Durango takes the gold, the silver and the...lead in the extracting of these minerals. Even if mining is considered a traditional activity in the state, its contribution of just 2,5% to the state Gross Domestic Product is still very low.

In an economy with serious problems in the distribution of wealth, the major contribution to the state GDP comes from the Services sector with 23% and which includes communal, social and personal services; followed by commerce, restaurants and hotels with 18%; and manufacturing industry with 17,7%, which consist of mainly foods, drinks and cigars.

As part of the region in the country with the lowest income, Durango reports only 726,000 inhabitants with an income of up to two minimum wages, which means that 50,1% of the population live in conditions of poverty, according to recent statistics.

The indigenous group of the Tepehuanas, located in Santa Maria de Ocatan and in Xoconoxtle in El Mezquital municipality, has control over 420,000 hectares of pine and oak forests which produce the largest amount of wood in the country; nevertheless, the income derived from this activity does not stay in the hands of the natives, a fact that has brought more problems than benefits to the members of cooperatives in the area. As it turns out, even with available and exceptional natural resources, this municipality is one of the poorest in the state, and suffers a high degree of isolation where inhabitants have no access to the most basic of public services and utilities.