diff --git a/pygmt/src/choropleth.py b/pygmt/src/choropleth.py
index 09f77f2bae1..0e18e3f6d36 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/choropleth.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/choropleth.py
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
 from pygmt._typing import GeoLike, PathLike
 from pygmt.alias import Alias, AliasSystem
 from pygmt.clib import Session
-from pygmt.helpers import build_arg_list, fmt_docstring
+from pygmt.exceptions import GMTTypeError, GMTValueError
+from pygmt.helpers import build_arg_list, data_kind, fmt_docstring
 from pygmt.params import Axis, Frame
 
 __doctest_skip__ = ["choropleth"]
@@ -101,6 +102,21 @@ def choropleth(
     >>> fig.colorbar(frame=True)
     >>> fig.show()
     """
+    # The input data must be a geo-like object or a path to an OGR_GMT file.
+    if (kind := data_kind(data)) not in {"geojson", "file"}:
+        raise GMTTypeError(
+            type(data),
+            reason="Expected a geo-like object or a path to an OGR_GMT file.",
+        )
+
+    # Check if the column name exists in the data for geo-like objects.
+    if kind == "geojson" and (_columns := getattr(data, "columns", None)) is not None:
+        # The geometry column is not an aspatial attribute field, so exclude it.
+        geometry = getattr(getattr(data, "geometry", None), "name", None)
+        fields = [str(col) for col in _columns if col != geometry]
+        if column not in fields:
+            raise GMTValueError(column, description="column name", choices=fields)
+
     aliasdict = AliasSystem(
         C=Alias(cmap, name="cmap"),
         I=Alias(intensity, name="intensity"),
diff --git a/pygmt/tests/test_choropleth.py b/pygmt/tests/test_choropleth.py
index 2cc9502bac5..379a2782195 100644
--- a/pygmt/tests/test_choropleth.py
+++ b/pygmt/tests/test_choropleth.py
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 Test Figure.choropleth.
 """
 
+import numpy as np
 import pytest
 from pygmt import Figure, makecpt
+from pygmt.exceptions import GMTTypeError, GMTValueError
 
 geopandas = pytest.importorskip("geopandas")
 
@@ -31,3 +33,30 @@ def test_choropleth(world):
     fig.choropleth(world, column="POP_EST", pen="0.3p,gray10")
     fig.colorbar(frame=True)
     return fig
+
+
+def test_choropleth_invalid_column(world):
+    """
+    Test that a nonexistent column raises an error.
+    """
+    fig = Figure()
+    with pytest.raises(GMTValueError):
+        fig.choropleth(world, column="invalid")
+
+
+def test_choropleth_geometry_column(world):
+    """
+    Test that the geometry column is rejected, since it's not an attribute field.
+    """
+    fig = Figure()
+    with pytest.raises(GMTValueError, match="Invalid column name: 'geometry'"):
+        fig.choropleth(world, column="geometry")
+
+
+def test_choropleth_invalid_data_kind():
+    """
+    Test that data that is neither geo-like nor a file name raises an error.
+    """
+    fig = Figure()
+    with pytest.raises(GMTTypeError, match="Unrecognized data type"):
+        fig.choropleth(np.array([[1.0, 2.0], [3.0, 4.0]]), column="POP")