Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group was 7.99 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Costa Rica, 1987–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Costa Rica is 7.99 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.9% on the previous year and down 24.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Costa Rica peaked at 20.71 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.24 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, in 1989.
That places Costa Rica 11th out of 37 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 4.14 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | — |
| 1988 | 5.21 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +25.8% |
| 1989 | 3.24 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -37.8% |
| 1990 | 3.78 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +16.7% |
| 1991 | 4.23 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +11.9% |
| 1992 | 3.44 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -18.8% |
| 1993 | 3.58 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 3.47 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -3.0% |
| 1995 | 3.76 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +8.3% |
| 1996 | 5.57 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +48.0% |
| 1997 | 4.54 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -18.5% |
| 1998 | 4.35 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -4.2% |
| 1999 | 5.14 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +18.3% |
| 2000 | 4.36 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -15.3% |
| 2001 | 4.57 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 5.11 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +12.0% |
| 2003 | 5.35 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 4.78 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -10.6% |
| 2005 | 4.71 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 4.78 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 3.88 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -18.9% |
| 2008 | 4.83 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +24.5% |
| 2009 | 7.44 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +54.1% |
| 2010 | 7.56 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 10.72 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +41.9% |
| 2012 | 9.58 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -10.6% |
| 2013 | 7.95 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -17.0% |
| 2014 | 9.27 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +16.7% |
| 2015 | 10.53 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +13.6% |
| 2016 | 9.93 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 9.93 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 10.62 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 12 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +13.0% |
| 2020 | 20.71 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +72.5% |
| 2021 | 17.24 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -16.7% |
| 2022 | 13.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -23.5% |
| 2023 | 10.69 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -18.9% |
| 2024 | 8.58 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -19.7% |
| 2025 | 7.99 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -6.9% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 7.99 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.58 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, 1.2× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 7.99 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 7.45 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.19 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.24 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 5.21 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3 |
| 1990s | 4.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.44 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 5.57 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.98 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.88 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 7.44 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.81 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 7.56 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 12 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.07 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 7.99 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 20.71 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 8 Poland 3.55 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 8 Sweden 8.55 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 9 France 8.52 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 10 Denmark 8.03 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 12 Belgium 7.65 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 13 Portugal 7.53 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 14 Canada 7.08 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
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 rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Costa Rica?
- Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Costa Rica was 7.99 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 20.71 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.24 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1989.
- How does Costa Rica rank for unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group?
- Costa Rica ranks 11th out of 37 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and gender. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This dataset contains data on unemployment rates by educational attainment level, age group and gender. The default table displays 2025 data (or the latest available year) on the unemployment rates of 25-64 year-olds with below upper secondary, upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary, or tertiary attainment. The selection can be changed to display data by more detailed educational attainment level, by programme orientation, by gender and by age group. Filter the time period to display historical data. Data for the latest available year are preliminary. Final data will be released on September 29, 2026. For more information, please consult the Education at a Glance web page and the OECD Handbook for Internationally Comparative Education Statistics: Concepts, Standards, Definitions and Classifications.