Poverty and living standards in Bello, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Bello at 14.2% in 2018, joint 26th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site; across all Colombian municipalities, weighted by population, the rate was 26.1%.
Is poverty higher in rural Bello?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 13.3% in the urban centre of Bello and 34.6% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 21.3 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 Bello?
The most common household deprivations in Bello in the 2018 census were informal employment (72.7% of households), low educational achievement (36.5%) and high economic dependency (25.4%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Bello work informally?
In Bello, 72.7% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 14th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.5% had child labour and 25.4% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Bello live in overcrowded homes?
5.6% of households in Bello lived in critical overcrowding, 0.7% had inadequate floors and 1.4% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was joint 23rd lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Bello lack clean water?
In Bello, 5.6% of households had no improved water source and 5.5% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 34th 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 Bello?
The National Police recorded 46 homicide victims in Bello in 2025, a rate of 7.6 per 100,000 residents, 13th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 24.9 per 100,000, 134 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Bello?
Homicide victims in Bello numbered 55 in 2023, 50 in 2024 and 46 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 8.5 per 100,000, 11th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Bello each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Bello was highest in 2019 (134) and lowest in 2025 (46).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Bello?
Women and girls were 11.2% of the 868 homicide victims recorded in Bello over 2015-2025 (97 victims); in 2025 they numbered 5.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Bello gone up?
The homicide rate in Bello was 7.6 per 100,000 in 2025 against 24.9 in 2019, a change of -17.3, 6th largest fall of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Bello compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Bello ranks 49 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | Ibagué | 14.8% |
| 47 | Armenia | 14.4% |
| 48 | Bucaramanga | 14.2% |
| 49 | Bello | 14.2% |
| 50 | Soacha | 14.1% |
| 51 | Manizales | 13.9% |
| 52 | Tuluá | 13.7% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Bello ranks 61 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | Dosquebradas | 75.2% |
| 59 | Apartadó | 74.6% |
| 60 | Soacha | 73.8% |
| 61 | Bello | 72.7% |
| 62 | Medellín | 71.0% |
| 63 | Manizales | 70.4% |
| 64 | Zipaquirá | 69.7% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Bello ranks 52 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Ibagué | 5.8% |
| 50 | Mosquera | 5.8% |
| 51 | Bogotá, D.C. | 5.6% |
| 52 | Bello | 5.6% |
| 53 | Medellín | 5.4% |
| 54 | Floridablanca | 5.1% |
| 55 | Cali | 4.8% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Bello ranks 26 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Lorica | +23.0 |
| 24 | Bogotá, D.C. | +22.6 |
| 25 | Bucaramanga | +21.9 |
| 26 | Bello | +21.3 |
| 27 | Soacha | +21.1 |
| 28 | Piedecuesta | +20.6 |
| 29 | Yopal | +19.4 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Bello ranks 62 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 59 | Pasto | 10.4 |
| 60 | Facatativá | 9.7 |
| 61 | Manizales | 7.8 |
| 62 | Bello | 7.6 |
| 63 | Montería | 7.5 |
| 64 | Cereté | 7.4 |
| 65 | Zipaquirá | 5.4 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Bello ranks 64 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Fusagasugá | 10.0 |
| 62 | Lorica | 9.7 |
| 63 | Pasto | 9.5 |
| 64 | Bello | 8.5 |
| 65 | Sogamoso | 7.3 |
| 66 | Manizales | 7.1 |
| 67 | Duitama | 6.9 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Bello ranks 69 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Cereté | -13.8 |
| 67 | Maicao | -15.3 |
| 68 | Lorica | -15.8 |
| 69 | Bello | -17.3 |
| 70 | Arauca | -21.5 |
| 71 | Apartadó | -21.9 |
| 72 | Turbo | -33.2 |
More on Bello: 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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