Economy, jobs and prices in Norte de Santander, Colombia: official figures
Norte de Santander's gross domestic product was 30.1 trillion pesos at current prices in 2025 (DANE preliminary figures), 1.6% of Colombia's 1,852.7 trillion pesos; 17th largest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
What is the GDP per person in Norte de Santander?
GDP per person in Norte de Santander was 17,628,962 pesos in 2025, 50% of the national figure of 34,918,345 pesos; 12th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs the economy of Norte de Santander growing?
In real terms Norte de Santander's economy grew by 2.8% in 2025 (Colombia: 2.6%), after growth of 2.1% in 2024; its 2025 growth was 7th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHas the economy of Norte de Santander recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, Norte de Santander's GDP in 2025 was 19.2% above its 2019 level, before the pandemic (Colombia: 15.9% above); 4th strongest of the 32 departments and Bogota since 2019.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Norte de Santander?
The largest sectors of Norte de Santander's economy in 2025 were public administration, defence, education and health (25.9% of value added), trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (20.3%) and agriculture, forestry and fishing (14.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow important are farming and mining in Norte de Santander?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing produced 14.9% of value added in Norte de Santander in 2025 (14th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota), mining and quarrying 2.2% (15th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota) and manufacturing 4.8% (Colombia: 11.0%, 4.1% and 11.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Norte de Santander?
Unemployment in Norte de Santander averaged 11.3% in 2025 in DANE's household survey (GEIH), 86,092 people out of a workforce of 759,582; 3rd highest of the 23 departments the survey reports separately.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs unemployment rising in Norte de Santander?
The unemployment rate in Norte de Santander was down 1.5 percentage points on 2024 (12.8%) and compares with 13.9% in 2019 and a peak of 20.0% in 2020 over the 2007-2025 series.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow many people work in Norte de Santander?
52.9% of people aged 15 and over in Norte de Santander were employed in 2025 and 59.7% were working or looking for work; the employment rate was 5th lowest of the 23 departments surveyed. About 673,490 people had jobs, up 4.8% on 2024.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Norte de Santander?
Unemployment among women in Norte de Santander was 14.2% in 2025, against 9.5% for men; 39.1% of women and 67.5% of men aged 15 and over were employed.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat do people in Norte de Santander work in?
The largest employers in Norte de Santander in 2025 were trade and vehicle repair (21.2% of jobs), agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing (15.6%) and public administration, education and health (10.8%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyMore figures
- Public administration, defence, education and health accounted for 25.9% of value added in Norte de Santander in 2025 (Colombia: 17.0%), 13th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota. Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
- 7.7% of the workforce in Norte de Santander was underemployed in 2025, wanting and available to work more hours (7.8% in 2024). Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
How Norte de Santander compares with other departments
GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Norte de Santander ranks 17 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Risaralda | 31.6 trillion pesos |
| 15 | Caldas | 31.6 trillion pesos |
| 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 |
GDP per person (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Norte de Santander ranks 22 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Cauca | 21,200,259 pesos |
| 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 |
Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Norte de Santander ranks 7 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Tolima | +3.0% |
| 5 | Caqueta | +3.0% |
| 6 | Valle del Cauca | +2.9% |
| 7 | Norte de Santander | +2.8% |
| 8 | Amazonas | +2.7% |
| 9 | Huila | +2.7% |
| 10 | Narino | +2.7% |
Real GDP change 2019-2025 (2019-2025)
Norte de Santander ranks 4 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP change 2019-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Risaralda | +20.8% |
| 2 | Bogota | +20.3% |
| 3 | Atlantico | +19.7% |
| 4 | Norte de Santander | +19.2% |
| 5 | Antioquia | +18.7% |
| 6 | Valle del Cauca | +17.5% |
| 7 | Magdalena | +17.2% |
Unemployment rate (GEIH) (2025)
Norte de Santander ranks 3 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)
Norte de Santander ranks 19 of 23, highest first. 23 departments published by DANE.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 22 | Boyaca | 51.3% |
More on Norte de Santander: 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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