Economy, jobs and prices in Magdalena, Colombia: official figures
Magdalena's gross domestic product was 26.9 trillion pesos at current prices in 2025 (DANE preliminary figures), 1.4% of Colombia's 1,852.7 trillion pesos; 15th smallest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
What is the GDP per person in Magdalena?
GDP per person in Magdalena was 17,389,563 pesos in 2025, 50% of the national figure of 34,918,345 pesos; 11th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs the economy of Magdalena growing?
In real terms Magdalena's economy grew by 2.6% in 2025 (Colombia: 2.6%), after growth of 2.0% in 2024; its 2025 growth was 11th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHas the economy of Magdalena recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, Magdalena's GDP in 2025 was 17.2% above its 2019 level, before the pandemic (Colombia: 15.9% above); 7th strongest of the 32 departments and Bogota since 2019.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Magdalena?
The largest sectors of Magdalena's economy in 2025 were public administration, defence, education and health (28.6% of value added), agriculture, forestry and fishing (22.4%) and trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (22.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow important are farming and mining in Magdalena?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing produced 22.4% of value added in Magdalena in 2025 (9th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota), mining and quarrying 0.3% (12th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota) and manufacturing 3.3% (Colombia: 11.0%, 4.1% and 11.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Magdalena?
Unemployment in Magdalena averaged 9.5% in 2025 in DANE's household survey (GEIH), 63,254 people out of a workforce of 665,324; 11th lowest of the 23 departments the survey reports separately.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs unemployment rising in Magdalena?
The unemployment rate in Magdalena was down 0.2 percentage points on 2024 (9.7%) and compares with 8.8% in 2019 and a peak of 12.1% in 2008 over the 2007-2025 series.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow many people work in Magdalena?
54.5% of people aged 15 and over in Magdalena were employed in 2025 and 60.2% were working or looking for work; the employment rate was 11th lowest of the 23 departments surveyed. About 602,070 people had jobs, up 4.6% on 2024.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Magdalena?
Unemployment among women in Magdalena was 14.9% in 2025, against 6.3% for men; 37.7% of women and 71.6% of men aged 15 and over were employed.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat do people in Magdalena work in?
The largest employers in Magdalena in 2025 were agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing (21.2% of jobs), trade and vehicle repair (18.0%) and hotels and restaurants (10.6%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyMore figures
- Public administration, defence, education and health accounted for 28.6% of value added in Magdalena in 2025 (Colombia: 17.0%), 11th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota. Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
- 8.8% of the workforce in Magdalena 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 Magdalena compares with other departments
GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Magdalena ranks 19 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 20 | Casanare | 23.7 trillion pesos |
| 21 | La Guajira | 17.8 trillion pesos |
| 22 | Quindio | 16.1 trillion pesos |
GDP per person (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Magdalena ranks 23 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Guaviare | 18,180,151 pesos |
| 21 | Caqueta | 17,638,454 pesos |
| 22 | Norte de Santander | 17,628,962 pesos |
| 23 | Magdalena | 17,389,563 pesos |
| 24 | Amazonas | 17,078,326 pesos |
| 25 | Cordoba | 16,879,370 pesos |
| 26 | Narino | 16,686,059 pesos |
Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Magdalena ranks 11 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Amazonas | +2.7% |
| 9 | Huila | +2.7% |
| 10 | Narino | +2.7% |
| 11 | Magdalena | +2.6% |
| 12 | San Andres and Providencia | +2.6% |
| 13 | Sucre | +2.6% |
| 14 | Atlantico | +2.6% |
Real GDP change 2019-2025 (2019-2025)
Magdalena ranks 7 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP change 2019-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Norte de Santander | +19.2% |
| 5 | Antioquia | +18.7% |
| 6 | Valle del Cauca | +17.5% |
| 7 | Magdalena | +17.2% |
| 8 | Cundinamarca | +17.0% |
| 9 | Cordoba | +16.7% |
| 10 | Caldas | +16.6% |
Unemployment rate (GEIH) (2025)
Magdalena ranks 13 of 23, highest first. DANE publishes annual department figures for 23 departments; Cundinamarca excludes Bogota.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Cesar | 9.9% |
| 11 | Cundinamarca | 9.6% |
| 12 | Valle del Cauca | 9.5% |
| 13 | Magdalena | 9.5% |
| 14 | Bolivar | 9.4% |
| 15 | Boyaca | 9.3% |
| 16 | Caldas | 9.1% |
Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) (2025)
Magdalena ranks 13 of 23, highest first. 23 departments published by DANE.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Santander | 56.5% |
| 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% |
More on Magdalena: 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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