Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS was 36.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Costa Rica, 2010–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Costa Rica is 36.1%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 16 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Costa Rica peaked at 42.0% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 36.1%, in 2025.
That places Costa Rica 44th out of 92 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 37.9% | — |
| 2011 | 37.1% | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 39.1% | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 40.9% | +4.5% |
| 2014 | 41.2% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 42.0% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 40.2% | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 40.7% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 40.9% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 41.9% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 40.0% | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 41.3% | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 39.9% | -3.5% |
| 2023 | 37.1% | -6.9% |
| 2024 | 37.4% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 36.1% | -3.4% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 36.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.3%, 15.5× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 36.1% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 55.4%, 65% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 40.2% | 37.1% | 42.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.6% | 36.1% | 41.3% | 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 proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Costa Rica?
- Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Costa Rica was 36.1% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 42.0% in 2015.
- What is the lowest proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.1% in 2025.
- How does Costa Rica rank for proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls?
- Costa Rica ranks 44th out of 92 countries with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 16 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).