Gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation was -6.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation in Costa Rica, 1989–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation in Costa Rica is -6.3%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 27.5% on the previous year and down 209.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation in Costa Rica peaked at 5.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, -13.3%, in 2022.
Costa Rica ranks 60th of 67 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 4.5% | — |
| 1990 | 3.1% | -31.2% |
| 1991 | 1.2% | -60.7% |
| 1992 | 1.0% | -16.3% |
| 1993 | -6.5% | -734.0% |
| 1994 | -0.7% | -89.6% |
| 1995 | 2.3% | -435.3% |
| 1996 | -5.6% | -343.9% |
| 1997 | -2.1% | -61.3% |
| 1998 | -2.4% | +10.7% |
| 1999 | -1.3% | -44.5% |
| 2000 | -1.3% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | -2.1% | +58.0% |
| 2003 | -8.0% | +284.5% |
| 2006 | -2.2% | -72.7% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | -245.6% |
| 2008 | 5.9% | +85.4% |
| 2009 | -0.1% | -102.6% |
| 2010 | 1.7% | -1235.3% |
| 2011 | -1.4% | -181.0% |
| 2012 | -7.2% | +424.5% |
| 2013 | -9.0% | +24.7% |
| 2014 | 5.8% | -164.2% |
| 2015 | -5.7% | -199.2% |
| 2016 | -9.1% | +58.8% |
| 2017 | -7.5% | -18.3% |
| 2018 | -8.9% | +19.8% |
| 2019 | -10.9% | +22.3% |
| 2020 | -7.7% | -29.7% |
| 2021 | -8.9% | +16.2% |
| 2022 | -13.3% | +49.2% |
| 2023 | -8.7% | -34.3% |
| 2024 | -6.3% | -27.5% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's -6.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 14.9%. (21 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's -6.3% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 0.0%. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation in Costa Rica changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +1235.3% | -0.1% | 1.7% |
| 1993 | -734.0% | 1.0% | -6.5% |
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
- 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 gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation in Costa Rica?
- Gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation 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 vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 5.9% in 2008.
- What is the lowest gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was -13.3% in 2022.
- How does Costa Rica rank for gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation?
- Costa Rica ranks 60th out of 67 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation 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 vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation. 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.