Poverty and living standards in Barranquilla, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Barranquilla at 17.4% in 2018, 37th 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 Barranquilla?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 17.4% in the urban centre of Barranquilla and 55.7% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 38.3 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 Barranquilla?
The most common household deprivations in Barranquilla in the 2018 census were informal employment (84.6% of households), high economic dependency (29.7%) and low educational achievement (29.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Barranquilla work informally?
In Barranquilla, 84.6% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 30th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.6% had child labour and 29.7% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Barranquilla live in overcrowded homes?
13.5% of households in Barranquilla lived in critical overcrowding, 1.4% had inadequate floors and 1.5% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was joint 23rd highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Barranquilla lack clean water?
In Barranquilla, 1.0% of households had no improved water source and 2.1% inadequate sanitation in 2018, joint 11th 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 Barranquilla?
The National Police recorded 429 homicide victims in Barranquilla in 2025, a rate of 33.5 per 100,000 residents, 22nd highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 22.3 per 100,000, 275 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Barranquilla?
Homicide victims in Barranquilla numbered 375 in 2023, 493 in 2024 and 429 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 33.8 per 100,000, 21st highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Barranquilla each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Barranquilla was highest in 2024 (493) and lowest in 2019 (275).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Barranquilla?
Women and girls were 7.3% of the 3,995 homicide victims recorded in Barranquilla over 2015-2025 (292 victims); in 2025 they numbered 25.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Barranquilla gone up?
The homicide rate in Barranquilla was 33.5 per 100,000 in 2025 against 22.3 in 2019, a change of +11.2, 20th largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Barranquilla compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Barranquilla ranks 37 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Soledad | 18.6% |
| 35 | Popayán | 18.4% |
| 36 | Neiva | 17.6% |
| 37 | Barranquilla | 17.4% |
| 38 | Cartago | 16.6% |
| 39 | Girón | 16.5% |
| 40 | Pasto | 16.3% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Barranquilla ranks 30 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 33 | Villavicencio | 82.3% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Barranquilla ranks 23 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 26 | Soledad | 12.5% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Barranquilla ranks 4 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soledad | +63.2 |
| 2 | Maicao | +47.5 |
| 3 | Riohacha | +43.7 |
| 4 | Barranquilla | +38.3 |
| 5 | Quibdo | +37.6 |
| 6 | Valledupar | +35.4 |
| 7 | Uribia | +34.0 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Barranquilla ranks 22 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Cartagena | 35.6 |
| 20 | Ocaña | 35.4 |
| 21 | Armenia | 34.2 |
| 22 | Barranquilla | 33.5 |
| 23 | Villa del Rosario | 33.4 |
| 24 | Aguachica | 32.6 |
| 25 | Turbaco | 32.2 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Barranquilla ranks 21 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Cartagena | 36.6 |
| 19 | Buenaventura | 35.1 |
| 20 | Ipiales | 34.0 |
| 21 | Barranquilla | 33.8 |
| 22 | Santa Marta | 32.7 |
| 23 | Pereira | 32.2 |
| 24 | Aguachica | 31.5 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Barranquilla ranks 20 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Malambo | +12.4 |
| 18 | Yopal | +11.4 |
| 19 | Armenia | +11.4 |
| 20 | Barranquilla | +11.2 |
| 21 | Villavicencio | +9.5 |
| 22 | Floridablanca | +9.3 |
| 23 | Piedecuesta | +8.2 |
More on Barranquilla: 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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