Pay compression ratio in private sector in Costa Rica

Costa Rica: Pay compression ratio in private sector was 7.2% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
7.2%
World rank
14th
of 60 countries
All-time high
8.8%
in 2016
All-time low
5.0%
in 2008
Years of data
16
2000–2021

Pay compression ratio in private sector in Costa Rica, 2000–2021

024682000201020212000: 5.1 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2001: 5.8 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2002: 5.8 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2003: 5.7 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2004: 5.1 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2005: 5.7 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2006: 5.5 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2007: 5.4 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2008: 5 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2009: 5.6 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2010: 5.9 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2012: 7.4 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2015: 7.5 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2016: 8.8 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2017: 5.4 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners2021: 7.2 ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners

Source: World Bank. Measured in ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners.

Analysis

The most recent figure for pay compression ratio in private sector in Costa Rica is 7.2%, measured in 2021.

That represents a change of up 22.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, pay compression ratio in private sector in Costa Rica peaked at 8.8% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 2008.

That places Costa Rica 14th out of 60 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.

Pay compression ratio in private sector in Costa Rica, year by year

Annual values for Pay compression ratio in private sector (ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners) in Costa Rica, 2000 to 2021.
Year ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners Change
2000 5.1%
2001 5.8% +14.7%
2002 5.8% -0.1%
2003 5.7% -1.3%
2004 5.1% -11.2%
2005 5.7% +13.0%
2006 5.5% -4.2%
2007 5.4% -2.3%
2008 5.0% -6.8%
2009 5.6% +11.7%
2010 5.9% +5.3%
2012 7.4% +25.7%
2015 7.5% +2.0%
2016 8.8% +17.4%
2017 5.4% -39.1%
2021 7.2% +33.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 5.5% 5.0% 5.8% 10
2010s 7.0% 5.4% 8.8% 5
2020s 7.2% 7.2% 7.2% 1

Countries ranked near Costa Rica

  1. 11 Switzerland 8.0% compare
  2. 12 Ireland 7.8% compare
  3. 13 Argentina 7.6% compare
  4. 15 Austria 7.2% compare
  5. 16 United Kingdom 7.2% compare
  6. 17 Cyprus 7.0% compare

See the full ranking of 60 places →

More reference data data for Costa Rica

All data for Costa Rica →

Frequently asked questions

What is pay compression ratio in private sector in Costa Rica?
Pay compression ratio in private sector in Costa Rica was 7.2% in 2021, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest pay compression ratio in private sector recorded in Costa Rica?
The highest recorded value was 8.8% in 2016.
What is the lowest pay compression ratio in private sector recorded in Costa Rica?
The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 2008.
How does Costa Rica rank for pay compression ratio in private sector?
Costa Rica ranks 14th out of 60 countries with data for 2021.
Is pay compression ratio in private sector rising or falling in Costa Rica?
Over the last ten years it is up 22.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Pay compression ratio in private sector (ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Pay compression ratio in private sector in Costa Rica. Statizoid. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/pay-compression-ratio-in-private-sector-ratio-of-90th-10th-percentile-earners/costa-rica/

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About this data

Indicator
Pay compression ratio in private sector (ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners)
Unit
ratio of 90th/10th percentile earners
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
60 places, 741 data points, 2000–2021
Last refreshed