LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (current ILO) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (current ILO) was 11.23 in 2025. ▼ Falling
LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (current ILO) in Costa Rica, 2014–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (current ilo) in Costa Rica stood at 11.23. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is down 10.2% on the previous year and down 58.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (current ilo) in Costa Rica peaked at 37.29 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 11.23, in 2025.
That places Costa Rica 33rd out of 56 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (current ILO) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 28.09 | — |
| 2015 | 27.33 | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 24.65 | -9.8% |
| 2017 | 22.25 | -9.8% |
| 2018 | 24.21 | +8.8% |
| 2019 | 25.73 | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 37.29 | +44.9% |
| 2021 | 29.65 | -20.5% |
| 2022 | 22.85 | -22.9% |
| 2023 | 16.2 | -29.1% |
| 2024 | 12.51 | -22.8% |
| 2025 | 11.23 | -10.2% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 11.23 is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.04, 93% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 11.23 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 13.89, 81% of the median. (8 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 25.37 | 22.25 | 28.09 | 6 |
| 2020s | 21.62 | 11.23 | 37.29 | 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 lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (current ilo) in Costa Rica?
- Lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (current ilo) in Costa Rica was 11.23 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (current ilo) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 37.29 in 2020.
- What is the lowest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (current ilo) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.23 in 2025.
- How does Costa Rica rank for lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (current ilo)?
- Costa Rica ranks 33rd out of 56 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (current ilo) rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). 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. This series includes only countries for which the 19th ICLS definitions are applied. LU4 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment, time-related underemployment or the potential labour force. For more information, refer to the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database description.