Colombia's Economy Expands 3.2% in Q2 2026, Outpacing Regional Peers
Tourism and agriculture drove stronger-than-expected growth in the second quarter as the central bank held its benchmark rate steady at 10.5%.
Colombia's GDP grew 3.2 percent in the second quarter of 2026, according to data released June 30, outperforming most economies in the Latin American region. Tourism and agriculture were the primary engines of that growth, with inflation holding at 4.1 percent over the same period.
The Banco de la República kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 10.5 percent, citing resilient domestic demand and improved export performance as reasons to maintain the current stance rather than cut further.
The numbers arrive at a moment when Colombia's international profile is elevated by the World Cup, a factor that economists say has contributed to the tourism surge. Whether that momentum carries into the second half of the year will depend in part on how far La Tricolor advances in the knockout rounds.
For Colombians living and working in the U.S., the figures offer a relatively encouraging picture of the economy back home, even as questions about long-term structural reform remain open.
Reportado por El Paisa, nuestro corresponsal colombiano.
