Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — Costa Rica

Vulnerable employment in Costa Rica in 2025 — 23.36%. Ranked 77 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 9.68 pp.

2025 23.36% −0.24 pp vs 2024
World rank 77of 182
Period maximum 33.04%1991
Period minimum 23.36%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — Costa Rica, 1991–202522.52527.53032.53519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 33.04%1992: 30.83%1993: 30.75%1994: 29%1995: 30.07%1996: 29.3%1997: 30.29%1998: 28.72%1999: 28.49%2000: 28.22%2001: 28.06%2002: 28.73%2003: 26.88%2004: 28.16%2005: 26.02%2006: 26.52%2007: 24.65%2008: 24.59%2009: 24.52%2010: 23.83%2011: 23.68%2012: 24.98%2013: 27.24%2014: 26.63%2015: 26.53%2016: 24.84%2017: 24.49%2018: 24.63%2019: 25.28%2020: 25.8%2021: 25.42%2022: 24.88%2023: 23.77%2024: 23.6%2025: 23.36%
Change over the period: −9.68 pp Annual average: -0.28 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Costa Rica 23.36%
World 42.38%
Central America computed 27.75%
Vulnerable employment — Costa Rica, by year Costa Rica All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 23.36 −0.24 pp
2024 23.6 −0.17 pp
2023 23.77 −1.11 pp
2022 24.88 −0.54 pp
2021 25.42 −0.38 pp
2020 25.8 +0.52 pp
2019 25.28 +0.65 pp
2018 24.63 +0.14 pp
2017 24.49 −0.35 pp
2016 24.84 −1.69 pp
2015 26.53 −0.09 pp
2014 26.63 −0.61 pp
2013 27.24 +2.26 pp
2012 24.98 +1.3 pp
2011 23.68 −0.15 pp
2010 23.83 −0.69 pp
2009 24.52 −0.07 pp
2008 24.59 −0.06 pp
2007 24.65 −1.87 pp
2006 26.52 +0.51 pp
2005 26.02 −2.14 pp
2004 28.16 +1.28 pp
2003 26.88 −1.84 pp
2002 28.73 +0.67 pp
2001 28.06 −0.16 pp
2000 28.22 −0.27 pp
1999 28.49 −0.23 pp
1998 28.72 −1.58 pp
1997 30.29 +0.99 pp
1996 29.3 −0.76 pp
1995 30.07 +1.07 pp
1994 29 −1.76 pp
1993 30.75 −0.08 pp
1992 30.83 −2.21 pp
1991 33.04

Central America, 2025

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

About the indicator

The share of own-account workers and contributing family workers in total employment. The ILO devised the category as a substitute for informal employment where informality is not measured: such workers usually have no employment contract, no social insurance and no protection against dismissal, and their income depends directly on what they produce. In the poorest countries this share exceeds three quarters of the employed — wage work there is closer to an exception.

Important: Not the same as informal employment: an employee without a contract does not fall into this category, though they are no better protected. The indicator understates informality in countries where off-the-books hiring is widespread.

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