Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 was 44.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Costa Rica, 1963–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 44.1% for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 11.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Costa Rica peaked at 52.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 17.5%, in 1963.
That places Costa Rica 147th out of 194 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 17.5% | — |
| 1973 | 20.0% | +13.9% |
| 1984 | 22.3% | +11.6% |
| 1990 | 32.9% | +47.8% |
| 1991 | 33.6% | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 32.8% | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 33.7% | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 34.7% | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 35.7% | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 34.1% | -4.4% |
| 1997 | 37.1% | +8.9% |
| 1998 | 39.5% | +6.4% |
| 1999 | 40.2% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 38.3% | -4.5% |
| 2001 | 42.2% | +10.0% |
| 2002 | 42.0% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 42.5% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 40.8% | -4.0% |
| 2005 | 44.5% | +9.0% |
| 2006 | 44.4% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 45.5% | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 46.1% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 46.2% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 44.4% | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 46.2% | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 51.2% | +10.8% |
| 2013 | 51.0% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 51.1% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 49.8% | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 45.8% | -8.1% |
| 2017 | 45.7% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 48.4% | +6.0% |
| 2019 | 52.5% | +8.5% |
| 2020 | 48.4% | -7.8% |
| 2021 | 50.0% | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 50.1% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 43.9% | -12.4% |
| 2024 | 45.8% | +4.4% |
| 2025 | 44.1% | -3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 17.5% | 17.5% | 17.5% | 1 |
| 1970s | 20.0% | 20.0% | 20.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 22.3% | 22.3% | 22.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 35.4% | 32.8% | 40.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 43.2% | 38.3% | 46.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.6% | 44.4% | 52.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.1% | 43.9% | 50.1% | 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 female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Costa Rica?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Costa Rica was 44.1% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 52.5% in 2019.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.5% in 1963.
- How does Costa Rica rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024?
- Costa Rica ranks 147th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.