Gender wage gap in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Gender wage gap was -6.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Gender wage gap in Costa Rica, 1989–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded -6.3% for gender wage gap in 2024.
The figure is up 27.5% on the previous year and down 209.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender wage gap in Costa Rica peaked at 5.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, -13.3%, in 2022.
That places Costa Rica 60th out of 67 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | -1.1% | -6.5% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.7% | -8.0% | 5.9% | 7 |
| 2010s | -5.2% | -10.9% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | -9.0% | -13.3% | -6.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More work & labour data for Costa Rica
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 69.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 66.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 46.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 65.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 77.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 53.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gender wage gap in Costa Rica?
- Gender wage gap in Costa Rica was -6.3% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gender wage gap recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 5.9% in 2008.
- What is the lowest gender wage gap recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was -13.3% in 2022.
- How does Costa Rica rank for gender wage gap?
- Costa Rica ranks 60th out of 67 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gender wage gap rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 209.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gender wage gap. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Difference between average earnings of men and average earnings of women expressed as a percentage of average earnings of men.