Economy, jobs and prices in Valle del Cauca, Colombia: official figures
Valle del Cauca's gross domestic product was 180.9 trillion pesos at current prices in 2025 (DANE preliminary figures), 9.8% of Colombia's 1,852.7 trillion pesos; 3rd largest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
What is the GDP per person in Valle del Cauca?
GDP per person in Valle del Cauca was 38,421,474 pesos in 2025, 110% of the national figure of 34,918,345 pesos; 7th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs the economy of Valle del Cauca growing?
In real terms Valle del Cauca's economy grew by 2.9% in 2025 (Colombia: 2.6%), after growth of 1.7% in 2024; its 2025 growth was 6th highest of the 32 departments and Bogota.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHas the economy of Valle del Cauca recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, Valle del Cauca's GDP in 2025 was 17.5% above its 2019 level, before the pandemic (Colombia: 15.9% above); 6th strongest of the 32 departments and Bogota since 2019.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Valle del Cauca?
The largest sectors of Valle del Cauca's economy in 2025 were trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (21.3% of value added), manufacturing (14.8%) and public administration, defence, education and health (14.6%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow important are farming and mining in Valle del Cauca?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing produced 11.1% of value added in Valle del Cauca in 2025 (9th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota), mining and quarrying 0.1% (2nd lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota) and manufacturing 14.8% (Colombia: 11.0%, 4.1% and 11.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Valle del Cauca?
Unemployment in Valle del Cauca averaged 9.5% in 2025 in DANE's household survey (GEIH), 222,941 people out of a workforce of 2,336,754; 12th highest of the 23 departments the survey reports separately.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyIs unemployment rising in Valle del Cauca?
The unemployment rate in Valle del Cauca was down 2.5 percentage points on 2024 (12.1%) and compares with 13.3% in 2019 and a peak of 21.0% in 2020 over the 2007-2025 series.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyHow many people work in Valle del Cauca?
57.4% of people aged 15 and over in Valle del Cauca were employed in 2025 and 63.4% were working or looking for work; the employment rate was 8th highest of the 23 departments surveyed. About 2,113,814 people had jobs, up 4.5% on 2024.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Valle del Cauca?
Unemployment among women in Valle del Cauca was 11.8% in 2025, against 7.6% for men; 47.6% 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 Valle del Cauca work in?
The largest employers in Valle del Cauca in 2025 were trade and vehicle repair (19.5% of jobs), manufacturing (13.9%) and public administration, education and health (12.5%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copyMore figures
- Public administration, defence, education and health accounted for 14.6% of value added in Valle del Cauca in 2025 (Colombia: 17.0%), 6th lowest of the 32 departments and Bogota. Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
- 7.8% of the workforce in Valle del Cauca was underemployed in 2025, wanting and available to work more hours (8.6% in 2024). Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica (DANE) · saved copy
How Valle del Cauca compares with other departments
GDP at current prices (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Valle del Cauca ranks 3 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)
Valle del Cauca ranks 7 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 8 | Boyaca | 37,835,579 pesos |
| 9 | Arauca | 33,678,379 pesos |
| 10 | Cundinamarca | 33,098,438 pesos |
Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) (2025)
Valle del Cauca ranks 6 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth (2025 preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Antioquia | +3.0% |
| 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% |
Real GDP change 2019-2025 (2019-2025)
Valle del Cauca ranks 6 of 33, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP change 2019-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Atlantico | +19.7% |
| 4 | Norte de Santander | +19.2% |
| 5 | Antioquia | +18.7% |
| 6 | Valle del Cauca | +17.5% |
| 7 | Magdalena | +17.2% |
| 8 | Cundinamarca | +17.0% |
| 9 | Cordoba | +16.7% |
Unemployment rate (GEIH) (2025)
Valle del Cauca ranks 12 of 23, highest first. DANE publishes annual department figures for 23 departments; Cundinamarca excludes Bogota.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Santander | 10.1% |
| 10 | Cesar | 9.9% |
| 11 | Cundinamarca | 9.6% |
| 12 | Valle del Cauca | 9.5% |
| 13 | Magdalena | 9.5% |
| 14 | Bolivar | 9.4% |
| 15 | Boyaca | 9.3% |
Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) (2025)
Valle del Cauca ranks 8 of 23, highest first. 23 departments published by DANE.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15+ (GEIH) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Meta | 58.8% |
| 6 | Atlantico | 58.0% |
| 7 | Cordoba | 58.0% |
| 8 | Valle del Cauca | 57.4% |
| 9 | Sucre | 56.9% |
| 10 | Santander | 56.5% |
| 11 | Risaralda | 55.8% |
More on Valle del Cauca: 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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