What share of workers in Tungurahua have adequate employment?

30.5% of the economically active population in Tungurahua had adequate employment in 2025 (full-time work at or above the minimum wage), against 37.1% nationally; 11th highest of the 24 provinces. The 2019 figure was 32.9%.

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

The unemployment rate in Tungurahua was 1.9% in 2025, below the national rate of 3.6%; 9th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2019 it was 2.2%.

Unemployment rate

1.9%

2025

Gross value added (US$ million, current prices)

US$2.6 billion

2024 (provisional)

What is the underemployment rate in Tungurahua?

The underemployment rate in Tungurahua was 19.4% in 2025 (national 19.4%), 11th 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 Tungurahua?

The informal sector accounted for 52.0% of employment in Tungurahua in 2025, above the national figure of 51.5%; 7th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was 49.6%.

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

How many people in Tungurahua work without pay?

The unpaid employment rate in Tungurahua was 15.8% in 2025 (national 8.8%), 10th 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 Tungurahua?

The labour force participation rate in Tungurahua was 80.4% in 2025 against 64.3% nationally, 7th 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 Tungurahua?

The Banco Central del Ecuador puts the gross value added of Tungurahua at US$2.6 billion in 2024 (provisional, current prices), 2.2% of the national US$115.1 billion; 9th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Is the economy of Tungurahua growing?

Gross value added in Tungurahua was US$2.7 billion in 2023 and US$2.6 billion in 2024, a change of -5.8% against +1.2% nationally. Compared with 2019 (before the pandemic) it is -1.7% in current prices (+14.0% nationally); 5th lowest growth of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What is the GDP per person in Tungurahua?

Gross value added per person in Tungurahua was US$4,417 in 2024 (provisional), below the national average of US$6,407; 11th highest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was US$4,491.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What are the main industries in Tungurahua?

The largest activity group in the economy of Tungurahua in 2024 was wholesale and retail trade, with 18.5% of gross value added. Other groups: manufacturing 13.6%, public administration and defence 10.3%.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How important is agriculture in Tungurahua?

Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing accounted for 8.9% of gross value added in Tungurahua in 2024, against 9.9% across the provinces; 12th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Oil and mining accounted for 0.0% of gross value added in Tungurahua in 2024 (all provinces together: 8.7%); 3rd lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How much of the economy of Tungurahua is public administration?

Public administration and defence made up 10.3% of gross value added in Tungurahua in 2024 and education 8.9%, against 7.5% and 5.1% across the provinces; for public administration it is 11th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How Tungurahua compares with other provinces

Unemployment rate (2025)

Tungurahua ranks 16 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate
13	Cotopaxi	2.1%
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%

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

Adequate employment rate (2025)

Tungurahua ranks 11 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Adequate employment rate
8	Zamora Chinchipe	32.1%
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%

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

Underemployment rate (2025)

Tungurahua ranks 11 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Underemployment rate
8	El Oro	20.5%
9	Bolivar	20.3%
10	Pastaza	19.7%
11	Tungurahua	19.4%
12	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	18.8%
13	Chimborazo	18.6%
14	Imbabura	18.6%

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

Informal sector share of employment (2025)

Tungurahua ranks 18 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Informal sector share of employment
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%
21	Azuay	47.2%

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

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

Tungurahua ranks 9 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added (current US$ million)
6	Los Rios	US$4,380 million
7	El Oro	US$3,916 million
8	Sucumbios	US$3,192 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

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Tungurahua ranks 11 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added per person (US$)
8	Azuay	US$6,414
9	El Oro	US$5,231
10	Los Rios	US$4,522
11	Tungurahua	US$4,417
12	Napo	US$4,251
13	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	US$3,902
14	Cotopaxi	US$3,786

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Tungurahua ranks 20 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Change in gross value added, 2019 to 2024 (current prices)
17	Cotopaxi	+6.8%
18	Pichincha	+6.1%
19	Imbabura	+1.7%
20	Tungurahua	-1.7%
21	Chimborazo	-2.8%
22	Esmeraldas	-3.0%
23	Carchi	-4.0%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Tungurahua ranks 12 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing share of value added
9	Chimborazo	13.1%
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%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Tungurahua ranks 22 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))

Tungurahua ranks 14 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Public administration and defence share of value added
11	Manabi	11.7%
12	Cotopaxi	11.1%
13	Zamora Chinchipe	11.0%
14	Tungurahua	10.3%
15	Esmeraldas	10.1%
16	Azuay	8.9%
17	El Oro	8.5%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

More on Tungurahua: 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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