What share of workers in Bolivar have adequate employment?

24.9% of the economically active population in Bolivar had adequate employment in 2025 (full-time work at or above the minimum wage), against 37.1% nationally; 7th lowest of the 24 provinces. The 2019 figure was 20.9%.

Economy, jobs and prices in Bolivar, Ecuador: official figures

The unemployment rate in Bolivar was 1.2% in 2025, below the national rate of 3.6%; 4th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2019 it was 1.4%.

Unemployment rate

1.2%

2025

Gross value added (US$ million, current prices)

US$626 million

2024 (provisional)

What is the underemployment rate in Bolivar?

The underemployment rate in Bolivar was 20.3% in 2025 (national 19.4%), 9th highest of the 24 provinces; in 2019 it was 16.8%.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copy

How big is the informal sector in Bolivar?

The informal sector accounted for 77.2% of employment in Bolivar in 2025, above the national figure of 51.5%; 3rd highest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was 71.7%.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copy

How many people in Bolivar work without pay?

The unpaid employment rate in Bolivar was 14.6% in 2025 (national 8.8%), 11th highest of the 24 provinces. Unpaid work covers people who earn no labour income, such as unpaid family workers.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copy

What is the labour force participation rate in Bolivar?

The labour force participation rate in Bolivar was 58.4% in 2025 against 64.3% nationally, 5th lowest of the 24 provinces. Participation counts people aged 15 and over who work or look for work.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copy

How large is the economy of Bolivar?

The Banco Central del Ecuador puts the gross value added of Bolivar at US$626 million in 2024 (provisional, current prices), 0.5% of the national US$115.1 billion; 5th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Is the economy of Bolivar growing?

Gross value added in Bolivar was US$499 million in 2023 and US$626 million in 2024, a change of +25.4% against +1.2% nationally. Compared with 2019 (before the pandemic) it is +51.3% in current prices (+14.0% nationally); 2nd highest growth of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What is the GDP per person in Bolivar?

Gross value added per person in Bolivar was US$3,064 in 2024 (provisional), below the national average of US$6,407; 3rd lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was US$1,984.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What are the main industries in Bolivar?

The largest activity group in the economy of Bolivar in 2024 was agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing, with 54.1% of gross value added. Other groups: wholesale and retail trade 8.5%, manufacturing 0.8%, public administration and defence 6.3%.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How important is agriculture in Bolivar?

Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing accounted for 54.1% of gross value added in Bolivar in 2024, against 9.9% across the provinces; the highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How much of the economy of Bolivar comes from oil and mining?

Oil and mining accounted for 0.2% of gross value added in Bolivar in 2024 (all provinces together: 8.7%); 9th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How much of the economy of Bolivar is public administration?

Public administration and defence made up 6.3% of gross value added in Bolivar in 2024 and education 10.5%, against 7.5% and 5.1% across the provinces; for public administration it is 4th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How Bolivar compares with other provinces

Unemployment rate (2025)

Bolivar ranks 21 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate
18	Los Rios	1.7%
19	Zamora Chinchipe	1.6%
20	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	1.3%
21	Bolivar	1.2%
22	Napo	1.2%
23	Orellana	1.1%
24	Morona Santiago	0.1%

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copy

Adequate employment rate (2025)

Bolivar ranks 18 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Adequate employment rate
15	Loja	26.8%
16	Cotopaxi	25.7%
17	Esmeraldas	25.0%
18	Bolivar	24.9%
19	Carchi	24.4%
20	Pastaza	24.1%
21	Chimborazo	21.6%

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copy

Underemployment rate (2025)

Bolivar ranks 9 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Underemployment rate
6	Esmeraldas	22.6%
7	Cotopaxi	20.5%
8	El Oro	20.5%
9	Bolivar	20.3%
10	Pastaza	19.7%
11	Tungurahua	19.4%
12	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	18.8%

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copy

Informal sector share of employment (2025)

Bolivar ranks 3 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Informal sector share of employment
1	Morona Santiago	87.4%
2	Napo	81.5%
3	Bolivar	77.2%
4	Orellana	77.1%
5	Chimborazo	68.1%
6	Pastaza	66.3%
7	Zamora Chinchipe	63.3%

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copy

Gross value added (current US$ million) (2024 (provisional))

Bolivar ranks 20 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added (current US$ million)
17	Chimborazo	US$1,339 million
18	Pastaza	US$893 million
19	Canar	US$857 million
20	Bolivar	US$626 million
21	Napo	US$589 million
22	Carchi	US$581 million
23	Morona Santiago	US$559 million

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Gross value added per person (US$) (2024 (provisional))

Bolivar ranks 22 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added per person (US$)
18	Loja	US$3,570
19	Esmeraldas	US$3,468
20	Carchi	US$3,266
21	Imbabura	US$3,252
22	Bolivar	US$3,064
23	Chimborazo	US$2,740
24	Morona Santiago	US$2,707

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Change in gross value added, 2019 to 2024 (current prices) (2024 (provisional))

Bolivar ranks 2 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Change in gross value added, 2019 to 2024 (current prices)
1	Zamora Chinchipe	+385.3%
2	Bolivar	+51.3%
3	Los Rios	+39.4%
4	Manabi	+30.2%
5	Morona Santiago	+25.2%
6	Napo	+18.3%
7	Guayas	+16.7%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing share of value added (2024 (provisional))

Bolivar ranks 1 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing share of value added
1	Bolivar	54.1%
2	Los Rios	50.2%
3	Cotopaxi	32.5%
4	Carchi	28.2%
5	Esmeraldas	25.1%
6	El Oro	22.9%
7	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	20.0%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Oil and mining share of value added (2024 (provisional))

Bolivar ranks 16 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Oil and mining share of value added
13	Guayas	0.3%
14	Cotopaxi	0.2%
15	Carchi	0.2%
16	Bolivar	0.2%
17	Chimborazo	0.1%
18	Manabi	0.1%
19	Canar	0.1%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Public administration and defence share of value added (2024 (provisional))

Bolivar ranks 21 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Public administration and defence share of value added
18	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	8.2%
19	Sucumbios	7.6%
20	Los Rios	7.3%
21	Bolivar	6.3%
22	Pichincha	6.2%
23	Guayas	4.9%
24	Orellana	3.0%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

More on Bolivar: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Ecuador

Sources

Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC): ENEMDU Anual 2025 (Encuesta Nacional de Empleo, Desempleo y Subempleo): tabulados de mercado laboral, educación, vivienda, pobreza y desigualdad por provincia, 2018-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f969666762d3…)
Banco Central del Ecuador: Valor Agregado Bruto per cápita provincial y cantonal 2018-2024(p), Cuentas Nacionales Regionales, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7cc7b914bc8b…)
Banco Central del Ecuador: Cuentas Provinciales 2024(p): valor agregado bruto por industria, valores corrientes, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bfee6bc272cc…)

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