Colombia Leads Regional Digital Economy Ranking at 15.1% of GDP

Colombia’s digital economy accounted for 15.1% of GDP in 2025, leading four other Spanish-speaking economies in a regional study. An illustrative image shows a Colombian professional using digital technology in a modern workspace. Credit: Jhoan Baron / ColombiaOne (AI-generated picture). For editorial use only.

Colombia’s digital economy accounted for 15.1% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025, the highest share among five Spanish-speaking Latin American economies compared in a new regional study. The report, prepared by consulting firm Telecom Advisory Services for Dig.ia-LAC, places Colombia ahead of Peru at 14.9%, Mexico at 14.3%, and Argentina and Chile at 12.6% each.

The study estimates that Colombia’s digital ecosystem represented about US$65 billion in economic value. It includes investment in digital infrastructure, the infrastructure supporting online shopping, revenue from digital services and apps, the benefits digital innovation brings to other sectors, worker productivity and consumer surplus — the extra value people receive when services cost less than they are worth to them.

Dig.ia-LAC presented the findings at its first regional forum in Bogota, where the alliance promoted legal certainty and investment. The results suggest that digital services play a substantial role in Colombia’s economy, but the ranking needs context: It covers only five countries, and the alliance’s members include major technology companies with a stake in debates over digital regulation.

Colombia’s digital economy by the numbers

Colombia’s digital platforms generated US$15.5 billion in revenue and economic activity in 2025 and helped facilitate US$8.5 billion in online sales, showing how much everyday commerce now takes place through apps and websites. The largest figure, however, is the US$44.7 billion in direct benefits consumers receive. This measures what people gain from using services such as search, video, maps and messaging, even when they pay little or nothing for them.

The study also finds that digital tools raise worker productivity by a cumulative 1.83%, adding about US$715 million to the economy each year. The benefits therefore extend beyond technology companies to offices, shops and farms. On the technical side, advanced video compression — a way to shrink video files without losing quality — can reduce the data required by up to 30%. This helps networks save costs, but the study stresses that it does not replace investment in cables, antennas and data centers.

Mercedes Aramendia, the executive director of Dig.ia-LAC, argues that the digital ecosystem serves as a development strategy rather than a separate industry. She warns that restrictive rules or regulatory bias would hurt the entire economy. Her argument aligns with the alliance’s mission and comes as governments across the region debate how to regulate major platforms.

What Colombia’s digital ranking really means

Other measures give Colombia a more modest position, reminding readers that a high share of GDP does not mean the country leads in every digital area.

The Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index 2026, prepared by the U.N. regional economic commission and a Chilean AI center, places Colombia fourth among 20 countries, with 56.8 points out of 100, behind Chile, Brazil and Uruguay. It also places Colombia at the top of the “adopters” group, comprising countries that have developed useful capabilities but still face gaps.

In financial technology, Colombia performs better. A 2026 financial inclusion index found that the country recorded the largest gain among eight countries, while 78% of Colombians now hold a mobile wallet or payment app, the second-highest share in the region after Argentina.

Together, these results suggest that Colombia’s strength lies in how many people and businesses use digital services, while its challenge is to build the infrastructure, skills and regulatory frameworks that turn that use into lasting growth.

The 15.1% figure therefore tells a story of momentum, not final victory. Colombia will need to match the enthusiasm of its users with investment and clear rules if it wants to maintain its position at the top of this particular ranking.