Poverty and living standards in Bucaramanga, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Bucaramanga 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 Bucaramanga?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 13.8% in the urban centre of Bucaramanga and 35.7% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 21.9 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 Bucaramanga?
The most common household deprivations in Bucaramanga in the 2018 census were informal employment (77.5% of households), low educational achievement (32.7%) and high economic dependency (25.4%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Bucaramanga work informally?
In Bucaramanga, 77.5% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 25th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.6% 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 Bucaramanga live in overcrowded homes?
7.4% of households in Bucaramanga lived in critical overcrowding, 0.7% had inadequate floors and 1.5% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was joint 34th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Bucaramanga lack clean water?
In Bucaramanga, 5.1% of households had no improved water source and 4.2% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 36th 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 Bucaramanga?
The National Police recorded 137 homicide victims in Bucaramanga in 2025, a rate of 22.2 per 100,000 residents, 36th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 20.0 per 100,000, 118 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Bucaramanga?
Homicide victims in Bucaramanga numbered 123 in 2023, 131 in 2024 and 137 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 21.2 per 100,000, 37th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Bucaramanga each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Bucaramanga was highest in 2025 (137) and lowest in 2015 (87).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Bucaramanga?
Women and girls were 11.0% of the 1,231 homicide victims recorded in Bucaramanga over 2015-2025 (136 victims); in 2025 they numbered 13.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Bucaramanga gone up?
The homicide rate in Bucaramanga was 22.2 per 100,000 in 2025 against 20.0 in 2019, a change of +2.2, 35th largest fall of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Bucaramanga compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Bucaramanga ranks 48 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Jamundí | 14.9% |
| 46 | Ibagué | 14.8% |
| 47 | Armenia | 14.4% |
| 48 | Bucaramanga | 14.2% |
| 49 | Bello | 14.2% |
| 50 | Soacha | 14.1% |
| 51 | Manizales | 13.9% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Bucaramanga ranks 50 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Girardot | 78.6% |
| 48 | Jamundí | 78.5% |
| 49 | Duitama | 78.0% |
| 50 | Bucaramanga | 77.5% |
| 51 | Armenia | 77.2% |
| 52 | Gudalajara de Buga | 76.9% |
| 53 | Floridablanca | 76.3% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Bucaramanga ranks 39 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Girardot | 8.5% |
| 37 | Pitalito | 7.9% |
| 38 | Yumbo | 7.6% |
| 39 | Bucaramanga | 7.4% |
| 40 | Popayán | 7.4% |
| 41 | Madrid | 7.4% |
| 42 | Neiva | 7.3% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Bucaramanga ranks 25 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Sincelejo | +23.6 |
| 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 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Bucaramanga ranks 36 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Yopal | 23.5 |
| 34 | Rionegro | 23.3 |
| 35 | Soacha | 22.2 |
| 36 | Bucaramanga | 22.2 |
| 37 | Turbo | 21.5 |
| 38 | Neiva | 21.1 |
| 39 | Popayán | 20.4 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Bucaramanga ranks 38 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | San Andrés de Tumaco | 23.0 |
| 36 | Villavicencio | 23.0 |
| 37 | Neiva | 21.9 |
| 38 | Bucaramanga | 21.2 |
| 39 | Soacha | 20.8 |
| 40 | Maicao | 20.7 |
| 41 | Valledupar | 20.0 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Bucaramanga ranks 40 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Popayán | +2.9 |
| 38 | Chía | +2.5 |
| 39 | Ibagué | +2.4 |
| 40 | Bucaramanga | +2.2 |
| 41 | Valledupar | +2.2 |
| 42 | Fusagasugá | +2.1 |
| 43 | Duitama | +2.0 |
More on Bucaramanga: 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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