Costa Rica
2022
Key Data
- In 2022, the rate of intentional homicide reached 12.6 per 100,000 population
- Records show 68 victims of intentional homicide, as compared to the same period in 2021.
- Victims are 92.7% male, 7.2% female and 0.2% of unknown sex.
- On average, 55 victims of intentional homicide are recorded per month, six more victims per month compared to the same period in 2021.
- The primary victims of intentional homicide continue to be young people, with 53% pf tje, between 20 and 34 years of age.
- Some 72% of intentional homicides were committed using a firearm, 16% using a sharp weapon, and 12% by other means.
- As to the motive, 63% of intentional homicides were linked to organized crime.
- Provinces where occurrence is highest: Limon, San Jose, Puntarenas and Alajuela.
- Women are the main victims of domestic violence: Eight in 10 victims are female and four in five perpetrators are male (2021).
- According to the 2022 National Citizen Security Survey Costa Rica:
- 65.5% of people consider the country not very or not at all safe.
- Women perceive more intensely the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime.
- During 2021, some 5,419 people were charged with infringement of the Weapons and Explosives Law. According to the Ministry of Public Security, nine in ten infractions involved illegal carrying of a sharp weapon or firearm.
- In 2021, there were 84,770 people charged with violating the Law on narcotics, psychotropic substances, unauthorized drug use, and related activities, money laundering and financing terrorism. About 98% of these violations involved drug possession.
Source: Judicial Investigation DepartmentObservatory on Gender-Based Violence against Women and Access to Justice and 2022 National Citizen Security Survey, Costa Rica.
Latest publications
Analysis of intentional homicide in Costa Rica. January–June 2023
This report analyzes the situation of intentional homicides in Costa Rica during the first half of 2023, based on data from the Judicial Investigation Department.
Costa Rica: Analysis of the State of Citizen Security in 2022
The following characterization is an analysis of the situation of violence and insecurity in Costa Rica during 2022. This analysis on crimes against life, crimes against integrity and crimes…
Analysis of intentional homicide in Costa Rica. January-March 2023
This report was prepared with data provided by the Vice Ministry of Peace and Justice’s Violence Observatory based on databases of the Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ) Q1 2023.
Violence agaisnt women, Costa Rica 2021
The following infographic presents an analysis of violence against women differentiated throughout the life cycle for the year 2021 in Costa Rica. It includes data on intrafamily and domestic…
Homicides in Costa Rica, 2022
This document presents a brief analysis on homicidal violence with the main findings in january-december 2022. It takes as a source information obtained from the Judicial Investigation Department…
Homicides in Costa Rica, january-june 2022
This document presents a brief analysis on homicidal violence with the main findings in january-june 2022. It takes as a source information obtained from the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ).…