Costa Rica’s housing shortage is lowest in Latin America

Costa Rica has the lowest housing-shortage rate in Latin America and the Caribbean, with 14 percent, according to a study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The latest edition of the IDB’s flagship publication, “Development in the Americas,” notes that the national funding system for housing allows at least a quarter of the population to have a home.

The study examines the housing markets of more than 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and analyzes the region’s regulations and policies. It also shows that the region has more housing slums than other countries with similar income levels, a sign that the region’s housing markets are failing to meet demand for formal dwellings, particularly for the low-income population.

Nicaragua, Bolivia and Guatemala are the countries that recorded the worst index in the region.