The main economic activity of the region is agriculture and related activites such as animal husbandry and rice mills. The district proudly calls itself `Chawal ki nagri' and has more than 200 rice mills in the area.

Pantnagar is also the base for a large number of industrial units; namely Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Sundram Fasteners, Mahindra & Mahindra, Dabur, Nestle, Brittania, etc.

The Pantnagar University attracts a large number of students and visitors from all over India and overseas.