Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Employment (ILO modelled estimates) was 2,261 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Costa Rica, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Costa Rica stood at 2,261. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Costa Rica peaked at 2,261 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1,100, in 1991.
Costa Rica ranks 122nd of 188 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.
Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1,100 | — |
| 1992 | 1,134 | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 1,188 | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 1,235 | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 1,282 | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 1,262 | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 1,360 | +7.7% |
| 1998 | 1,445 | +6.3% |
| 1999 | 1,480 | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 1,516 | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 1,577 | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 1,601 | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 1,645 | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 1,657 | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 1,761 | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 1,798 | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 1,889 | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 1,905 | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 1,872 | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 1,882 | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 1,913 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 2,076 | +8.5% |
| 2013 | 2,110 | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 2,157 | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 2,147 | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 2,079 | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 2,123 | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 2,204 | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 2,260 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 2,022 | -10.5% |
| 2021 | 2,114 | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 2,221 | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 2,146 | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 2,236 | +4.2% |
| 2025 | 2,261 | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,276 | 1,100 | 1,480 | 9 |
| 2000s | 1,722 | 1,516 | 1,905 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,095 | 1,882 | 2,260 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,167 | 2,022 | 2,261 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More work & labour data for Costa Rica
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.9965 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.9952 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.9977 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.61 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.29 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,205 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 569.35 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,908 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,868 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 3,776 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Costa Rica?
- Employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Costa Rica was 2,261 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 2,261 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,100 in 1991.
- How does Costa Rica rank for employment (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Costa Rica ranks 122nd out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The employed comprise all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in one of the following categories: a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). Data disaggregated by status in employment are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Classification of Status in Employment (ICSE-93). Data may have been regrouped from the national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ICSE. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.