Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) … national in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) … national was 36.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Costa Rica, 1963–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Costa Rica stood at 36.0%. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 7.5% on the previous year and down 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Costa Rica peaked at 54.9% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 36.0%, in 2025.
Costa Rica ranks 108th of 176 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) … national in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 52.7% | — |
| 1973 | 45.7% | -13.4% |
| 1984 | 45.5% | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 54.9% | +20.6% |
| 1991 | 53.5% | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 51.7% | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 53.2% | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 52.4% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 53.3% | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 49.3% | -7.4% |
| 1997 | 50.8% | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 53.6% | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 51.2% | -4.4% |
| 2000 | 50.4% | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 51.9% | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 50.1% | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 51.2% | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 48.2% | -5.8% |
| 2005 | 49.1% | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 49.8% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 51.9% | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 49.7% | -4.2% |
| 2009 | 47.7% | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 44.6% | -6.4% |
| 2011 | 43.6% | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 48.2% | +10.4% |
| 2013 | 47.7% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 48.2% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 45.7% | -5.2% |
| 2016 | 42.6% | -6.8% |
| 2017 | 42.6% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 45.6% | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 45.3% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 43.9% | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 45.4% | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 43.0% | -5.4% |
| 2023 | 37.9% | -11.7% |
| 2024 | 38.9% | +2.5% |
| 2025 | 36.0% | -7.5% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 36.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 40.5%, 89% of the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 36.0% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 43.8%, 82% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 52.7% | 52.7% | 52.7% | 1 |
| 1970s | 45.7% | 45.7% | 45.7% | 1 |
| 1980s | 45.5% | 45.5% | 45.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 52.4% | 49.3% | 54.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.0% | 47.7% | 51.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.4% | 42.6% | 48.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.8% | 36.0% | 45.4% | 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 for ages 15-24, total (%) in Costa Rica?
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Costa Rica was 36.0% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 54.9% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.0% in 2025.
- How does Costa Rica rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%)?
- Costa Rica ranks 108th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 is the proportion of the population ages 15-24 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.