Poverty and living standards in Barrancabermeja, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Barrancabermeja at 26.4% in 2018, 25th 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 Barrancabermeja?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 26.1% in the urban centre of Barrancabermeja and 28.8% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 2.7 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 Barrancabermeja?
The most common household deprivations in Barrancabermeja in the 2018 census were informal employment (80.5% of households), low educational achievement (41.7%) and high economic dependency (39.6%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Barrancabermeja work informally?
In Barrancabermeja, 80.5% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 37th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.6% 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 Barrancabermeja live in overcrowded homes?
13.7% of households in Barrancabermeja lived in critical overcrowding, 5.3% had inadequate floors and 6.9% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 22nd highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Barrancabermeja lack clean water?
In Barrancabermeja, 3.7% of households had no improved water source and 13.7% inadequate sanitation in 2018, joint 35th lowest 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 Barrancabermeja?
The National Police recorded 161 homicide victims in Barrancabermeja in 2025, a rate of 70.4 per 100,000 residents, 3rd highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 19.7 per 100,000, 41 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Barrancabermeja?
Homicide victims in Barrancabermeja numbered 123 in 2023, 162 in 2024 and 161 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 65.6 per 100,000, 4th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Barrancabermeja each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Barrancabermeja was highest in 2024 (162) and lowest in 2020 (27).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Barrancabermeja?
Women and girls were 6.8% of the 792 homicide victims recorded in Barrancabermeja over 2015-2025 (54 victims); in 2025 they numbered 10.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Barrancabermeja gone up?
The homicide rate in Barrancabermeja was 70.4 per 100,000 in 2025 against 19.7 in 2019, a change of +50.7, the largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Barrancabermeja compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Barrancabermeja ranks 25 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Florencia | 29.6% |
| 23 | Apartadó | 28.0% |
| 24 | Montería | 27.1% |
| 25 | Barrancabermeja | 26.4% |
| 26 | Cúcuta | 25.7% |
| 27 | Villa del Rosario | 24.6% |
| 28 | Santa Marta | 24.4% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Barrancabermeja ranks 38 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Popayán | 81.4% |
| 36 | Cartago | 81.3% |
| 37 | Fusagasugá | 80.7% |
| 38 | Barrancabermeja | 80.5% |
| 39 | Tuluá | 80.4% |
| 40 | Piedecuesta | 79.7% |
| 41 | Yopal | 79.5% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Barrancabermeja ranks 22 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Cartagena | 14.2% |
| 20 | Montería | 14.0% |
| 21 | Apartadó | 14.0% |
| 22 | Barrancabermeja | 13.7% |
| 23 | Barranquilla | 13.5% |
| 24 | Los Patios | 13.5% |
| 25 | Turbo | 12.7% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Barrancabermeja ranks 70 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 67 | Envigado | +4.5 |
| 68 | Palmira | +3.0 |
| 69 | Rionegro | +2.8 |
| 70 | Barrancabermeja | +2.7 |
| 71 | Yumbo | +2.7 |
| 72 | Chía | +2.3 |
| 73 | Cajicá | +1.9 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Barrancabermeja ranks 3 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santander de Quilichao | 104.2 |
| 2 | Quibdo | 75.5 |
| 3 | Barrancabermeja | 70.4 |
| 4 | Ciénaga | 65.7 |
| 5 | Jamundí | 65.6 |
| 6 | Gudalajara de Buga | 53.7 |
| 7 | Palmira | 53.3 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Barrancabermeja ranks 4 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santander de Quilichao | 109.1 |
| 2 | Quibdo | 84.2 |
| 3 | Cartago | 68.0 |
| 4 | Barrancabermeja | 65.6 |
| 5 | Jamundí | 63.4 |
| 6 | Ciénaga | 62.1 |
| 7 | Gudalajara de Buga | 58.0 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Barrancabermeja ranks 1 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barrancabermeja | +50.7 |
| 2 | Ciénaga | +42.3 |
| 3 | Dosquebradas | +23.7 |
| 4 | Jamundí | +22.2 |
| 5 | Sabanalarga | +18.1 |
| 6 | Palmira | +17.7 |
| 7 | Cartagena | +17.6 |
More on Barrancabermeja: 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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