Costa Rica

Key Data (2023)

• During 2023, the rate of intentional homicide rose to 17.2 per 100,000 population, this represents an 8.5 point increase compared to 2013, the year with the lowest rate.
• Records show 250 victims of intentional homicide, as compared to the same period in 2022.
• In 92% of cases, the victims were men and in 8% women.
• On average, records show 3 victims of intentional homicide every day.
• Six in 10 victims was between 20 and 29 years old.
• In 8 out of 10 intentional homicides, firearms were used in 1 out of 10, a sharp weapon and in 1 in 10, other methods.
• Seven in 10 intentional homicides are linked to organized crime.
• San Jose and Limon are where half of intentional homicides occurred in 2023.

Key data (2022)

• 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 the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime more intensely.
• Women are the main victims of domestic violence: Eight in 10 victims are women and 9 in 10 perpetrators are male (2022).
• During 2022, some 7,522 people were charged under the Weapons and Explosives Law. According to the Ministry of Public Security, 9 in 10 cases involved illegal carrying of either a sharp weapon or firearm.
• In 2022, 92,981 people were charged under the Law on narcotics, psychotropic substances, unauthorized drug use and related activities, money laundering and financing terrorism. 99% of these violations involved drug possession.

Source: Prepared with data provided by the Vice Ministry of Peace Violence Observatory based on the information provided by the Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ) on 09 January 2024. Ministry of Public Security (MSP), Observatory on Gender-Based Violence against Women and Access to Justice of the Judicial Branch, and the National Statistics and Census Institute (INEC).