Economy, jobs and prices in Atacama, Chile: official figures
The Central Bank of Chile puts the gross domestic product of Atacama at 10.3 trillion pesos at current prices in 2025, 3.4% of the 307.2 trillion pesos it allocates to regions; 8th smallest of Chile's 16 regions.
Is the economy of Atacama growing?
In real terms the economy of Atacama grew by 15.3% in 2025 (Chile: 2.5%), after growth of 3.1% in 2024; its 2025 growth was the fastest of Chile's 16 regions.
Source: Banco Central de Chile · saved copyHas the economy of Atacama recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, the 2025 output of Atacama was 35.9% above its 2019 level (Chile: 13.1% above); that change ranks the strongest of Chile's 16 regions.
Source: Banco Central de Chile · saved copyWhat is the GDP per person in Atacama?
GDP per person in Atacama was US$24,803 at current prices in 2024, 3rd highest of Chile's 16 regions, compared with US$18,705 in 2018.
Source: Banco Central de Chile · saved copyHow much do households spend in Atacama?
Spending by households and non-profit institutions in Atacama came to US$8,338 per person in 2024 (US$8,165 in 2018); 7th highest of Chile's 16 regions. That is 34% of GDP per person.
Source: Banco Central de Chile · saved copyHow much does Atacama export?
Atacama exported goods and services worth 8.8 trillion pesos in 2025, equal to 86% of its GDP (Chile: 35%); exports were up 48.0% on 2024 in current pesos.
Source: Banco Central de Chile · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Atacama?
Unemployment in Atacama was 9.5% in the June-August 2026 quarter in the INE National Employment Survey, up 0.2 percentage points on a year earlier (9.3%); joint 8th highest of Chile's 16 regions. The national rate was 9.6%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyHow many people work in Atacama?
About 152,990 people in Atacama had jobs in June-August 2026, up 1.2% on a year earlier, and about 15,990 were unemployed.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyHow many workers in Atacama have informal jobs?
27.9% of workers in Atacama held informal jobs in June-August 2026, down 1.4 percentage points on a year earlier (Chile: 26.3%); joint 6th lowest of Chile's 16 regions.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Atacama?
Unemployment among women in Atacama was 10.7% in June-August 2026, against 8.5% for men; 56.1% of women and 75.5% of men aged 15 and over were in the labour force.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyWhat is the average household income in Atacama?
Average household autonomous income (earnings, pensions, rents and private transfers, before state subsidies) in Atacama was 1,279,468 pesos in November 2024, according to the CASEN 2024 household survey; 6th highest of 16 regions (Chile: 1,456,694 pesos).
Source: Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia (Observatorio Social) · saved copyAre household incomes in Atacama rising?
Measured in November 2024 pesos, average household autonomous income in Atacama went from 1,145,746 pesos in 2022 to 1,279,468 pesos in 2024 (up 11.7%; Chile: up 7.9%), and was up 1.3% on 2017 in real terms.
Source: Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia (Observatorio Social) · saved copyHow much do households in Atacama earn from work?
Households in Atacama earned an average of 1,138,338 pesos from work in November 2024, 89.0% of their autonomous income; labour income was 6th highest of 16 regions (Chile: 1,259,980 pesos).
Source: Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia (Observatorio Social) · saved copyHow much do households in Atacama receive in state subsidies?
State cash subsidies made up 5.6% of household monetary income in Atacama in 2024, 6th lowest of 16 regions (Chile: 5.5%); households received an average of 76,408 pesos in subsidies.
Source: Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia (Observatorio Social) · saved copyAre wages in Atacama keeping up with prices?
In November 2024 pesos, average household income from work in Atacama was 1,138,338 pesos in 2024, against 1,010,571 pesos in 2022 and 1,131,045 pesos in 2017 (up 12.6% since 2022; Chile: up 8.0%).
Source: Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia (Observatorio Social) · saved copyHow does household income in Atacama compare with Chile?
Average household monetary income in Atacama, autonomous income plus state cash subsidies, was 1,355,875 pesos in November 2024, 88.0% of the national average of 1,541,266 pesos.
Source: Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia (Observatorio Social) · saved copyMore figures
- The 2024 census recorded a labour-force participation rate of 59.8% in Atacama (Chile: 59.9%), 7th highest of Chile's 16 regions. Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copy
How Atacama compares with other regions
GDP at current prices (2025) (2025)
Atacama ranks 9 of 15, highest first. All 16 regions; Nuble has no page on this site.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Maule | 12.4 trillion pesos |
| 7 | Coquimbo | 11.4 trillion pesos |
| 8 | Los Lagos | 11.0 trillion pesos |
| 9 | Atacama | 10.3 trillion pesos |
| 10 | Tarapaca | 9.6 trillion pesos |
| 11 | Araucania | 9.2 trillion pesos |
| 12 | Los Rios | 4.3 trillion pesos |
GDP per person (2024, US dollars) (2024)
Atacama ranks 3 of 15, highest first. All 16 regions; Nuble has no page on this site.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person (2024, US dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antofagasta | US$49,062 |
| 2 | Tarapaca | US$24,808 |
| 3 | Atacama | US$24,803 |
| 4 | Magallanes | US$16,142 |
| 5 | Aysen | US$15,754 |
| 6 | Santiago Metropolitan Region | US$14,931 |
| 7 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins | US$14,678 |
Real GDP growth (2025) (2025)
Atacama ranks 1 of 15, highest first. All 16 regions; Nuble has no page on this site.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atacama | +15.3% |
| 2 | Aysen | +8.5% |
| 3 | Los Lagos | +5.3% |
| 4 | Arica y Parinacota | +5.3% |
| 5 | Magallanes | +4.4% |
| 6 | Valparaiso | +3.0% |
| 7 | Santiago Metropolitan Region | +2.8% |
Real GDP change 2019-2025 (2019-2025)
Atacama ranks 1 of 15, highest first. All 16 regions; Nuble has no page on this site.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP change 2019-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atacama | +35.9% |
| 2 | Arica y Parinacota | +30.9% |
| 3 | Araucania | +20.3% |
| 4 | Maule | +20.3% |
| 5 | Los Rios | +15.5% |
| 6 | Biobio | +15.4% |
| 7 | Aysen | +15.0% |
Unemployment rate (ENE, Jun-Aug 2026) (Jun-Aug 2026)
Atacama ranks 8 of 15, highest first. All 16 regions; Nuble has no page on this site.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (ENE, Jun-Aug 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Araucania | 10.1% |
| 6 | Santiago Metropolitan Region | 9.8% |
| 7 | Maule | 9.5% |
| 8 | Atacama | 9.5% |
| 9 | Coquimbo | 9.4% |
| 10 | Arica y Parinacota | 9.4% |
| 11 | Los Lagos | 7.8% |
Employment rate, ages 15+ (ENE, Jun-Aug 2026) (Jun-Aug 2026)
Atacama ranks 4 of 15, highest first. All 16 regions; Nuble has no page on this site.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15+ (ENE, Jun-Aug 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aysen | 64.8% |
| 2 | Magallanes | 63.8% |
| 3 | Antofagasta | 61.7% |
| 4 | Atacama | 59.6% |
| 5 | Tarapaca | 59.1% |
| 6 | Santiago Metropolitan Region | 58.9% |
| 7 | Arica y Parinacota | 54.7% |
Informal employment rate (ENE, Jun-Aug 2026) (Jun-Aug 2026)
Atacama ranks 10 of 15, highest first. All 16 regions; Nuble has no page on this site.
| Rank | Region | Informal employment rate (ENE, Jun-Aug 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Valparaiso | 28.6% |
| 8 | Coquimbo | 28.1% |
| 9 | Biobio | 27.9% |
| 10 | Atacama | 27.9% |
| 11 | Aysen | 27.5% |
| 12 | Los Lagos | 26.4% |
| 13 | Santiago Metropolitan Region | 23.4% |
Average household autonomous income, November 2024 (pesos) (2024)
Atacama ranks 6 of 15, highest first. All 16 regions; Nuble has no page on this site.
| Rank | Region | Average household autonomous income, November 2024 (pesos) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Magallanes | 1,607,808 |
| 4 | Aysen | 1,477,882 |
| 5 | Tarapaca | 1,430,926 |
| 6 | Atacama | 1,279,468 |
| 7 | Valparaiso | 1,236,410 |
| 8 | Arica y Parinacota | 1,200,748 |
| 9 | Biobio | 1,190,036 |
State cash subsidies as a share of household monetary income (CASEN 2024) (2024)
Atacama ranks 10 of 15, highest first. All 16 regions; Nuble has no page on this site.
| Rank | Region | State cash subsidies as a share of household monetary income (CASEN 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Biobio | 7.7% |
| 8 | Valparaiso | 6.9% |
| 9 | Arica y Parinacota | 6.2% |
| 10 | Atacama | 5.6% |
| 11 | Aysen | 4.9% |
| 12 | Tarapaca | 4.6% |
| 13 | Magallanes | 3.7% |
More on Atacama: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Chile
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE): Censo de Poblacion y Vivienda 2024: Sintesis de resultados (Tables 1-4, 8, 13, 18, 21, 24-28, 30-31, 33-37 and 39 by region), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fdf5a5b0acc0…)
- Banco Central de Chile: Consumo de hogares e IPSFL por region, precios corrientes, referencia 2018 (dolares per capita), 2018-2024, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 69c349dcda69…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE): Encuesta Nacional de Empleo, Nota Estadistica No. 53: principales indicadores con intervalo de confianza, trimestre junio-agosto 2026 (national and regional), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5dcdb038cef4…)
- Banco Central de Chile: Exportacion de bienes y servicios por region, anual, precios corrientes, referencia 2018 (miles de millones de pesos), 2013-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 892b2e560c5d…)
- Banco Central de Chile: Producto interno bruto por region, precios corrientes, series empalmadas, referencia 2018 (miles de millones de pesos), 2013-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ca0f44a99447…)
- Banco Central de Chile: Producto interno bruto por region, precios corrientes, referencia 2018 (dolares per capita), 2018-2024, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f7ec24e40663…)
- Banco Central de Chile: Producto interno bruto anual por region, volumen a precios del ano anterior encadenado, referencia 2018, 2013-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5fb5d18ca202…)
- Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia (Observatorio Social): Encuesta Casen 2024: tablas de resultados, situacion de ingresos de los hogares, tables 3 (average household income by type and region, 2006-2024), 9 (composition of monetary income by region) and 21 (people below 50% of the median per-person income by region), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7e90810f6eb9…)
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