Costa Rica

897 threatened species · Biodiversity Intelligence Dashboard

Threatened Species

897

CR + EN + VU

Critically Endangered

119

Highest risk

Endangered

367

Very high risk

Vulnerable

411

High risk

Declining

30%

266 species

Category Breakdown
CR 119
EN 367
VU 411
CR: 119
EN: 367
VU: 411

Critically Endangered

11913%

Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Endangered

36741%

Very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Vulnerable

41146%

High risk of extinction in the wild.

Threatened total — 897 species

Species by Group
🌱

plants

527

527 threatened

🐟

fishes

113

113 threatened

🐸

amphibians

65

65 threatened

🦗

insects

43

43 threatened

🍄

fungi

30

30 threatened

🐦

birds

28

28 threatened

🪱

other invertebrates

28

28 threatened

🐾

mammals

16

16 threatened

🪸

corals

16

16 threatened

🦀

crustaceans

12

12 threatened

🐢

reptiles

10

10 threatened

🐚

molluscs

8

8 threatened

🕷️

arachnids

1

1 threatened

Global Share

1.61%

of globally threatened species

Country Rank

#44

of 250 countries

Endemic Threatened

293

Found only here

Top Threats
1.Logging & wood harvesting569 species
2.Annual & perennial non-timber crops539 species
3.Habitat shifting & alteration176 species
4.Livestock farming & ranching137 species
5.Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases102 species
6.Housing & urban areas98 species
7.Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources95 species
8.Type Unknown/Unrecorded (pollution)75 species

How to Cite

IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS

GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org

This page: SpeciesRadar (2026). Costa Rica: Biodiversity Dashboard. SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/countries/CR

Species counts reflect IUCN Red List threatened categories (CR, EN, VU). · Full citation guide & data usage terms

Frequently asked questions

How many threatened species are in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has 897 threatened species recorded on SpeciesRadar — 119 of those are Critically Endangered, facing an extremely high risk of extinction. The figures combine IUCN Red List data with national red list assessments where available.
How many Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable species does Costa Rica have?
Of the 897 threatened species in Costa Rica, 119 are Critically Endangered, 367 are Endangered, and 411 are Vulnerable. Together these three IUCN Red List categories make up the "threatened" total.
What is the most endangered species in Costa Rica?
Among the 119 Critically Endangered species in Costa Rica, Horned Marsupial Frog (Gastrotheca cornuta) is one of the most at-risk — featured prominently on the country dashboard. The full list of Critically Endangered species is filterable on the Species tab.
What protected areas exist in Costa Rica?
SpeciesRadar does not yet catalogue protected areas for Costa Rica. Where available, protected-area data is drawn from the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and national designations.
Which animal and plant groups are most threatened in Costa Rica?
The most affected groups in Costa Rica, by number of threatened species, are plants (527), fishes (113), and amphibians (65). The full taxonomic breakdown is shown on the country dashboard.
What are the biggest threats to wildlife in Costa Rica?
The leading threats to threatened species in Costa Rica are logging & wood harvesting, annual & perennial non-timber crops, habitat shifting & alteration, and livestock farming & ranching. Each threat is mapped to the species it affects in the country's threat breakdown.
How many threatened species are found only in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has 293 threatened species that are endemic — found nowhere else on Earth. Because their entire global population depends on this one country, they are especially vulnerable to local habitat loss.
How many of Costa Rica's threatened species have declining populations?
266 of Costa Rica's threatened species have populations that are still declining. Reversing these trends is the central focus of the conservation work the country dashboard tracks.
How does Costa Rica compare to other countries for threatened species?
Costa Rica ranks #44 of 250 countries by number of threatened species, and accounts for roughly 1.61% of all threatened species tracked worldwide. Threat is geographically concentrated, so a high rank reflects both rich biodiversity and intense pressure on it.
Where does the data for Costa Rica come from, and can I download it?
SpeciesRadar draws on the IUCN Red List, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), the World Database on Protected Areas, and national red lists. Every table on the Costa Rica profile — species, national red list, and protected areas — can be downloaded as a CSV spreadsheet or a branded PDF report.