Economy, jobs and prices in Cesar, Colombia: official figures
Cesar's gross domestic product was 31.5 trillion pesos at current prices in 2025 (DANE preliminary figures), 1.7% of Colombia's 1,852.7 trillion pesos; 16th largest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
What is the GDP per person in Cesar?
GDP per person in Cesar was 21,464,770 pesos in 2025, 61% of the national figure of 34,918,345 pesos; 16th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs the economy of Cesar growing?
In real terms Cesar's economy shrank by 1.1% in 2025 (Colombia: 2.6%), after a fall of 1.6% in 2024; its 2025 growth was 5th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHas the economy of Cesar recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, Cesar's GDP in 2025 was 7.1% below its 2019 level, before the pandemic (Colombia: 15.9% above); the weakest of the 32 departments and Bogota since 2019.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Cesar?
The largest sectors of Cesar's economy in 2025 were mining and quarrying (27.3% of value added), public administration, defence, education and health (19.7%) and agriculture, forestry and fishing (14.2%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow important are farming and mining in Cesar?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing produced 14.2% of value added in Cesar in 2025 (13th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota), mining and quarrying 27.3% (5th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota) and manufacturing 3.8% (Colombia: 11.0%, 4.1% and 11.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Cesar?
Unemployment in Cesar averaged 9.9% in 2025 in DANE's household survey (GEIH), 58,836 people out of a workforce of 594,377; 10th highest of the 23 departments the survey reports separately.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs unemployment rising in Cesar?
The unemployment rate in Cesar was down 1.4 percentage points on 2024 (11.3%) and compares with 13.5% in 2019 and a peak of 16.1% in 2021 over the 2007-2025 series.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow many people work in Cesar?
53.1% of people aged 15 and over in Cesar were employed in 2025 and 58.9% were working or looking for work; the employment rate was 7th lowest of the 23 departments surveyed. About 535,542 people had jobs, up 3.7% on 2024.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Cesar?
Unemployment among women in Cesar was 14.4% in 2025, against 7.1% for men; 37.7% of women and 69.3% of men aged 15 and over were employed.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat do people in Cesar work in?
The largest employers in Cesar in 2025 were trade and vehicle repair (20.1% of jobs), agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing (15.5%) and public administration, education and health (12.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyMore figures
- Public administration, defence, education and health accounted for 19.7% of value added in Cesar in 2025 (Colombia: 17.0%), 17th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota. Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
- 6.1% of the workforce in Cesar was underemployed in 2025, wanting and available to work more hours (9.0% in 2024). Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
How Cesar compares with other departments
GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Cesar ranks 16 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 19 | Magdalena | 26.9 trillion pesos |
GDP per person (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Cesar ranks 18 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Quindio | 28,814,928 pesos |
| 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 |
Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Cesar ranks 29 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Guainia | +1.4% |
| 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% |
Real GDP change 2019-2025 (2019-2025)
Cesar ranks 33 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP change 2019-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 33 | Cesar | -7.1% |
Unemployment rate (GEIH) (2025)
Cesar ranks 10 of 23, highest first. DANE publishes annual department figures for 23 departments; Cundinamarca excludes Bogota.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Caqueta | 10.4% |
| 8 | Quindio | 10.3% |
| 9 | Santander | 10.1% |
| 10 | Cesar | 9.9% |
| 11 | Cundinamarca | 9.6% |
| 12 | Valle del Cauca | 9.5% |
| 13 | Magdalena | 9.5% |
Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) (2025)
Cesar ranks 17 of 23, highest first. 23 departments published by DANE.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | La Guajira | 54.4% |
| 15 | Caldas | 53.9% |
| 16 | Quindio | 53.9% |
| 17 | Cesar | 53.1% |
| 18 | Huila | 53.0% |
| 19 | Norte de Santander | 52.9% |
| 20 | Bolivar | 52.8% |
More on Cesar: 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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