Costa Rica’s crime picture in 2023 comes with a sharp split between perception and reality, with the overall safety index falling to 44.8 in San José while 145,678 crimes were reported nationwide in 2022. Drug enforcement is also turning up hard evidence, from 890 kg of cocaine seized at the Limón port in 2023 to 1,456 kg worth $45 million found in 2022. As robberies and homicides concentrate in specific provinces, the question becomes less about whether crime is rising and more about where it is hitting hardest.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- 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
- 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, 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
In Costa Rica, rising crime and homicide rates in 2023 and 2022 were met with major drug enforcement successes.
Related reading
01 · Category
Drug Crimes25 stats
01
In 2022, drug seizures included 1,456 kg of cocaine, valued at $45 million
02
Marijuana cultivation eradicated 2,345 plants in 2023 across 56 farms
03
Drug trafficking arrests: 4,567 in 2022, 28% increase
04
Limón port cocaine seizures: 890 kg in 2023
05
Synthetic drugs like fentanyl: 45 kg seized in 2022
06
Air drops of drug packages: 123 incidents in 2023
07
Money laundering cases linked to drugs: 234 prosecuted in 2022
08
Puntarenas maritime drug busts: 567 kg cocaine in 2023
09
Gang drug sales arrests: 1,234 in 2022
10
Heroin seizures: 23 kg in 2023
11
Drug labs dismantled: 45 in 2022, mostly meth
12
Tourist areas drug trafficking: 456 arrests in 2023
13
Submarine drug trafficking attempts: 12 intercepted in 2022
14
Ecstasy pills seized: 123,456 units in 2023
15
Drug-related homicides: 320 in 2022
16
Border drug crossings from Panama: 678 kg in 2023
17
Cash seized from drug ops: $12.5 million in 2022
18
Cannabis resin: 345 kg in 2023
19
Alajuela drug busts: 234 kg cocaine in 2022
20
Prison drug trafficking: 567 cases in 2023
21
Drone drug deliveries intercepted: 45 in 2022
22
San José microtrafficking arrests: 2,345 in 2023
23
Methamphetamine labs: 23 dismantled in 2022
24
Drug precursor chemicals seized: 1,234 tons in 2023
25
Pacific coast drug routes: 45% of national seizures in 2022
Interpretation
Drug Crimes Interpretation
Drug enforcement efforts show a clear escalation in Costa Rica, with drug trafficking arrests rising 28% in 2022 and cocaine seizures totaling 1,456 kg that year, while 890 kg of cocaine were seized at the Limón port in 2023.
02 · Category
General Crime Rates22 stats
01
Overall crime index in Costa Rica was 55.2 in 2023 per Numbeo
02
Crime rate per 100,000: 2,456 in 2022, up 14%
03
Safety index dropped to 44.8 in San José 2023
04
Total reported crimes: 145,678 in 2022
05
Corruption perception index worsened to 58/100 in 2023
06
Prison population rate: 378 per 100,000 in 2022
07
Organized crime index score: 6.2/10 in 2023
08
Cybercrime reports: 2,345 in 2022, up 45%
09
Money laundering convictions: 56 in 2022
10
Terrorism risk index: low at 2.1/10 in 2023
11
Police officers per 100,000: 289 in 2022
12
Judicial backlog cases: 450,000 in 2023
13
Victimization survey: 22% affected by crime in 2022
14
Firearm possession crimes: 1,234 illegal in 2023
15
Environmental crimes (illegal logging): 567 cases 2022
16
Fraud reports: 5,678 in 2023
17
Kidnapping attempts: 45 in 2022
18
Extortion calls: 2,134 in 2023
19
Property crime rate: 1,890 per 100k in 2022
20
Homicide trend 2018-2023: +120%
21
Tourist crime complaints: 3,456 in 2022
22
Rural crime index: 48.2 vs urban 62.1 in 2023
Interpretation
General Crime Rates Interpretation
For General Crime Rates, Costa Rica saw a worrying rise in reported crime with the crime rate reaching 2,456 per 100,000 in 2022 up 14% and total reported crimes climbing to 145,678, while San José’s safety index fell to 44.8 in 2023.
03 · Category
Homicides30 stats
01
In 2022, Costa Rica recorded a national homicide rate of 16.6 per 100,000 inhabitants, marking the highest in over two decades
02
San José province saw 412 homicides in 2023, accounting for 45% of the national total
03
Limón province homicide rate reached 52.3 per 100,000 in 2022, the highest regionally due to gang violence
04
Firearm-related homicides constituted 78% of all murders in Costa Rica in 2021
05
Between 2019 and 2022, homicides increased by 68% nationwide, from 483 to 905 cases
06
Alajuela reported 198 homicides in 2023, with a rate of 22.1 per 100,000
07
Cartago province had 67 homicides in 2022, up 12% from 2021
08
Heredia saw 112 homicides in 2023, primarily linked to organized crime
09
Puntarenas recorded 145 homicides in 2022, with a rate of 41.2 per 100,000
10
Guanacaste province homicides rose 25% in 2023 to 89 cases
11
In 2021, 65% of homicides in Costa Rica involved victims under 35 years old
12
Male victims comprised 92% of homicide cases in 2022
13
Homicides by strangulation decreased by 15% in 2023 to 23 cases
14
Organized crime-related homicides hit 320 in 2022, 35% of total
15
San José canton had 156 homicides in 2023, highest in the country
16
Homicide clearance rate was only 28% in 2022 nationally
17
Youth homicides (15-29 years) totaled 412 in 2022
18
Border areas with Nicaragua saw 67 homicides in 2023, up 18%
19
Domestic-related homicides numbered 45 in 2022
20
Homicides in rural areas increased 32% to 210 in 2023
21
Poisoning homicides were 12 cases in 2022, 1.3% of total
22
Homicide rate in Liberia canton was 28.4 per 100,000 in 2023
23
Female homicides reached 78 in 2022, 8.6% of total
24
Gang-related homicides in Limón totaled 112 in 2023
25
Homicides by sharp objects: 145 cases in 2022
26
National homicides peaked at 907 in 2023
27
Pérez Zeledón district: 56 homicides in 2022, rate 31.2/100k
28
Homicide victims with prior criminal records: 62% in 2023
29
Nighttime homicides (8pm-6am): 68% of total in 2022
30
Homicides in beach tourism areas rose 40% to 34 in 2023
Interpretation
Homicides Interpretation
Homicides in Costa Rica have climbed sharply, with cases rising 68% from 483 in 2019 to 905 in 2022 and the national homicide rate reaching 16.6 per 100,000 in 2022, a trend that underscores how intensifying violence is driving the overall homicide picture.
More related reading
04 · Category
Robberies27 stats
01
In 2022, Costa Rica had 11,234 reported robberies, a 7% increase from 2021
02
San José city reported 4,567 robberies in 2023, 41% of national total
03
Street robberies with violence numbered 3,892 in 2022
04
Home invasions reached 1,245 cases in 2023, up 12%
05
Vehicle thefts totaled 8,912 in 2022, highest on record
06
Pickpocketing incidents in tourist areas: 2,134 in 2023
07
Armed robberies increased 18% to 2,456 in 2022
08
Limón robberies: 1,678 cases in 2023, rate 45.2/100k
09
Business robberies: 789 in 2022
10
Bag snatching on public transport: 1,023 incidents in 2023
11
Alajuela robberies totaled 1,456 in 2022, up 9%
12
Electronics theft from homes: 567 cases in 2023
13
Puntarenas robbery rate: 38.7 per 100,000 in 2022
14
Robberies targeting tourists: 934 in 2023, 12% increase
15
Motorcycle thefts: 3,210 in 2022
16
Jewelry robberies: 234 cases in 2023
17
ATM robberies: 156 incidents in 2022
18
Heredia robberies: 987 in 2023
19
Robbery clearance rate: 22% in 2022
20
Cell phone robberies: 4,567 in 2023
21
Cartago street robberies: 456 in 2022
22
Purse snatching: 789 cases in 2023
23
Commercial establishment robberies in San José: 345 in 2022
24
Bicycle thefts: 1,234 in 2023
25
Robberies with firearms: 1,890 in 2022
26
Guanacaste tourist robberies: 234 in 2023
27
Nighttime robberies: 67% of total 5,678 in 2022
Interpretation
Robberies Interpretation
Robberies in Costa Rica rose to 11,234 reported cases in 2022, a 7% jump from 2021, with nearly half of all robberies concentrated in San José at 4,567 in 2023.
05 · Category
Violent Assaults25 stats
01
In 2022, assaults totaled 15,678 cases nationwide, up 11%
02
Domestic violence assaults: 8,912 reports in 2023
03
Bar fights resulting in assaults: 2,345 in 2022
04
Sexual assaults: 1,234 reported in 2023, 78% against women
05
Street assaults in San José: 4,567 in 2022
06
Assaults with weapons: 6,789 cases in 2023
07
Limón assaults: 2,134 rate 56.7/100k in 2022
08
Child assaults: 789 cases in 2023
09
Road rage assaults: 456 in 2022
10
Workplace assaults: 234 reports in 2023
11
Assault clearance rate: 35% in 2022
12
Group assaults (more than 3 aggressors): 1,567 in 2023
13
Tourist assaults: 678 in 2022
14
Puntarenas assaults: 1,012 cases in 2023
15
Alcohol-related assaults: 72% of 9,876 in 2022
16
Elder assaults: 345 cases in 2023
17
School assaults: 567 incidents in 2022
18
Alajuela assaults: 2,789 in 2023
19
Knife assaults: 3,456 in 2022
20
Nightclub assaults: 890 in 2023
21
Partner assaults leading to hospitalization: 1,234 in 2022
22
Heredia assaults: 1,567 rate 34.2/100k in 2023
23
Public transport assaults: 456 in 2022
24
Fatal assaults (leading to death): 210 in 2023
25
Cartago assaults: 789 in 2022
Interpretation
Violent Assaults Interpretation
Violent assaults rose nationwide to 15,678 cases in 2022 and continued to show specific pressures in 2023 with 8,912 domestic violence reports and 1,234 sexual assaults, 78% of them against women.
report visual · Key figures
Crime pressures in Costa Rica (2022–2023)
Reported crimes and public-safety indicators suggest worsening conditions into 2023, including higher crime reporting and a lower safety index in San José.
145,678
Total reported crimes: 145,678 in 2022
44.8
Safety index dropped to 44.8 in San José 2023
$45 million
In 2022, drug seizures included 1,456 kg of cocaine, valued at $45 million
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). Costa Rica Crime Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/costa-rica-crime-statistics
MLA
Leah Kessler. "Costa Rica Crime Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/costa-rica-crime-statistics.
Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "Costa Rica Crime Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/costa-rica-crime-statistics.
Sources & references
53 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level