Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 6.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Costa Rica, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Costa Rica stood at 6.8%.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and down 18.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Costa Rica peaked at 16.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 1992.
Costa Rica ranks 64th 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, total (% of total labor force) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5.4% | — |
| 1992 | 3.9% | -26.8% |
| 1993 | 4.0% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 4.0% | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 5.2% | +27.9% |
| 1996 | 6.2% | +18.9% |
| 1997 | 5.7% | -7.8% |
| 1998 | 5.3% | -6.2% |
| 1999 | 5.9% | +10.7% |
| 2000 | 5.1% | -13.9% |
| 2001 | 6.1% | +19.1% |
| 2002 | 6.4% | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 6.7% | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 6.4% | -3.1% |
| 2005 | 6.7% | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 5.9% | -12.2% |
| 2007 | 4.6% | -23.1% |
| 2008 | 4.9% | +8.3% |
| 2009 | 7.8% | +58.6% |
| 2010 | 7.2% | -8.3% |
| 2011 | 9.5% | +32.7% |
| 2012 | 9.1% | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 8.2% | -9.8% |
| 2014 | 8.5% | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 8.4% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 8.1% | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 7.7% | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 9.0% | +16.6% |
| 2019 | 10.8% | +19.9% |
| 2020 | 16.4% | +52.0% |
| 2021 | 15.1% | -7.9% |
| 2022 | 11.3% | -25.2% |
| 2023 | 8.3% | -26.5% |
| 2024 | 6.9% | -16.7% |
| 2025 | 6.8% | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.1% | 3.9% | 6.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.1% | 4.6% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.7% | 7.2% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.8% | 6.8% | 16.4% | 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, total (% of total labor force) in Costa Rica?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Costa Rica was 6.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 16.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 1992.
- How does Costa Rica rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Costa Rica ranks 64th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.7%. 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, total (% of total 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.