Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 46.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Costa Rica, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 46.0% for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and down 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Costa Rica peaked at 52.7% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 32.6%, in 1992.
Costa Rica ranks 136th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 32.9% | — |
| 1991 | 33.3% | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 32.6% | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 33.5% | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 34.7% | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 35.6% | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 34.1% | -4.2% |
| 1997 | 37.1% | +9.0% |
| 1998 | 39.4% | +6.3% |
| 1999 | 39.9% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 38.6% | -3.2% |
| 2001 | 41.6% | +7.6% |
| 2002 | 41.1% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 41.5% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 39.8% | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 43.7% | +9.7% |
| 2006 | 43.3% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 44.3% | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 44.4% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 44.8% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 44.1% | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 46.5% | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 51.4% | +10.7% |
| 2013 | 51.2% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 51.3% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 50.1% | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 46.0% | -8.1% |
| 2017 | 45.9% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 48.7% | +6.0% |
| 2019 | 52.7% | +8.4% |
| 2020 | 48.6% | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 50.3% | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 50.3% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 44.1% | -12.3% |
| 2024 | 46.0% | +4.3% |
| 2025 | 46.0% | +0.1% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 46.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 55.1%, 84% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 46.0% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 52.5%, 88% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 35.3% | 32.6% | 39.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.3% | 38.6% | 44.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.8% | 44.1% | 52.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.5% | 44.1% | 50.3% | 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 labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Costa Rica?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Costa Rica was 46.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 52.7% in 2019.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.6% in 1992.
- How does Costa Rica rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Costa Rica ranks 136th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The labor force participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the population ages 15 and older. The labor force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed.