Economy, jobs and prices in Bolivar, Colombia: official figures
Bolivar's gross domestic product was 66.5 trillion pesos at current prices in 2025 (DANE preliminary figures), 3.6% of Colombia's 1,852.7 trillion pesos; 7th largest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
What is the GDP per person in Bolivar?
GDP per person in Bolivar was 29,691,467 pesos in 2025, 85% of the national figure of 34,918,345 pesos; 13th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs the economy of Bolivar growing?
In real terms Bolivar's economy grew by 2.0% in 2025 (Colombia: 2.6%), after growth of 0.3% in 2024; its 2025 growth was 15th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHas the economy of Bolivar recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, Bolivar's GDP in 2025 was 14.2% above its 2019 level, before the pandemic (Colombia: 15.9% above); 15th strongest of the 32 departments and Bogota since 2019.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Bolivar?
The largest sectors of Bolivar's economy in 2025 were trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (20.4% of value added), public administration, defence, education and health (20.0%) and manufacturing (16.4%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow important are farming and mining in Bolivar?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing produced 7.4% of value added in Bolivar in 2025 (5th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota), mining and quarrying 2.2% (14th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota) and manufacturing 16.4% (Colombia: 11.0%, 4.1% and 11.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Bolivar?
Unemployment in Bolivar averaged 9.4% in 2025 in DANE's household survey (GEIH), 93,812 people out of a workforce of 999,848; 10th lowest of the 23 departments the survey reports separately.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs unemployment rising in Bolivar?
The unemployment rate in Bolivar was down 1.1 percentage points on 2024 (10.5%) and compares with 4.7% in 2019 and a peak of 12.8% in 2021 over the 2007-2025 series.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow many people work in Bolivar?
52.8% of people aged 15 and over in Bolivar were employed in 2025 and 58.3% were working or looking for work; the employment rate was 4th lowest of the 23 departments surveyed. About 906,036 people had jobs, up 1.9% on 2024.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Bolivar?
Unemployment among women in Bolivar was 15.1% in 2025, against 6.0% for men; 35.6% of women and 70.6% of men aged 15 and over were employed.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat do people in Bolivar work in?
The largest employers in Bolivar in 2025 were trade and vehicle repair (16.5% of jobs), agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing (15.5%) and transport and storage (11.4%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyMore figures
- Public administration, defence, education and health accounted for 20.0% of value added in Bolivar in 2025 (Colombia: 17.0%), 16th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota. Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
- 6.9% of the workforce in Bolivar was underemployed in 2025, wanting and available to work more hours (8.0% in 2024). Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
How Bolivar compares with other departments
GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Bolivar ranks 7 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Santander | 119.0 trillion pesos |
| 5 | Cundinamarca | 117.0 trillion pesos |
| 6 | Atlantico | 82.3 trillion pesos |
| 7 | Bolivar | 66.5 trillion pesos |
| 8 | Meta | 55.9 trillion pesos |
| 9 | Boyaca | 48.8 trillion pesos |
| 10 | Tolima | 41.0 trillion pesos |
GDP per person (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Bolivar ranks 13 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Cundinamarca | 33,098,438 pesos |
| 11 | Risaralda | 31,542,003 pesos |
| 12 | Caldas | 29,982,014 pesos |
| 13 | Bolivar | 29,691,467 pesos |
| 14 | Tolima | 29,554,906 pesos |
| 15 | Quindio | 28,814,928 pesos |
| 16 | Atlantico | 28,734,706 pesos |
Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Bolivar ranks 19 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Meta | +2.5% |
| 17 | Caldas | +2.4% |
| 18 | Santander | +2.4% |
| 19 | Bolivar | +2.0% |
| 20 | Cundinamarca | +2.0% |
| 21 | Guaviare | +1.9% |
| 22 | Quindio | +1.8% |
Real GDP change 2019-2025 (2019-2025)
Bolivar ranks 15 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP change 2019-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Guaviare | +15.2% |
| 13 | Narino | +14.9% |
| 14 | Huila | +14.5% |
| 15 | Bolivar | +14.2% |
| 16 | Sucre | +14.1% |
| 17 | Choco | +13.8% |
| 18 | Santander | +13.4% |
Unemployment rate (GEIH) (2025)
Bolivar ranks 14 of 23, highest first. DANE publishes annual department figures for 23 departments; Cundinamarca excludes Bogota.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Cundinamarca | 9.6% |
| 12 | Valle del Cauca | 9.5% |
| 13 | Magdalena | 9.5% |
| 14 | Bolivar | 9.4% |
| 15 | Boyaca | 9.3% |
| 16 | Caldas | 9.1% |
| 17 | Meta | 8.7% |
Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) (2025)
Bolivar ranks 20 of 23, highest first. 23 departments published by DANE.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Cesar | 53.1% |
| 18 | Huila | 53.0% |
| 19 | Norte de Santander | 52.9% |
| 20 | Bolivar | 52.8% |
| 21 | Caqueta | 52.3% |
| 22 | Boyaca | 51.3% |
| 23 | Choco | 33.8% |
More on Bolivar: 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): mercado laboral por departamentos, serie anual 2007-2025 (23 departments; totals, men, women and employment by industry), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9d091d595122…)
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