Economy, jobs and prices in Cauca, Colombia: official figures
Cauca's gross domestic product was 33.9 trillion pesos at current prices in 2025 (DANE preliminary figures), 1.8% of Colombia's 1,852.7 trillion pesos; 11th largest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
What is the GDP per person in Cauca?
GDP per person in Cauca was 21,200,259 pesos in 2025, 61% of the national figure of 34,918,345 pesos; 15th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs the economy of Cauca growing?
In real terms Cauca's economy grew by 1.2% in 2025 (Colombia: 2.6%), after growth of 1.9% in 2024; its 2025 growth was 7th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHas the economy of Cauca recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, Cauca's GDP in 2025 was 12.8% above its 2019 level, before the pandemic (Colombia: 15.9% above); 13th weakest of the 32 departments and Bogota since 2019.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Cauca?
The largest sectors of Cauca's economy in 2025 were public administration, defence, education and health (23.3% of value added), agriculture, forestry and fishing (21.2%) and manufacturing (14.6%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow important are farming and mining in Cauca?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing produced 21.2% of value added in Cauca in 2025 (12th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota), mining and quarrying 0.8% (15th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota) and manufacturing 14.6% (Colombia: 11.0%, 4.1% and 11.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Cauca?
Unemployment in Cauca averaged 6.6% in 2025 in DANE's household survey (GEIH), 52,506 people out of a workforce of 790,307; 2nd lowest of the 23 departments the survey reports separately.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs unemployment rising in Cauca?
The unemployment rate in Cauca was down 1.6 percentage points on 2024 (8.2%) and compares with 10.4% in 2019 and a peak of 14.4% in 2020 over the 2007-2025 series.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow many people work in Cauca?
61.8% of people aged 15 and over in Cauca were employed in 2025 and 66.3% were working or looking for work; the employment rate was 3rd highest of the 23 departments surveyed. About 737,801 people had jobs, down 2.8% on 2024.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Cauca?
Unemployment among women in Cauca was 10.5% in 2025, against 4.1% for men; 46.5% of women and 77.9% of men aged 15 and over were employed.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat do people in Cauca work in?
The largest employers in Cauca in 2025 were agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing (45.6% of jobs), trade and vehicle repair (12.4%) and public administration, education and health (8.8%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyMore figures
- Public administration, defence, education and health accounted for 23.3% of value added in Cauca in 2025 (Colombia: 17.0%), 15th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota. Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
- 8.7% of the workforce in Cauca was underemployed in 2025, wanting and available to work more hours (13.4% in 2024). Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
How Cauca compares with other departments
GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Cauca ranks 11 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Meta | 55.9 trillion pesos |
| 9 | Boyaca | 48.8 trillion pesos |
| 10 | Tolima | 41.0 trillion pesos |
| 11 | Cauca | 33.9 trillion pesos |
| 12 | Cordoba | 33.6 trillion pesos |
| 13 | Huila | 32.1 trillion pesos |
| 14 | Risaralda | 31.6 trillion pesos |
GDP per person (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Cauca ranks 19 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Atlantico | 28,734,706 pesos |
| 17 | Huila | 26,577,783 pesos |
| 18 | Cesar | 21,464,770 pesos |
| 19 | Cauca | 21,200,259 pesos |
| 20 | Guaviare | 18,180,151 pesos |
| 21 | Caqueta | 17,638,454 pesos |
| 22 | Norte de Santander | 17,628,962 pesos |
Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Cauca ranks 27 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Choco | +1.5% |
| 25 | Cordoba | +1.5% |
| 26 | Guainia | +1.4% |
| 27 | Cauca | +1.2% |
| 28 | Vichada | +0.5% |
| 29 | Cesar | -1.1% |
| 30 | Putumayo | -1.3% |
Real GDP change 2019-2025 (2019-2025)
Cauca ranks 21 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP change 2019-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Santander | +13.4% |
| 19 | San Andres and Providencia | +13.1% |
| 20 | Tolima | +13.0% |
| 21 | Cauca | +12.8% |
| 22 | Vaupes | +12.3% |
| 23 | Caqueta | +11.6% |
| 24 | Amazonas | +11.5% |
Unemployment rate (GEIH) (2025)
Cauca ranks 22 of 23, highest first. DANE publishes annual department figures for 23 departments; Cundinamarca excludes Bogota.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Meta | 8.7% |
| 18 | Atlantico | 8.5% |
| 19 | Risaralda | 7.9% |
| 20 | Antioquia | 7.5% |
| 21 | Huila | 6.8% |
| 22 | Cauca | 6.6% |
| 23 | Narino | 6.0% |
Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) (2025)
Cauca ranks 3 of 23, highest first. 23 departments published by DANE.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Narino | 69.8% |
| 2 | Cundinamarca | 63.2% |
| 3 | Cauca | 61.8% |
| 4 | Antioquia | 59.5% |
| 5 | Meta | 58.8% |
| 6 | Atlantico | 58.0% |
| 7 | Cordoba | 58.0% |
More on Cauca: 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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