What share of workers in Chimborazo have adequate employment?

21.6% of the economically active population in Chimborazo had adequate employment in 2025 (full-time work at or above the minimum wage), against 37.1% nationally; 4th lowest of the 24 provinces. The 2019 figure was 19.3%.

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

The unemployment rate in Chimborazo was 1.8% in 2025, below the national rate of 3.6%; 8th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2019 it was 1.3%.

Unemployment rate

1.8%

2025

Gross value added (US$ million, current prices)

US$1.3 billion

2024 (provisional)

What is the underemployment rate in Chimborazo?

The underemployment rate in Chimborazo was 18.6% in 2025 (national 19.4%), 12th lowest of the 24 provinces; in 2019 it was 13.9%.

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

How big is the informal sector in Chimborazo?

The informal sector accounted for 68.1% of employment in Chimborazo in 2025, above the national figure of 51.5%; 5th highest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was 69.1%.

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

How many people in Chimborazo work without pay?

The unpaid employment rate in Chimborazo was 22.8% in 2025 (national 8.8%), 5th 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 Chimborazo?

The labour force participation rate in Chimborazo was 84.0% in 2025 against 64.3% nationally, 6th highest 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 Chimborazo?

The Banco Central del Ecuador puts the gross value added of Chimborazo at US$1.3 billion in 2024 (provisional, current prices), 1.2% of the national US$115.1 billion; 8th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Is the economy of Chimborazo growing?

Gross value added in Chimborazo was US$1.3 billion in 2023 and US$1.3 billion in 2024, a change of -0.4% against +1.2% nationally. Compared with 2019 (before the pandemic) it is -2.8% in current prices (+14.0% nationally); 4th lowest growth of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What is the GDP per person in Chimborazo?

Gross value added per person in Chimborazo was US$2,740 in 2024 (provisional), below the national average of US$6,407; 2nd lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was US$2,678.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What are the main industries in Chimborazo?

The largest activity group in the economy of Chimborazo in 2024 was public administration and defence, with 17.1% of gross value added. Other groups: wholesale and retail trade 14.8%, manufacturing 8.1%.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How important is agriculture in Chimborazo?

Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing accounted for 13.1% of gross value added in Chimborazo in 2024, against 9.9% across the provinces; 9th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Oil and mining accounted for 0.1% of gross value added in Chimborazo in 2024 (all provinces together: 8.7%); 8th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How much of the economy of Chimborazo is public administration?

Public administration and defence made up 17.1% of gross value added in Chimborazo in 2024 and education 10.8%, against 7.5% and 5.1% across the provinces; for public administration it is 4th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How Chimborazo compares with other provinces

Unemployment rate (2025)

Chimborazo ranks 17 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate
14	Pastaza	2.1%
15	Santa Elena	2.0%
16	Tungurahua	1.9%
17	Chimborazo	1.8%
18	Los Rios	1.7%
19	Zamora Chinchipe	1.6%
20	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	1.3%

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

Adequate employment rate (2025)

Chimborazo ranks 21 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Adequate employment rate
18	Bolivar	24.9%
19	Carchi	24.4%
20	Pastaza	24.1%
21	Chimborazo	21.6%
22	Orellana	17.8%
23	Napo	11.9%
24	Morona Santiago	9.8%

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

Underemployment rate (2025)

Chimborazo ranks 13 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Underemployment rate
10	Pastaza	19.7%
11	Tungurahua	19.4%
12	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	18.8%
13	Chimborazo	18.6%
14	Imbabura	18.6%
15	Orellana	16.5%
16	Sucumbios	15.7%

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

Informal sector share of employment (2025)

Chimborazo ranks 5 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Informal sector share of employment
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%
8	Cotopaxi	63.1%

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

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

Chimborazo ranks 17 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added (current US$ million)
14	Zamora Chinchipe	US$1,684 million
15	Imbabura	US$1,606 million
16	Santa Elena	US$1,526 million
17	Chimborazo	US$1,339 million
18	Pastaza	US$893 million
19	Canar	US$857 million
20	Bolivar	US$626 million

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Chimborazo ranks 23 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))

Chimborazo ranks 21 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))

Chimborazo ranks 9 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing share of value added
6	El Oro	22.9%
7	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	20.0%
8	Manabi	17.6%
9	Chimborazo	13.1%
10	Canar	11.0%
11	Morona Santiago	9.5%
12	Tungurahua	8.9%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Chimborazo ranks 17 of 24, highest first.

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

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Chimborazo ranks 4 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Public administration and defence share of value added
1	Morona Santiago	41.4%
2	Napo	21.0%
3	Galapagos	18.1%
4	Chimborazo	17.1%
5	Loja	16.5%
6	Carchi	15.8%
7	Canar	15.7%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

More on Chimborazo: 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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