Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 151.04 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Costa Rica, 2003–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Costa Rica stood at 151.04.
The figure is down 10.3% on the previous year and down 23.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Costa Rica peaked at 398.11 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 91.34, in 2007.
That places Costa Rica 50th out of 78 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 115.91 | — |
| 2004 | 113.07 | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 127.5 | +12.8% |
| 2006 | 114.17 | -10.5% |
| 2007 | 91.34 | -20.0% |
| 2010 | 147.35 | +61.3% |
| 2011 | 199.57 | +35.4% |
| 2012 | 206.65 | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 187.79 | -9.1% |
| 2014 | 199.28 | +6.1% |
| 2015 | 196.44 | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 182.34 | -7.2% |
| 2017 | 177.43 | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 218.03 | +22.9% |
| 2019 | 273.89 | +25.6% |
| 2020 | 398.11 | +45.4% |
| 2021 | 378.61 | -4.9% |
| 2022 | 285.54 | -24.6% |
| 2023 | 196.51 | -31.2% |
| 2024 | 168.3 | -14.4% |
| 2025 | 151.04 | -10.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 112.4 | 91.34 | 127.5 | 5 |
| 2010s | 198.88 | 147.35 | 273.89 | 10 |
| 2020s | 263.02 | 151.04 | 398.11 | 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 unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Costa Rica?
- Unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Costa Rica was 151.04 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 398.11 in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 91.34 in 2007.
- How does Costa Rica rank for unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- Costa Rica ranks 50th out of 78 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
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. For more information, refer to the International Labour Migration Statistics (ILMS) database description.