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Employment in industry — all countries

Employment in industry — Costa Rica

Employment in industry in Costa Rica in 2025 — 18.5%. Ranked 98 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 8.1 pp.

2025 18.5% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 98of 182
Period maximum 26.6%1991
Period minimum 15.9%2013

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Employment in industry — Costa Rica, 1991–20251520253019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 26.6%1992: 26.3%1993: 25.9%1994: 26.2%1995: 24.1%1996: 23.8%1997: 23.7%1998: 23.1%1999: 23.2%2000: 22.2%2001: 22.1%2002: 21.3%2003: 21%2004: 20.8%2005: 20.4%2006: 20.5%2007: 21%2008: 20.4%2009: 20.1%2010: 18.7%2011: 18.6%2012: 17.5%2013: 15.9%2014: 17%2015: 18.5%2016: 18%2017: 17.9%2018: 18.9%2019: 18.1%2020: 18.1%2021: 17.6%2022: 19%2023: 20.2%2024: 18.6%2025: 18.5%
Change over the period: −8.1 pp Annual average: -0.24 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Costa Rica

Costa Rica 18.5%
World 23.7%
Latin America & Caribbean 20.5%
Central America computed 23.5%
Upper-middle-income countries computed 27.6%
Employment in industry — Costa Rica, by year Costa Rica All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 18.5 −0.1 pp
2024 18.6 −1.6 pp
2023 20.2 +1.2 pp
2022 19 +1.4 pp
2021 17.6 −0.5 pp
2020 18.1 −0 pp
2019 18.1 −0.8 pp
2018 18.9 +1 pp
2017 17.9 −0.1 pp
2016 18 −0.5 pp
2015 18.5 +1.4 pp
2014 17 +1.1 pp
2013 15.9 −1.6 pp
2012 17.5 −1 pp
2011 18.6 −0.1 pp
2010 18.7 −1.4 pp
2009 20.1 −0.3 pp
2008 20.4 −0.6 pp
2007 21 +0.5 pp
2006 20.5 +0.1 pp
2005 20.4 −0.4 pp
2004 20.8 −0.2 pp
2003 21 −0.3 pp
2002 21.3 −0.8 pp
2001 22.1 −0.1 pp
2000 22.2 −1 pp
1999 23.2 +0.1 pp
1998 23.1 −0.6 pp
1997 23.7 −0.1 pp
1996 23.8 −0.3 pp
1995 24.1 −2.1 pp
1994 26.2 +0.3 pp
1993 25.9 −0.4 pp
1992 26.3 −0.2 pp
1991 26.6 —

Central America, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

MX Mexico 24.5 SV El Salvador 23.1 GT Guatemala 22.7 HN Honduras 21.6 CR Costa Rica 18.5 PA Panama 17 NI Nicaragua 16.9 BZ Belize 15.3
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The share of total employment in industry (mining, manufacturing, electricity, water supply) and in construction. The peak is in countries in the middle of the industrial transition; in postindustrial economies the share declines even as industrial output grows, because of automation.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for Costa Rica

Economy Industry share of GDP

The contribution of industry and construction to the value added of the economy.

Costa Rica by year Economy Manufacturing share of GDP

The contribution of manufacturing alone — without mining, utilities or construction.

Costa Rica by year Labor Employment in services

The share of workers employed in trade, transport, finance, IT and the public sector.

Costa Rica by year Labor Employment in agriculture

The share of workers employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Costa Rica by year
All indicators for Costa Rica