Gender wage gap (International Labour) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Gender wage gap (International Labour) was -11.41 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Gender wage gap in Costa Rica, 1989–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, gender wage gap in Costa Rica stood at -11.41.
That represents a change of down 80.0% on the previous year and down 98.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender wage gap in Costa Rica peaked at 5.86 in 2008 and was at its lowest, -13.31, in 2022.
Costa Rica ranks 64th 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 (International Labour) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 4.55 | — |
| 1990 | 3.13 | -31.2% |
| 1991 | 1.23 | -60.7% |
| 1992 | 1.03 | -16.3% |
| 1993 | -6.53 | -734.0% |
| 1994 | -0.68 | -89.6% |
| 1995 | 2.28 | -435.3% |
| 1996 | -5.56 | -343.9% |
| 1997 | -2.15 | -61.3% |
| 1998 | -2.38 | +10.7% |
| 1999 | -1.32 | -44.5% |
| 2000 | -1.31 | -0.8% |
| 2002 | -2.07 | +58.0% |
| 2003 | -7.96 | +284.5% |
| 2006 | -2.17 | -72.7% |
| 2007 | 3.16 | -245.6% |
| 2008 | 5.86 | +85.4% |
| 2009 | -0.15 | -102.6% |
| 2010 | 1.7 | -1235.3% |
| 2011 | -1.38 | -181.0% |
| 2012 | -7.24 | +424.5% |
| 2013 | -9.02 | +24.7% |
| 2014 | 5.79 | -164.2% |
| 2015 | -5.74 | -199.2% |
| 2016 | -9.12 | +58.8% |
| 2017 | -7.45 | -18.3% |
| 2018 | -8.93 | +19.8% |
| 2019 | -10.92 | +22.3% |
| 2020 | -7.68 | -29.7% |
| 2021 | -8.92 | +16.2% |
| 2022 | -13.31 | +49.2% |
| 2023 | -8.74 | -34.3% |
| 2024 | -6.34 | -27.5% |
| 2025 | -11.41 | +80.0% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's -11.41 is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.73. (21 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's -11.41 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is -0.152, 75.1× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gender wage gap (International Labour) 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% | -0.15 | 1.7 |
| 1993 | -734.0% | 1.03 | -6.53 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.55 | 4.55 | 4.55 | 1 |
| 1990s | -1.09 | -6.53 | 3.13 | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.6629 | -7.96 | 5.86 | 7 |
| 2010s | -5.23 | -10.92 | 5.79 | 10 |
| 2020s | -9.4 | -13.31 | -6.34 | 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 gender wage gap in Costa Rica?
- Gender wage gap in Costa Rica was -11.41 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest gender wage gap recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 5.86 in 2008.
- What is the lowest gender wage gap recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was -13.31 in 2022.
- How does Costa Rica rank for gender wage gap?
- Costa Rica ranks 64th out of 67 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gender wage gap rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 98.6%. 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, published as part of Gender wage gap. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. The gender wage gap is unadjusted and is calculated as the difference between average earnings of men and average earnings of women expressed as a percentage of average earnings of men. This indicator provides a measure of the relative difference between the earnings of men and those of women. Data disaggregated by occupation are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO). Data may have been regrouped from the national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCO. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.