Costa Rica Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Costa Rica's unemployment rate was 6.84% in 2025, ranked 123rd globally. This represents a 0.5% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1980–2025.
Overview
Costa Rica's unemployment rate stood at 6.84% in 2025, a decline of +0.04pp from 2024. The IMF projects 7.50% by 2025. Costa Rica ranked 123rd globally.
Costa Rica's unemployment rate has experienced significant fluctuations over the past 46 years. The trough occurred in 1989, with a rate of 3.77%, a stark contrast to the peak of 16.43% observed in 2020. This 12.66 percentage point disparity highlights the country's vulnerability to economic downturns. Despite a decline to 6.84% in 2025, Costa Rica's unemployment rate remains higher than its 1980 baseline of 5.92%. A comparison with peer countries reveals that Costa Rica's unemployment rate is comparable to that of Egypt, with a rate of 6.78%, while Canada's rate of 6.91% is slightly higher. The country's unemployment rate has shown a downward trend in recent years, suggesting potential for continued recovery. However, a significant decline in remittances or a slowdown in the tourism industry, which accounts for a substantial portion of Costa Rica's foreign exchange earnings, could potentially derail this trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 8.50% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 8.50% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 8.50% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 8.50% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 8.00% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 7.50% | - | - |
| 2025 | 6.84% | −0.04pp | #123 |
| 2024 | 6.94% | −0.36pp | #129 |
| 2023 | 8.33% | −3.34pp | #141 |
| 2022 | 11.33% | −2.36pp | #155 |
| 2021 | 15.14% | −4.84pp | #168 |
| 2020 | 16.43% | +4.02pp | #171 |
| 2019 | 10.81% | −1.14pp | #150 |
| 2018 | 9.01% | −0.28pp | #137 |
| 2017 | 7.73% | −1.81pp | #121 |
| 2016 | 8.09% | −1.52pp | #123 |
| 2015 | 8.42% | −1.24pp | #121 |
| 2014 | 8.50% | +0.19pp | #122 |
| 2013 | 8.22% | −1.63pp | #118 |
| 2012 | 9.11% | −1.38pp | #126 |
| 2011 | 9.52% | +0.31pp | #130 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Costa Rica matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 1995. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Rica's unemployment rate was 6.84% in 2025. Ranked 123rd globally. This represents a 0.5% decrease from the previous year.
Costa Rica's unemployment rate peaked at 16.43% in 2020.
The lowest unemployment rate in Costa Rica was 3.77% in 1989.
Costa Rica ranks 123rd globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Costa Rica's unemployment rate is projected to reach 7.50% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The unemployment rate of Costa Rica in 2025 was 6.84%. This ranks 123rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_costa-rica_unemployment-rate,
title = {Costa Rica Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/costa-rica/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}