Potential labour force (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Potential labour force (current ILO definition - ICLS19) was 63.72 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Potential labour force (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in Costa Rica, 2014–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for potential labour force (current ilo definition - icls19) in Costa Rica is 63.72, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is down 13.6% on the previous year and down 77.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, potential labour force (current ilo definition - icls19) in Costa Rica peaked at 286.78 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 63.72, in 2025.
Costa Rica ranks 38th of 61 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Potential labour force (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 286.78 | — |
| 2015 | 281.95 | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 273.34 | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 230.74 | -15.6% |
| 2018 | 256.37 | +11.1% |
| 2019 | 220.9 | -13.8% |
| 2020 | 232.25 | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 128.04 | -44.9% |
| 2022 | 115.76 | -9.6% |
| 2023 | 88.96 | -23.2% |
| 2024 | 73.72 | -17.1% |
| 2025 | 63.72 | -13.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 258.35 | 220.9 | 286.78 | 6 |
| 2020s | 117.08 | 63.72 | 232.25 | 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 potential labour force (current ilo definition - icls19) in Costa Rica?
- Potential labour force (current ilo definition - icls19) in Costa Rica was 63.72 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest potential labour force (current ilo definition - icls19) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 286.78 in 2014.
- What is the lowest potential labour force (current ilo definition - icls19) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.72 in 2025.
- How does Costa Rica rank for potential labour force (current ilo definition - icls19)?
- Costa Rica ranks 38th out of 61 countries with data for 2025.
- Is potential labour force (current ilo definition - icls19) rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 77.4%. 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 Potential labour force (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. The potential labour force refers to persons not in employment who express an interest in this form of work but for whom existing conditions limit their active job search and/or their availability. This group is used to calculate alternative measures of labour underutilization. For more information, refer to the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database description.