Costa Rica: Unemployment rate

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
 Costa Rica

Unemployment rate

 Latest value 8.30
 Year 2023
 Measure percent
 Data availability 1991 - 2023
 Average 7.39
 Min - Max 3.93 - 16.43
 Source The World Bank
The latest value from 2023 is 8.3 percent, a decline from 11.32 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 6.99 percent, based on data from 178 countries. Historically, the average for Costa Rica from 1991 to 2023 is 7.39 percent. The minimum value, 3.93 percent, was reached in 1992 while the maximum of 16.43 percent was recorded in 2020. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.
Select indicator
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series


Recent data
Costa Rica - Unemployment rate - Recent values chart

Historical series
Costa Rica - Unemployment rate - historical chart - 1991-2023




The unemployment rate in Costa Rica and other countries is defined as the number of unemployed people as percent of the labor force. The labor force includes the people who are either employed or unemployed, i.e. who don't have a job but are actively looking for one. The labor force does not include people who are not looking for work, children, and the retired.

The unemployment rate seldom declines below 4-5 percent even during boom times. There are always people who move between different sectors of the economy or between cities. When the economy goes into recession, then unemployment can reach much higher numbers, sometimes even in the double digits.
Definition: Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

Selected articles from our guide:

What factors determine the exchange rates

International lending and sovereign debt

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 Related indicators Latest Reference Measure
 Labor force 2.41 2023 million people
 Unemployment rate 8.30 2023 percent
 Female unemployment 10.17 2023 percent
 Male unemployment 7.11 2023 percent
 Youth unemployment 24.10 2023 percent
 Labor force participation 57.59 2023 percent
 Labor force: percent female 39.07 2023 percent
 Female labor force participation 44.75 2023 percent
 Male labor force participation 70.57 2023 percent
 Self-employment 27.37 2022 percent
 Informal employment 36.60 2020 percent
 Employment 2.26 Q3/2024 million employed people
 Unemployment rate 6.59 Q3/2024 percent
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