Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 7.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Costa Rica, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Costa Rica is 7.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 24.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Costa Rica peaked at 21.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 1993.
Costa Rica ranks 63rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.1% | — |
| 1992 | 5.3% | -25.0% |
| 1993 | 5.0% | -6.2% |
| 1994 | 5.6% | +11.8% |
| 1995 | 6.5% | +17.0% |
| 1996 | 8.2% | +26.3% |
| 1997 | 7.3% | -10.9% |
| 1998 | 7.5% | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 7.9% | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 6.6% | -16.3% |
| 2001 | 7.6% | +15.4% |
| 2002 | 7.9% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 8.2% | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 8.5% | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 9.8% | +16.0% |
| 2006 | 8.7% | -11.5% |
| 2007 | 6.9% | -21.0% |
| 2008 | 6.3% | -8.6% |
| 2009 | 9.9% | +57.7% |
| 2010 | 9.1% | -8.1% |
| 2011 | 11.9% | +30.6% |
| 2012 | 10.8% | -8.9% |
| 2013 | 9.7% | -10.1% |
| 2014 | 10.5% | +7.8% |
| 2015 | 10.3% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 10.1% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 9.7% | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 11.4% | +17.5% |
| 2019 | 14.1% | +23.2% |
| 2020 | 21.2% | +50.6% |
| 2021 | 20.0% | -5.4% |
| 2022 | 15.1% | -24.5% |
| 2023 | 10.2% | -32.5% |
| 2024 | 7.8% | -23.8% |
| 2025 | 7.8% | +0.1% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 7.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.3%, 1.5× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 7.8% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 7.3%, 1.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.7% | 5.0% | 8.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 8.0% | 6.3% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.8% | 9.1% | 14.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.7% | 7.8% | 21.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More education data for Costa Rica
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 37,015 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14,772 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 62,694 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 61,047 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 464,490 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 460,126 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -3.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0897 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Costa Rica?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Costa Rica was 7.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 21.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 1993.
- How does Costa Rica rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Costa Rica ranks 63rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.