Economy, jobs and prices in Arequipa, Peru: official figures
Arequipa's economy produced 65.9 billion soles of gross value added at current prices in 2025, according to INEI's estimate, 5.9% of Peru's 1.11 trillion soles; 2nd largest of Peru's 25 regions.
What is the GDP per person in Arequipa?
Gross value added per person in Arequipa was about 40,371 soles in 2025 (INEI value added divided by INEI's projected population), against 32,320 soles for Peru; 7th highest of Peru's 25 regions.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI) · saved copyIs the economy of Arequipa growing?
In real terms (constant 2007 prices) Arequipa's economy grew by 2.0% in 2025 (Peru's value added: 3.2%), after growth of 0.8% in 2024; its 2025 growth was 5th lowest of Peru's 25 regions.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI) · saved copyHas the economy of Arequipa recovered since the pandemic?
After adjusting for prices, Arequipa's output in 2025 was 2.7% above its 2019 level, before the pandemic (Peru: 10.7% above), and 89.8% above its 2007 level.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Arequipa?
The largest sectors of Arequipa's economy in 2025 were oil, gas and mining (33.9% of value added at current prices), other services, including fishing (18.3%) and trade (9.7%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI) · saved copyHow important is mining in Arequipa?
Oil, gas and mining produced 33.9% of value added in Arequipa in 2025 (6th highest of Peru's 25 regions), agriculture, livestock and forestry 5.9% (5th lowest of Peru's 25 regions) and manufacturing 8.5% (Peru: 15.1%, 7.3% and 12.4%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Arequipa?
Unemployment in Arequipa averaged 5.4% in 2025 in INEI's national employment survey (EPEN), down 1.4 percentage points on 2024 (6.8%); 7th highest of the 23 departments outside Lima and Callao. Peru's rate was 4.9%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI) · saved copyHow many workers in Arequipa have informal jobs?
63.5% of workers in Arequipa held informal jobs in 2025, without the social protection of formal employment, against 67.0% in 2022; 3rd lowest of the 23 departments outside Lima and Callao (Peru: 70.2%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI) · saved copyHow many people in Arequipa are in the labour force?
63.2% of people of working age (14 and over) in Arequipa were in the labour force in 2025, working or looking for work: 72.1% of men and 54.8% of women (Peru: 69.5%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI) · saved copyHow many people work in Arequipa?
About 776,800 people had jobs in Arequipa in 2025 (435,500 men and 341,300 women), up 5.6% on 2024, and 44,200 were unemployed.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Arequipa?
Unemployment among women in Arequipa was 6.2% in 2025, against 4.7% for men.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI) · saved copyWhat is the average income in Arequipa?
Workers in Arequipa earned an average of 2,149.7 soles a month from work in 2025, up 1.9% on 2024; 2nd highest of the 23 departments outside Lima and Callao (Peru: 1,887.2 soles).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI) · saved copyHow many workers in Arequipa have a pension?
50.7% of workers in Arequipa were affiliated to a pension system in 2025 (Peru: 42.7%), and 90.6% had health insurance (Peru: 95.3%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI) · saved copyHow many hours do people work in Arequipa?
People with jobs in Arequipa worked 44.2 hours a week on average in 2025 (Peru: 43.8), against 43.8 in 2022.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI) · saved copyHow Arequipa compares with other departments
Gross value added, current prices (2025 estimate) (2025)
Arequipa ranks 2 of 25, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Gross value added, current prices (2025 estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lima | 447.7 billion soles |
| 2 | Arequipa | 65.9 billion soles |
| 3 | La Libertad | 55.9 billion soles |
| 4 | Callao | 52.6 billion soles |
| 5 | Ica | 51.7 billion soles |
| 6 | Piura | 50.9 billion soles |
| 7 | Cusco | 43.4 billion soles |
Gross value added per person (2025 estimate) (2025)
Arequipa ranks 7 of 25, highest first. INEI departmental value added divided by INEI's projected 2025 population.
| Rank | Region | Gross value added per person (2025 estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Pasco | 45,122 soles |
| 5 | Callao | 42,804 soles |
| 6 | Tacna | 42,445 soles |
| 7 | Arequipa | 40,371 soles |
| 8 | Lima | 39,063 soles |
| 9 | Ancash | 35,579 soles |
| 10 | Cusco | 30,883 soles |
Real growth of value added (2025 estimate) (2025)
Arequipa ranks 21 of 25, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real growth of value added (2025 estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | La Libertad | +2.4% |
| 19 | Puno | +2.3% |
| 20 | Pasco | +2.3% |
| 21 | Arequipa | +2.0% |
| 22 | Ancash | +0.9% |
| 23 | Cusco | -2.5% |
| 24 | Moquegua | -3.2% |
Real change in value added 2019-2025 (2019-2025)
Arequipa ranks 20 of 25, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real change in value added 2019-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Ancash | +7.6% |
| 18 | Callao | +6.8% |
| 19 | Ucayali | +5.8% |
| 20 | Arequipa | +2.7% |
| 21 | Amazonas | +2.2% |
| 22 | Cusco | +0.9% |
| 23 | Tumbes | -0.3% |
Oil, gas and mining share of value added (2025) (2025)
Arequipa ranks 6 of 25, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Oil, gas and mining share of value added (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Moquegua | 42.6% |
| 4 | Ancash | 40.8% |
| 5 | Tacna | 35.9% |
| 6 | Arequipa | 33.9% |
| 7 | Cusco | 32.2% |
| 8 | Cajamarca | 30.7% |
| 9 | Ayacucho | 27.1% |
Unemployment rate (EPEN) (2025)
Arequipa ranks 7 of 23, highest first. INEI's employment survey reports Metropolitan Lima together with Callao and the rest of Lima department as the Lima region, so Lima and Callao are not ranked.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (EPEN) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Piura | 6.0% |
| 5 | Lambayeque | 5.9% |
| 6 | Pasco | 5.9% |
| 7 | Arequipa | 5.4% |
| 8 | Tacna | 5.1% |
| 9 | Cusco | 4.8% |
| 10 | Junin | 4.5% |
Informal employment rate (EPEN) (2025)
Arequipa ranks 21 of 23, highest first. INEI's employment survey reports Metropolitan Lima together with Callao and the rest of Lima department as the Lima region, so Lima and Callao are not ranked.
| Rank | Region | Informal employment rate (EPEN) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Madre de Dios | 74.0% |
| 18 | Lambayeque | 73.6% |
| 19 | La Libertad | 72.6% |
| 20 | Tacna | 71.1% |
| 21 | Arequipa | 63.5% |
| 22 | Moquegua | 58.5% |
| 23 | Ica | 58.3% |
Labour force participation, ages 14+ (EPEN) (2025)
Arequipa ranks 23 of 23, highest first. INEI's employment survey reports Metropolitan Lima together with Callao and the rest of Lima department as the Lima region, so Lima and Callao are not ranked.
| Rank | Region | Labour force participation, ages 14+ (EPEN) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Tumbes | 69.7% |
| 18 | Ancash | 68.4% |
| 19 | Lambayeque | 68.1% |
| 20 | Ica | 67.8% |
| 21 | Tacna | 67.8% |
| 22 | Junin | 67.6% |
| 23 | Arequipa | 63.2% |
Workers affiliated to a pension system (EPEN) (2025)
Arequipa ranks 3 of 23, highest first. INEI's employment survey reports Metropolitan Lima together with Callao and the rest of Lima department as the Lima region, so Lima and Callao are not ranked.
| Rank | Region | Workers affiliated to a pension system (EPEN) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ica | 65.1% |
| 2 | Moquegua | 64.7% |
| 3 | Arequipa | 50.7% |
| 4 | Lambayeque | 43.6% |
| 5 | Piura | 39.9% |
| 6 | La Libertad | 39.1% |
| 7 | Tacna | 36.5% |
Average monthly income from work (EPEN) (2025)
Arequipa ranks 2 of 23, highest first. INEI's employment survey reports Metropolitan Lima together with Callao and the rest of Lima department as the Lima region, so Lima and Callao are not ranked.
| Rank | Region | Average monthly income from work (EPEN) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moquegua | 2,525.4 soles |
| 2 | Arequipa | 2,149.7 soles |
| 3 | Madre de Dios | 2,089.7 soles |
| 4 | Ica | 2,011.3 soles |
| 5 | Tacna | 1,793.2 soles |
| 6 | La Libertad | 1,733.9 soles |
| 7 | Tumbes | 1,658.2 soles |
More on Arequipa: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Peru
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI): Peru: PBI por Departamentos 2007-2025 (cifras preliminares): Cuadros 1, 3 and 4 (value added by department at constant 2007 and current prices) and Cuadro 182 (2025 value added by activity and department), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a0dbecb43171…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI): Peru: Indicadores del Mercado Laboral a nivel departamental, 2022-2025 (Encuesta Permanente de Empleo Nacional, EPEN): Cuadros 1.1, 1.6, 2.3, 3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 6.7, 7.1 and annex tables, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eb9c2fcd1b4f…)
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