Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 23.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Costa Rica, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Costa Rica stood at 23.4%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and down 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Costa Rica peaked at 33.0% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 23.4%, in 2025.
Costa Rica ranks 108th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 33.0% | — |
| 1992 | 30.8% | -6.7% |
| 1993 | 30.8% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 29.0% | -5.7% |
| 1995 | 30.1% | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 29.3% | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 30.3% | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 28.7% | -5.2% |
| 1999 | 28.5% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 28.2% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 28.1% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 28.7% | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 26.9% | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 28.2% | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 26.0% | -7.6% |
| 2006 | 26.5% | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 24.7% | -7.1% |
| 2008 | 24.6% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 24.5% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 23.8% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 23.7% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 25.0% | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 27.2% | +9.0% |
| 2014 | 26.6% | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 26.5% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 24.8% | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 24.5% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 24.6% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 25.3% | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 25.8% | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 25.4% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 24.9% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 23.8% | -4.5% |
| 2024 | 23.6% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 23.4% | -1.0% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 23.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.5%, 2.5× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 23.4% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 26.1%, 90% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.1% | 28.5% | 33.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 26.6% | 24.5% | 28.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.2% | 23.7% | 27.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.5% | 23.4% | 25.8% | 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Costa Rica?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Costa Rica was 23.4% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 33.0% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.4% in 2025.
- How does Costa Rica rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Costa Rica ranks 108th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.0%. 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 (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).