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 110th of 159 countries on poverty & inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Gini Index 46.73 (2023); Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day 0.48 (2023).
Share
Poverty & Inequality
110th
of 159 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 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 3
Gini Index
World Bank Group
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
Key 2 of 3
Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
World Bank Group
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
Key 3 of 3
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
41.8
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%)
Lower is better
Costa Rica: 41.8. Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Belarus) to 93.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 26.4.
- World median
- 26.4
- Best in Central America
- 17.8 Belize
- Land neighbours
- Panama 51.4
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 Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) · lower is better
Costa RicaWorld median
Costa Rica fell from 53.6 in 2017 to 41.8 in 2025; the world median went from 32.4 to 26.4.
Every year’s figures
Year Costa Rica World median 2025 41.8 26.40 2024 47.5 27.10 2023 52.5 27.15 2022 56.4 27.90 2021 55.2 29.65 2020 61.4 31.80 2019 54.7 29.05 2018 53.7 29.85 2017 53.6 32.40
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.
Costa Rica and the countries it borders
Standing among all 159; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| 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 (%) | Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietShare of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 110th | 46.73 | 0.48 | 41.8 |
 Panama | 130th | 48.88 | 1.09 | 51.4 |
 Nicaragua | =138th | 46.16 | 1.81 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
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
31 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 median14
Statistics on which Costa Rica does better than the middle country measured.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.263.00421.26No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 3.004 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 109th of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.190.25▲ Improved since 2014
Costa Rica: 0.19 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
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, 1st = worst.
Low Pay RateILO · 2024 · world median 17.8910.4117.89▲ Improved since 2014
Costa Rica: 10.41 · world median 17.89 · Employees paid less than two-thirds of the median hourly earnings (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.395 to 41.69; lower is better.
Position 64th of 71 · derived, 1st = worst.
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.
Exclusion by Socio-Economic GroupV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2023 · world median 0.4130.1330.413No real change since 2013
Costa Rica: 0.133 · world median 0.413 · Exclusion by socio-economic group index (0–1; higher = more exclusion). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.014 to 0.969; lower is better.
Position 143rd of 174 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour BenefitsWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 18.6534.6618.65No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 34.66 · world median 18.65 · Benefits received as a share of beneficiaries' total income or consumption (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.455 to 90.86; higher is better.
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.2520.8284.252No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 0.828 · world median 4.252 · Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.96; lower is better.
Position 124th of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.8760.529No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 0.876 · world median 0.529 · Adjusted wealth parity index, lower secondary completion (poorest vs richest fifth; 1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.032 to 1.022; higher is better.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.3980.446No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 0.398 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.
Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.
Position 103rd of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
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.
Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 12,80016,67812,800No real change since 2017
Costa Rica: 16,678 · world median 12,800 · Actual individual consumption per capita (PPP, current international $). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 688.7 to 52,654; higher is better.
Position 69th of 173 · derived.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.913.920.9No real change since 2015
Costa Rica: 13.9 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 82nd of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.11.282.1▼ Worsened since 2014
Costa Rica: 1.28 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.
Behind the world median14
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, 1st = worst.
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.
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, 1st = worst.
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, 1st = worst.
Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.1850.230.185▲ Improved since 2013
Costa Rica: 0.23 · world median 0.185 · Squared poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (0–100). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 9.74; lower is better.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.343.371.34No real change since 2013
Costa Rica: 3.37 · world median 1.34 · Population below $4.20 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 72.3; lower is better.
Position 24th of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.
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, 1st = worst.
Income Growth of the Poorest 40%World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 1.8410.9471.841▼ Worsened since 2014
Costa Rica: 0.947 · world median 1.841 · Annualized growth in real income or consumption per person of the bottom 40% (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -4.185 to 14.51; higher is better.
Gini Index of Monthly EarningsILO · 2024 · world median 0.3370.3780.337▲ Improved since 2014
Costa Rica: 0.378 · world median 0.337 · Gini index of employees’ monthly earnings (0 = all paid the same, 1 = maximum inequality). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.182 to 0.643; lower is better.
Position 23rd of 75 · derived, 1st = worst.
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, 1st = worst.
Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID)Frederick Solt, University of Iowa · 2023 · world median 3345.133▼ Worsened since 2013
Costa Rica: 45.1 · world median 33 · Gini index of disposable household income (0–100), SWIID estimate. Frederick Solt, University of Iowa, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 22.3 to 51.2; lower is better.
Position 8th of 79 · derived, 1st = worst.
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.
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, 1st = worst.
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, 1st = worst.
No better end3
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.555.044.55Moved since 2017
Costa Rica: 5.04 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.887.4066.88No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 7.406 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
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.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
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 at its share of that topic’s field.
- Peace & Security2nd of 1773/4 keys
- Gender & Equality5th of 1834/4 keys
- Energy12th of 1653/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties31st of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions32nd of 1944/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge53rd of 1984/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing60th of 2004/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 57th of 1764/4 keys
- Digital & Technology67th of 1984/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital70th of 1963/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture80th of 1844/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability84th of 1864/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade84th of 1774/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 92nd of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 104th of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality110th of 1593/3 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 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
SloveniaSouthern Europe
2nd of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
=3
UkraineEastern Europe
Joint 3rd of 159 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: uploaded by Chern038 · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
Canada28th3/3 keysHighest in Central America
Belize75th3/3 keysThis page
Costa Rica110th3/3 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 110th of 159 countries on Poverty & Inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Gini Index, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day and Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet). 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 joint 138th of 159, and Costa Rica 110th. 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; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet fell from 53.6 in 2017 to 41.8 in 2025.
08Method
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
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The poverty & inequality method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
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
- Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 31 statistics on this page come from 9 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
- Ukraine — uploaded by Chern038, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Costa Rica: Poverty & Inequality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/costa-rica/poverty