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Costa Rica · CCSS · Ministry of Health
Donating in Costa Rica
Costa Rica operates under Law N° 9222 for Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation. In three years it doubled its donation rate with a historic 171% increase, reaching 10 donors pmp in 2025
In April 2026, the country enabled the entire population to register their decision on organ donation at multiple public institutions. 2025 rate: 10 pmp (4th in Latin America)
Key figures for Costa Rica
2025 Rate
10 pmp
effective donors per million (CCSS)
Growth
+171%
donation increase in 3 years (2022–2025)
LATAM Ranking
4th
among leading countries in the region
Donors 2025
66
effective organ donors (CCSS)
Source: CCSS · Ministry of Health of Costa Rica
The public system
How donation works in Costa Rica
Governing body and law
The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) executes all donation and transplant procedures free of charge, ethically, and transparently. The Ministry of Health is the regulatory governing body. Law N° 9222 is the current legal framework for organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
Since April 2026, the CCSS has enabled the entire population to register their decision to become a donor or not through the digital health record and multiple public institutions, strengthening informed consent and process transparency.
How to express your wishes
- 1
If you want to be a donor: register your decision in the CCSS digital health record or at institutions enabled by the Ministry of Health
- 2
If you want not to be a donor: the law allows you to formally declare your refusal through the same channels
- 3
In all cases, share your decision with your family — family consultation remains key at the time of death
- 4
The CCSS national system assigns the organ based on objective medical criteria (compatibility, urgency, time on waiting list)
Living donation
Kidney transplant with living donor
Costa Rica performs kidney transplants from related and emotionally linked living donors. The procedure is free and fully covered by the CCSS in the public system
Donor requirements
- Legal adult, with full legal capacity
- Blood relatives or duly accredited spouse/partner
- Medically, psychologically, and socially suitable
- Mandatory bioethical evaluation under the CCSS framework
Coverage and protection
- The CCSS covers the entire procedure at no cost
- Post-donation follow-up with multidisciplinary team
- CCSS bioethics manual governs decision-making
- Any financial compensation for donation is prohibited
Main centers
CCSS institutions leading multi-organ transplant programs in Costa Rica
Hospital México
San José · Leading kidney transplant center of the CCSS · National reference
Hospital Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia
San José · Multi-organ program: lung, heart, liver, and kidney transplants
Hospital San Juan de Dios
San José · Historic hospital, part of the CCSS transplant network
Program strengthening
The CCSS donation and transplant program continues to be strengthened through international technical cooperation
Historic milestone
Costa Rica doubled its donation rate in three years
"Costa Rica went from a rate of 5.61 donors pmp in 2024 to reaching 10 donors pmp in 2025, a 171% increase that positions the country as a leader in Central America" — Ministry of Health of Costa Rica, 2025
In April 2026, Costa Rica took an additional step: it enabled the entire population to register their decision on organ and tissue donation at multiple public institutions. Combined with the strengthening of the CCSS Donation and Transplant Program, the country positions itself as a regional benchmark with its 10 pmp rate, the fourth highest in Latin America
Official information
The CCSS and Ministry of Health offer resources to register as a donor
Register your decision today
Costa Rica allows you to register your wish to be a donor easily and securely. Learn about the process through the CCSS and the Ministry of Health
Verified sources
This page summarizes public information from the CCSS and the Ministry of Health of Costa Rica, under Law N° 9222. Medical and legal decisions are yours and your healthcare team's