While Costa Rica is often celebrated as a paradise, a staggering 68% surge in homicides over just three years reveals a nation grappling with a deepening and complex crime crisis.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Costa Rica recorded a national homicide rate of 16.6 per 100,000 inhabitants, marking the highest in over two decades
- San José province saw 412 homicides in 2023, accounting for 45% of the national total
- Limón province homicide rate reached 52.3 per 100,000 in 2022, the highest regionally due to gang violence
- In 2022, Costa Rica had 11,234 reported robberies, a 7% increase from 2021
- San José city reported 4,567 robberies in 2023, 41% of national total
- Street robberies with violence numbered 3,892 in 2022
- In 2022, drug seizures included 1,456 kg of cocaine, valued at $45 million
- Marijuana cultivation eradicated 2,345 plants in 2023 across 56 farms
- Drug trafficking arrests: 4,567 in 2022, 28% increase
- In 2022, assaults totaled 15,678 cases nationwide, up 11%
- Domestic violence assaults: 8,912 reports in 2023
- Bar fights resulting in assaults: 2,345 in 2022
- Overall crime index in Costa Rica was 55.2 in 2023 per Numbeo
- Crime rate per 100,000: 2,456 in 2022, up 14%
- Safety index dropped to 44.8 in San José 2023
Costa Rica faces alarming crime increases, especially homicides, linked to gangs and organized crime.
Drug Crimes
1In 2022, drug seizures included 1,456 kg of cocaine, valued at $45 million
Verified2Marijuana cultivation eradicated 2,345 plants in 2023 across 56 farms
Verified3Drug trafficking arrests: 4,567 in 2022, 28% increase
Verified4Limón port cocaine seizures: 890 kg in 2023
Directional5Synthetic drugs like fentanyl: 45 kg seized in 2022
Single source6Air drops of drug packages: 123 incidents in 2023
Verified7Money laundering cases linked to drugs: 234 prosecuted in 2022
Verified8Puntarenas maritime drug busts: 567 kg cocaine in 2023
Verified9Gang drug sales arrests: 1,234 in 2022
Directional10Heroin seizures: 23 kg in 2023
Single source11Drug labs dismantled: 45 in 2022, mostly meth
Verified12Tourist areas drug trafficking: 456 arrests in 2023
Verified13Submarine drug trafficking attempts: 12 intercepted in 2022
Verified14Ecstasy pills seized: 123,456 units in 2023
Directional15Drug-related homicides: 320 in 2022
Single source16Border drug crossings from Panama: 678 kg in 2023
Verified17Cash seized from drug ops: $12.5 million in 2022
Verified18Cannabis resin: 345 kg in 2023
Verified19Alajuela drug busts: 234 kg cocaine in 2022
Directional20Prison drug trafficking: 567 cases in 2023
Single source21Drone drug deliveries intercepted: 45 in 2022
Verified22San José microtrafficking arrests: 2,345 in 2023
Verified23Methamphetamine labs: 23 dismantled in 2022
Verified24Drug precursor chemicals seized: 1,234 tons in 2023
Directional25Pacific coast drug routes: 45% of national seizures in 2022
Single sourceDrug Crimes Interpretation
While the sheer volume of seizures and arrests paints a picture of Costa Rica fiercely defending its borders and streets, it also starkly reveals the relentless, multi-front pressure the country faces as a critical transit point in the international drug trade.
General Crime Rates
1Overall crime index in Costa Rica was 55.2 in 2023 per Numbeo
Verified2Crime rate per 100,000: 2,456 in 2022, up 14%
Verified3Safety index dropped to 44.8 in San José 2023
Verified4Total reported crimes: 145,678 in 2022
Directional5Corruption perception index worsened to 58/100 in 2023
Single source6Prison population rate: 378 per 100,000 in 2022
Verified7Organized crime index score: 6.2/10 in 2023
Verified8Cybercrime reports: 2,345 in 2022, up 45%
Verified9Money laundering convictions: 56 in 2022
Directional10Terrorism risk index: low at 2.1/10 in 2023
Single source11Police officers per 100,000: 289 in 2022
Verified12Judicial backlog cases: 450,000 in 2023
Verified13Victimization survey: 22% affected by crime in 2022
Verified14Firearm possession crimes: 1,234 illegal in 2023
Directional15Environmental crimes (illegal logging): 567 cases 2022
Single source16Fraud reports: 5,678 in 2023
Verified17Kidnapping attempts: 45 in 2022
Verified18Extortion calls: 2,134 in 2023
Verified19Property crime rate: 1,890 per 100k in 2022
Directional20Homicide trend 2018-2023: +120%
Single source21Tourist crime complaints: 3,456 in 2022
Verified22Rural crime index: 48.2 vs urban 62.1 in 2023
VerifiedGeneral Crime Rates Interpretation
Costa Rica remains a sunny paradise with increasingly stormy statistics, where the postcards hide a troubling climb in crime and paper tigers in law enforcement.
Homicides
1In 2022, Costa Rica recorded a national homicide rate of 16.6 per 100,000 inhabitants, marking the highest in over two decades
Verified2San José province saw 412 homicides in 2023, accounting for 45% of the national total
Verified3Limón province homicide rate reached 52.3 per 100,000 in 2022, the highest regionally due to gang violence
Verified4Firearm-related homicides constituted 78% of all murders in Costa Rica in 2021
Directional5Between 2019 and 2022, homicides increased by 68% nationwide, from 483 to 905 cases
Single source6Alajuela reported 198 homicides in 2023, with a rate of 22.1 per 100,000
Verified7Cartago province had 67 homicides in 2022, up 12% from 2021
Verified8Heredia saw 112 homicides in 2023, primarily linked to organized crime
Verified9Puntarenas recorded 145 homicides in 2022, with a rate of 41.2 per 100,000
Directional10Guanacaste province homicides rose 25% in 2023 to 89 cases
Single source11In 2021, 65% of homicides in Costa Rica involved victims under 35 years old
Verified12Male victims comprised 92% of homicide cases in 2022
Verified13Homicides by strangulation decreased by 15% in 2023 to 23 cases
Verified14Organized crime-related homicides hit 320 in 2022, 35% of total
Directional15San José canton had 156 homicides in 2023, highest in the country
Single source16Homicide clearance rate was only 28% in 2022 nationally
Verified17Youth homicides (15-29 years) totaled 412 in 2022
Verified18Border areas with Nicaragua saw 67 homicides in 2023, up 18%
Verified19Domestic-related homicides numbered 45 in 2022
Directional20Homicides in rural areas increased 32% to 210 in 2023
Single source21Poisoning homicides were 12 cases in 2022, 1.3% of total
Verified22Homicide rate in Liberia canton was 28.4 per 100,000 in 2023
Verified23Female homicides reached 78 in 2022, 8.6% of total
Verified24Gang-related homicides in Limón totaled 112 in 2023
Directional25Homicides by sharp objects: 145 cases in 2022
Single source26National homicides peaked at 907 in 2023
Verified27Pérez Zeledón district: 56 homicides in 2022, rate 31.2/100k
Verified28Homicide victims with prior criminal records: 62% in 2023
Verified29Nighttime homicides (8pm-6am): 68% of total in 2022
Directional30Homicides in beach tourism areas rose 40% to 34 in 2023
Single sourceHomicides Interpretation
Costa Rica's idyllic image is being violently punctured by a national murder rate hitting a 20-year high, driven largely by firearm-toting gangs in provinces like Limón, where the localized homicide rate soars to a staggering 52 per 100,000 people.
Robberies
1In 2022, Costa Rica had 11,234 reported robberies, a 7% increase from 2021
Verified2San José city reported 4,567 robberies in 2023, 41% of national total
Verified3Street robberies with violence numbered 3,892 in 2022
Verified4Home invasions reached 1,245 cases in 2023, up 12%
Directional5Vehicle thefts totaled 8,912 in 2022, highest on record
Single source6Pickpocketing incidents in tourist areas: 2,134 in 2023
Verified7Armed robberies increased 18% to 2,456 in 2022
Verified8Limón robberies: 1,678 cases in 2023, rate 45.2/100k
Verified9Business robberies: 789 in 2022
Directional10Bag snatching on public transport: 1,023 incidents in 2023
Single source11Alajuela robberies totaled 1,456 in 2022, up 9%
Verified12Electronics theft from homes: 567 cases in 2023
Verified13Puntarenas robbery rate: 38.7 per 100,000 in 2022
Verified14Robberies targeting tourists: 934 in 2023, 12% increase
Directional15Motorcycle thefts: 3,210 in 2022
Single source16Jewelry robberies: 234 cases in 2023
Verified17ATM robberies: 156 incidents in 2022
Verified18Heredia robberies: 987 in 2023
Verified19Robbery clearance rate: 22% in 2022
Directional20Cell phone robberies: 4,567 in 2023
Single source21Cartago street robberies: 456 in 2022
Verified22Purse snatching: 789 cases in 2023
Verified23Commercial establishment robberies in San José: 345 in 2022
Verified24Bicycle thefts: 1,234 in 2023
Directional25Robberies with firearms: 1,890 in 2022
Single source26Guanacaste tourist robberies: 234 in 2023
Verified27Nighttime robberies: 67% of total 5,678 in 2022
VerifiedRobberies Interpretation
While Costa Rica's stunning biodiversity extends to its crime statistics—with a thriving population of street thieves, home invaders, and pickpockets all showing robust annual growth—the nation's most endangered species appears to be an undisturbed wallet.
Violent Assaults
1In 2022, assaults totaled 15,678 cases nationwide, up 11%
Verified2Domestic violence assaults: 8,912 reports in 2023
Verified3Bar fights resulting in assaults: 2,345 in 2022
Verified4Sexual assaults: 1,234 reported in 2023, 78% against women
Directional5Street assaults in San José: 4,567 in 2022
Single source6Assaults with weapons: 6,789 cases in 2023
Verified7Limón assaults: 2,134 rate 56.7/100k in 2022
Verified8Child assaults: 789 cases in 2023
Verified9Road rage assaults: 456 in 2022
Directional10Workplace assaults: 234 reports in 2023
Single source11Assault clearance rate: 35% in 2022
Verified12Group assaults (more than 3 aggressors): 1,567 in 2023
Verified13Tourist assaults: 678 in 2022
Verified14Puntarenas assaults: 1,012 cases in 2023
Directional15Alcohol-related assaults: 72% of 9,876 in 2022
Single source16Elder assaults: 345 cases in 2023
Verified17School assaults: 567 incidents in 2022
Verified18Alajuela assaults: 2,789 in 2023
Verified19Knife assaults: 3,456 in 2022
Directional20Nightclub assaults: 890 in 2023
Single source21Partner assaults leading to hospitalization: 1,234 in 2022
Verified22Heredia assaults: 1,567 rate 34.2/100k in 2023
Verified23Public transport assaults: 456 in 2022
Verified24Fatal assaults (leading to death): 210 in 2023
Directional25Cartago assaults: 789 in 2022
Single sourceViolent Assaults Interpretation
The data paints a sobering picture of a society where the most likely place to be assaulted is at home, the most common accomplice is alcohol, and the odds of a case being solved are only slightly better than finding a good parking spot in San José.
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