Cases of domestic violence in Costa Rica have more than doubled in the last four years

QCOSTARICA — Just like the rumblings, cases of domestic violence in Costa Rica have more than doubled in the last four years.

According to data from the Ministry of Health published on February 28 in its epidemiological bulletin No. 7, while in 2021 cases of domestic violence in the country reached a total of 9,406, by 2024 this number had increased to 23,046; this represents an increase of 145%.

So far in 2025, this ministry has recorded a total of 2,659 cases of domestic violence.

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These data are alarming, according to several specialists consulted, who assert that the country is experiencing a social crisis fueled by poverty, unemployment, organized crime, and a decline in investment in social programs, among other factors.

“This increase in generalized violence is quite clear and common in many countries. (…) We are in a pressure cooker. When there is a social crisis, violence increases, targeting the most vulnerable population,” said Ana María Jurado, a psychologist and researcher at the University of Costa Rica (UCR), who believes that increased violence is often common after “serious” events, such as epidemics or pandemics.

Domestic violence is any situation of physical, psychological, sexual, or property abuse in which the person committing the violent act is related by blood, marriage, or adoption to the victim.

Greatest impact: women and girls

The main victims of this social crisis facing the country are girls, young and older women, who are subjected to violence in different ways within their own homes.

According to Health data, in 2021, cases of domestic violence against women accounted for 75.2% of the cases, compared to 24.8% for men.

This same relationship was repeated in 2024, when women accounted for 68.4% of the cases, while men accounted for 32.4%.

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By age, the most affected groups were children under one year of age, adolescents and young between the ages of 10 and 19, and adults aged 75 and over.

“There is rampant social violence, where women, children, and seniors are generally the primary victims, and this spills over into the home,” said Sylvia Meza, president of the Feminist Network against Violence Against Women.

Meza emphasized that the high number of domestic violence cases reported in the country has “some correlation” with the increase in femicides and requests for protective measures.

According to statistics from the Judicial Branch’s Gender Observatory, femicides increased from 20 in 2021 to 30 in 2024, with a significant peak of 31 in 2023.

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In the case of protective measures, these increased from 51,137 to 53,752 in the 2021-2024 period, she said.

The psychologist also added that the symbolic violence that society faces daily is also related to this increase in cases, as it empowers many men to abuse their partners within the home.

Cases of Abandonment and Neglect Predominate

The Ministry of Health also revealed that abandonment of children and seniors is the type of domestic violence with the highest number of cases in the country, reaching a total of 14,941 between 2021 and 2024.

This type of domestic violence increased from 1,794 cases in 2021 to 5,786 in 2024, according to statistics from the Ministry of Health.

“The pandemic left the population in a rather precarious economic situation. There was a significant loss of jobs. The reality now is that there is no decrease in unemployment, but rather an increase in the number of people who stopped looking for work. They left the workforce to join the ranks of informal workers,” said psychologist Ana María Jurado, who said that this situation best explains—although it does not justify—the increased abandonment of seniors.

This type of domestic violence is followed by cases of psychological abuse, which increased from 2,364 in 2021 to 4,312 in 2024, and cases of physical abuse, which increased from 1,409 to 5,738 in the same period.

Recorded cases of sexual abuse, meanwhile, increased from 1,245 in 2021 to 4,054 the previous year.

Puntarenas Reports Highest Incidence

Regarding provinces, data from the Ministry of Health showed that Puntarenas has the highest incidence rate of reported cases of domestic violence in the last four years.

For 2021, the incidence rate in this province was 446.6 per 100,000 inhabitants, which increased to 784.4 by 2024.

This coastal province is followed by Limón, which went from an incidence rate of 240.9 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2021 to 521.6 in 2024.

According to Sylvia Meza, president of the Feminist Network Against Violence Against Women, the higher incidence in Puntarenas and Limón is due to the fact that both places have been excluded and abandoned by the State for many years. These areas have also been taken over by organized crime.

This is not the only problem affecting this province. Recently, the Ministry of Health revealed that Puntarenas reported the highest incidence rate of depression per 100,000 inhabitants in the country last year.

According to this ministry, in 2024 Puntarenas recorded a rate of 279 per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by San José, with 101. The national average, meanwhile, was 192.

The Puntarenas canton with the highest incidence of depression cases is Montes de Oro, with 606.8 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Mental health, according to specialists, is another factor influencing the increase in domestic violence.

Less Prevention and Social Investment

Finally, both psychologists emphasized that the outbreak of this violence in Costa Rican homes is also fueled by less prevention and social investment on the part of the government.

According to psychologist Ana María Jurado, with the fiscal rule, the Ministry of Finance has cut funding for the most vulnerable populations. Many families, for example, have lost the subsidies they previously received from the Mixed Institute of Social Assistance (IMAS), including students, which often excludes them from the education system.

SemanarioUniversidad.com reported weeks ago, for example, that in 2022 the government awarded 387,739 Avancemos scholarships to students living in poverty or extreme poverty; while for this year the goal is only 320,000.

“I don’t see a real and firm intention. This cannot be addressed if it is not done from an institutional perspective and with public policies, and I don’t see any intention to do so.” (…) My concern is that neglect and doing nothing are leading to an increase (in cases),” Jurado said.

From her perspective, both the National Institute for Women (INAMU) and the National Children’s Trust (PANI) are two institutions created to protect these two vulnerable populations; however, knowledgeable and committed leadership is required to carry out this protection.

“The institutions were created to protect these people, children and women, but if this is lost, they return to their vulnerability. (…) We have figures within ministries who have not had the leadership that this increase in violence requires to once again protect the most vulnerable population. (…) What we need to do is return to the public policy that already exists and not turn a blind eye, but reapply it, because what we have seen is a deterioration,” she added.

Along the same lines, the president of the Feminist Network against Violence Against Women emphasized that authorities must focus on prevention.

In the country, for example, there is already a policy for addressing and preventing violence against women of all ages; however, this government is not “fully implemented.”

“It’s a national policy, but it turns out this government doesn’t like it, so they’re doing other things that aren’t helping to reduce violence. (…) No government likes prevention because it requires a lot of investment and is very long-term. The government isn’t preventing it,” said Meza, who added that, with the reduction in social investment to pay off public debt, the future of future generations is being “mortgaged.” The psychologist also emphasized that it is necessary to promote “cultural changes” in the country, as “we live in a society that condones violence and gives more power to men.” Likewise, “systematic and constant” prevention campaigns should be carried out, hopefully on radio and television, and not just on social media.

PANI Overwhelmed with Cases

When asked about this issue, PANI Executive President Kennly Garza indicated that the institution is overwhelmed with reports of violence. This exponential growth in complaints demands an immediate response from PANI.

“With this exponential growth in the number of complaints, especially in recent times, society is demanding an immediate response to address situations that pose an imminent risk. This means that PANI’s efforts are more focused on reporting compared to other periods,” said Garza, who emphasized that all of this is being addressed despite the institution’s limited resources.

In 2022, for example, 127,000 minors were assisted as victims of some type of rights violation, while the number was 137,000 in 2023, the official added.

The PANI leader also agreed that mental health conditions, poverty, unemployment, dysfunctional family patterns, and substance use, among others, contribute to the increase in domestic violence.

Regarding prevention, Garza listed the various tools and programs the institution offers to protect the rights of minors.

She also indicated that the protection of these individuals falls not only on PANI, but also on the Church, civil society, and other institutions, who also have “joint responsibility.”

Adapted and translated from SemanarioUniversidad.com. Read the original here.

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