Average hourly earnings of male and female employees in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Average hourly earnings of male and female employees was 9.49 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
9.49 international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
up 9.2%
World rank
26th
of 64 countries
All-time high
11.55 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2020
All-time low
2.61 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 1990
Years of data
32
1990–2024
Average hourly earnings of male and female employees in Costa Rica, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average hourly earnings of male and female employees in Costa Rica is 9.49 international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 9.2% on the previous year and up 46.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average hourly earnings of male and female employees in Costa Rica peaked at 11.55 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.61 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 1990.
That places Costa Rica 26th out of 64 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.
Average hourly earnings of male and female employees in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.61 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1991 | 2.69 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 2.71 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 3.21 international-$ in 2021 prices | +18.4% |
| 1994 | 3.46 international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.7% |
| 1995 | 3.47 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 3.43 international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 3.63 international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 3.88 international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.8% |
| 1999 | 4.01 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 4.22 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 3.83 international-$ in 2021 prices | -9.1% |
| 2003 | 3.81 international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 3.84 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 4.42 international-$ in 2021 prices | +15.2% |
| 2008 | 5.81 international-$ in 2021 prices | +31.3% |
| 2009 | 6.13 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 5.64 international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.0% |
| 2011 | 5.92 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 6.4 international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.2% |
| 2013 | 6.28 international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 6.49 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 6.79 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 7.23 international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 8.83 international-$ in 2021 prices | +22.1% |
| 2018 | 8.49 international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.8% |
| 2019 | 10.01 international-$ in 2021 prices | +17.9% |
| 2020 | 11.55 international-$ in 2021 prices | +15.3% |
| 2021 | 8.94 international-$ in 2021 prices | -22.5% |
| 2022 | 8.3 international-$ in 2021 prices | -7.2% |
| 2023 | 8.68 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 9.49 international-$ in 2021 prices | +9.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.31 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.61 international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.01 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.58 international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.81 international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.13 international-$ in 2021 prices | 7 |
| 2010s | 7.21 international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.64 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10.01 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.39 international-$ in 2021 prices | 8.3 international-$ in 2021 prices | 11.55 international-$ in 2021 prices | 5 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 23 Malaysia 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 24 Panama 9.82 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 25 Greece 9.77 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 27 Argentina 8.44 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 28 Mongolia 8.28 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 29 Thailand 8.21 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More gender data for Costa Rica
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 838.24 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -2.49 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 24,787 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 25,901 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 25,098 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 26,214 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 25,387 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 26,504 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 25,723 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 26,841 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average hourly earnings of male and female employees in Costa Rica?
- Average hourly earnings of male and female employees in Costa Rica was 9.49 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average hourly earnings of male and female employees recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 11.55 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020.
- What is the lowest average hourly earnings of male and female employees recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.61 international-$ in 2021 prices in 1990.
- How does Costa Rica rank for average hourly earnings of male and female employees?
- Costa Rica ranks 26th out of 64 countries with data for 2024.
- Is average hourly earnings of male and female employees rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.1%. 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 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average hourly earnings of male and female employees. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross remuneration for time worked or work done, vacation, and other types of paid leave.