The main economic activity in the state in regards of its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product is the commerce, restaurants and hotels sector with 32,8%,partly a consequence of the fact that 84% of the population resides in urban areas, the cities of Chihuahua and Juarez in particular, as they concentrate almost the totality of services related to business tourism.

In terms of industrial development, the economic boom experienced by the United States in the 1990´s had a positive effect in the economy of the bordering states, Chihuahua among them. The various production plants that were installed in the region provided opportunities of a better living for many of its inhabitants. Unfortunately, the slower performance of the present U.S. economy has triggered the unemployment rates in the state, specially in the city of Juarez which reports the highest demographic concentration in this northern Federation.

The main industrial activities that take place in the cross-border plants belong to the sectors of electronics and telecommunications, machinery and equipment, and automotive spare parts and accessories. According to the latest statistics reported in 2006, this field of the economy has a contribution of 18,7% to the state GDP.

Just as it happens in the rest of Mexico, small and medium enterprises represent the axis of the state economy, as they create jobs easily, quickly adapt to innovation, and enjoy a relative flexibility regarding organizational structures. Even so, they are still affected by general bureaucracy, the lack of financial support and low levels of competitiveness.

Within the agricultural sector the main produce includes apple green pepper pecan alfalfa and diary products. The state is also the second,largest producer of pine wood in the country the first of lead second of zinc and third largest producer of silver.