Average hourly earnings of employees in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Average hourly earnings of employees was 9.73 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
9.73 international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
up 8.3%
World rank
25th
of 64 countries
All-time high
11.9 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2020
All-time low
2.59 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 1990
Years of data
32
1990–2024
Average hourly earnings of 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
In 2024, average hourly earnings of employees in Costa Rica stood at 9.73 international-$ in 2021 prices.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.3% on the previous year and up 44.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average hourly earnings of employees in Costa Rica peaked at 11.9 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.59 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 1990.
Costa Rica ranks 25th of 64 countries on this measure, 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 employees in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.59 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1991 | 2.67 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 2.69 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 3.27 international-$ in 2021 prices | +21.5% |
| 1994 | 3.47 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.9% |
| 1995 | 3.45 international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 3.49 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 3.66 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.0% |
| 1998 | 3.91 international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.9% |
| 1999 | 4.03 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 4.24 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 3.86 international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.8% |
| 2003 | 3.92 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 3.87 international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 4.37 international-$ in 2021 prices | +12.9% |
| 2008 | 5.68 international-$ in 2021 prices | +30.0% |
| 2009 | 6.13 international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.0% |
| 2010 | 5.6 international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.7% |
| 2011 | 6.12 international-$ in 2021 prices | +9.3% |
| 2012 | 6.45 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 6.57 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 6.76 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 7.15 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 7.5 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 9.08 international-$ in 2021 prices | +21.1% |
| 2018 | 8.78 international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 10.46 international-$ in 2021 prices | +19.1% |
| 2020 | 11.9 international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.8% |
| 2021 | 9.26 international-$ in 2021 prices | -22.2% |
| 2022 | 8.75 international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.5% |
| 2023 | 8.98 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 9.73 international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.3% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 9.73 international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for high income countries, which is 18.14 international-$ in 2021 prices, 54% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 9.73 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 6.94 international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.4× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.32 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.59 international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.03 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.58 international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.86 international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.13 international-$ in 2021 prices | 7 |
| 2010s | 7.45 international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.6 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10.46 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.72 international-$ in 2021 prices | 8.75 international-$ in 2021 prices | 11.9 international-$ in 2021 prices | 5 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 22 Panama 10.32 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 23 Malaysia 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 24 Bolivia 10.14 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 26 Greece 9.62 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 27 Thailand 8.35 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 28 Argentina 8.21 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More reference data data for Costa Rica
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2987 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.406 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0167 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.3161 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0907 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average hourly earnings of employees in Costa Rica?
- Average hourly earnings of employees in Costa Rica was 9.73 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 employees recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 11.9 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020.
- What is the lowest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.59 international-$ in 2021 prices in 1990.
- How does Costa Rica rank for average hourly earnings of employees?
- Costa Rica ranks 25th out of 64 countries with data for 2024.
- Is average hourly earnings of employees rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.0%. 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 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.