Health in Bucaramanga, Colombia: official figures
ADRES's affiliate register showed 765,283 people actively affiliated to the health system in Bucaramanga in October 2026 (469,374 contributory and 295,909 subsidised), equal to 123.7% of DANE's projected population, 7th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (the register counts people by municipality of affiliation, which can differ from where they live).
How many people in Bucaramanga are on subsidised health insurance?
38.7% of the active affiliates in Bucaramanga were in the subsidised regime (state-funded, for people who cannot pay) in October 2026 and 61.3% in the contributory regime, 19th lowest subsidised share of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Administradora de los Recursos del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (ADRES) · saved copyHow many people in Bucaramanga are in the contributory health regime?
Active contributory-regime affiliates in Bucaramanga numbered 469,374 in October 2026, 75.9% of the projected population, 8th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all of Colombia: 22,925,559 contributory affiliates, 42.9% of the projected population).
Source: Administradora de los Recursos del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (ADRES) · saved copyHow many people in Bucaramanga get state-funded health insurance?
Subsidised-regime affiliates in Bucaramanga numbered 295,909 in October 2026, 47.8% of the projected population (all of Colombia: 27,017,440, 50.6%).
Source: Administradora de los Recursos del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (ADRES) · saved copyHow many people in Bucaramanga had no health insurance in 2018?
In the 2018 census, 19.7% of households in Bucaramanga had at least one member aged over five without health insurance, 18th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 17.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyIs it hard to get health care in Bucaramanga?
4.1% of households in Bucaramanga reported barriers to access to health services in the 2018 census, joint 33rd highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site, and 1.9% barriers to early-childhood care (children under six) (national: 4.4% and 2.3%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow Bucaramanga compares with other cities in Colombia
Active health insurance affiliates as a share of 2026 projected population (ADRES BDUA, October 2026) (2026)
Bucaramanga ranks 7 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Active health insurance affiliates as a share of 2026 projected population (ADRES BDUA, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Girardot | 136.6% |
| 5 | Arauca | 125.6% |
| 6 | Cartagena | 123.7% |
| 7 | Bucaramanga | 123.7% |
| 8 | Barranquilla | 121.4% |
| 9 | Pereira | 121.2% |
| 10 | Apartadó | 119.0% |
Share of affiliates in the subsidised regime (BDUA, October 2026) (2026)
Bucaramanga ranks 56 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Share of affiliates in the subsidised regime (BDUA, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | Cali | 39.7% |
| 54 | Floridablanca | 39.7% |
| 55 | Girardot | 39.7% |
| 56 | Bucaramanga | 38.7% |
| 57 | Armenia | 37.3% |
| 58 | Pereira | 36.6% |
| 59 | Tunja | 33.8% |
Contributory-regime affiliates as a share of 2026 projected population (2026)
Bucaramanga ranks 8 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Contributory-regime affiliates as a share of 2026 projected population |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Medellín | 80.0% |
| 6 | Zipaquirá | 78.3% |
| 7 | Pereira | 76.8% |
| 8 | Bucaramanga | 75.9% |
| 9 | Armenia | 74.4% |
| 10 | Bogotá, D.C. | 73.8% |
| 11 | Tunja | 72.3% |
Households deprived: no health insurance, 2018 census (2018)
Bucaramanga ranks 18 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: no health insurance, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Ibagué | 19.9% |
| 16 | Floridablanca | 19.8% |
| 17 | Quibdo | 19.8% |
| 18 | Bucaramanga | 19.7% |
| 19 | Soledad | 19.5% |
| 20 | San Andrés de Tumaco | 19.5% |
| 21 | Neiva | 19.4% |
Households deprived: barriers to access to health services, 2018 census (2018)
Bucaramanga ranks 35 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: barriers to access to health services, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Gudalajara de Buga | 4.2% |
| 33 | Cali | 4.1% |
| 34 | Soacha | 4.1% |
| 35 | Bucaramanga | 4.1% |
| 36 | San Andrés de Tumaco | 4.1% |
| 37 | Sabanalarga | 4.1% |
| 38 | Manizales | 4.0% |
More on Bucaramanga: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in Colombia
Sources
- Administradora de los Recursos del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (ADRES): Base de Datos Única de Afiliados (BDUA), contributory regime: affiliates by municipality, October 2026 (datos.gov.co aggregate query; saved as bdua-contributivo.request.txt), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8a3f30af6e50…)
- Administradora de los Recursos del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (ADRES): Base de Datos Única de Afiliados (BDUA), subsidised regime: affiliates by municipality, October 2026 (datos.gov.co aggregate query; saved as bdua-subsidiado.request.txt), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 04b3a3bd7839…)
- 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.