Economy, jobs and prices in Huila, Colombia: official figures
Huila's gross domestic product was 32.1 trillion pesos at current prices in 2025 (DANE preliminary figures), 1.7% of Colombia's 1,852.7 trillion pesos; 13th largest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
What is the GDP per person in Huila?
GDP per person in Huila was 26,577,783 pesos in 2025, 76% of the national figure of 34,918,345 pesos; 17th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs the economy of Huila growing?
In real terms Huila's economy grew by 2.7% in 2025 (Colombia: 2.6%), after growth of 2.8% in 2024; its 2025 growth was 9th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHas the economy of Huila recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, Huila's GDP in 2025 was 14.5% above its 2019 level, before the pandemic (Colombia: 15.9% above); 14th strongest of the 32 departments and Bogota since 2019.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Huila?
The largest sectors of Huila's economy in 2025 were agriculture, forestry and fishing (26.9% of value added), public administration, defence, education and health (19.4%) and trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (18.1%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow important are farming and mining in Huila?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing produced 26.9% of value added in Huila in 2025 (4th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota), mining and quarrying 3.8% (12th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota) and manufacturing 3.2% (Colombia: 11.0%, 4.1% and 11.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Huila?
Unemployment in Huila averaged 6.8% in 2025 in DANE's household survey (GEIH), 33,561 people out of a workforce of 491,581; 3rd lowest of the 23 departments the survey reports separately.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs unemployment rising in Huila?
The unemployment rate in Huila was down 1.5 percentage points on 2024 (8.4%) and compares with 9.5% in 2019 and a peak of 16.6% in 2020 over the 2007-2025 series.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow many people work in Huila?
53.0% of people aged 15 and over in Huila were employed in 2025 and 56.8% were working or looking for work; the employment rate was 6th lowest of the 23 departments surveyed. About 458,020 people had jobs, down 3.3% on 2024.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Huila?
Unemployment among women in Huila was 9.7% in 2025, against 5.4% for men; 33.1% of women and 73.4% of men aged 15 and over were employed.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat do people in Huila work in?
The largest employers in Huila in 2025 were agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing (37.5% of jobs), trade and vehicle repair (13.0%) and public administration, education and health (9.3%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyMore figures
- Public administration, defence, education and health accounted for 19.4% of value added in Huila in 2025 (Colombia: 17.0%), 16th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota. Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
- 4.1% of the workforce in Huila was underemployed in 2025, wanting and available to work more hours (4.5% in 2024). Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
How Huila compares with other departments
GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Huila ranks 13 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 15 | Caldas | 31.6 trillion pesos |
| 16 | Cesar | 31.5 trillion pesos |
GDP per person (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Huila ranks 17 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Tolima | 29,554,906 pesos |
| 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 |
Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Huila ranks 9 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Valle del Cauca | +2.9% |
| 7 | Norte de Santander | +2.8% |
| 8 | Amazonas | +2.7% |
| 9 | Huila | +2.7% |
| 10 | Narino | +2.7% |
| 11 | Magdalena | +2.6% |
| 12 | San Andres and Providencia | +2.6% |
Real GDP change 2019-2025 (2019-2025)
Huila ranks 14 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP change 2019-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Quindio | +16.5% |
| 12 | Guaviare | +15.2% |
| 13 | Narino | +14.9% |
| 14 | Huila | +14.5% |
| 15 | Bolivar | +14.2% |
| 16 | Sucre | +14.1% |
| 17 | Choco | +13.8% |
Unemployment rate (GEIH) (2025)
Huila ranks 21 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)
Huila ranks 18 of 23, highest first. 23 departments published by DANE.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 21 | Caqueta | 52.3% |
More on Huila: 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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