Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Employment in agriculture vs. urban population was 13.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in Costa Rica, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in agriculture vs. urban population in Costa Rica is 13.4%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in agriculture vs. urban population in Costa Rica peaked at 18.7% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 10.9%, in 2009.
That places Costa Rica 102nd out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 18.7% | — |
| 1992 | 18.6% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 18.4% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 18.1% | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 18.3% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 18.2% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 17.8% | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 17.6% | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 17.0% | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 16.6% | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 15.6% | -6.0% |
| 2002 | 15.9% | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 15.2% | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 14.9% | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 15.2% | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 14.0% | -7.9% |
| 2007 | 13.3% | -5.5% |
| 2008 | 12.4% | -6.6% |
| 2009 | 10.9% | -12.1% |
| 2010 | 12.4% | +13.4% |
| 2011 | 12.8% | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 13.3% | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 13.9% | +4.5% |
| 2014 | 14.2% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 14.4% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 14.9% | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 15.4% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 15.8% | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 15.3% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 16.5% | +8.1% |
| 2021 | 15.2% | -8.1% |
| 2022 | 13.4% | -11.8% |
| 2023 | 13.4% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.1% | 17.0% | 18.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 14.4% | 10.9% | 16.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.2% | 12.4% | 15.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.6% | 13.4% | 16.5% | 4 |
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 in agriculture vs. urban population in Costa Rica?
- Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in Costa Rica was 13.4% in 2023, according to ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment in agriculture vs. urban population recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 18.7% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment in agriculture vs. urban population recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.9% in 2009.
- How does Costa Rica rank for employment in agriculture vs. urban population?
- Costa Rica ranks 102nd out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is employment in agriculture vs. urban population rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment in agriculture vs. urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The share of people employed in agriculture includes working-age people with a job in farming, forestry, fishing, and related activities, including those temporarily absent.