What share of workers in Galapagos have adequate employment?

59.6% of the economically active population in Galapagos had adequate employment in 2025 (full-time work at or above the minimum wage), against 37.1% nationally; the highest of the 24 provinces. The 2019 figure was 65.2%.

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

The unemployment rate in Galapagos was 3.1% in 2025, below the national rate of 3.6%; 9th highest of the 24 provinces. In 2019 it was 2.1%.

Unemployment rate

3.1%

2025

Gross value added (US$ million, current prices)

US$297 million

2024 (provisional)

What is the underemployment rate in Galapagos?

The underemployment rate in Galapagos was 6.8% in 2025 (national 19.4%), the lowest of the 24 provinces; in 2019 it was 9.4%.

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

How big is the informal sector in Galapagos?

The informal sector accounted for 16.2% of employment in Galapagos in 2025, below the national figure of 51.5%; the lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was 16.1%.

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

How many people in Galapagos work without pay?

The unpaid employment rate in Galapagos was 3.2% in 2025 (national 8.8%), 2nd lowest 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 Galapagos?

The labour force participation rate in Galapagos was 64.1% in 2025 against 64.3% nationally, 9th 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 Galapagos?

The Banco Central del Ecuador puts the gross value added of Galapagos at US$297 million in 2024 (provisional, current prices), 0.3% of the national US$115.1 billion; the lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Is the economy of Galapagos growing?

Gross value added in Galapagos was US$279 million in 2023 and US$297 million in 2024, a change of +6.2% against +1.2% nationally. Compared with 2019 (before the pandemic) it is -18.0% in current prices (+14.0% nationally); the lowest growth of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What is the GDP per person in Galapagos?

Gross value added per person in Galapagos was US$9,860 in 2024 (provisional), above the national average of US$6,407; 4th highest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was US$12,033.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What are the main industries in Galapagos?

The largest activity group in the economy of Galapagos in 2024 was real estate, professional and administrative services, with 30.1% of gross value added. Other groups: wholesale and retail trade 7.9%, manufacturing 1.4%, public administration and defence 18.1%.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How important is agriculture in Galapagos?

Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing accounted for 4.3% of gross value added in Galapagos in 2024, against 9.9% across the provinces; 7th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Oil and mining accounted for 0.0% of gross value added in Galapagos in 2024 (all provinces together: 8.7%); the lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How much of the economy of Galapagos is public administration?

Public administration and defence made up 18.1% of gross value added in Galapagos in 2024 and education 2.2%, against 7.5% and 5.1% across the provinces; for public administration it is 3rd highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How Galapagos compares with other provinces

Unemployment rate (2025)

Galapagos ranks 9 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate
6	Loja	4.0%
7	El Oro	3.9%
8	Canar	3.6%
9	Galapagos	3.1%
10	Azuay	2.5%
11	Guayas	2.5%
12	Manabi	2.5%

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

Adequate employment rate (2025)

Galapagos ranks 1 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Adequate employment rate
1	Galapagos	59.6%
2	Pichincha	53.0%
3	Azuay	44.9%
4	El Oro	42.6%
5	Guayas	41.3%
6	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	39.4%
7	Los Rios	32.5%

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

Underemployment rate (2025)

Galapagos ranks 24 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Underemployment rate
18	Zamora Chinchipe	14.7%
19	Loja	14.2%
20	Canar	13.8%
21	Pichincha	13.0%
22	Morona Santiago	11.5%
23	Azuay	10.0%
24	Galapagos	6.8%

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

Informal sector share of employment (2025)

Galapagos ranks 24 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Informal sector share of employment
18	Tungurahua	52.0%
19	Guayas	51.9%
20	Los Rios	51.4%
21	Azuay	47.2%
22	El Oro	43.3%
23	Pichincha	28.4%
24	Galapagos	16.2%

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

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

Galapagos ranks 24 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))

Galapagos ranks 4 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added per person (US$)
1	Orellana	US$31,349
2	Sucumbios	US$15,551
3	Zamora Chinchipe	US$14,312
4	Galapagos	US$9,860
5	Pichincha	US$9,094
6	Pastaza	US$7,504
7	Guayas	US$7,435

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Galapagos ranks 24 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))

Galapagos ranks 18 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing share of value added
15	Napo	8.2%
16	Loja	5.7%
17	Santa Elena	4.9%
18	Galapagos	4.3%
19	Sucumbios	4.2%
20	Pichincha	3.1%
21	Azuay	2.1%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Galapagos ranks 24 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Oil and mining share of value added
18	Manabi	0.1%
19	Canar	0.1%
20	Pichincha	0.1%
21	Esmeraldas	0.0%
22	Tungurahua	0.0%
23	Los Rios	0.0%
24	Galapagos	0.0%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Galapagos ranks 3 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 Galapagos: overview · health · education and schools · 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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