Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — Costa Rica

Labor force participation rate in Costa Rica in 2025 — 57.66%. Ranked 121 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 0.31 pp.

2025 57.66% −0.03 pp vs 2024
World rank 121of 182
Period maximum 64.33%2012
Period minimum 55.66%1992

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — Costa Rica, 1990–20255557.56062.56519901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 57.35%1991: 56.5%1992: 55.66%1993: 56.54%1994: 57.02%1995: 58.03%1996: 55.97%1997: 58.13%1998: 59.69%1999: 59.69%2000: 58.87%2001: 60.23%2002: 59.76%2003: 60.04%2004: 58.87%2005: 61.31%2006: 60.65%2007: 61.43%2008: 60.91%2009: 60.49%2010: 59.21%2011: 60.62%2012: 64.33%2013: 63.66%2014: 64.19%2015: 62.81%2016: 59.69%2017: 59.85%2018: 62.21%2019: 64.26%2020: 60.63%2021: 61.77%2022: 61.49%2023: 56.83%2024: 57.69%2025: 57.66%
Change over the period: +0.31 pp Annual average: 0.01 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Costa Rica 57.66%
World 60.98%
Central America computed 61.29%
Labor force participation rate — Costa Rica, by year Costa Rica All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 57.66 −0.03 pp
2024 57.69 +0.86 pp
2023 56.83 −4.66 pp
2022 61.49 −0.28 pp
2021 61.77 +1.14 pp
2020 60.63 −3.63 pp
2019 64.26 +2.05 pp
2018 62.21 +2.36 pp
2017 59.85 +0.16 pp
2016 59.69 −3.12 pp
2015 62.81 −1.38 pp
2014 64.19 +0.53 pp
2013 63.66 −0.67 pp
2012 64.33 +3.71 pp
2011 60.62 +1.41 pp
2010 59.21 −1.27 pp
2009 60.49 −0.42 pp
2008 60.91 −0.52 pp
2007 61.43 +0.78 pp
2006 60.65 −0.66 pp
2005 61.31 +2.44 pp
2004 58.87 −1.17 pp
2003 60.04 +0.28 pp
2002 59.76 −0.47 pp
2001 60.23 +1.36 pp
2000 58.87 −0.82 pp
1999 59.69 +0 pp
1998 59.69 +1.56 pp
1997 58.13 +2.16 pp
1996 55.97 −2.06 pp
1995 58.03 +1.01 pp
1994 57.02 +0.48 pp
1993 56.54 +0.88 pp
1992 55.66 −0.84 pp
1991 56.5 −0.85 pp
1990 57.35

Central America, 2025

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

About the indicator

The share of the population aged 15 and over that belongs to the labor force. It shows how fully a country uses its labor potential. The decline in advanced countries comes from an aging population and longer years of schooling, while low values in developing ones usually come from limited participation by women.

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