What drives Costa Rica's risk?

Costa Rica's highest pressures are adaptation (55, medium) and governance (52). Its strongest area is climate (27).

How might Costa Rica's climate change by 2080?

Costa Rica's climate zones stay broadly stable through 2080 even under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5); its Koppen-based climate-hazard pressure index holds near 76 out of 100. This forward-looking outlook is separate from the historical ND-GAIN scores.

How much will Costa Rica warm by 2080?

Under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5), Costa Rica is on track to warm by +2.8 °C by 2080, with annual precipitation changing by -206 mm; under lower emissions (SSP2-4.5) the warming is about +1.8 °C. Based on CMIP6 multi-model projections against a 1970-2000 baseline.

How much will sea levels rise along Costa Rica's coast?

Coastal sea level along Costa Rica is projected to rise by +0.83 m by 2100 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5), and by about +0.62 m under lower emissions (SSP2-4.5). Based on the regional median of IPCC AR6 projections.

How will water stress change in Costa Rica?

The share of Costa Rica under high water stress is projected to move from 0% today to 0% by 2080 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5). Based on WRI Aqueduct projections.

How will river-flood exposure change in Costa Rica?

The share of Costa Rica exposed to river flooding is projected to move from 2.9% today to 0.4% by 2080 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5). Based on WRI Aqueduct riverine-flood projections.

When was Costa Rica's risk data last updated?

Updated September 2026, drawing on World Bank, INFORM Risk Index and ND-GAIN Country Index.

Costa Rica Climate risk profile and hazard map

Region: Americas
Subregion: Central America
Income: Upper middle income
ISO: CRI

Costa Rica: mid-pack overall, with adaptation the main pressure.

Live events

Hourly disaster feed, shown alongside the standing risk below. Open the live map

How risky is Costa Rica, overall?

The composite and its five dimensions. Higher means more risk.

Medium 43 / 100

27 Climate Low
48 Nature -0.5 Medium
35 Social Low
52 Governance Medium
55 Adaptation -1.8 Medium

Which hazards threaten Costa Rica most?

Physical hazard intensity. INFORM Risk Index, 0 to 10.

2.4FloodLow
0.8DRR capacityVery low

Costa Rica in global context

Risk-ranked against its cohorts. Click any country to open its page.

Central America

#1 of 8 · median 52

Americas

#15 of 35 · median 44

Upper middle income

#22 of 53 · median 44

Put two countries head to head

Compare with any neighbour on all risks and their 5-year trajectory.

Compare Score a site here

Costa Rica: outlook from 2050 to 2100

Projected physical change under a moderate (SSP2-4.5) and a high (SSP5-8.5) emissions pathway.

By 2080 under a high-emissions pathway, Costa Rica is projected to warm +2.8 °C, with annual rainfall changing -206 mm.

+2.8 °C

Temperature

20502080

Higher emissions SSP5-8.5: +1.9 °C → +2.8 °C
Lower emissions SSP2-4.5: +1.5 °C → +1.8 °C

Hottest month +3.2 °C by 2080 (SSP5-8.5).

-206 mm

Precipitation

20502080

Higher emissions SSP5-8.5: +51 mm → -206 mm
Lower emissions SSP2-4.5: +126 mm → +106 mm

Driest month -5 mm by 2080 (SSP5-8.5).

Water stress

20502080

Higher emissions SSP5-8.5: 0% → 0%
Current path SSP3-7.0: 0% → 0%

Share of land under high or extreme water stress; 0% today.

0.4%

River flooding

20502080

Higher emissions SSP5-8.5: 2.3% → 0.4%
Lower emissions SSP2-4.5: 1.9% → 0.1%

Land exposed to a 100-year river flood; 2.9% today.

Sea level

Costa Rica: under high emissions, a 100-year coastal flood in 2080 could reach 3 of its largest cities.

Coastal sea-level rise

20502100

Higher emissions SSP5-8.5: +0.26 m → +0.83 m
Lower emissions SSP2-4.5: +0.23 m → +0.62 m

Largest exposed cities

PopulationMax depth

Max depth: the deepest water within 12 km of the city center in a 100-year coastal flood in 2080, under RCP8.5 with high-end sea-level rise (95th percentile), ignoring flood defenses and land subsidence. Source: WRI Aqueduct Floods.

Regional estimate for the country's coast (IPCC AR6 median), not the global average.

Projections from public CMIP6 (WorldClim 2.1, 5-model median, against a 1970-2000 baseline), WRI Aqueduct 4.0 and IPCC AR6 data. Monthly and bioclimatic aggregates, not daily-threshold indices. Forward-looking estimates, not a re-scored site risk.

Indicator panel

Every source-level indicator behind the dimensions above. Sort by score, value, or name.

		Year		vs world	vs region
Energy Imports	55.5 % of energy use	2023	94.0	+0.8	+7.5
Coastal Protection Needed	76.0 % coast	2020	68.8	-15.5	-0.5
Drought Index (SPEI)	0.55 index	2021	66.8	+20.4	+23.8
Land Surface Temperature	27.3 deg C change	2021	65.0	+0.3	-0.3
Renewable Energy Share	34.2 % of total energy	2021	64.5	-10.9	-15.9
Cooling Degree Days	3504 degree days	2020	48.0	-3.8	-18.1
Fossil Fuel Consumption	51.5 % of total	2023	47.8	-18.3	-27.5
Flood Risk	2.40 0-10	2026	24.0	-28.0	-18.0
PM2.5 Air Pollution	14.3 ug/m3	2020	11.7	-7.5	-6.9
N2O Emissions Per Capita	0.37 kt CO2e per capita	2020	8.7	+1.7	+1.5
Energy Intensity	1.91 MJ/$2017 PPP GDP	2022	7.3	-11.9	-8.3
Energy Use Per Capita	967 kg oil eq per capita	2023	6.1	-10.6	-3.2
CO2 Emissions Per Capita	1.38 metric tons	2020	4.3	-3.4	-2.6
Access to Clean Fuels	96.4 % population	2022	3.6	-6.7	-1.9
Renewable Electricity Share	99.4 % of total	2021	0.6	-74.5	-67.5
Heating Degree Days	52.5 degree days	2020	0.4	-1.0	+0.4
Heat Index	0.00 index	2020	0.0	-0.1	-0.2
Coal Electricity Share	0.00 % of total	2021	0.0	0.0	0.0

		Year		vs world	vs region
Projected Cereal Yield Change	0.95 0-1	2023	95.0	+8.5	+0.9
Earthquake Risk	9.10 0-10	2026	91.0	+56.0	+32.0
Dam Capacity	0.90 0-1	2023	90.1	-3.2	+3.5
Tsunami Risk	8.30 0-10	2026	83.0	+72.0	+46.0
Urban Concentration	0.81 0-1	2023	81.3	+23.9	+14.2
Projected Marine Biodiversity Loss	0.81 0-1	2023	80.9	+43.7	+34.1
Access to Improved Sanitation	0.75 0-1	2023	75.5	+36.3	+21.1
Paved Roads	0.75 0-1	2023	74.6	+19.5	+7.6
Food Production Index	100 index	2022	72.5	+5.4	+2.2
Health Expenditure Per Capita	0.72 0-1	2023	72.3	-11.9	-10.0
Protected Areas	28.8 % of land	2023	71.0	-17.9	-19.0
Environmental Treaties Engagement	0.68 0-1	2023	68.4	-7.9	-6.5
Projected Vector Disease Change	0.66 0-1	2023	65.8	0.0	0.0
Quality of Trade Infrastructure	0.59 0-1	2023	59.0	-3.1	-2.5
Energy Import Dependency	0.55 0-1	2023	55.5	+29.8	+40.0
Projected Annual Runoff Change	0.49 0-1	2023	49.4	+9.8	0.0
Projected Warm Period Change	0.46 0-1	2023	46.3	-21.5	-5.7
Projected Biome Distribution Change	0.46 0-1	2023	45.9	-11.7	-10.0
Projected Hydropower Change	0.43 0-1	2023	42.5	-1.2	-0.7
Age Dependency Ratio	0.41 0-1	2023	41.3	-11.5	-5.5
Agricultural Land	34.7 % of land	2022	40.7	-6.6	+6.3
Forest Area	60.1 % of land	2022	36.4	-29.9	-16.2
Agricultural Capacity	0.35 0-1	2023	34.8	-57.0	-56.2
Freshwater Withdrawal	3.05 % of internal resources	2021	33.1	-17.2	-3.5
Projected Flood Hazard Change	0.32 0-1	2023	31.7	+13.3	-2.0
Water Bodies Extent	68.5 % of land	2020	31.5	+9.9	-0.4
Projected Climate-Related Deaths	0.30 0-1	2023	30.3	0.0	0.0
Protected Biome Areas	0.27 0-1	2023	26.9	-14.1	-8.9
Projected Groundwater Change	0.26 0-1	2023	26.1	-0.1	+4.3
Ecological Footprint	0.25 0-1	2023	24.9	+2.3	+3.0
Natural Capital Dependency	0.25 0-1	2023	24.7	+2.9	+4.5
Food Import Dependency	0.21 0-1	2023	20.7	-1.0	-4.4
Projected Population Change	0.20 0-1	2023	20.0	-2.3	0.0
Access to Reliable Drinking Water	0.20 0-1	2023	19.8	-0.6	-14.6
Rural Population	0.19 0-1	2023	18.7	-23.9	-14.2
Population Below 5m	0.12 0-1	2023	12.1	-2.7	-2.0
Agriculture GDP Share	3.80 % of GDP	2023	10.6	-8.3	-5.9
Child Malnutrition	0.07 0-1	2023	7.4	-6.4	-0.5
Projected Sea Level Rise Impact	0.07 0-1	2023	7.3	-6.2	-10.6
Threatened Mammal Species	11.0 count	2018	5.8	+0.6	+0.6
Slum Population	0.04 0-1	2023	3.6	-12.9	-12.0
Freshwater Withdrawal Rate	0.03 0-1	2023	2.6	-4.8	-0.8
Water Stress	5.88 %	2021	0.2	-0.1	0.0
Dependency Ratio	0.00 0-1	2023	0.1	-6.7	-1.4
Tree Cover Loss	7848 hectares	2021	0.1	0.0	-0.2
Water Dependency Ratio	0.00 0-1	2023	0.0	-6.9	-1.9
Electricity Access	0.00 0-1	2023	0.0	0.0	-0.2
Disaster Preparedness	0.00 0-1	2023	0.0	-30.0	-25.0
Natural Resource Depletion	0.01 % of GNI	2021	0.0	-2.1	-2.4
Forest Depletion	0.00 % of GNI	2021	0.0	-0.1	-0.1

		Year		vs world	vs region
Recent Shocks	10.0 0-10	2026	100.0	+99.0	+94.0
Hospital Beds	1.18 per 1,000	2021	93.4	+9.5	+6.3
Uprooted People	8.20 0-10	2026	82.0	+23.0	+22.0
Income Share Bottom 20%	4.50 %	2023	82.0	+16.4	+9.9
Sanitation Access	25.4 % population	2022	76.7	+36.7	+22.2
Gini Coefficient	46.7 0-100	2023	73.0	+21.7	+8.6
Overweight Adults	66.9 % adults	2022	70.5	+14.5	+4.0
Net Migration	995 persons	2023	55.1	+0.1	+0.1
Primary School Enrollment	108 % gross	2022	54.9	-8.7	-8.1
GDP Growth	5.11 % annual	2023	45.4	-3.5	-3.4
Gender Labor Ratio	62.9 ratio F/M	2023	42.8	+15.8	+8.7
School Gender Parity	1.05 ratio	2020	38.8	-18.1	-18.5
Labor Participation	63.9 % (15+)	2023	38.1	+8.0	+7.9
Poverty Rate (National)	24.4 % population	2023	32.6	+6.8	-8.6
Aging Population	11.7 % population	2023	29.2	+12.8	+6.9
Unmet Contraception Need	13.7 %	2018	27.1	-22.4	+10.6
Unemployment Rate	8.32 %	2023	23.4	+9.2	+6.4
Safe Drinking Water	80.5 % population	2022	20.8	-0.7	-15.3
Aid Dependency	1.90 0-10	2026	19.0	-6.0	-6.0
Food Security	1.80 0-10	2026	18.0	0.0	0.0
Life Expectancy	80.8 years	2023	17.5	-22.0	-18.3
Internet Users	85.4 % population	2023	16.4	-4.5	-7.9
ESG Performance Score	2.39 0-100	2018	15.9	-9.1	-8.6
Development and Deprivation	1.20 0-10	2026	12.0	-18.0	-17.0
Fertility Rate	1.33 births per woman	2023	11.3	-12.0	-6.9
Communicable Disease Deaths	7.13 %	2019	9.1	-7.0	-7.4
Under-5 Mortality Rate	10.5 per 1,000	2023	8.0	-4.2	-2.6
Education Expenditure	31.2 % of govt	2021	7.6	-62.4	-55.2
Children Under 5	0.70 0-10	2026	7.0	-4.0	-3.0
Health Conditions	0.40 0-10	2026	4.0	-4.0	-4.0
Adult Literacy Rate	98.0 %	2021	3.1	-3.4	-2.4
Population Density	99.5 people/km2	2022	0.5	0.0	+0.2
Access to Electricity	100 % population	2023	0.0	0.0	-0.2
Undernourishment	2.50 % population	2022	0.0	-5.8	-4.5

		Year		vs world	vs region
Patent Applications	15.0 count	2021	100.0	0.0	0.0
Scientific Articles	711 count	2022	99.9	0.0	-0.1
R&D Expenditure	0.34 % of GDP	2022	94.9	+6.9	-0.7
Government Effectiveness	0.26 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	44.8	-6.9	-6.7
INFORM Governance Index	4.30 0-10	2026	43.0	-13.0	-13.0
Rule of Law	0.39 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	42.2	-10.8	-14.0
Regulatory Quality	0.54 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	39.1	-13.6	-10.8
Control of Corruption	0.65 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	36.9	-18.7	-20.3
Political Stability	0.98 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	30.3	-19.5	-15.4
Voice and Accountability	1.07 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	28.6	-20.3	-10.7
Women in Parliament	47.4 % seats	2023	22.7	-35.5	-30.2
Healthcare Access	2.00 0-10	2026	20.0	-17.0	-9.0
Physical Infrastructure	1.90 0-10	2026	19.0	-11.0	-10.0
Legal Rights Strength	10.0 0-12	2019	16.7	-33.3	-41.6
Communication Infrastructure	1.30 0-10	2026	13.0	-7.0	-7.0
Disaster Risk Reduction	0.80 0-10	2026	8.0	-33.5	-29.0

		Year		vs world	vs region
Innovation (Readiness)	0.01 0-1	2023	98.6	+3.9	+0.8
Social Inequality (Readiness)	0.31 0-1	2023	68.7	+17.2	+0.4
Education (Readiness)	0.33 0-1	2023	67.3	-5.8	-1.7
Doing Business Score	0.43 0-1	2023	57.2	-1.2	-4.2
Control of Corruption (Readiness)	0.58 0-1	2023	42.5	-21.8	-23.3
ICT Infrastructure	0.58 0-1	2023	42.0	-5.7	-2.9
Regulatory Quality (Readiness)	0.59 0-1	2023	41.5	-10.5	-13.7
Rule of Law (Readiness)	0.61 0-1	2023	38.8	-13.8	-10.6
Political Stability (Readiness)	0.74 0-1	2023	26.1	-17.0	-13.2

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Common questions

Answer-first, drawn from the same data above.

How risky is Costa Rica?
Costa Rica: mid-pack overall, with adaptation the main pressure. Its overall risk score is 43 out of 100 (medium), blended from World Bank, INFORM Risk Index and ND-GAIN Country Index.
What drives Costa Rica's risk?
Costa Rica's highest pressures are adaptation (55, medium) and governance (52). Its strongest area is climate (27).
How might Costa Rica's climate change by 2080?
Costa Rica's climate zones stay broadly stable through 2080 even under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5); its Koppen-based climate-hazard pressure index holds near 76 out of 100. This forward-looking outlook is separate from the historical ND-GAIN scores.
How much will Costa Rica warm by 2080?
Under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5), Costa Rica is on track to warm by +2.8 °C by 2080, with annual precipitation changing by -206 mm; under lower emissions (SSP2-4.5) the warming is about +1.8 °C. Based on CMIP6 multi-model projections against a 1970-2000 baseline.
How much will sea levels rise along Costa Rica's coast?
Coastal sea level along Costa Rica is projected to rise by +0.83 m by 2100 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5), and by about +0.62 m under lower emissions (SSP2-4.5). Based on the regional median of IPCC AR6 projections.
How will water stress change in Costa Rica?
The share of Costa Rica under high water stress is projected to move from 0% today to 0% by 2080 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5). Based on WRI Aqueduct projections.
How will river-flood exposure change in Costa Rica?
The share of Costa Rica exposed to river flooding is projected to move from 2.9% today to 0.4% by 2080 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5). Based on WRI Aqueduct riverine-flood projections.
When was Costa Rica's risk data last updated?
Updated September 2026, drawing on World Bank, INFORM Risk Index and ND-GAIN Country Index.