Economy, jobs and prices in Meta, Colombia: official figures
Meta's gross domestic product was 55.9 trillion pesos at current prices in 2025 (DANE preliminary figures), 3.0% of Colombia's 1,852.7 trillion pesos; 8th largest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
What is the GDP per person in Meta?
GDP per person in Meta was 48,351,561 pesos in 2025, 138% of the national figure of 34,918,345 pesos; 4th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs the economy of Meta growing?
In real terms Meta's economy grew by 2.5% in 2025 (Colombia: 2.6%), after growth of 1.7% in 2024; its 2025 growth was 16th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHas the economy of Meta recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, Meta's GDP in 2025 was 6.1% above its 2019 level, before the pandemic (Colombia: 15.9% above); 6th weakest of the 32 departments and Bogota since 2019.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Meta?
The largest sectors of Meta's economy in 2025 were mining and quarrying (36.7% of value added), agriculture, forestry and fishing (21.7%) and trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (13.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow important are farming and mining in Meta?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing produced 21.7% of value added in Meta in 2025 (10th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota), mining and quarrying 36.7% (the highest of the 32 departments and Bogota) and manufacturing 2.9% (Colombia: 11.0%, 4.1% and 11.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Meta?
Unemployment in Meta averaged 8.7% in 2025 in DANE's household survey (GEIH), 47,512 people out of a workforce of 543,646; 7th lowest of the 23 departments the survey reports separately.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs unemployment rising in Meta?
The unemployment rate in Meta was down 0.8 percentage points on 2024 (9.5%) and compares with 13.3% in 2019 and a peak of 19.9% in 2020 over the 2007-2025 series.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow many people work in Meta?
58.8% of people aged 15 and over in Meta were employed in 2025 and 64.4% were working or looking for work; the employment rate was 5th highest of the 23 departments surveyed. About 496,134 people had jobs, up 1.1% on 2024.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Meta?
Unemployment among women in Meta was 10.2% in 2025, against 7.8% for men; 46.1% of women and 71.7% of men aged 15 and over were employed.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat do people in Meta work in?
The largest employers in Meta in 2025 were trade and vehicle repair (20.1% of jobs), agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing (17.2%) and public administration, education and health (11.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyMore figures
- Public administration, defence, education and health accounted for 10.5% of value added in Meta in 2025 (Colombia: 17.0%), 2nd lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota. Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
- 5.8% of the workforce in Meta was underemployed in 2025, wanting and available to work more hours (6.8% in 2024). Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
How Meta compares with other departments
GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Meta ranks 8 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Cundinamarca | 117.0 trillion pesos |
| 6 | Atlantico | 82.3 trillion pesos |
| 7 | Bolivar | 66.5 trillion pesos |
| 8 | Meta | 55.9 trillion pesos |
| 9 | Boyaca | 48.8 trillion pesos |
| 10 | Tolima | 41.0 trillion pesos |
| 11 | Cauca | 33.9 trillion pesos |
GDP per person (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Meta ranks 4 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bogota | 59,324,810 pesos |
| 2 | Casanare | 50,002,824 pesos |
| 3 | Santander | 49,631,708 pesos |
| 4 | Meta | 48,351,561 pesos |
| 5 | San Andres and Providencia | 43,227,411 pesos |
| 6 | Antioquia | 39,992,416 pesos |
| 7 | Valle del Cauca | 38,421,474 pesos |
Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Meta ranks 16 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Sucre | +2.6% |
| 14 | Atlantico | +2.6% |
| 15 | Vaupes | +2.5% |
| 16 | Meta | +2.5% |
| 17 | Caldas | +2.4% |
| 18 | Santander | +2.4% |
| 19 | Bolivar | +2.0% |
Real GDP change 2019-2025 (2019-2025)
Meta ranks 28 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP change 2019-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Vichada | +10.0% |
| 26 | Boyaca | +7.9% |
| 27 | Guainia | +7.1% |
| 28 | Meta | +6.1% |
| 29 | Arauca | +5.2% |
| 30 | Putumayo | +3.7% |
| 31 | Casanare | -5.1% |
Unemployment rate (GEIH) (2025)
Meta ranks 17 of 23, highest first. DANE publishes annual department figures for 23 departments; Cundinamarca excludes Bogota.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Bolivar | 9.4% |
| 15 | Boyaca | 9.3% |
| 16 | Caldas | 9.1% |
| 17 | Meta | 8.7% |
| 18 | Atlantico | 8.5% |
| 19 | Risaralda | 7.9% |
| 20 | Antioquia | 7.5% |
Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) (2025)
Meta ranks 5 of 23, highest first. 23 departments published by DANE.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Cundinamarca | 63.2% |
| 3 | Cauca | 61.8% |
| 4 | Antioquia | 59.5% |
| 5 | Meta | 58.8% |
| 6 | Atlantico | 58.0% |
| 7 | Cordoba | 58.0% |
| 8 | Valle del Cauca | 57.4% |
More on Meta: 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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