What share of workers in Imbabura have adequate employment?

29.3% of the economically active population in Imbabura had adequate employment in 2025 (full-time work at or above the minimum wage), against 37.1% nationally; 12th highest of the 24 provinces. The 2019 figure was 31.6%.

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

The unemployment rate in Imbabura was 6.1% in 2025, above the national rate of 3.6%; 4th highest of the 24 provinces. In 2019 it was 6.8%.

Unemployment rate

6.1%

2025

Gross value added (US$ million, current prices)

US$1.6 billion

2024 (provisional)

What is the underemployment rate in Imbabura?

The underemployment rate in Imbabura was 18.6% in 2025 (national 19.4%), 11th lowest of the 24 provinces; in 2019 it was 16.3%.

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

How big is the informal sector in Imbabura?

The informal sector accounted for 54.2% of employment in Imbabura in 2025, above the national figure of 51.5%; 8th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was 47.8%.

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

How many people in Imbabura work without pay?

The unpaid employment rate in Imbabura was 8.0% in 2025 (national 8.8%), 10th 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 Imbabura?

The labour force participation rate in Imbabura was 63.8% in 2025 against 64.3% nationally, 8th 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 Imbabura?

The Banco Central del Ecuador puts the gross value added of Imbabura at US$1.6 billion in 2024 (provisional, current prices), 1.4% of the national US$115.1 billion; 10th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Is the economy of Imbabura growing?

Gross value added in Imbabura was US$1.6 billion in 2023 and US$1.6 billion in 2024, a change of -1.5% against +1.2% nationally. Compared with 2019 (before the pandemic) it is +1.7% in current prices (+14.0% nationally); 6th lowest growth of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What is the GDP per person in Imbabura?

Gross value added per person in Imbabura was US$3,252 in 2024 (provisional), below the national average of US$6,407; 4th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was US$3,343.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What are the main industries in Imbabura?

The largest activity group in the economy of Imbabura in 2024 was wholesale and retail trade, with 15.5% of gross value added. Other groups: manufacturing 12.8%, public administration and defence 14.0%.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How important is agriculture in Imbabura?

Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing accounted for 8.8% of gross value added in Imbabura in 2024, against 9.9% across the provinces; 12th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Oil and mining accounted for 1.0% of gross value added in Imbabura in 2024 (all provinces together: 8.7%); 9th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How much of the economy of Imbabura is public administration?

Public administration and defence made up 14.0% of gross value added in Imbabura in 2024 and education 11.2%, against 7.5% and 5.1% across the provinces; for public administration it is 8th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How Imbabura compares with other provinces

Unemployment rate (2025)

Imbabura ranks 4 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate
1	Esmeraldas	9.1%
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%

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

Adequate employment rate (2025)

Imbabura ranks 12 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Adequate employment rate
9	Canar	31.7%
10	Santa Elena	31.5%
11	Tungurahua	30.5%
12	Imbabura	29.3%
13	Manabi	29.3%
14	Sucumbios	27.6%
15	Loja	26.8%

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

Underemployment rate (2025)

Imbabura ranks 14 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Underemployment rate
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%
17	Carchi	15.0%

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

Informal sector share of employment (2025)

Imbabura ranks 17 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Informal sector share of employment
14	Loja	60.0%
15	Canar	56.4%
16	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	54.6%
17	Imbabura	54.2%
18	Tungurahua	52.0%
19	Guayas	51.9%
20	Los Rios	51.4%

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

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

Imbabura ranks 15 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added (current US$ 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
16	Santa Elena	US$1,526 million
17	Chimborazo	US$1,339 million
18	Pastaza	US$893 million

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Imbabura ranks 21 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))

Imbabura ranks 19 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Change in gross value added, 2019 to 2024 (current prices)
16	Canar	+8.7%
17	Cotopaxi	+6.8%
18	Pichincha	+6.1%
19	Imbabura	+1.7%
20	Tungurahua	-1.7%
21	Chimborazo	-2.8%
22	Esmeraldas	-3.0%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Imbabura ranks 13 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing share of value added
10	Canar	11.0%
11	Morona Santiago	9.5%
12	Tungurahua	8.9%
13	Imbabura	8.8%
14	Guayas	8.4%
15	Napo	8.2%
16	Loja	5.7%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Imbabura ranks 9 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Oil and mining share of value added
6	El Oro	8.7%
7	Azuay	4.8%
8	Santa Elena	4.7%
9	Imbabura	1.0%
10	Morona Santiago	0.9%
11	Loja	0.5%
12	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	0.3%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Imbabura ranks 8 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Public administration and defence share of value added
5	Loja	16.5%
6	Carchi	15.8%
7	Canar	15.7%
8	Imbabura	14.0%
9	Pastaza	12.9%
10	Santa Elena	12.3%
11	Manabi	11.7%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

More on Imbabura: 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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