Unemployment in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Unemployment was 137.08 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment in Costa Rica, 2010–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment in Costa Rica is 137.08, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 17.6% on the previous year and down 28.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment in Costa Rica peaked at 347.96 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 137.08, in 2025.
That places Costa Rica 45th out of 58 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Unemployment in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 147.35 | — |
| 2012 | 168.52 | +14.4% |
| 2013 | 184.66 | +9.6% |
| 2014 | 187.36 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 192.32 | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 176.88 | -8.0% |
| 2017 | 165.37 | -6.5% |
| 2018 | 185.66 | +12.3% |
| 2019 | 209.4 | +12.8% |
| 2020 | 347.96 | +66.2% |
| 2021 | 253.26 | -27.2% |
| 2022 | 188.61 | -25.5% |
| 2023 | 164.12 | -13.0% |
| 2024 | 166.37 | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 137.08 | -17.6% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 137.08 is below the median for high income countries, which is 266.61, 51% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 137.08 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 804.1, 17% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 179.72 | 147.35 | 209.4 | 9 |
| 2020s | 209.57 | 137.08 | 347.96 | 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 in Costa Rica?
- Unemployment in Costa Rica was 137.08 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 347.96 in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 137.08 in 2025.
- How does Costa Rica rank for unemployment?
- Costa Rica ranks 45th out of 58 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.7%. 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). 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
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. 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 Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.