Poverty and living standards in Arauca, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Arauca at 38.6% in 2018, 12th 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 Arauca?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 35.4% in the urban centre of Arauca and 60.0% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 24.6 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 Arauca?
The most common household deprivations in Arauca in the 2018 census were informal employment (85.0% of households), low educational achievement (47.1%) and high economic dependency (39.6%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Arauca work informally?
In Arauca, 85.0% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, joint 28th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 1.2% had child labour and 39.6% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Arauca live in overcrowded homes?
18.1% of households in Arauca lived in critical overcrowding, 16.4% had inadequate floors and 18.3% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 11th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Arauca lack clean water?
In Arauca, 12.1% of households had no improved water source and 17.0% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 17th 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 Arauca?
The National Police recorded 14 homicide victims in Arauca in 2025, a rate of 15.4 per 100,000 residents, 30th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 36.8 per 100,000, 32 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Arauca?
Homicide victims in Arauca numbered 41 in 2023, 30 in 2024 and 14 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 31.3 per 100,000, 25th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Arauca each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Arauca was highest in 2021 (59) and lowest in 2016 (11).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Arauca?
Women and girls were 7.4% of the 311 homicide victims recorded in Arauca over 2015-2025 (23 victims); in 2025 they numbered 0.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Arauca gone up?
The homicide rate in Arauca was 15.4 per 100,000 in 2025 against 36.8 in 2019, a change of -21.5, 5th largest fall of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Arauca compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Arauca ranks 12 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Lorica | 41.1% |
| 10 | Buenaventura | 41.0% |
| 11 | Sahagún | 40.4% |
| 12 | Arauca | 38.6% |
| 13 | Aguachica | 37.0% |
| 14 | Sabanalarga | 36.5% |
| 15 | Cereté | 34.4% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Arauca ranks 29 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Soledad | 86.1% |
| 27 | Santander de Quilichao | 85.8% |
| 28 | Florencia | 85.0% |
| 29 | Arauca | 85.0% |
| 30 | Barranquilla | 84.6% |
| 31 | Los Patios | 83.4% |
| 32 | Turbaco | 83.2% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Arauca ranks 11 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Villa del Rosario | 18.9% |
| 9 | Sabanalarga | 18.8% |
| 10 | Cereté | 18.5% |
| 11 | Arauca | 18.1% |
| 12 | Magangué | 17.7% |
| 13 | Sincelejo | 16.9% |
| 14 | Malambo | 16.7% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Arauca ranks 21 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Florencia | +26.1 |
| 19 | Pitalito | +25.1 |
| 20 | Ciénaga | +25.0 |
| 21 | Arauca | +24.6 |
| 22 | Sincelejo | +23.6 |
| 23 | Lorica | +23.0 |
| 24 | Bogotá, D.C. | +22.6 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Arauca ranks 45 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Sincelejo | 18.1 |
| 43 | Piedecuesta | 16.7 |
| 44 | Ibagué | 15.9 |
| 45 | Arauca | 15.4 |
| 46 | Los Patios | 15.4 |
| 47 | Bogotá, D.C. | 14.9 |
| 48 | San Andrés de Tumaco | 14.6 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Arauca ranks 25 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 28 | Ocaña | 30.8 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Arauca ranks 70 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 67 | Maicao | -15.3 |
| 68 | Lorica | -15.8 |
| 69 | Bello | -17.3 |
| 70 | Arauca | -21.5 |
| 71 | Apartadó | -21.9 |
| 72 | Turbo | -33.2 |
| 73 | Yumbo | -62.6 |
More on Arauca: 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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