Poverty and living standards in Aguachica, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Aguachica at 37.0% in 2018, 13th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site; across all Colombian municipalities, weighted by population, the rate was 26.1%.
Is poverty higher in rural Aguachica?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 33.5% in the urban centre of Aguachica and 62.4% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 28.9 points (rural higher); nationally the figures were 21.0% and 41.1%.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyWhat are the biggest causes of poverty in Aguachica?
The most common household deprivations in Aguachica in the 2018 census were informal employment (87.6% of households), low educational achievement (54.1%) and high economic dependency (38.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Aguachica work informally?
In Aguachica, 87.6% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, joint 19th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 1.7% had child labour and 38.0% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Aguachica live in overcrowded homes?
21.2% of households in Aguachica lived in critical overcrowding, 9.6% had inadequate floors and 5.3% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 5th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Aguachica lack clean water?
In Aguachica, 7.0% of households had no improved water source and 12.6% inadequate sanitation in 2018, joint 28th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site on water access (national: 12.5% and 13.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyWhat is the murder rate in Aguachica?
The National Police recorded 44 homicide victims in Aguachica in 2025, a rate of 32.6 per 100,000 residents, 24th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 28.0 per 100,000, 32 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Aguachica?
Homicide victims in Aguachica numbered 39 in 2023, 42 in 2024 and 44 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 31.5 per 100,000, 24th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Aguachica each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Aguachica was highest in 2022 (47) and lowest in 2017 (11).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Aguachica?
Women and girls were 7.6% of the 342 homicide victims recorded in Aguachica over 2015-2025 (26 victims); in 2025 they numbered 5.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Aguachica gone up?
The homicide rate in Aguachica was 32.6 per 100,000 in 2025 against 28.0 in 2019, a change of +4.6, 30th largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Aguachica compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Aguachica ranks 13 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Buenaventura | 41.0% |
| 11 | Sahagún | 40.4% |
| 12 | Arauca | 38.6% |
| 13 | Aguachica | 37.0% |
| 14 | Sabanalarga | 36.5% |
| 15 | Cereté | 34.4% |
| 16 | Pitalito | 33.7% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Aguachica ranks 20 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Pitalito | 88.0% |
| 18 | Cereté | 88.0% |
| 19 | Turbo | 87.6% |
| 20 | Aguachica | 87.6% |
| 21 | Valledupar | 87.5% |
| 22 | Santa Marta | 87.1% |
| 23 | Cúcuta | 87.0% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Aguachica ranks 5 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Maicao | 33.8% |
| 3 | Ciénaga | 29.1% |
| 4 | Riohacha | 25.1% |
| 5 | Aguachica | 21.2% |
| 6 | Valledupar | 19.5% |
| 7 | Santa Marta | 19.4% |
| 8 | Villa del Rosario | 18.9% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Aguachica ranks 13 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Ibagué | +29.7 |
| 11 | Turbaco | +29.4 |
| 12 | Ocaña | +29.0 |
| 13 | Aguachica | +28.9 |
| 14 | Sahagún | +28.0 |
| 15 | Sabanalarga | +28.0 |
| 16 | Tunja | +27.0 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Aguachica ranks 24 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Armenia | 34.2 |
| 22 | Barranquilla | 33.5 |
| 23 | Villa del Rosario | 33.4 |
| 24 | Aguachica | 32.6 |
| 25 | Turbaco | 32.2 |
| 26 | Malambo | 29.7 |
| 27 | Maicao | 29.5 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Aguachica ranks 24 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Barranquilla | 33.8 |
| 22 | Santa Marta | 32.7 |
| 23 | Pereira | 32.2 |
| 24 | Aguachica | 31.5 |
| 25 | Arauca | 31.3 |
| 26 | Soledad | 31.2 |
| 27 | Turbo | 30.8 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Aguachica ranks 30 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Quibdo | +6.1 |
| 28 | Ocaña | +5.1 |
| 29 | Santa Marta | +5.0 |
| 30 | Aguachica | +4.6 |
| 31 | Buenaventura | +3.9 |
| 32 | Facatativá | +3.5 |
| 33 | Funza | +3.3 |
More on Aguachica: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in Colombia
Sources
- Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional): HOMICIDIO: victims of homicide by municipality, year and sex, 2015-2025 (datos.gov.co aggregate query; saved as homicidio.request.txt), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7d12dcde8b9b…)
- Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE): Medida de pobreza multidimensional municipal de fuente censal 2018: municipal incidence (urban and rural) and household deprivations by indicator, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a3ac3a60498a…)
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