Costa Rica vs Panama: Labor force, total
Labor force, total over time
- Costa Rica
- Panama
How they compare
Costa Rica currently reports 2.43 million against 2.29 million in Panama, a difference of 139,650.
That makes Costa Rica's figure about 1.1 times Panama's.
Across all 36 years both countries report, Costa Rica has been ahead every year.
Costa Rica ranks 122nd and Panama ranks 123rd of 186 countries.
Costa Rica has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Costa Rica | Panama | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.33 million | 1.07 million | 255,568 | Costa Rica |
| 2000s | 1.83 million | 1.45 million | 379,115 | Costa Rica |
| 2010s | 2.29 million | 1.86 million | 430,326 | Costa Rica |
| 2020s | 2.43 million | 2.17 million | 265,498 | Costa Rica |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher labor force, total, Costa Rica or Panama?
- Costa Rica, at 2.43 million against 2.29 million in Panama as of 2025.
- What is the difference in labor force, total between Costa Rica and Panama?
- 139,650, with Costa Rica ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Costa Rica and Panama?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do Costa Rica and Panama rank globally for labor force, total?
- Costa Rica ranks 122nd and Panama ranks 123rd of 186 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as Labor force, total. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.