Sunday, January 18, 2026

Colombia Economy 1-18-26

As of January 2026, Colombia's economy shows signs of cooling inflation (around 3-4.5% for 2026), a low unemployment rate (around 7% recently), and stable but moderated GDP growth (projected 2.3-2.9% for 2026), with nominal GDP nearing $462 billion and per capita GDP around $8,640 for the year, though recent wage hikes could challenge inflation, according to sources like IMF, BBVA ResearchColombia One, and georank.org 

Key Indicators for Colombia (Early 2026 Estimates/Recent Data)

Inflation (2026 Projection): Expected to be above the 3% target, potentially settling near 4.5-4.6% by year-end, with analysts watching a recent significant minimum wage hike.

Unemployment: Decreased to 7.0% in November 2025, a multi-decade low for that month.

Nominal GDP (2026): Projected around $462 billion USD.

GDP per Capita (2026): Estimated at approximately $8,640 USD.

GDP Growth (2026 Projection): Forecasts suggest around 2.3% to 2.9%. 

Economic Context

Central Bank Target: The Bank of the Republic aims for 3% inflation (±1%).

Challenges: Rising fuel/goods prices and a large minimum wage increase (over 23% for 2026) are key factors influencing inflation and the central bank's decisions.

Sectoral Outlook: Financial services are expected to lead growth in 2026. 

As of January 2026, Colombia’s economy is navigating a recovery phase characterized by gradually declining inflation and record-low unemployment, though a substantial minimum wage hike is expected to exert new upward price pressure. 

Economic Indicators (January 2026)

Inflation: Annual inflation eased to 5.1% in December 2025. However, analysts anticipate a potential surge to roughly 6% in early 2026 following a 23%–23.7% increase in the minimum wage enacted by the Petro administration.

Unemployment: The unemployment rate reached a historic low of 7.0% in November 2025. Projections for the full year 2026 suggest a stabilization around 9.8%.

Nominal Per Capita GDP: Projections for 2026 estimate nominal GDP per capita at approximately $8,640.

https://www.google.com/search?q=columbia+economy+inflation+unemployment+nominal+per+capita+gdp+january+2026

Comments

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