Female share of the labor force in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Female share of the labor force was 40.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female share of the labor force in Costa Rica, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female share of the labor force in Costa Rica stood at 40.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female share of the labor force in Costa Rica peaked at 41.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 28.9%, in 1990.
Costa Rica ranks 133rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Female share of the labor force in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 28.9% | — |
| 1991 | 29.7% | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 29.6% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 30.0% | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 30.8% | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 31.1% | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 30.9% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 32.5% | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 33.7% | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 34.1% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 33.5% | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 35.2% | +5.2% |
| 2002 | 35.1% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 35.2% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 34.5% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 36.3% | +5.3% |
| 2006 | 36.4% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 36.8% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 37.2% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 37.8% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 38.0% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 39.1% | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 40.8% | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 41.0% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 40.8% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 40.6% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 39.3% | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 39.1% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 39.8% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 41.8% | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 40.9% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 41.5% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 41.7% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 39.5% | -5.1% |
| 2024 | 40.6% | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 40.7% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.1% | 28.9% | 34.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 35.8% | 33.5% | 37.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.0% | 38.0% | 41.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.8% | 39.5% | 41.7% | 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 female share of the labor force in Costa Rica?
- Female share of the labor force in Costa Rica was 40.7% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female share of the labor force recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 41.8% in 2019.
- What is the lowest female share of the labor force recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.9% in 1990.
- How does Costa Rica rank for female share of the labor force?
- Costa Rica ranks 133rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female share of the labor force rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female share of the labor force. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the working-age population economically active (employed or unemployed) who are female.