Economy, jobs and prices in Tolima, Colombia: official figures
Tolima's gross domestic product was 41.0 trillion pesos at current prices in 2025 (DANE preliminary figures), 2.2% of Colombia's 1,852.7 trillion pesos; 10th largest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
What is the GDP per person in Tolima?
GDP per person in Tolima was 29,554,906 pesos in 2025, 85% of the national figure of 34,918,345 pesos; 14th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs the economy of Tolima growing?
In real terms Tolima's economy grew by 3.0% in 2025 (Colombia: 2.6%), after growth of 2.3% in 2024; its 2025 growth was 4th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHas the economy of Tolima recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, Tolima's GDP in 2025 was 13.0% above its 2019 level, before the pandemic (Colombia: 15.9% above); 14th weakest of the 32 departments and Bogota since 2019.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Tolima?
The largest sectors of Tolima's economy in 2025 were agriculture, forestry and fishing (26.0% of value added), trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (19.3%) and public administration, defence, education and health (18.3%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow important are farming and mining in Tolima?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing produced 26.0% of value added in Tolima in 2025 (5th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota), mining and quarrying 2.1% (16th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota) and manufacturing 7.7% (Colombia: 11.0%, 4.1% and 11.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Tolima?
Unemployment in Tolima averaged 10.8% in 2025 in DANE's household survey (GEIH), 72,457 people out of a workforce of 669,547; 4th highest of the 23 departments the survey reports separately.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs unemployment rising in Tolima?
The unemployment rate in Tolima was down 1.2 percentage points on 2024 (12.0%) and compares with 16.6% in 2019 and a peak of 23.2% in 2020 over the 2007-2025 series.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow many people work in Tolima?
55.3% of people aged 15 and over in Tolima were employed in 2025 and 62.1% were working or looking for work; the employment rate was 12th highest of the 23 departments surveyed. About 597,090 people had jobs, up 10.8% on 2024.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Tolima?
Unemployment among women in Tolima was 14.4% in 2025, against 8.4% for men; 41.6% of women and 69.8% of men aged 15 and over were employed.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat do people in Tolima work in?
The largest employers in Tolima in 2025 were agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing (26.3% of jobs), trade and vehicle repair (17.7%) 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 18.3% of value added in Tolima in 2025 (Colombia: 17.0%), 14th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota. Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
- 8.2% of the workforce in Tolima was underemployed in 2025, wanting and available to work more hours (5.8% in 2024). Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
How Tolima compares with other departments
GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Tolima ranks 10 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 12 | Cordoba | 33.6 trillion pesos |
| 13 | Huila | 32.1 trillion pesos |
GDP per person (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Tolima ranks 14 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Risaralda | 31,542,003 pesos |
| 12 | Caldas | 29,982,014 pesos |
| 13 | Bolivar | 29,691,467 pesos |
| 14 | Tolima | 29,554,906 pesos |
| 15 | Quindio | 28,814,928 pesos |
| 16 | Atlantico | 28,734,706 pesos |
| 17 | Huila | 26,577,783 pesos |
Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Tolima ranks 4 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)
Tolima ranks 20 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP change 2019-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Choco | +13.8% |
| 18 | Santander | +13.4% |
| 19 | San Andres and Providencia | +13.1% |
| 20 | Tolima | +13.0% |
| 21 | Cauca | +12.8% |
| 22 | Vaupes | +12.3% |
| 23 | Caqueta | +11.6% |
Unemployment rate (GEIH) (2025)
Tolima ranks 4 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)
Tolima ranks 12 of 23, highest first. 23 departments published by DANE.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 15 | Caldas | 53.9% |
More on Tolima: 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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