Economy, jobs and prices in Chihuahua, Mexico: official figures
The 2024 Economic Census counted 34,456 business establishments (economic units) in Chihuahua in 2023, 17th most of 107 Mexican cities on this site, against 31,766 in the 2019 census (up 8.5%).
How many people work in Chihuahua?
Those establishments employed 320,471 people in 2023, 10th most of 107 Mexican cities on this site, up 2.6% from the 312,226 counted for 2018 (national: up 3.1%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Chihuahua?
Paid workers in Chihuahua earned an average of MXN 171,444 in total pay over 2023, 22nd highest of 107 Mexican cities on this site; the national average was MXN 168,674.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) · saved copyHow productive is the economy of Chihuahua?
Businesses in Chihuahua generated MXN 170.8 billion in gross value added in 2023, about MXN 532,953 per person employed, 25th highest of 107 Mexican cities on this site (national: MXN 560,263).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) · saved copyHow many women work in Chihuahua?
Women held 43.9% of the jobs counted in Chihuahua in 2023, 49th highest of 107 Mexican cities on this site (national: 43.2%); 82.4% of all workers were paid employees.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Chihuahua?
By sector, manufacturing 38.8% (124,212), retail trade 18.2% (58,374) and hotels, restaurants and bars 7.5% (23,894) of the people employed in Chihuahua in 2023 (national manufacturing share: 25.7%); manufacturing's share was 18th highest of 107 Mexican cities on this site.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) · saved copyHow much do businesses invest in Chihuahua?
Businesses in Chihuahua reported MXN 5.5 billion of investment and MXN 309.7 billion of gross output in 2023 (2018: MXN 3.8 billion and MXN 198.4 billion, current pesos).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) · saved copyHow Chihuahua compares with other cities in Mexico
Economic units (2024 economic census) (2023)
Chihuahua ranks 17 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Economic units (2024 economic census) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | San Luis Potosí-Soledad de Graciano Sánchez | 40,774 |
| 15 | Tuxtla Gutiérrez | 39,170 |
| 16 | Acapulco | 35,499 |
| 17 | Chihuahua | 34,456 |
| 18 | Hermosillo | 33,838 |
| 19 | Mexicali | 33,449 |
| 20 | Oaxaca | 29,230 |
Persons employed (2024 economic census) (2023)
Chihuahua ranks 10 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Persons employed (2024 economic census) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Puebla-Tlaxcala | 427,588 |
| 8 | Querétaro | 397,044 |
| 9 | Mérida | 320,950 |
| 10 | Chihuahua | 320,471 |
| 11 | San Luis Potosí-Soledad de Graciano Sánchez | 319,000 |
| 12 | Mexicali | 288,118 |
| 13 | Hermosillo | 285,409 |
Change in persons employed, 2018-2023 (2018-2023)
Chihuahua ranks 50 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in persons employed, 2018-2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Uruapan | +3.0% |
| 48 | Los Mochis | +2.9% |
| 49 | Victoria de Durango | +2.8% |
| 50 | Chihuahua | +2.6% |
| 51 | Tlaxcala | +2.6% |
| 52 | Tepic | +2.4% |
| 53 | San Juan del Río | +2.4% |
Average annual pay per paid worker (MXN) (2023)
Chihuahua ranks 22 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average annual pay per paid worker (MXN) |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | San Luis Potosí-Soledad de Graciano Sánchez | MXN 176,424 |
| 20 | Nuevo Laredo | MXN 172,910 |
| 21 | Ensenada | MXN 171,459 |
| 22 | Chihuahua | MXN 171,444 |
| 23 | Toluca | MXN 169,652 |
| 24 | Querétaro | MXN 168,988 |
| 25 | Saltillo | MXN 165,622 |
Gross value added per person employed (MXN) (2023)
Chihuahua ranks 25 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gross value added per person employed (MXN) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Mexicali | MXN 556,217 |
| 23 | Manzanillo | MXN 553,076 |
| 24 | La Laguna | MXN 538,087 |
| 25 | Chihuahua | MXN 532,953 |
| 26 | Cuauhtemoc | MXN 496,533 |
| 27 | Piedras Negras | MXN 466,616 |
| 28 | Ciudad Obregón | MXN 466,158 |
Women as a share of persons employed (2023)
Chihuahua ranks 49 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Women as a share of persons employed |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | Córdoba | 44.3% |
| 47 | Lagos de Moreno | 44.1% |
| 48 | Chetumal | 43.9% |
| 49 | Chihuahua | 43.9% |
| 50 | Puebla-Tlaxcala | 43.5% |
| 51 | Irapuato | 43.4% |
| 52 | Guaymas | 43.3% |
Manufacturing share of persons employed (2023)
Chihuahua ranks 18 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Manufacturing share of persons employed |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Huamantla | 39.7% |
| 16 | Mexicali | 39.4% |
| 17 | Salamanca | 38.9% |
| 18 | Chihuahua | 38.8% |
| 19 | San Luis Potosí-Soledad de Graciano Sánchez | 38.6% |
| 20 | Guaymas | 37.5% |
| 21 | Teziutlán | 36.6% |
More on Chihuahua: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in Mexico
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI): Censos Económicos 2024 and 2019 (reference years 2023 and 2018), SAIC query: economic units, persons employed, pay, gross output, value added and investment by municipality (request body saved as saic-ce2024-totals-2018-2023.request.json), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 47e3a4e8a9f4…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI): Censos Económicos 2024 (reference year 2023), SAIC query: economic units and persons employed in manufacturing, retail, education services, health services and accommodation and food by municipality (request body saved as saic-ce2024-sectors-2023.request.json), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fea3ec2053c9…)
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