Economy, jobs and prices in Arauca, Colombia: official figures
Arauca's gross domestic product was 9.4 trillion pesos at current prices in 2025 (DANE preliminary figures), 0.51% of Colombia's 1,852.7 trillion pesos; 10th smallest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
What is the GDP per person in Arauca?
GDP per person in Arauca was 33,678,379 pesos in 2025, 96% of the national figure of 34,918,345 pesos; 9th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs the economy of Arauca growing?
In real terms Arauca's economy shrank by 1.9% in 2025 (Colombia: 2.6%), after growth of 3.1% in 2024; its 2025 growth was 2nd lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHas the economy of Arauca recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, Arauca's GDP in 2025 was 5.2% above its 2019 level, before the pandemic (Colombia: 15.9% above); 5th weakest of the 32 departments and Bogota since 2019.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Arauca?
The largest sectors of Arauca's economy in 2025 were agriculture, forestry and fishing (31.3% of value added), mining and quarrying (28.7%) and public administration, defence, education and health (17.1%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow important are farming and mining in Arauca?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing produced 31.3% of value added in Arauca in 2025 (2nd highest of the 32 departments and Bogota), mining and quarrying 28.7% (3rd highest of the 32 departments and Bogota) and manufacturing 1.9% (Colombia: 11.0%, 4.1% and 11.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Arauca?
Unemployment in Arauca city, the capital of Arauca, averaged 20.5% over 2025 in DANE's household survey (GEIH), down 10.5 percentage points on 2024 (31.0%). DANE does not publish department-wide labour figures for Arauca; the survey covers its capital city.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow many people work in Arauca?
In Arauca city, the capital of Arauca, 55.2% of people aged 15 and over were employed in 2025 and 69.4% were working or looking for work (48.3% and 70.1% in 2024). About 37,096 people had jobs.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyMore figures
- Public administration, defence, education and health accounted for 17.1% of value added in Arauca in 2025 (Colombia: 17.0%), 10th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota. Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
- 8.4% of the workforce in Arauca city, the capital of Arauca, was underemployed in 2025, wanting and available to work more hours. Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
How Arauca compares with other departments
GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Arauca ranks 24 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | La Guajira | 17.8 trillion pesos |
| 22 | Quindio | 16.1 trillion pesos |
| 23 | Sucre | 15.2 trillion pesos |
| 24 | Arauca | 9.4 trillion pesos |
| 25 | Choco | 8.5 trillion pesos |
| 26 | Caqueta | 7.6 trillion pesos |
| 27 | Putumayo | 6.4 trillion pesos |
GDP per person (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Arauca ranks 9 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Antioquia | 39,992,416 pesos |
| 7 | Valle del Cauca | 38,421,474 pesos |
| 8 | Boyaca | 37,835,579 pesos |
| 9 | Arauca | 33,678,379 pesos |
| 10 | Cundinamarca | 33,098,438 pesos |
| 11 | Risaralda | 31,542,003 pesos |
| 12 | Caldas | 29,982,014 pesos |
Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Arauca ranks 32 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Cauca | +1.2% |
| 28 | Vichada | +0.5% |
| 29 | Cesar | -1.1% |
| 30 | Putumayo | -1.3% |
| 31 | La Guajira | -1.6% |
| 32 | Arauca | -1.9% |
| 33 | Casanare | -2.2% |
Real GDP change 2019-2025 (2019-2025)
Arauca ranks 29 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP change 2019-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Boyaca | +7.9% |
| 27 | Guainia | +7.1% |
| 28 | Meta | +6.1% |
| 29 | Arauca | +5.2% |
| 30 | Putumayo | +3.7% |
| 31 | Casanare | -5.1% |
| 32 | La Guajira | -6.3% |
More on Arauca: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Colombia
Sources
- Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE): PIB por departamento, base 2015, serie 2005-2025 preliminar: Cuadro 1 (current prices), Cuadro 2 (chained volumes and growth), Cuadro 3 (GDP per person), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4c77d0bcc287…)
- Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE): PIB por departamento: valor agregado por actividades economicas, serie 2005-2025 preliminar, Cuadro 1 (current prices), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9b625ba709ae…)
- Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE): Gran Encuesta Integrada de Hogares (GEIH), anexo agosto 2026: sheet Ano_movil_32_ciudades (rolling-year labour-market rates for 32 capital cities, 2021-2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ade9b213c799…)
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