What share of workers in Cotopaxi have adequate employment?

25.7% of the economically active population in Cotopaxi had adequate employment in 2025 (full-time work at or above the minimum wage), against 37.1% nationally; 9th lowest of the 24 provinces. The 2019 figure was 26.2%.

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

The unemployment rate in Cotopaxi was 2.1% in 2025, below the national rate of 3.6%; 12th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2019 it was 1.7%.

Unemployment rate

2.1%

2025

Gross value added (US$ million, current prices)

US$1.9 billion

2024 (provisional)

What is the underemployment rate in Cotopaxi?

The underemployment rate in Cotopaxi was 20.5% in 2025 (national 19.4%), 7th highest of the 24 provinces; in 2019 it was 15.3%.

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

How big is the informal sector in Cotopaxi?

The informal sector accounted for 63.1% of employment in Cotopaxi in 2025, above the national figure of 51.5%; 8th highest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was 58.2%.

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

How many people in Cotopaxi work without pay?

The unpaid employment rate in Cotopaxi was 22.4% in 2025 (national 8.8%), 6th 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 Cotopaxi?

The labour force participation rate in Cotopaxi was 85.4% in 2025 against 64.3% nationally, 5th 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 Cotopaxi?

The Banco Central del Ecuador puts the gross value added of Cotopaxi at US$1.9 billion in 2024 (provisional, current prices), 1.6% of the national US$115.1 billion; 12th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Is the economy of Cotopaxi growing?

Gross value added in Cotopaxi was US$1.8 billion in 2023 and US$1.9 billion in 2024, a change of +4.8% against +1.2% nationally. Compared with 2019 (before the pandemic) it is +6.8% in current prices (+14.0% nationally); 8th lowest growth of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What is the GDP per person in Cotopaxi?

Gross value added per person in Cotopaxi was US$3,786 in 2024 (provisional), below the national average of US$6,407; 11th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was US$3,839.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What are the main industries in Cotopaxi?

The largest activity group in the economy of Cotopaxi in 2024 was agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing, with 32.5% of gross value added. Other groups: wholesale and retail trade 11.6%, manufacturing 12.2%, public administration and defence 11.1%.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How important is agriculture in Cotopaxi?

Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing accounted for 32.5% of gross value added in Cotopaxi in 2024, against 9.9% across the provinces; 3rd highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Oil and mining accounted for 0.2% of gross value added in Cotopaxi in 2024 (all provinces together: 8.7%); 11th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How much of the economy of Cotopaxi is public administration?

Public administration and defence made up 11.1% of gross value added in Cotopaxi in 2024 and education 7.0%, against 7.5% and 5.1% across the provinces; for public administration it is 12th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How Cotopaxi compares with other provinces

Unemployment rate (2025)

Cotopaxi ranks 13 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate
10	Azuay	2.5%
11	Guayas	2.5%
12	Manabi	2.5%
13	Cotopaxi	2.1%
14	Pastaza	2.1%
15	Santa Elena	2.0%
16	Tungurahua	1.9%

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

Adequate employment rate (2025)

Cotopaxi ranks 16 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Adequate employment rate
13	Manabi	29.3%
14	Sucumbios	27.6%
15	Loja	26.8%
16	Cotopaxi	25.7%
17	Esmeraldas	25.0%
18	Bolivar	24.9%
19	Carchi	24.4%

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

Underemployment rate (2025)

Cotopaxi ranks 7 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Underemployment rate
4	Napo	25.3%
5	Guayas	22.9%
6	Esmeraldas	22.6%
7	Cotopaxi	20.5%
8	El Oro	20.5%
9	Bolivar	20.3%
10	Pastaza	19.7%

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

Informal sector share of employment (2025)

Cotopaxi ranks 8 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Informal sector share of employment
5	Chimborazo	68.1%
6	Pastaza	66.3%
7	Zamora Chinchipe	63.3%
8	Cotopaxi	63.1%
9	Santa Elena	62.9%
10	Manabi	61.7%
11	Sucumbios	61.5%

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

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

Cotopaxi ranks 12 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added (current US$ million)
9	Tungurahua	US$2,558 million
10	Esmeraldas	US$2,087 million
11	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	US$2,043 million
12	Cotopaxi	US$1,852 million
13	Loja	US$1,776 million
14	Zamora Chinchipe	US$1,684 million
15	Imbabura	US$1,606 million

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Cotopaxi ranks 14 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added per person (US$)
11	Tungurahua	US$4,417
12	Napo	US$4,251
13	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	US$3,902
14	Cotopaxi	US$3,786
15	Santa Elena	US$3,783
16	Manabi	US$3,753
17	Canar	US$3,611

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Cotopaxi ranks 17 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Change in gross value added, 2019 to 2024 (current prices)
14	Orellana	+11.9%
15	Loja	+9.5%
16	Canar	+8.7%
17	Cotopaxi	+6.8%
18	Pichincha	+6.1%
19	Imbabura	+1.7%
20	Tungurahua	-1.7%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Cotopaxi ranks 3 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))

Cotopaxi ranks 14 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Oil and mining share of value added
11	Loja	0.5%
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%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Cotopaxi ranks 12 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Public administration and defence share of value added
9	Pastaza	12.9%
10	Santa Elena	12.3%
11	Manabi	11.7%
12	Cotopaxi	11.1%
13	Zamora Chinchipe	11.0%
14	Tungurahua	10.3%
15	Esmeraldas	10.1%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

More on Cotopaxi: 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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