Male homicide rate in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Male homicide rate was 33.09 homicides per 100,000 population in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
33.09 homicides per 100,000 population
Change on year
up 36.5%
World rank
19th
of 138 countries
All-time high
33.09 homicides per 100,000 population
in 2023
All-time low
6.68 homicides per 100,000 population
in 1991
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Male homicide rate in Costa Rica, 1990–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in homicides per 100,000 population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for male homicide rate in Costa Rica is 33.09 homicides per 100,000 population, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 36.5% on the previous year and up 106.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male homicide rate in Costa Rica peaked at 33.09 homicides per 100,000 population in 2023 and was at its lowest, 6.68 homicides per 100,000 population, in 1991.
Costa Rica ranks 19th of 138 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Male homicide rate in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | homicides per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 7.1 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 1991 | 6.68 homicides per 100,000 population | -5.9% |
| 1992 | 8.22 homicides per 100,000 population | +23.1% |
| 1993 | 8.35 homicides per 100,000 population | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 9.12 homicides per 100,000 population | +9.2% |
| 1995 | 8.91 homicides per 100,000 population | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 9.45 homicides per 100,000 population | +6.1% |
| 1997 | 10.34 homicides per 100,000 population | +9.3% |
| 1998 | 10.46 homicides per 100,000 population | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 11.09 homicides per 100,000 population | +6.0% |
| 2000 | 10.67 homicides per 100,000 population | -3.8% |
| 2001 | 11.48 homicides per 100,000 population | +7.6% |
| 2002 | 11.08 homicides per 100,000 population | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 12.77 homicides per 100,000 population | +15.3% |
| 2004 | 11.58 homicides per 100,000 population | -9.3% |
| 2005 | 12.96 homicides per 100,000 population | +11.9% |
| 2006 | 14.28 homicides per 100,000 population | +10.2% |
| 2007 | 15.29 homicides per 100,000 population | +7.1% |
| 2008 | 20.54 homicides per 100,000 population | +34.3% |
| 2009 | 20.9 homicides per 100,000 population | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 20.65 homicides per 100,000 population | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 17.96 homicides per 100,000 population | -13.0% |
| 2012 | 15.46 homicides per 100,000 population | -13.9% |
| 2013 | 16.06 homicides per 100,000 population | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 18.05 homicides per 100,000 population | +12.4% |
| 2015 | 21.59 homicides per 100,000 population | +19.6% |
| 2016 | 21.25 homicides per 100,000 population | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 22.41 homicides per 100,000 population | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 21.15 homicides per 100,000 population | -5.6% |
| 2019 | 20.81 homicides per 100,000 population | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 20.39 homicides per 100,000 population | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 21.26 homicides per 100,000 population | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 24.24 homicides per 100,000 population | +14.0% |
| 2023 | 33.09 homicides per 100,000 population | +36.5% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 33.09 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.45 homicides per 100,000 population, 22.9× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 33.09 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 27.39 homicides per 100,000 population, 1.2× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.97 homicides per 100,000 population | 6.68 homicides per 100,000 population | 11.09 homicides per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.16 homicides per 100,000 population | 10.67 homicides per 100,000 population | 20.9 homicides per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.54 homicides per 100,000 population | 15.46 homicides per 100,000 population | 22.41 homicides per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.75 homicides per 100,000 population | 20.39 homicides per 100,000 population | 33.09 homicides per 100,000 population | 4 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 16 Mexico 44.88 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 17 Guatemala 40.24 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 18 Brazil 34.66 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 20 Curacao 32.62 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 21 Puerto Rico 27.69 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 22 Guyana 27.08 homicides per 100,000 population compare
More gender data for Costa Rica
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 838.24 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -2.49 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 4,413 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 4,413 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.8911 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 24,787 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 25,901 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 25,098 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 26,214 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 25,387 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is male homicide rate in Costa Rica?
- Male homicide rate in Costa Rica was 33.09 homicides per 100,000 population in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest male homicide rate recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 33.09 homicides per 100,000 population in 2023.
- What is the lowest male homicide rate recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.68 homicides per 100,000 population in 1991.
- How does Costa Rica rank for male homicide rate?
- Costa Rica ranks 19th out of 138 countries with data for 2023.
- Is male homicide rate rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 106.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Male homicide rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Intentional homicide rate per 100,000 populationof male victims.