Costa Rica vs South Africa: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)
Costa Rica
55.9%
in 2025
South Africa
55.6%
in 2024
Costa Rica rank
145th
South Africa rank
146th
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) over time
- Costa Rica
- South Africa
How they compare
Costa Rica currently reports 55.9% against 55.6% in South Africa, a difference of 0.3%.
Across all 32 years both countries report, Costa Rica has been ahead every year.
Costa Rica ranks 145th and South Africa ranks 146th of 199 countries.
Costa Rica has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Costa Rica | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.9% | 46.0% | 11.9% | Costa Rica |
| 2000s | 61.1% | 50.3% | 10.9% | Costa Rica |
| 2010s | 62.1% | 53.8% | 8.2% | Costa Rica |
| 2020s | 59.7% | 53.3% | 6.3% | Costa Rica |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+), Costa Rica or South Africa?
- Costa Rica, at 55.9% against 55.6% in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) between Costa Rica and South Africa?
- 0.3%, with Costa Rica ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Costa Rica and South Africa?
- 32 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2024.
- How do Costa Rica and South Africa rank globally for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Costa Rica ranks 145th and South Africa ranks 146th of 199 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.