Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Costa Rica

Summary of key data and information

	Summary of key data and information
Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1)	Costa Rica defines homelessness as “men, women or family groups, without distinction of age, gender, disability condition, addiction condition, migratory status, ethnic background, sexual diversity and/or religion, with absence of a home or dwelling, in addition of being in a total or partial dependency condition, that move and wander around territories according to the means of subsistence that it generates. Usually these people live, survive and stay overnight in the streets of the main cities of Costa Rica, where the commercial and transit conditions favour the options for daily survival through the activities of begging and constant search of waste that can be useful for them.”
Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3)	7 378 individuals, representing 0.14% of the total population (2026)
	9% are women, 91% are men
	Point-in-time count, based on the National Information System and Unified Registry of State Beneficiaries (SINIRUBE)
	ETHOS Light groups included	Included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) Not included: ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing)
	Notes: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Legal framework to collect data on homelessness (Table 4)	National Statistical System Law, Number 9694 establishes the legal obligation for Costa Rica to collect different statistics, including the national census and different population studies.
Homelessness Strategy (Table 5)	The process to update the National Policy for the Comprehensive Care of People in Situation of Abandonment and Street Situation (2016-2026) is underway, as the initial phases are in progress.
Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6)	Target Population Information System (SIPO): National registry of the number of individuals experiencing homelessness (Table 6.1). National census: The Census includes questions on homelessness (Table 6.2).

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness

Statistical definition

Homelessness

According to the Public Policy for the Comprehensive Care of People in Neglect Condition and Homeless 2016, homelessness is defined as “Men, women or family groups, without distinction of age, gender, disability condition, addiction condition, migratory status, ethnic background, sexual diversity and/or religion, with absence of a home or dwelling, in addition of being in a total or partial dependency condition, that move and wander around territories according to the means of subsistence that it generates. Usually these people live, survive and stay overnight in the streets of the main cities of Costa Rica, where the commercial and transit conditions favour the options for daily survival through the activities of begging and constant search of waste that can be useful for them.”

Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology

Year	Headline estimate of homelessness (Individuals)	% of total population	ETHOS Light 1 People living rough	ETHOS Light 2 People in emergency accommodation	ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless	ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions	ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings	ETHOS Light 6 People staying with family/friends
2018	3 404	0.07%	Not available	Not available	Not available	Not available	Not available	Not available
2023	4 530	0.09%	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Not included	Not included	Not included
2026	7 378	0.14%*	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Not included	Not included	Not included
Metadata: Type of count: Point-in-time Data are comparable across years: No Included in headline estimate: Children: Yes Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: Yes Refugees: Yes Victims/survivors of domestic violence: No

Note: Data refer to people experiencing homelessness registered in the Target Population System (SIPO) and the National Information System and Unified Registry of State Beneficiaries (SINIRUBE). According to the administrative data provided by the Social Assistance and Mixed Aid National (IMAS), through the Social Information Form for Institutionalised Persons or Persons Without a Fixed Address (FISI) and the Form of Social Information (FIS), a total of 1 366 persons under homelessness condition received assistance by IMAS in 2023.

*Percentage of population for year 2026 is an OECD calculation based on official statistical data from Costa Rica (2024)

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social (IMAS), Target Population System (SIPO).

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2026

	Single adults	Men	Women	Youth (aged 15‑29)	Older people (aged 65 and over)	Families with children (# of households)
Headline estimate of homelessness	NA	6 693	684	NA	NA	NA
As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness	NA	90.72%	9.28%	NA	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 1: People living rough	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 6: People staying with family/friends	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Metadata: Type of count: Point-in-time Included in headline estimate: Children: No Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: No Refugees: No Victims/survivors of domestic violence: No

Note: Sub-groups are not mutually exclusive. Headline estimates are OECD calculations based on official percentages.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); National Information System and Unified Registry of State Beneficiaries (SINIRUBE).

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness

	Legal framework
Law that governs data collection on homelessness	National Statistical System Law, Number 9694
Legal obligations	National Statistical System Law, Number 9694 establishes the legal obligation for Costa Rica to collect different statistics, including the national census and different population studies. Accordingly, the National Statistics and Censuses Institute (INEC) carries out the surveys and statistical tools to address this legal duty.

Table 5. Homelessness strategy

	Homelessness strategies in place
National Homelessness Strategy	The process to update the National Policy for the Comprehensive Care of People in Situation of Abandonment and Street Situation (2016-2026) is underway, as the initial phases are in progress.
Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist	No

Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness

6.1. Target Population Information System (SIPO)
Description Led by the Joint Social Welfare Institute (IMAS), the number of people experiencing homelessness are counted at the national level through the Social Information Form for Institutionalized Persons or Persons Without a Fixed Address (FISI) and the Form of Social Information (FIS). Surveyors accredited by the IMAS complete these forms (primarily the FISI) or assist people experiencing homelessness to complete the forms. This allows the IMAS to differentiate between people who live permanently in institutions or social welfare centres and those who live in the street and have no fixed address. The data is incorporated into the Target Population Information System (SIPO), which determines eligibility to government-sponsored programmes.
Type of count generated Point-in-time Flow (period) Note: Both PIT and flow data is collected	Methods Information management system on individuals experiencing homelessness
Lead authority(ies) Joint Social Welfare Institute (IMAS)	Source(s) of information Individuals experiencing homelessness are surveyed directly
Scope National level	Depth of data Data disaggregated by: sex, age, province, nationality, civil status, addictions.
Frequency Not specified
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Notes and sources FISI and concepts
6.2. National Census
Description The national census includes a question on homelessness.
Type of count generated Point-in-time	Methods Population census
Lead authority(ies) National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC)	Source(s) of information Individuals experiencing homelessness respond to the questionnaire
Scope National level	Depth of data Key demographic characteristics
Frequency Every 10 years
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Notes and sources 2011 Census | INEC

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population experiencing homelessness, https://www.oecd.org/content/oecd/en/data/datasets/oecd-affordable-housing-database.html.

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