Economy, jobs and prices in Nuevo Leon, Mexico: official figures
The gross domestic product of Nuevo Leon was 2.70 trillion pesos in 2024 at current prices, according to INEGI, 8.1% of Mexico's 33.58 trillion pesos and 3rd largest of 32 federal entities. In current pesos it was up 7.8% on 2023.
How fast is the economy of Nuevo Leon growing?
After removing price changes, the economy of Nuevo Leon grew 3.4% in 2024, against 1.5% for Mexico as a whole; 9th fastest growth of 32.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyHas the economy of Nuevo Leon grown since 2018?
In real terms GDP in Nuevo Leon was 7.9% higher in 2024 than in 2018 (Mexico 5.0% higher), 8th largest growth of 32. Since 2003 it has grown 59.8% in real terms (Mexico 41.9%), and its share of national GDP has moved from 7.11% to 8.05%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyWhat is the GDP per capita of Nuevo Leon?
Dividing 2024 GDP by CONAPO's mid-2024 population gives 428,759 pesos per person in Nuevo Leon, 1.69 times the national figure of 253,888 pesos; 3rd highest of 32.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Nuevo Leon?
In 2024 tertiary activities (trade and services) made up 56.1% of gross value added in Nuevo Leon, secondary activities (industry, mining, construction and utilities) 43.3% and primary activities (farming, livestock, forestry and fishing) 0.56% (2nd lowest farm share of 32; Mexico 4.1%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyHow important is manufacturing in Nuevo Leon?
Manufacturing produced 33.9% of gross value added in Nuevo Leon in 2024 (6th highest of 32; Mexico 21.5%), and mining 0.70%. Hotels and restaurants accounted for 1.3% (5th lowest of 32).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Nuevo Leon?
The unemployment rate in Nuevo Leon was 2.5% in April to June 2026, according to INEGI's ENOE labour force survey, against 2.7% for Mexico; 16th highest of 32.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyWhat was the unemployment rate in Nuevo Leon in 2025?
A year earlier, in April to June 2025, the ENOE put unemployment in Nuevo Leon at 2.8% (Mexico 2.7%; 9th highest of 32), with 2,911,204 people in work and labour force participation of 61.5%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyHow many people work in Nuevo Leon?
About 2,966,006 people in Nuevo Leon were working in April to June 2026 and 77,218 were unemployed. 60.7% of residents aged 15 and over were in the labour force (14th highest of 32; Mexico 59.1%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyHow many workers in Nuevo Leon are informal?
34.8% of employed people in Nuevo Leon worked informally in April to June 2026 (without social security through their job or in unregistered businesses), against 55.1% nationally; the lowest of 32. A year earlier the rate was 33.7%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyIs informal work in Nuevo Leon falling?
Labour informality in Nuevo Leon was 34.8% in April to June 2026, down 3.1 percentage points on the same quarter of 2019 (37.9%) and down 4.6 percentage points on 2005 (39.4%), when INEGI's quarterly series begins.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Nuevo Leon?
In April to June 2026, 38.9% of workers in Nuevo Leon had no access to health services through their work, 78.3% were salaried employees, and 25.6% worked in manufacturing; 1.3% worked in farming, livestock, forestry or fishing.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyWhat is the average wage in Nuevo Leon?
Employed people in Nuevo Leon earned an average of 95.07 pesos per hour worked in April to June 2026 (Mexico 70.26 pesos; 3rd highest of 32), and worked an average of 42.3 hours a week (Mexico 41.5).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyWhat is the average household income in Nuevo Leon?
Average current income per household in Nuevo Leon was 117,034 pesos a quarter in 2024 (about 39,011 pesos a month), against 77,864 pesos for Mexico, according to INEGI's ENIGH household survey; the highest of 32.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyIs household income rising in Nuevo Leon?
At constant 2024 prices, average household income in Nuevo Leon was up 23.1% on 2022 and down 11.1% on 2016 (Mexico up 10.8% since 2016).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyWhat is the income per person in Nuevo Leon?
Income per person in Nuevo Leon averaged 35,499 pesos a quarter in 2024 (Mexico 23,217 pesos; 2nd highest of 32). The richest tenth of people had 16.4 times the average income of the poorest tenth.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Nuevo Leon?
The Gini coefficient of income per person in Nuevo Leon was 0.432 in 2024 (Mexico 0.417), 2nd most unequal of 32; in 2016 it was 0.550.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyHow much do households in Nuevo Leon spend?
The 1,859,166 households of Nuevo Leon spent an average of 77,558 pesos a quarter on current consumption in 2024 (Mexico 61,309 pesos); 34.7% of their cash spending went on food, drink and tobacco (Mexico 37.7%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyHow Nuevo Leon compares with other states
GDP at current prices, 2024 (2024)
Nuevo Leon ranks 3 of 32, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico City | 5.02 trillion pesos |
| 2 | State of Mexico | 3.06 trillion pesos |
| 3 | Nuevo Leon | 2.70 trillion pesos |
| 4 | Jalisco | 2.53 trillion pesos |
| 5 | Guanajuato | 1.52 trillion pesos |
| 6 | Veracruz | 1.45 trillion pesos |
| 7 | Baja California | 1.29 trillion pesos |
GDP per person, 2024 (GDP / CONAPO mid-2024 population) (2024)
Nuevo Leon ranks 3 of 32, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person, 2024 (GDP / CONAPO mid-2024 population) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Campeche | 547,791 pesos |
| 2 | Mexico City | 545,611 pesos |
| 3 | Nuevo Leon | 428,759 pesos |
| 4 | Coahuila | 368,586 pesos |
| 5 | Sonora | 355,689 pesos |
| 6 | Chihuahua | 321,837 pesos |
| 7 | Baja California | 317,907 pesos |
Real GDP growth, 2024 (2024)
Nuevo Leon ranks 9 of 32, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Guanajuato | 4.1% |
| 7 | Baja California Sur | 3.8% |
| 8 | Veracruz | 3.4% |
| 9 | Nuevo Leon | 3.4% |
| 10 | Hidalgo | 2.9% |
| 11 | Tamaulipas | 2.7% |
| 12 | Colima | 2.6% |
Real GDP growth, 2018-2024 (cumulative) (2018-2024)
Nuevo Leon ranks 8 of 32, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth, 2018-2024 (cumulative) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Chihuahua | 9.3% |
| 6 | Hidalgo | 8.5% |
| 7 | Baja California | 8.2% |
| 8 | Nuevo Leon | 7.9% |
| 9 | Michoacan | 7.8% |
| 10 | Veracruz | 6.7% |
| 11 | Jalisco | 6.3% |
Manufacturing share of gross value added, 2024 (2024)
Nuevo Leon ranks 6 of 32, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Manufacturing share of gross value added, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Baja California | 37.8% |
| 4 | Aguascalientes | 35.8% |
| 5 | Chihuahua | 35.1% |
| 6 | Nuevo Leon | 33.9% |
| 7 | Queretaro | 33.9% |
| 8 | Tamaulipas | 32.9% |
| 9 | Guanajuato | 32.3% |
Unemployment rate, Q2 2026 (Q2 2026)
Nuevo Leon ranks 16 of 32, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Campeche | 2.7% |
| 14 | Chihuahua | 2.7% |
| 15 | Aguascalientes | 2.6% |
| 16 | Nuevo Leon | 2.5% |
| 17 | Zacatecas | 2.4% |
| 18 | Jalisco | 2.4% |
| 19 | Quintana Roo | 2.4% |
Labour force participation rate (age 15+), Q2 2026 (Q2 2026)
Nuevo Leon ranks 14 of 32, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Labour force participation rate (age 15+), Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Queretaro | 60.8% |
| 12 | Durango | 60.7% |
| 13 | Guanajuato | 60.7% |
| 14 | Nuevo Leon | 60.7% |
| 15 | Chihuahua | 60.3% |
| 16 | Coahuila | 60.2% |
| 17 | San Luis Potosi | 60.0% |
Labour informality rate (TIL1), Q2 2026 (Q2 2026)
Nuevo Leon ranks 32 of 32, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Labour informality rate (TIL1), Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Aguascalientes | 42.5% |
| 27 | Baja California Sur | 39.6% |
| 28 | Queretaro | 39.2% |
| 29 | Baja California | 36.2% |
| 30 | Coahuila | 35.5% |
| 31 | Chihuahua | 35.1% |
| 32 | Nuevo Leon | 34.8% |
Average income per hour worked, employed people, Q2 2026 (Q2 2026)
Nuevo Leon ranks 3 of 32, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average income per hour worked, employed people, Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baja California Sur | 103.33 pesos |
| 2 | Mexico City | 103.26 pesos |
| 3 | Nuevo Leon | 95.07 pesos |
| 4 | Colima | 88.59 pesos |
| 5 | Chihuahua | 85.34 pesos |
| 6 | Sinaloa | 85.30 pesos |
| 7 | Baja California | 84.63 pesos |
Average quarterly current income per household, 2024 (2024)
Nuevo Leon ranks 1 of 32, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average quarterly current income per household, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nuevo Leon | 117,034 pesos |
| 2 | Mexico City | 110,685 pesos |
| 3 | Baja California Sur | 104,728 pesos |
| 4 | Baja California | 101,187 pesos |
| 5 | Queretaro | 97,615 pesos |
| 6 | Sonora | 94,721 pesos |
| 7 | Chihuahua | 92,363 pesos |
Average quarterly current income per person, 2024 (2024)
Nuevo Leon ranks 2 of 32, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average quarterly current income per person, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico City | 36,506 pesos |
| 2 | Nuevo Leon | 35,499 pesos |
| 3 | Baja California Sur | 33,381 pesos |
| 4 | Baja California | 31,880 pesos |
| 5 | Sonora | 29,456 pesos |
| 6 | Queretaro | 29,266 pesos |
| 7 | Colima | 29,015 pesos |
Gini coefficient of income per person, 2024 (2024)
Nuevo Leon ranks 2 of 32, highest first. Gini coefficient: 0 means everyone has the same income, 1 means one person has all of it.
| Rank | Region | Gini coefficient of income per person, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico City | 0.445 |
| 2 | Nuevo Leon | 0.432 |
| 3 | Guerrero | 0.427 |
| 4 | Oaxaca | 0.414 |
| 5 | Chiapas | 0.413 |
| 6 | San Luis Potosi | 0.409 |
| 7 | Yucatan | 0.402 |
More on Nuevo Leon: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Mexico
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI): Encuesta Nacional de Ingresos y Gastos de los Hogares (ENIGH) 2024, nueva serie, tables by federal entity: 1.3 (households), 2.1 and 2.3 (average quarterly current income per household and per person, deciles and Gini, 2016-2024 at constant 2024 prices), 4.5 (household spending by category), 6.1 (income and spending per household), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 70b3c7ea2dc8…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI): Encuesta Nacional de Ocupacion y Empleo (ENOE): strategic indicators of occupation and employment, April-June 2026, national and federal entity tables, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ad9d2139d9ee…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI): Encuesta Nacional de Ocupacion y Empleo (ENOE): strategic indicators of occupation and employment, April-June 2025, national and federal entity tables, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e9948078b2c…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI): ENOE, informalidad laboral: quarterly labour informality and informal-sector rates by federal entity and sex, 2005-2026 (Tasas_Infor_enti-1.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d940bbd2871c…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI): Producto Interno Bruto por Entidad Federativa (PIBE), base year 2018, series 2003-2024 (2024 revised): tables PIBE_2 (GDP), PIBE_4 (gross value added), PIBE_5, PIBE_12 and PIBE_31 (primary, secondary and tertiary activities), PIBE_13 and PIBE_14 (mining, oil mining), PIBE_18 (manufacturing), PIBE_44 (accommodation and food services), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c2de99570137…)
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