Economy, jobs and prices in La Guajira, Colombia: official figures
La Guajira's gross domestic product was 17.8 trillion pesos at current prices in 2025 (DANE preliminary figures), 0.96% of Colombia's 1,852.7 trillion pesos; 13th smallest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
What is the GDP per person in La Guajira?
GDP per person in La Guajira was 16,646,442 pesos in 2025, 48% of the national figure of 34,918,345 pesos; 7th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs the economy of La Guajira growing?
In real terms La Guajira's economy shrank by 1.6% in 2025 (Colombia: 2.6%), after a fall of 1.2% in 2024; its 2025 growth was 3rd lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHas the economy of La Guajira recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, La Guajira's GDP in 2025 was 6.3% below its 2019 level, before the pandemic (Colombia: 15.9% above); 2nd weakest of the 32 departments and Bogota since 2019.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in La Guajira?
The largest sectors of La Guajira's economy in 2025 were mining and quarrying (28.2% of value added), public administration, defence, education and health (25.8%) and trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (16.3%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow important are farming and mining in La Guajira?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing produced 7.0% of value added in La Guajira in 2025 (4th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota), mining and quarrying 28.2% (4th 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 La Guajira?
Unemployment in La Guajira averaged 12.3% in 2025 in DANE's household survey (GEIH), 54,470 people out of a workforce of 442,319; 2nd highest of the 23 departments the survey reports separately.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs unemployment rising in La Guajira?
The unemployment rate in La Guajira was up 0.7 percentage points on 2024 (11.6%) and compares with 5.0% in 2019 and a peak of 16.3% in 2008 over the 2007-2025 series.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow many people work in La Guajira?
54.4% of people aged 15 and over in La Guajira were employed in 2025 and 62.1% were working or looking for work; the employment rate was 10th lowest of the 23 departments surveyed. About 387,849 people had jobs, up 3.8% on 2024.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in La Guajira?
Unemployment among women in La Guajira was 15.8% in 2025, against 9.7% for men; 43.2% of women and 66.5% of men aged 15 and over were employed.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat do people in La Guajira work in?
The largest employers in La Guajira in 2025 were manufacturing (18.6% of jobs), agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing (15.4%) and transport and storage (12.7%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyMore figures
- Public administration, defence, education and health accounted for 25.8% of value added in La Guajira in 2025 (Colombia: 17.0%), 14th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota. Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
- 9.5% of the workforce in La Guajira was underemployed in 2025, wanting and available to work more hours (9.2% in 2024). Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
How La Guajira compares with other departments
GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) (2025)
La Guajira ranks 21 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Narino | 28.6 trillion pesos |
| 19 | Magdalena | 26.9 trillion pesos |
| 20 | Casanare | 23.7 trillion pesos |
| 21 | La Guajira | 17.8 trillion pesos |
| 22 | Quindio | 16.1 trillion pesos |
| 23 | Sucre | 15.2 trillion pesos |
| 24 | Arauca | 9.4 trillion pesos |
GDP per person (2025 preliminary) (2025)
La Guajira ranks 27 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Amazonas | 17,078,326 pesos |
| 25 | Cordoba | 16,879,370 pesos |
| 26 | Narino | 16,686,059 pesos |
| 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 |
Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) (2025)
La Guajira ranks 31 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 33 | Casanare | -2.2% |
Real GDP change 2019-2025 (2019-2025)
La Guajira ranks 32 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)
La Guajira ranks 2 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)
La Guajira ranks 14 of 23, highest first. 23 departments published by DANE.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Risaralda | 55.8% |
| 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% |
More on La Guajira: 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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