Economy, jobs and prices in Santander, Colombia: official figures
Santander's gross domestic product was 119.0 trillion pesos at current prices in 2025 (DANE preliminary figures), 6.4% of Colombia's 1,852.7 trillion pesos; 4th largest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
What is the GDP per person in Santander?
GDP per person in Santander was 49,631,708 pesos in 2025, 142% of the national figure of 34,918,345 pesos; 3rd highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs the economy of Santander growing?
In real terms Santander's economy grew by 2.4% in 2025 (Colombia: 2.6%), after growth of 1.2% in 2024; its 2025 growth was 16th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHas the economy of Santander recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, Santander's GDP in 2025 was 13.4% above its 2019 level, before the pandemic (Colombia: 15.9% above); 16th weakest of the 32 departments and Bogota since 2019.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Santander?
The largest sectors of Santander's economy in 2025 were manufacturing (21.9% of value added), trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (17.5%) and agriculture, forestry and fishing (16.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow important are farming and mining in Santander?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing produced 16.9% of value added in Santander in 2025 (16th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota), mining and quarrying 2.6% (13th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota) and manufacturing 21.9% (Colombia: 11.0%, 4.1% and 11.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Santander?
Unemployment in Santander averaged 10.1% in 2025 in DANE's household survey (GEIH), 119,379 people out of a workforce of 1,181,564; 9th highest of the 23 departments the survey reports separately.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs unemployment rising in Santander?
The unemployment rate in Santander was down 0.9 percentage points on 2024 (11.0%) and compares with 10.8% 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 Santander?
56.5% of people aged 15 and over in Santander were employed in 2025 and 62.8% were working or looking for work; the employment rate was 10th highest of the 23 departments surveyed. About 1,062,185 people had jobs, up 2.1% on 2024.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Santander?
Unemployment among women in Santander was 12.1% in 2025, against 8.7% for men; 44.6% of women and 69.2% of men aged 15 and over were employed.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat do people in Santander work in?
The largest employers in Santander in 2025 were trade and vehicle repair (17.8% of jobs), agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing (17.2%) and public administration, education and health (12.1%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyMore figures
- Public administration, defence, education and health accounted for 12.4% of value added in Santander in 2025 (Colombia: 17.0%), 3rd lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota. Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
- 3.9% of the workforce in Santander was underemployed in 2025, wanting and available to work more hours (4.3% in 2024). Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
How Santander compares with other departments
GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Santander ranks 4 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bogota | 471.2 trillion pesos |
| 2 | Antioquia | 277.1 trillion pesos |
| 3 | Valle del Cauca | 180.9 trillion pesos |
| 4 | Santander | 119.0 trillion pesos |
| 5 | Cundinamarca | 117.0 trillion pesos |
| 6 | Atlantico | 82.3 trillion pesos |
| 7 | Bolivar | 66.5 trillion pesos |
GDP per person (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Santander ranks 3 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)
Santander ranks 18 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Vaupes | +2.5% |
| 16 | Meta | +2.5% |
| 17 | Caldas | +2.4% |
| 18 | Santander | +2.4% |
| 19 | Bolivar | +2.0% |
| 20 | Cundinamarca | +2.0% |
| 21 | Guaviare | +1.9% |
Real GDP change 2019-2025 (2019-2025)
Santander ranks 18 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP change 2019-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Bolivar | +14.2% |
| 16 | Sucre | +14.1% |
| 17 | Choco | +13.8% |
| 18 | Santander | +13.4% |
| 19 | San Andres and Providencia | +13.1% |
| 20 | Tolima | +13.0% |
| 21 | Cauca | +12.8% |
Unemployment rate (GEIH) (2025)
Santander ranks 9 of 23, highest first. DANE publishes annual department figures for 23 departments; Cundinamarca excludes Bogota.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Cordoba | 10.5% |
| 7 | Caqueta | 10.4% |
| 8 | Quindio | 10.3% |
| 9 | Santander | 10.1% |
| 10 | Cesar | 9.9% |
| 11 | Cundinamarca | 9.6% |
| 12 | Valle del Cauca | 9.5% |
Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) (2025)
Santander ranks 10 of 23, highest first. 23 departments published by DANE.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Cordoba | 58.0% |
| 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% |
More on 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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