Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Public sector employment as a share of total employment was 13.0% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Costa Rica, 2000–2021
Source: World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for public sector employment as a share of total employment in Costa Rica is 13.0%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 12.1% on the previous year and down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public sector employment as a share of total employment in Costa Rica peaked at 15.5% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 12.3%, in 2012.
Costa Rica ranks 54th of 79 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 14.0% | — |
| 2001 | 14.2% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 14.0% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 13.6% | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 13.8% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 14.4% | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 14.0% | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 13.5% | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 13.8% | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 15.3% | +11.2% |
| 2010 | 13.1% | -14.2% |
| 2012 | 12.3% | -6.2% |
| 2015 | 14.6% | +18.7% |
| 2016 | 13.6% | -6.6% |
| 2017 | 15.5% | +13.4% |
| 2018 | 12.7% | -17.9% |
| 2019 | 14.3% | +12.6% |
| 2020 | 14.8% | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 13.0% | -12.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14.1% | 13.5% | 15.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.7% | 12.3% | 15.5% | 7 |
| 2020s | 13.9% | 13.0% | 14.8% | 2 |
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 public sector employment as a share of total employment in Costa Rica?
- Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Costa Rica was 13.0% in 2021, according to World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 15.5% in 2017.
- What is the lowest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.3% in 2012.
- How does Costa Rica rank for public sector employment as a share of total employment?
- Costa Rica ranks 54th out of 79 countries with data for 2021.
- Is public sector employment as a share of total employment rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Public sector employment as a share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of all employed people who are paid employees of the public sector, including government, the armed forces, public services, and state-owned enterprises.