Costa Rica
Gender Gap

In Costa Rica, the gender gap refers to the disparities between men and women across various aspects of society, including employment, education, and political representation. Despite progress in recent years, significant inequalities persist, impacting women’s opportunities and outcomes.

In the workforce, Costa Rican women face challenges such as wage discrepancies, limited access to leadership positions, and a disproportionate burden of unpaid care work. While efforts have been made to address these issues, women continue to earn less on average than men and are underrepresented in senior roles in the workforce.

Educationally, while Costa Rican women generally perform well academically and have high rates of educational attainment, they remain underrepresented in certain fields such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Social and cultural factors can hinder women’s pursuit of careers in these areas, limiting their professional opportunities and economic empowerment.

Political representation also presents a gap, with women holding fewer leadership positions in government and decision-making bodies. Although efforts have been made to increase female participation in politics, women remain underrepresented in elected offices and legislative chambers.

Addressing the gender gap in Costa Rica requires concerted efforts from government, businesses, civil society, and individuals. Policies promoting gender equality, such as affirmative action measures and campaigns to challenge gender stereotypes, are crucial for fostering a more inclusive society.

By acknowledging and actively working to address the gender gap, Costa Rica can create a more equitable environment where individuals of all genders have equal opportunities to succeed and contribute to society’s progress.


World Economic Forum

Global Gender Gap Report Costa Rica

The Global Gender Gap Report benchmarks countries on their progress towards gender parity across four thematic dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment.

2023
Rank: 14 (out of 146 countries)
Score: 0.793
report

2020
Rank: 13 (out of 153 countries)
Score: 0.782

2017
Rank: 41 (out of 144 countries)
Score: 0,727


ONU Mujeres en Costa Rica

Women Count Data Hub: Costa Rica

Globally, some progress on women’s rights has been achieved. In Costa Rica, 83.3% of legal frameworks that promote, enforce and monitor gender equality under the SDG indicator, with a focus on violence against women, are in place. 21.2% of women aged 20–24 years old who were married or in a union before age 18. The adolescent birth rate is 40.9 per 1,000 women aged 15–19 as of 2019, down from 50.4 per 1,000 in 2018. As of February 2021, 45.6% of seats in parliament were held by women. In 2018, 80.8% of women of reproductive age (15-49 years) had their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods.

Country Fact Sheet
> data.unwomen.org/country/costa-rica