Economy, jobs and prices in Caldas, Colombia: official figures
Caldas' gross domestic product was 31.6 trillion pesos at current prices in 2025 (DANE preliminary figures), 1.7% of Colombia's 1,852.7 trillion pesos; 15th largest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
What is the GDP per person in Caldas?
GDP per person in Caldas was 29,982,014 pesos in 2025, 86% of the national figure of 34,918,345 pesos; 12th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs the economy of Caldas growing?
In real terms Caldas' economy grew by 2.4% in 2025 (Colombia: 2.6%), after growth of 1.8% in 2024; its 2025 growth was 17th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHas the economy of Caldas recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, Caldas' GDP in 2025 was 16.6% above its 2019 level, before the pandemic (Colombia: 15.9% above); 10th strongest of the 32 departments and Bogota since 2019.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Caldas?
The largest sectors of Caldas' economy in 2025 were trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (19.6% of value added), agriculture, forestry and fishing (18.4%) and public administration, defence, education and health (16.7%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow important are farming and mining in Caldas?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing produced 18.4% of value added in Caldas in 2025 (16th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota), mining and quarrying 2.1% (17th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota) and manufacturing 10.4% (Colombia: 11.0%, 4.1% and 11.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Caldas?
Unemployment in Caldas averaged 9.1% in 2025 in DANE's household survey (GEIH), 46,870 people out of a workforce of 514,761; 8th lowest of the 23 departments the survey reports separately.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs unemployment rising in Caldas?
The unemployment rate in Caldas was down 0.3 percentage points on 2024 (9.4%) and compares with 11.2% in 2019 and a peak of 16.9% in 2020 over the 2007-2025 series.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow many people work in Caldas?
53.9% of people aged 15 and over in Caldas were employed in 2025 and 59.3% were working or looking for work; the employment rate was 9th lowest of the 23 departments surveyed. About 467,891 people had jobs, up 5.4% on 2024.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Caldas?
Unemployment among women in Caldas was 11.1% in 2025, against 7.8% for men; 41.1% of women and 68.0% of men aged 15 and over were employed.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat do people in Caldas work in?
The largest employers in Caldas in 2025 were agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing (16.8% of jobs), trade and vehicle repair (16.2%) and public administration, education and health (11.7%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyMore figures
- Public administration, defence, education and health accounted for 16.7% of value added in Caldas in 2025 (Colombia: 17.0%), 9th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota. Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
- 4.5% of the workforce in Caldas was underemployed in 2025, wanting and available to work more hours (3.1% in 2024). Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
How Caldas compares with other departments
GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Caldas ranks 15 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Cordoba | 33.6 trillion pesos |
| 13 | Huila | 32.1 trillion pesos |
| 14 | Risaralda | 31.6 trillion pesos |
| 15 | Caldas | 31.6 trillion pesos |
| 16 | Cesar | 31.5 trillion pesos |
| 17 | Norte de Santander | 30.1 trillion pesos |
| 18 | Narino | 28.6 trillion pesos |
GDP per person (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Caldas ranks 12 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Arauca | 33,678,379 pesos |
| 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 |
Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Caldas ranks 17 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Atlantico | +2.6% |
| 15 | Vaupes | +2.5% |
| 16 | Meta | +2.5% |
| 17 | Caldas | +2.4% |
| 18 | Santander | +2.4% |
| 19 | Bolivar | +2.0% |
| 20 | Cundinamarca | +2.0% |
Real GDP change 2019-2025 (2019-2025)
Caldas ranks 10 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP change 2019-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Magdalena | +17.2% |
| 8 | Cundinamarca | +17.0% |
| 9 | Cordoba | +16.7% |
| 10 | Caldas | +16.6% |
| 11 | Quindio | +16.5% |
| 12 | Guaviare | +15.2% |
| 13 | Narino | +14.9% |
Unemployment rate (GEIH) (2025)
Caldas ranks 16 of 23, highest first. DANE publishes annual department figures for 23 departments; Cundinamarca excludes Bogota.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Magdalena | 9.5% |
| 14 | Bolivar | 9.4% |
| 15 | Boyaca | 9.3% |
| 16 | Caldas | 9.1% |
| 17 | Meta | 8.7% |
| 18 | Atlantico | 8.5% |
| 19 | Risaralda | 7.9% |
Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) (2025)
Caldas ranks 15 of 23, highest first. 23 departments published by DANE.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Tolima | 55.3% |
| 13 | Magdalena | 54.5% |
| 14 | La Guajira | 54.4% |
| 15 | Caldas | 53.9% |
| 16 | Quindio | 53.9% |
| 17 | Cesar | 53.1% |
| 18 | Huila | 53.0% |
More on Caldas: 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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