Own-account workers, total in Costa Rica

Costa Rica: Own-account workers, total was 13.9% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
13.9%
Change on year
down 5.9%
World rank
131st
of 187 countries
All-time high
21.1%
in 1991
All-time low
13.9%
in 2016
Years of data
26
1991–2016

Own-account workers, total in Costa Rica, 1991–2016

051015201991200320161991: 21.1 % of total employment1992: 19.7 % of total employment1993: 19.6 % of total employment1994: 18 % of total employment1995: 18.8 % of total employment1996: 18.6 % of total employment1997: 19.6 % of total employment1998: 17.9 % of total employment1999: 18 % of total employment2000: 20.9 % of total employment2001: 20.3 % of total employment2002: 19.5 % of total employment2003: 19.3 % of total employment2004: 20.7 % of total employment2005: 18.8 % of total employment2006: 19.4 % of total employment2007: 17.9 % of total employment2008: 18.1 % of total employment2009: 18.5 % of total employment2010: 19.3 % of total employment2011: 14 % of total employment2012: 13.9 % of total employment2013: 15.9 % of total employment2014: 15.2 % of total employment2015: 14.7 % of total employment2016: 13.9 % of total employment

Source: World Bank. Measured in % of total employment.

Analysis

The most recent figure for own-account workers, total in Costa Rica is 13.9%, measured in 2016. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.

That represents a change of down 5.9% on the previous year and down 28.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in Costa Rica peaked at 21.1% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 13.9%, in 2016.

That places Costa Rica 131st out of 187 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.

Own-account workers, total in Costa Rica, year by year

Annual values for Own-account workers, total (% of total employment) in Costa Rica, 1991 to 2016.
Year % of total employment Change
1991 21.1%
1992 19.7% -6.7%
1993 19.6% -0.4%
1994 18.0% -8.3%
1995 18.8% +4.2%
1996 18.6% -1.1%
1997 19.6% +5.8%
1998 17.9% -9.0%
1999 18.0% +0.6%
2000 20.9% +16.5%
2001 20.3% -2.9%
2002 19.5% -4.2%
2003 19.3% -1.0%
2004 20.7% +7.5%
2005 18.8% -9.1%
2006 19.4% +2.8%
2007 17.9% -7.6%
2008 18.1% +1.0%
2009 18.5% +2.3%
2010 19.3% +4.1%
2011 14.0% -27.3%
2012 13.9% -0.5%
2013 15.9% +14.0%
2014 15.2% -4.2%
2015 14.7% -3.4%
2016 13.9% -5.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 19.0% 17.9% 21.1% 9
2000s 19.4% 17.9% 20.9% 10
2010s 15.3% 13.9% 19.3% 7

Countries ranked near Costa Rica

  1. 128 Bahamas 14.3% compare
  2. 129 Poland 14.1% compare
  3. 130 Mauritius 14.0% compare
  4. 132 Czechia 13.5% compare
  5. 133 French Polynesia 13.0% compare
  6. 134 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 12.7% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More work & labour data for Costa Rica

All data for Costa Rica →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, total in Costa Rica?
Own-account workers, total in Costa Rica was 13.9% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in Costa Rica?
The highest recorded value was 21.1% in 1991.
What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in Costa Rica?
The lowest recorded value was 13.9% in 2016.
How does Costa Rica rank for own-account workers, total?
Costa Rica ranks 131st out of 187 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in Costa Rica?
Over the last ten years it is down 28.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Own-account workers, total (% of total employment). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Own-account workers, total in Costa Rica. Statizoid. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-total-percent-of-total-employment/costa-rica/

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About this data

Indicator
Own-account workers, total (% of total employment)
Unit
% of total employment
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
213 places, 5,537 data points, 1991–2016
Last refreshed