SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate was 5.42 in 2025. ▬ Flat
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Costa Rica, 2010–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Costa Rica is 5.42, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 22.2% on the previous year and down 36.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Costa Rica peaked at 16.16 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5.42, in 2025.
Costa Rica ranks 33rd of 57 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.17 | — |
| 2012 | 7.7 | +7.3% |
| 2013 | 8.33 | +8.3% |
| 2014 | 8.35 | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 8.5 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 7.63 | -10.2% |
| 2017 | 7.26 | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 8.05 | +10.9% |
| 2019 | 9.06 | +12.5% |
| 2020 | 16.16 | +78.4% |
| 2021 | 10.87 | -32.7% |
| 2022 | 8.21 | -24.5% |
| 2023 | 7.07 | -13.8% |
| 2024 | 6.96 | -1.6% |
| 2025 | 5.42 | -22.2% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 5.42 is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.26, 87% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 5.42 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5.42, 1.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 8.01 | 7.17 | 9.06 | 9 |
| 2020s | 9.12 | 5.42 | 16.16 | 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 sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Costa Rica?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Costa Rica was 5.42 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 16.16 in 2020.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.42 in 2025.
- How does Costa Rica rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate?
- Costa Rica ranks 33rd out of 57 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.