LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) was 18.62 in 2025. ▼ Falling
LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Costa Rica, 2012–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in Costa Rica stood at 18.62.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 27.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in Costa Rica peaked at 41.55 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 17.73, in 2023.
Costa Rica ranks 16th of 75 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 25.92 | — |
| 2013 | 27.19 | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 25.54 | -6.1% |
| 2015 | 25.8 | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 27.38 | +6.1% |
| 2017 | 24.4 | -10.9% |
| 2018 | 25.43 | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 25.27 | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 41.55 | +64.4% |
| 2021 | 27.08 | -34.8% |
| 2022 | 20.99 | -22.5% |
| 2023 | 17.73 | -15.5% |
| 2024 | 18.91 | +6.7% |
| 2025 | 18.62 | -1.6% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 18.62 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.43, 1.6× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 18.62 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 13.89, 1.3× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +64.4% | 25.27 | 41.55 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 25.87 | 24.4 | 27.38 | 8 |
| 2020s | 24.14 | 17.73 | 41.55 | 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 (previous ilo) in Costa Rica?
- Lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in Costa Rica was 18.62 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 41.55 in 2020.
- What is the lowest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.73 in 2023.
- How does Costa Rica rank for lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo)?
- Costa Rica ranks 16th out of 75 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.8%. 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 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (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 is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. LU4 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment, time-related underemployment or the potential labour force. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.