What share of workers in Carchi have adequate employment?

24.4% of the economically active population in Carchi had adequate employment in 2025 (full-time work at or above the minimum wage), against 37.1% nationally; 6th lowest of the 24 provinces. The 2019 figure was 28.7%.

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

The unemployment rate in Carchi was 4.9% in 2025, above the national rate of 3.6%; 5th highest of the 24 provinces. In 2019 it was 4.9%.

Unemployment rate

4.9%

2025

Gross value added (US$ million, current prices)

US$581 million

2024 (provisional)

What is the underemployment rate in Carchi?

The underemployment rate in Carchi was 15.0% in 2025 (national 19.4%), 8th lowest of the 24 provinces; in 2019 it was 19.5%.

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

How big is the informal sector in Carchi?

The informal sector accounted for 60.4% of employment in Carchi in 2025, above the national figure of 51.5%; 12th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was 42.0%.

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

How many people in Carchi work without pay?

The unpaid employment rate in Carchi was 18.2% in 2025 (national 8.8%), 8th 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 Carchi?

The labour force participation rate in Carchi was 64.9% in 2025 against 64.3% nationally, 10th 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 Carchi?

The Banco Central del Ecuador puts the gross value added of Carchi at US$581 million in 2024 (provisional, current prices), 0.5% of the national US$115.1 billion; 3rd lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Is the economy of Carchi growing?

Gross value added in Carchi was US$542 million in 2023 and US$581 million in 2024, a change of +7.2% against +1.2% nationally. Compared with 2019 (before the pandemic) it is -4.0% in current prices (+14.0% nationally); 2nd lowest growth of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What is the GDP per person in Carchi?

Gross value added per person in Carchi was US$3,266 in 2024 (provisional), below the national average of US$6,407; 5th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was US$3,284.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What are the main industries in Carchi?

The largest activity group in the economy of Carchi in 2024 was agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing, with 28.2% of gross value added. Other groups: wholesale and retail trade 11.6%, manufacturing 2.7%, public administration and defence 15.8%.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How important is agriculture in Carchi?

Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing accounted for 28.2% of gross value added in Carchi in 2024, against 9.9% across the provinces; 4th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Oil and mining accounted for 0.2% of gross value added in Carchi in 2024 (all provinces together: 8.7%); 10th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How much of the economy of Carchi is public administration?

Public administration and defence made up 15.8% of gross value added in Carchi in 2024 and education 8.3%, against 7.5% and 5.1% across the provinces; for public administration it is 6th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How Carchi compares with other provinces

Unemployment rate (2025)

Carchi ranks 5 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate
2	Pichincha	6.6%
3	Sucumbios	6.5%
4	Imbabura	6.1%
5	Carchi	4.9%
6	Loja	4.0%
7	El Oro	3.9%
8	Canar	3.6%

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

Adequate employment rate (2025)

Carchi ranks 19 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Adequate employment rate
16	Cotopaxi	25.7%
17	Esmeraldas	25.0%
18	Bolivar	24.9%
19	Carchi	24.4%
20	Pastaza	24.1%
21	Chimborazo	21.6%
22	Orellana	17.8%

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

Underemployment rate (2025)

Carchi ranks 17 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Underemployment rate
14	Imbabura	18.6%
15	Orellana	16.5%
16	Sucumbios	15.7%
17	Carchi	15.0%
18	Zamora Chinchipe	14.7%
19	Loja	14.2%
20	Canar	13.8%

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

Informal sector share of employment (2025)

Carchi ranks 13 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Informal sector share of employment
10	Manabi	61.7%
11	Sucumbios	61.5%
12	Esmeraldas	61.5%
13	Carchi	60.4%
14	Loja	60.0%
15	Canar	56.4%
16	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	54.6%

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

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

Carchi ranks 22 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added (current US$ 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
24	Galapagos	US$297 million

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Carchi ranks 20 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added per person (US$)
17	Canar	US$3,611
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

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Carchi ranks 23 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Change in gross value added, 2019 to 2024 (current prices)
18	Pichincha	+6.1%
19	Imbabura	+1.7%
20	Tungurahua	-1.7%
21	Chimborazo	-2.8%
22	Esmeraldas	-3.0%
23	Carchi	-4.0%
24	Galapagos	-18.0%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Carchi ranks 4 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))

Carchi ranks 15 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Oil and mining share of value added
12	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	0.3%
13	Guayas	0.3%
14	Cotopaxi	0.2%
15	Carchi	0.2%
16	Bolivar	0.2%
17	Chimborazo	0.1%
18	Manabi	0.1%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Carchi ranks 6 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Public administration and defence share of value added
3	Galapagos	18.1%
4	Chimborazo	17.1%
5	Loja	16.5%
6	Carchi	15.8%
7	Canar	15.7%
8	Imbabura	14.0%
9	Pastaza	12.9%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

More on Carchi: 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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