Q COSTA RICA — More than 557,000 minors live in poverty in Costa Rica, according to estimates from the study “La deuda de Costa Rica con sus niños, niñas y adolescentes” (Costa Rica’s Debt to Its Children and Adolescents).
The study was conducted by Ana Teresa León Sáenz—a psychologist and retired professor from the Universidad Nacional (UNA)—and released by the National Council of Rectors (Conare).
Of the 810,394 minors receiving aid from the Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social (IMAS)—Joint Institute for Social Aid—who were assessed in 2024, the majority—nearly four out of ten—live in extreme poverty (290,026); three out of ten live in basic poverty (267,167); and the remaining third (253,201) are classified as non-poor.
These figures come from the Sistema Nacional de Información y Registro Único de Beneficiarios del Estado (Sinirube)—National Information System and Single Registry of State Beneficiaries. Additionally, León’s research includes calculations regarding the number of minors living in poverty, broken down by age group (0–12 and 13–17 years old) and by province.
Alajuela and San José are the provinces with the highest numbers of children aged 0 to 12 living in basic and extreme poverty. Alajuela has over 50,000 IMAS beneficiaries in the extreme poverty category and 35,000 in the basic poverty category, while in San José, both figures hover around 45,000.
These two provinces also record the highest figures for the 13–17 age group, with the number of adolescents in these circumstances ranging between 19,000 and 27,000. For León, poverty is arguably the most critical factor regarding the situation of children and adolescents, given that—simply put—it entails effects such as stress, poor nutrition, and socio-environmental risks.
“At the core is the impact on the brain. Which parts of the brain are affected? In some cases, it is the amygdala (the seat of emotional reaction), the hippocampus, the cortex, and neurotransmitters.”
What could be done?
The book presented by Conare explains that the implications of this data highlight a clear need for compensatory or supplementary resources to help these minors’ families “get ahead.”
“It is worth highlighting the importance of evaluating whether aid programs like Avancemos are effectively enabling minors to attend school, as well as determining appropriate payment amounts and the number of minors who should receive them,” the analysis details.
Likewise, the study emphasizes the urgent need to develop a care network (Red de Cuido) for children up to age 12, alongside other recreational strategies aimed at populations living in poverty.
About the study
The research conducted by León analyzes the living conditions of minors in Costa Rica—using data gathered from various studies covering birth rates, family conditions, demographic projections for minors, and other aspects—and identifies key challenges in areas such as poverty, health, education, recreation, housing, and protection against situations of vulnerability.
The book also includes data compiled specifically for each of Costa Rica’s provinces.
Additionally, Conare presented a series of general proposals based on these findings, covering educational, preventive, care, and protection measures, with an emphasis on early childhood, family support, the prevention of vulnerability, and the strengthening of services aimed at this population.
Examples include “Crib Boxes” (Cajas Cuna)—accompanied by educational programs for beneficiary mothers—and “Bebetecas,” conceived as mobile services offering education on positive parenting to mothers, fathers, and caregivers of children under the age of four.
Furthermore, the council proposed strengthening the response capacity of the National Child Welfare Agency (PANI)—in its role as the technical governing body for matters concerning children and adolescents—as well as improving coordination with other public institutions.