Economy, jobs and prices in Choco, Colombia: official figures
Choco's gross domestic product was 8.5 trillion pesos at current prices in 2025 (DANE preliminary figures), 0.46% of Colombia's 1,852.7 trillion pesos; 9th smallest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
What is the GDP per person in Choco?
GDP per person in Choco was 14,342,704 pesos in 2025, 41% of the national figure of 34,918,345 pesos; 4th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs the economy of Choco growing?
In real terms Choco's economy grew by 1.5% in 2025 (Colombia: 2.6%), after growth of 0.9% in 2024; its 2025 growth was 10th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHas the economy of Choco recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, Choco's GDP in 2025 was 13.8% above its 2019 level, before the pandemic (Colombia: 15.9% above); 17th strongest of the 32 departments and Bogota since 2019.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Choco?
The largest sectors of Choco's economy in 2025 were public administration, defence, education and health (34.0% of value added), agriculture, forestry and fishing (24.7%) and mining and quarrying (18.5%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow important are farming and mining in Choco?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing produced 24.7% of value added in Choco in 2025 (7th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota), mining and quarrying 18.5% (7th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota) and manufacturing 0.6% (Colombia: 11.0%, 4.1% and 11.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Choco?
Unemployment in Choco averaged 12.8% in 2025 in DANE's household survey (GEIH), 19,661 people out of a workforce of 153,271; the highest of the 23 departments the survey reports separately.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs unemployment rising in Choco?
The unemployment rate in Choco was down 3.1 percentage points on 2024 (15.9%) and compares with 11.2% in 2019 and a peak of 18.2% in 2023 over the 2007-2025 series.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow many people work in Choco?
33.8% of people aged 15 and over in Choco were employed in 2025 and 38.8% were working or looking for work; the employment rate was the lowest of the 23 departments surveyed. About 133,610 people had jobs, up 10.7% on 2024.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Choco?
Unemployment among women in Choco was 20.4% in 2025, against 9.0% for men; 20.2% of women and 48.3% of men aged 15 and over were employed.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat do people in Choco work in?
The largest employers in Choco in 2025 were agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing (22.5% of jobs), mining and quarrying (15.0%) and public administration, education and health (14.3%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyMore figures
- Public administration, defence, education and health accounted for 34.0% of value added in Choco in 2025 (Colombia: 17.0%), 6th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota. Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
- 1.0% of the workforce in Choco was underemployed in 2025, wanting and available to work more hours (1.7% in 2024). Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
How Choco compares with other departments
GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Choco ranks 25 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 28 | San Andres and Providencia | 2.7 trillion pesos |
GDP per person (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Choco ranks 30 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | La Guajira | 16,646,442 pesos |
| 28 | Putumayo | 16,272,788 pesos |
| 29 | Sucre | 14,727,752 pesos |
| 30 | Choco | 14,342,704 pesos |
| 31 | Vaupes | 11,770,608 pesos |
| 32 | Guainia | 11,263,031 pesos |
| 33 | Vichada | 8,910,343 pesos |
Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Choco ranks 24 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Guaviare | +1.9% |
| 22 | Quindio | +1.8% |
| 23 | Boyaca | +1.6% |
| 24 | Choco | +1.5% |
| 25 | Cordoba | +1.5% |
| 26 | Guainia | +1.4% |
| 27 | Cauca | +1.2% |
Real GDP change 2019-2025 (2019-2025)
Choco ranks 17 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP change 2019-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Huila | +14.5% |
| 15 | Bolivar | +14.2% |
| 16 | Sucre | +14.1% |
| 17 | Choco | +13.8% |
| 18 | Santander | +13.4% |
| 19 | San Andres and Providencia | +13.1% |
| 20 | Tolima | +13.0% |
Unemployment rate (GEIH) (2025)
Choco ranks 1 of 23, highest first. DANE publishes annual department figures for 23 departments; Cundinamarca excludes Bogota.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choco | 12.8% |
| 2 | La Guajira | 12.3% |
| 3 | Norte de Santander | 11.3% |
| 4 | Tolima | 10.8% |
| 5 | Sucre | 10.6% |
| 6 | Cordoba | 10.5% |
| 7 | Caqueta | 10.4% |
Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) (2025)
Choco ranks 23 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 Choco: 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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