Bees in Costa Rica
Costa Rica had 40,769 bees in 2024, the 74th largest in the world (0.04% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 11%. The record was 52,000 head in 1977.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 40,769 head
- World rank
- 74 of 98
- 10-year change
- −11%
- Record
- 52,000 head
- 1977
Bees in Costa Rica, 1961–2024 (head)
Costa Rica compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.04%
- 0.05% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −11%
- world +15%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | Mozambique | 48,456 | 0.05% |
| 73 | Ecuador | 47,889 | 0.05% |
| 74 | Costa Rica | 40,769 | 0.04% |
| 75 | Mali | 38,238 | 0.04% |
| 76 | Libya | 36,371 | 0.04% |
Map of bees numbers by country
Share of the world total; Costa Rica is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 40,769 | −1.3% |
| 2023 | 41,315 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 41,027 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 40,426 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 39,974 | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 39,376 | 0.0% |
| 2018 | 39,376 | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 37,910 | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 37,910 | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 37,910 | −17% |
| 2014 | 45,904 | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 45,372 | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 43,270 | −2.1% |
| 2011 | 44,193 | +8.1% |
| 2010 | 40,894 | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 38,100 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 38,000 | 0.0% |
| 2007 | 38,000 | 0.0% |
| 2006 | 38,000 | 0.0% |
| 2005 | 38,000 | 0.0% |
| 2004 | 38,000 | 0.0% |
| 2003 | 38,000 | 0.0% |
| 2002 | 38,000 | 0.0% |
| 2001 | 38,000 | 0.0% |
| 2000 | 38,000 | 0.0% |
| 1999 | 38,000 | 0.0% |
| 1998 | 38,000 | 0.0% |
| 1997 | 38,000 | 0.0% |
| 1996 | 38,000 | 0.0% |
| 1995 | 38,000 | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 37,000 | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 36,000 | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 35,000 | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 34,000 | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 33,000 | 0.0% |
| 1989 | 33,000 | +6.0% |
| 1988 | 31,146 | 0.0% |
| 1987 | 31,146 | 0.0% |
| 1986 | 31,146 | −38% |
| 1985 | 50,000 | +9.3% |
| 1984 | 45,731 | −8.5% |
| 1983 | 50,000 | 0.0% |
| 1982 | 50,000 | 0.0% |
| 1981 | 50,000 | 0.0% |
| 1980 | 50,000 | −3.8% |
| 1979 | 52,000 | 0.0% |
| 1978 | 52,000 | 0.0% |
| 1977 | 52,000 | +13% |
| 1976 | 46,000 | 0.0% |
| 1975 | 46,000 | +15% |
| 1974 | 40,000 | +33% |
| 1973 | 30,000 | +50% |
| 1972 | 20,000 | +33% |
| 1971 | 15,000 | −25% |
| 1970 | 20,000 | −13% |
| 1969 | 23,000 | −8.0% |
| 1968 | 25,000 | −11% |
| 1967 | 28,000 | 0.0% |
| 1966 | 28,000 | 0.0% |
| 1965 | 28,000 | 0.0% |
| 1964 | 28,000 | 0.0% |
| 1963 | 28,000 | 0.0% |
| 1962 | 28,000 | 0.0% |
| 1961 | 28,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many bees are there in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica had 40,769 bees in 2024, 0.04% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Costa Rica rank in the world by number of bees?
Costa Rica ranked 74th of 98 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in India with 12.4% of the world total.
How has the number of bees in Costa Rica changed?
It fell by 11% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +15% for the world. The record was 52,000 head in 1977.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for Costa Rica is imputed by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.