Share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ILO) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ILO) was 36.07 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ILO) in Costa Rica, 2017–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ilo) in Costa Rica is 36.07, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ilo) in Costa Rica peaked at 41.78 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 36.07, in 2025.
Costa Rica ranks 33rd of 44 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ILO) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 40.63 | — |
| 2018 | 40.85 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 41.78 | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 39.87 | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 41.24 | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 39.81 | -3.5% |
| 2023 | 37 | -7.1% |
| 2024 | 37.31 | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 36.07 | -3.3% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 36.07 is above the median for high income countries, which is 34.18, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 36.07 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 47.78, 75% of the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 41.09 | 40.63 | 41.78 | 3 |
| 2020s | 38.55 | 36.07 | 41.24 | 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 employment outside the formal sector (previous ilo) in Costa Rica?
- Share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ilo) in Costa Rica was 36.07 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ilo) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 41.78 in 2019.
- What is the lowest share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ilo) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.07 in 2025.
- How does Costa Rica rank for share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ilo)?
- Costa Rica ranks 33rd out of 44 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ilo) rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. 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, published as part of Share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. This harmonized series for employment outside the formal sector is derived using the same set of criteria across countries to improve comparability. The criteria used are based on employment status, institutional sector, destination of production, bookkeeping, registration, social security contribution, places of work and size. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.