (2023); Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day 0.48 (2023).
Poverty & Inequality
116th
of 159 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 2 key statistics
01The evidence
The 2 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Costa Rica on poverty & inequality — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 2
Gini Index
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: How evenly income or consumption is shared across a whole population — the distance between rich and poor that an average income cannot show.
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Costa Rica’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
46.73
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)
Lower is better
Costa Rica: 46.73. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 23 (India) to 59.07 (Namibia); the world median is 33.72.
- World median
- 33.72
- Best in Central America
- 39.8 El Salvador
- Land neighbours
- Nicaragua 46.16 · Panama 48.88
Each grey tick is one of 159 countries at its latest reading, 2013–2023.
Key 2 of 2
Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: How far below the $3.00-a-day extreme poverty line people fall, averaged over the whole population — how many are poor and how poor they are, in one reading.
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Costa Rica’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
0.48
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)
Lower is better
Costa Rica: 0.48. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0 (Czechia) to 48.69 (DR Congo); the world median is 0.345.
- World median
- 0.345
- Best in Central America
- 0.21 Belize
- Land neighbours
- Nicaragua 1.81 · Panama 1.09
Each grey tick is one of 159 countries at its latest reading, 2013–2023.
02Over time
Which way Costa Rica is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Gini Index
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) · lower is better
Costa RicaWorld median
Costa Rica fell from 51.81 in 2002 to 46.73 in 2023; the world median went from 37.14 to 33.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Costa Rica World median 2023 46.73 33.72 2022 47.15 33.91 2021 48.68 34.04 2020 49.25 34.18 2019 48.19 33.51 2018 47.97 35.25 2017 48.35 34.86 2016 48.70 34.47 2015 48.37 35.52 2014 48.63 34.79 2013 49.15 36.16 2012 48.42 35.40 2011 48.76 33.96 2010 48.04 33.71 2009 50.55 34.91 2008 48.64 34.60 2007 49.31 34.26 2006 49.28 35.63 2005 47.51 36.28 2004 48.42 34.29 2003 49.30 35.46 2002 51.81 37.14 Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) · lower is better
Costa RicaWorld median
Costa Rica fell from 2.89 in 2002 to 0.48 in 2023; the world median went from 3.01 to 0.345.
Every year’s figures
Year Costa Rica World median 2023 0.48 0.345 2022 0.54 0.420 2021 0.68 0.335 2020 1.32 0.280 2019 0.61 0.380 2018 0.86 0.460 2017 0.60 0.300 2016 0.79 0.440 2015 0.92 0.500 2014 0.90 0.635 2013 0.92 0.515 2012 0.92 0.640 2011 0.98 0.430 2010 0.91 0.530 2009 1.50 0.600 2008 1.35 0.350 2007 1.08 0.360 2006 1.90 0.465 2005 1.81 1.250 2004 2.61 0.790 2003 2.81 1.650 2002 2.89 3.010
03In context
Costa Rica beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 159 countries on poverty & inequality, never a place within the region.
1st159thNot placed · 65 countries with too few key statisticsNo data
Costa Rica and the countries it borders
The standing is each country’s place among all 159 placed on the topic; the other columns are the publishers’ own values, read at the edition the standing used.
| Country | Standing | Gini IndexGini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) | Poverty Gap at $3.00 a DayPoverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 116th | 46.73 | 0.48 |
 Panama | 130th | 48.88 | 1.09 |
 Nicaragua | 138th | 46.16 | 1.81 |
“—” means the publisher gives no reading for that country in that edition. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed.
Across Central America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 159.
Placed either side on poverty & inequality
The countries immediately above and below Costa Rica in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Costa Rica is ahead of the world, and behind
13 more statistics filed under poverty & inequality, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median3
Statistics on which Costa Rica does better than the middle country measured.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.0020.039No real change since 2021
Costa Rica: 0.002 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 99th of 109 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8850.14.885▲ Improved since 2015
Costa Rica: 0.1 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.6780.609No real change since 2013
Costa Rica: 0.678 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 65th of 169 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Behind the world median9
Statistics on which Costa Rica does worse than the middle country measured.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0517.5317.05▼ Worsened since 2013
Costa Rica: 17.53 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 83rd of 169 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Median Daily Income or Consumption per PersonWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 22.7618.9222.76No real change since 2013
Costa Rica: 18.92 · world median 22.76 · Median income or consumption per person, 2021 PPP dollars a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.803 to 89.49; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 60 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.8215.357.82▲ Improved since 2013
Costa Rica: 15.35 · world median 7.82 · Population below $8.30 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 93.58; lower is better.
Position 28th of 59 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Prosperity GapWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.7542.141.754▲ Improved since 2013
Costa Rica: 2.14 · world median 1.754 · Average factor incomes must rise by to reach $28 a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.406 to 12.06; lower is better.
Position 28th of 60 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.931.540.93▲ Improved since 2013
Costa Rica: 1.54 · world median 0.93 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 54.36; lower is better.
Position 23rd of 58 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Societal Poverty RateWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 17.224.2517.2▼ Worsened since 2013
Costa Rica: 24.25 · world median 17.2 · Population below the societal poverty line, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 7 to 54.36; lower is better.
Position 15th of 60 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Income Share Held by Lowest 20%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.124.497.12No real change since 2013
Costa Rica: 4.49 · world median 7.12 · Share of national income held by the poorest fifth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.24 to 11.07; higher is better.
Position 56th of 60 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Palma RatioWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.3322.661.332No real change since 2013
Costa Rica: 2.66 · world median 1.332 · Palma ratio (income share of the richest 10% ÷ share of the poorest 40%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.771 to 4.193; lower is better.
Position 5th of 60 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Income Share Held by Richest 10%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 26.1835.0526.18▼ Worsened since 2013
Costa Rica: 35.05 · world median 26.18 · Share of national income or consumption held by the richest tenth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 18.79 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 4th of 60 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No better end1
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Poverty Headcount at National Poverty LinesWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 21.817.121.8No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 17.1 · world median 21.8 · Population below the national poverty line (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 82.3.
05Country Index 2026
Poverty & Inequality among Costa Rica’s 16 topics
Poverty & Inequality is Costa Rica’s 16th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first; each marker sits at the position divided by that topic’s field, so fields of different sizes compare fairly.
- Peace & Security2nd of 1773/4 keys
- Gender & Equality4th of 1834/4 keys
- Energy13th of 1933/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions32nd of 1944/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties38th of 1983/3 keys
- Digital & Technology58th of 1983/3 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 57th of 1764/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing65th of 2004/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital70th of 1963/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability71st of 1813/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade61st of 1473/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture80th of 1754/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 92nd of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience98th of 1923/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge101st of 1714/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality116th of 1592/2 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on poverty & inequality
The three countries placed highest of 159, and the leaders Costa Rica can most readily be measured against.
1
BelarusEastern Europe
1st of 159 · 2 of 2 keys
Photo: zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
SloveniaSouthern Europe
2nd of 159 · 2 of 2 keys
Photo: Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
3
CzechiaEastern Europe
3rd of 159 · 2 of 2 keys
Photo: john mcsporran from Trossachs, Scotland · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
Canada40th2/2 keysHighest in Central America
Belize81st2/2 keysThis page
Costa Rica116th2/2 keys
Positions out of 159 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Costa Rica on poverty & inequality: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Costa Rica rank on poverty & inequality?
Costa Rica is placed 116th of 159 countries on Poverty & Inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 2 key statistics (Gini Index and Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Gini Index figure for Costa Rica?
46.73 in 2023 (gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 33.72.
What is the latest Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day figure for Costa Rica?
0.48 in 2023 (poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.345.
How does Costa Rica compare with Nicaragua on poverty & inequality?
Nicaragua is placed 138th of 159, and Costa Rica 116th. Gini Index: Nicaragua 46.16, Costa Rica 46.73; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day: Nicaragua 1.81, Costa Rica 0.48.
How have Costa Rica’s poverty & inequality figures changed?
Gini Index fell from 51.81 in 2002 to 46.73 in 2023; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day fell from 2.89 in 2002 to 0.48 in 2023.
08Keep reading
Explore further
Costa Rica, topic by topic
- Governance & Institutions32nd of 194
- Economy & Innovation=57th of 176
- Work & Labour=92nd of 182
- Education & Knowledge101st of 171
- Health & Wellbeing65th of 200
- Development & Human Capital70th of 196
- Environment & Sustainability71st of 181
- Gender & Equality4th of 183
- Democracy & Civil Liberties38th of 198
- Peace & Security2nd of 177
- Risk & Resilience98th of 192
- Mobility & Trade61st of 147
- Food & Agriculture80th of 175
- Energy13th of 193
- Digital & Technology58th of 198
- The full Costa Rica profile
Nearby, on poverty & inequality
The key statistics, for every country
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
These figures come from household surveys, which most countries run every few years rather than every year. So the subject's standing is read from each country's most recent survey of the last decade, with the year of every reading shown, rather than from one year in which only a minority of countries were surveyed. Two readings decide it — how unequally income is shared and how deep extreme poverty runs — because the other poverty and inequality measures here largely repeat one of those two or repeat average income, which already counts under Economy and Development. Countries with no survey in the last decade have no standing here. What work pays is under Work & Labour; wealth, as opposed to income, has no global source this site is permitted to republish.
How the Poverty & Inequality standing is decided, step by step
A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.
- A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 2 indicators on this topic are keys and 13 are charted alongside them without a vote. That split is the point: if every statistic voted, importing five more of one kind would quietly change what the topic is about.
- Each key is read at one edition. All of them describe 2023.
- Every country’s published value is turned into a place within that one key’s own field, and then expressed as a share of that field — how far down this key’s list the country sits, rather than how many countries are above it. Keys where a higher published number is worse (terrorism, hunger, disaster risk) are turned round first, so the good end is always the same end.
- Dividing by the field first is the whole reason this works. A place carries the size of its list inside it: 22nd of 44 and 108th of 215 are the same showing, and averaging the numbers 22 and 108 says loudly that they are not. Fields on this site run from about 44 countries to about 215, so averaging raw places would reward a country for happening to be measured in small ones. Dividing each place by its own field removes the size and leaves only the showing.
- The shares are averaged, plainly. One key, one vote — no key is weighted above another, because any weighting would be this site’s opinion presented as a measurement. Countries are then put in order by that average, and the average itself is never published. It is our arithmetic with nothing anchoring it, so printing it would invite it to be read as a measurement somebody made. The position it produces, the band, and the keys it was built from are all published instead — every one of them checkable against the tables on this page.
- A country needs 2 of this topic’s 2 keys — half, rounded up, and never fewer than 2. A standing built from one reading, printed beside one built from four, is two different things sharing a column heading. 159 countries clear the bar here.
- A key has to earn its vote every edition. It must measure at least 120 countries (below that it starts measuring who was surveyed rather than the world), it must not have more than 10% of its field tied at either end, and it must not repeat another key in the same topic — Spearman correlation above 0.92 counts as repeating. A topic needs at least 2 surviving keys to place anyone at all; this one has 2.
- A standing is relative, and the grouping is ours. It says where a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move. The publishers listed on this page did not agree to be read together, and each measures its subject its own way: the underlying numbers are theirs, the ordering on top is this site’s — the same method as the rest of the Country Index, applied to one subject instead of all of them.
The key statistics and their licences
- Gini Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
The other 13 statistics on this page come from 4 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Costa Rica’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Costa Rica (banner) — Henry Zbyszynski from Capitola California, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Belarus — zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Slovenia — Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 3.0
- Czechia — john mcsporran from Trossachs, Scotland, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Costa Rica: Poverty & Inequality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/costa-rica/poverty