Animal protein consumption in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Animal protein consumption was 5.39 grams of protein per day per capita in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Animal protein consumption in Costa Rica, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in grams of protein per day per capita.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 5.39 grams of protein per day per capita for animal protein consumption in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 59.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, animal protein consumption in Costa Rica peaked at 5.73 grams of protein per day per capita in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.682 grams of protein per day per capita, in 1961.
That places Costa Rica 78th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Animal protein consumption in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | grams of protein per day per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.682 grams of protein per day per capita | — |
| 1962 | 0.7608 grams of protein per day per capita | +11.6% |
| 1963 | 0.8502 grams of protein per day per capita | +11.8% |
| 1964 | 1.04 grams of protein per day per capita | +22.2% |
| 1965 | 0.8682 grams of protein per day per capita | -16.5% |
| 1966 | 0.8274 grams of protein per day per capita | -4.7% |
| 1967 | 0.8258 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 1.12 grams of protein per day per capita | +36.0% |
| 1969 | 0.7444 grams of protein per day per capita | -33.7% |
| 1970 | 1.49 grams of protein per day per capita | +99.6% |
| 1971 | 1.79 grams of protein per day per capita | +20.4% |
| 1972 | 2.02 grams of protein per day per capita | +13.0% |
| 1973 | 1.83 grams of protein per day per capita | -9.5% |
| 1974 | 1.82 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.8% |
| 1975 | 1.66 grams of protein per day per capita | -8.7% |
| 1976 | 1.46 grams of protein per day per capita | -11.9% |
| 1977 | 1.55 grams of protein per day per capita | +6.1% |
| 1978 | 3.05 grams of protein per day per capita | +97.0% |
| 1979 | 2.3 grams of protein per day per capita | -24.7% |
| 1980 | 2.22 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.4% |
| 1981 | 1.75 grams of protein per day per capita | -21.2% |
| 1982 | 1.2 grams of protein per day per capita | -31.4% |
| 1983 | 1.06 grams of protein per day per capita | -11.4% |
| 1984 | 1.49 grams of protein per day per capita | +39.9% |
| 1985 | 1.5 grams of protein per day per capita | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 1.7 grams of protein per day per capita | +13.8% |
| 1987 | 1.23 grams of protein per day per capita | -27.7% |
| 1988 | 0.9162 grams of protein per day per capita | -25.6% |
| 1989 | 1.11 grams of protein per day per capita | +21.6% |
| 1990 | 1.55 grams of protein per day per capita | +39.0% |
| 1991 | 1.26 grams of protein per day per capita | -18.5% |
| 1992 | 1.09 grams of protein per day per capita | -13.4% |
| 1993 | 1.63 grams of protein per day per capita | +49.4% |
| 1994 | 1.32 grams of protein per day per capita | -19.3% |
| 1995 | 1.42 grams of protein per day per capita | +7.5% |
| 1996 | 1.13 grams of protein per day per capita | -20.0% |
| 1997 | 1.39 grams of protein per day per capita | +22.9% |
| 1998 | 1.53 grams of protein per day per capita | +9.6% |
| 1999 | 1.74 grams of protein per day per capita | +14.0% |
| 2000 | 1.16 grams of protein per day per capita | -33.5% |
| 2001 | 1.11 grams of protein per day per capita | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 1.82 grams of protein per day per capita | +63.6% |
| 2003 | 2.33 grams of protein per day per capita | +28.0% |
| 2004 | 2.55 grams of protein per day per capita | +9.4% |
| 2005 | 2.5 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 2.46 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 3 grams of protein per day per capita | +21.8% |
| 2008 | 3.19 grams of protein per day per capita | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 3.38 grams of protein per day per capita | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 2.92 grams of protein per day per capita | -13.7% |
| 2011 | 3.24 grams of protein per day per capita | +11.0% |
| 2012 | 3.26 grams of protein per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 3.39 grams of protein per day per capita | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 4.31 grams of protein per day per capita | +27.1% |
| 2015 | 4.51 grams of protein per day per capita | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 5.1 grams of protein per day per capita | +13.1% |
| 2017 | 5.73 grams of protein per day per capita | +12.4% |
| 2018 | 5.53 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 5.5 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 5.46 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 5.44 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 5.41 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 5.39 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.4% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 5.39 grams of protein per day per capita is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.15 grams of protein per day per capita, 88% of the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 5.39 grams of protein per day per capita is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 4.02 grams of protein per day per capita, 1.3× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.8579 grams of protein per day per capita | 0.682 grams of protein per day per capita | 1.12 grams of protein per day per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.9 grams of protein per day per capita | 1.46 grams of protein per day per capita | 3.05 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.42 grams of protein per day per capita | 0.9162 grams of protein per day per capita | 2.22 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.41 grams of protein per day per capita | 1.09 grams of protein per day per capita | 1.74 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.35 grams of protein per day per capita | 1.11 grams of protein per day per capita | 3.38 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.35 grams of protein per day per capita | 2.92 grams of protein per day per capita | 5.73 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.42 grams of protein per day per capita | 5.39 grams of protein per day per capita | 5.46 grams of protein per day per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 75 Belgium 5.6 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 76 Qatar 5.59 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 77 Greece 5.51 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 79 Morocco 5.37 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 80 Comoros 5.26 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 81 Cameroon 5.16 grams of protein per day per capita compare
More economy & growth data for Costa Rica
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 11.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.74 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.3 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0058 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 115.71 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.5968 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0042 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 84.49 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -3.68 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is animal protein consumption in Costa Rica?
- Animal protein consumption in Costa Rica was 5.39 grams of protein per day per capita in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest animal protein consumption recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 5.73 grams of protein per day per capita in 2017.
- What is the lowest animal protein consumption recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.682 grams of protein per day per capita in 1961.
- How does Costa Rica rank for animal protein consumption?
- Costa Rica ranks 78th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is animal protein consumption rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Animal protein consumption. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Quantity that is available for consumption at the end of the supply chain. It does not account for consumer waste, so the quantity that is actually consumed may be lower.