What share of workers in Manabi have adequate employment?

29.3% of the economically active population in Manabi had adequate employment in 2025 (full-time work at or above the minimum wage), against 37.1% nationally; 12th lowest of the 24 provinces. The 2019 figure was 30.1%.

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

The unemployment rate in Manabi was 2.5% in 2025, below the national rate of 3.6%; 12th highest of the 24 provinces. In 2019 it was 2.3%.

Unemployment rate

2.5%

2025

Gross value added (US$ million, current prices)

US$6.4 billion

2024 (provisional)

What is the underemployment rate in Manabi?

The underemployment rate in Manabi was 28.5% in 2025 (national 19.4%), the highest of the 24 provinces; in 2019 it was 24.4%.

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

How big is the informal sector in Manabi?

The informal sector accounted for 61.7% of employment in Manabi in 2025, above the national figure of 51.5%; 10th highest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was 58.3%.

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

How many people in Manabi work without pay?

The unpaid employment rate in Manabi was 4.9% in 2025 (national 8.8%), 6th 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 Manabi?

The labour force participation rate in Manabi was 57.3% in 2025 against 64.3% nationally, 2nd 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 Manabi?

The Banco Central del Ecuador puts the gross value added of Manabi at US$6.4 billion in 2024 (provisional, current prices), 5.5% of the national US$115.1 billion; 3rd highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Is the economy of Manabi growing?

Gross value added in Manabi was US$5.9 billion in 2023 and US$6.4 billion in 2024, a change of +8.3% against +1.2% nationally. Compared with 2019 (before the pandemic) it is +30.2% in current prices (+14.0% nationally); 4th highest growth of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What is the GDP per person in Manabi?

Gross value added per person in Manabi was US$3,753 in 2024 (provisional), below the national average of US$6,407; 9th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was US$3,115.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What are the main industries in Manabi?

The largest activity group in the economy of Manabi in 2024 was wholesale and retail trade, with 17.8% of gross value added. Other groups: manufacturing 16.9%, public administration and defence 11.7%.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How important is agriculture in Manabi?

Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing accounted for 17.6% of gross value added in Manabi in 2024, against 9.9% across the provinces; 8th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Oil and mining accounted for 0.1% of gross value added in Manabi in 2024 (all provinces together: 8.7%); 7th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How much of the economy of Manabi is public administration?

Public administration and defence made up 11.7% of gross value added in Manabi in 2024 and education 9.7%, against 7.5% and 5.1% across the provinces; for public administration it is 11th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How Manabi compares with other provinces

Unemployment rate (2025)

Manabi ranks 12 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate
9	Galapagos	3.1%
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%

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

Adequate employment rate (2025)

Manabi ranks 13 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Adequate employment rate
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%
16	Cotopaxi	25.7%

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

Underemployment rate (2025)

Manabi ranks 1 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Underemployment rate
1	Manabi	28.5%
2	Los Rios	28.4%
3	Santa Elena	27.2%
4	Napo	25.3%
5	Guayas	22.9%
6	Esmeraldas	22.6%
7	Cotopaxi	20.5%

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

Informal sector share of employment (2025)

Manabi ranks 10 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Informal sector share of employment
7	Zamora Chinchipe	63.3%
8	Cotopaxi	63.1%
9	Santa Elena	62.9%
10	Manabi	61.7%
11	Sucumbios	61.5%
12	Esmeraldas	61.5%
13	Carchi	60.4%

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

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

Manabi ranks 3 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added (current US$ million)
1	Guayas	US$35,240 million
2	Pichincha	US$29,759 million
3	Manabi	US$6,377 million
4	Orellana	US$6,045 million
5	Azuay	US$5,331 million
6	Los Rios	US$4,380 million
7	El Oro	US$3,916 million

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Manabi ranks 16 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added per person (US$)
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
18	Loja	US$3,570
19	Esmeraldas	US$3,468

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Manabi ranks 4 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Change in gross value added, 2019 to 2024 (current prices)
1	Zamora Chinchipe	+385.3%
2	Bolivar	+51.3%
3	Los Rios	+39.4%
4	Manabi	+30.2%
5	Morona Santiago	+25.2%
6	Napo	+18.3%
7	Guayas	+16.7%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Manabi ranks 8 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing share of value added
5	Esmeraldas	25.1%
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%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Manabi ranks 18 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Oil and mining share of value added
15	Carchi	0.2%
16	Bolivar	0.2%
17	Chimborazo	0.1%
18	Manabi	0.1%
19	Canar	0.1%
20	Pichincha	0.1%
21	Esmeraldas	0.0%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Manabi ranks 11 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Public administration and defence share of value added
8	Imbabura	14.0%
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%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

More on Manabi: 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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