Share of workers in informal employment vs. GDP per capita in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Share of workers in informal employment vs. GDP per capita was 36.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Share of workers in informal employment vs. GDP per capita in Costa Rica, 2010–2025
Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 36.1% for share of workers in informal employment vs. gdp per capita in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 16 years on record.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment vs. gdp per capita in Costa Rica peaked at 42.0% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 36.1%, in 2025.
Costa Rica ranks 40th of 82 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of workers in informal employment vs. GDP per capita in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 37.9% | — |
| 2011 | 37.1% | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 39.1% | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 40.9% | +4.5% |
| 2014 | 41.2% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 42.0% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 40.2% | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 40.7% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 40.9% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 41.9% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 40.0% | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 41.3% | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 39.9% | -3.5% |
| 2023 | 37.1% | -6.9% |
| 2024 | 37.4% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 36.1% | -3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 40.2% | 37.1% | 42.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.6% | 36.1% | 41.3% | 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 informal employment vs. gdp per capita in Costa Rica?
- Share of workers in informal employment vs. gdp per capita in Costa Rica was 36.1% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in informal employment vs. gdp per capita recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 42.0% in 2015.
- What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment vs. gdp per capita recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.1% in 2025.
- How does Costa Rica rank for share of workers in informal employment vs. gdp per capita?
- Costa Rica ranks 40th out of 82 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in informal employment vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. 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 – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in informal employment vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed people working in jobs that lack basic social or legal protection and employment benefits. Does not include illegal and illicit activities. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.