Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 91.72 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Costa Rica, 2012–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Costa Rica is 91.72, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 15.0% on the previous year and down 42.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Costa Rica peaked at 248.83 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 90.64, in 2023.
That places Costa Rica 52nd out of 88 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 199.12 | — |
| 2013 | 204.08 | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 170.41 | -16.5% |
| 2015 | 158.15 | -7.2% |
| 2016 | 192.59 | +21.8% |
| 2017 | 150.09 | -22.1% |
| 2018 | 150.83 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 143.57 | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 248.83 | +73.3% |
| 2021 | 143.57 | -42.3% |
| 2022 | 110.56 | -23.0% |
| 2023 | 90.64 | -18.0% |
| 2024 | 107.88 | +19.0% |
| 2025 | 91.72 | -15.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 171.11 | 143.57 | 204.08 | 8 |
| 2020s | 132.2 | 90.64 | 248.83 | 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 (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Costa Rica?
- Potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Costa Rica was 91.72 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 248.83 in 2020.
- What is the lowest potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 90.64 in 2023.
- How does Costa Rica rank for potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- Costa Rica ranks 52nd out of 88 countries with data for 2025.
- Is potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.0%. 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 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
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. 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. 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.