Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 69.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Costa Rica, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Costa Rica is 69.8%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Costa Rica peaked at 82.2% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 69.8%, in 2025.
That places Costa Rica 94th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 82.2% | — |
| 1991 | 80.1% | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 79.2% | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 80.1% | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 80.0% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 81.1% | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 78.6% | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 79.9% | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 80.7% | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 80.2% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 79.9% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 79.7% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 79.2% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 79.4% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 78.7% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 79.7% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 78.7% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 79.3% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 78.0% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 76.8% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 74.9% | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 75.3% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 77.7% | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 76.6% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 77.5% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 76.0% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 73.9% | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 74.3% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 76.3% | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 76.2% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 73.1% | -4.2% |
| 2021 | 73.7% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 73.1% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 70.1% | -4.2% |
| 2024 | 69.9% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 69.8% | -0.1% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 69.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 68.8%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 69.8% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 73.5%, 95% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 80.2% | 78.6% | 82.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 78.9% | 76.8% | 79.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.9% | 73.9% | 77.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.6% | 69.8% | 73.7% | 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Costa Rica?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Costa Rica was 69.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 82.2% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.8% in 2025.
- How does Costa Rica rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Costa Rica ranks 94th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.