Economy, jobs and prices in Risaralda, Colombia: official figures
Risaralda's gross domestic product was 31.6 trillion pesos at current prices in 2025 (DANE preliminary figures), 1.7% of Colombia's 1,852.7 trillion pesos; 14th largest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
What is the GDP per person in Risaralda?
GDP per person in Risaralda was 31,542,003 pesos in 2025, 90% of the national figure of 34,918,345 pesos; 11th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs the economy of Risaralda growing?
In real terms Risaralda's economy grew by 3.2% in 2025 (Colombia: 2.6%), after growth of 1.5% in 2024; its 2025 growth was 2nd highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHas the economy of Risaralda recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, Risaralda's GDP in 2025 was 20.8% above its 2019 level, before the pandemic (Colombia: 15.9% above); the strongest of the 32 departments and Bogota since 2019.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Risaralda?
The largest sectors of Risaralda's economy in 2025 were trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (24.1% of value added), public administration, defence, education and health (17.9%) and manufacturing (12.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow important are farming and mining in Risaralda?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing produced 11.6% of value added in Risaralda in 2025 (10th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota), mining and quarrying 0.3% (11th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota) and manufacturing 12.0% (Colombia: 11.0%, 4.1% and 11.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Risaralda?
Unemployment in Risaralda averaged 7.9% in 2025 in DANE's household survey (GEIH), 39,052 people out of a workforce of 495,221; 5th lowest of the 23 departments the survey reports separately.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs unemployment rising in Risaralda?
The unemployment rate in Risaralda was down 1.8 percentage points on 2024 (9.7%) and compares with 7.9% in 2019 and a peak of 18.1% in 2010 over the 2007-2025 series.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow many people work in Risaralda?
55.8% of people aged 15 and over in Risaralda were employed in 2025 and 60.5% were working or looking for work; the employment rate was 11th highest of the 23 departments surveyed. About 456,169 people had jobs, up 4.4% on 2024.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Risaralda?
Unemployment among women in Risaralda was 9.6% in 2025, against 6.6% for men; 42.9% of women and 70.6% of men aged 15 and over were employed.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat do people in Risaralda work in?
The largest employers in Risaralda in 2025 were trade and vehicle repair (18.7% of jobs), manufacturing (12.2%) and agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing (11.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyMore figures
- Public administration, defence, education and health accounted for 17.9% of value added in Risaralda in 2025 (Colombia: 17.0%), 12th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota. Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
- 5.0% of the workforce in Risaralda was underemployed in 2025, wanting and available to work more hours (4.9% in 2024). Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
How Risaralda compares with other departments
GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Risaralda ranks 14 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 17 | Norte de Santander | 30.1 trillion pesos |
GDP per person (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Risaralda ranks 11 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Boyaca | 37,835,579 pesos |
| 9 | Arauca | 33,678,379 pesos |
| 10 | Cundinamarca | 33,098,438 pesos |
| 11 | Risaralda | 31,542,003 pesos |
| 12 | Caldas | 29,982,014 pesos |
| 13 | Bolivar | 29,691,467 pesos |
| 14 | Tolima | 29,554,906 pesos |
Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Risaralda ranks 2 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bogota | +3.5% |
| 2 | Risaralda | +3.2% |
| 3 | Antioquia | +3.0% |
| 4 | Tolima | +3.0% |
| 5 | Caqueta | +3.0% |
| 6 | Valle del Cauca | +2.9% |
| 7 | Norte de Santander | +2.8% |
Real GDP change 2019-2025 (2019-2025)
Risaralda ranks 1 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)
Risaralda ranks 19 of 23, highest first. DANE publishes annual department figures for 23 departments; Cundinamarca excludes Bogota.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Caldas | 9.1% |
| 17 | Meta | 8.7% |
| 18 | Atlantico | 8.5% |
| 19 | Risaralda | 7.9% |
| 20 | Antioquia | 7.5% |
| 21 | Huila | 6.8% |
| 22 | Cauca | 6.6% |
Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) (2025)
Risaralda ranks 11 of 23, highest first. 23 departments published by DANE.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Valle del Cauca | 57.4% |
| 9 | Sucre | 56.9% |
| 10 | Santander | 56.5% |
| 11 | Risaralda | 55.8% |
| 12 | Tolima | 55.3% |
| 13 | Magdalena | 54.5% |
| 14 | La Guajira | 54.4% |
More on Risaralda: 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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