Poverty and living standards in Cali, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Cali at 11.9% in 2018, 17th 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 Cali?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 11.7% in the urban centre of Cali and 17.0% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 5.3 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 Cali?
The most common household deprivations in Cali in the 2018 census were informal employment (75.3% of households), low educational achievement (33.0%) and high economic dependency (21.1%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Cali work informally?
In Cali, 75.3% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, joint 18th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.6% had child labour and 21.1% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Cali live in overcrowded homes?
4.8% of households in Cali lived in critical overcrowding, 0.3% had inadequate floors and 0.6% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was joint 18th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Cali lack clean water?
In Cali, 0.9% of households had no improved water source and 1.5% inadequate sanitation in 2018, joint 8th 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 Cali?
The National Police recorded 1,068 homicide victims in Cali in 2025, a rate of 46.9 per 100,000 residents, 11th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 49.2 per 100,000, 1,105 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Cali?
Homicide victims in Cali numbered 1,005 in 2023, 950 in 2024 and 1,068 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 44.2 per 100,000, 11th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Cali each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Cali was highest in 2015 (1,341) and lowest in 2024 (950).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Cali?
Women and girls were 6.7% of the 12,377 homicide victims recorded in Cali over 2015-2025 (832 victims); in 2025 they numbered 69.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Cali gone up?
The homicide rate in Cali was 46.9 per 100,000 in 2025 against 49.2 in 2019, a change of -2.3, 19th largest fall of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Cali compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Cali ranks 58 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | Medellín | 12.8% |
| 56 | Gudalajara de Buga | 12.3% |
| 57 | Fusagasugá | 12.2% |
| 58 | Cali | 11.9% |
| 59 | Palmira | 11.5% |
| 60 | Tunja | 11.4% |
| 61 | Floridablanca | 11.0% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Cali ranks 56 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | Floridablanca | 76.3% |
| 54 | Yumbo | 76.0% |
| 55 | Pereira | 75.4% |
| 56 | Cali | 75.3% |
| 57 | Tunja | 75.3% |
| 58 | Dosquebradas | 75.2% |
| 59 | Apartadó | 74.6% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Cali ranks 55 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | Bello | 5.6% |
| 53 | Medellín | 5.4% |
| 54 | Floridablanca | 5.1% |
| 55 | Cali | 4.8% |
| 56 | Zipaquirá | 4.8% |
| 57 | Gudalajara de Buga | 4.8% |
| 58 | Fusagasugá | 4.6% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Cali ranks 66 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 63 | Cartago | +9.3 |
| 64 | Fusagasugá | +7.9 |
| 65 | Madrid | +6.9 |
| 66 | Cali | +5.3 |
| 67 | Envigado | +4.5 |
| 68 | Palmira | +3.0 |
| 69 | Rionegro | +2.8 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Cali ranks 11 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Cartago | 52.2 |
| 9 | Girardot | 48.0 |
| 10 | Riohacha | 47.4 |
| 11 | Cali | 46.9 |
| 12 | Tuluá | 44.4 |
| 13 | Cúcuta | 43.4 |
| 14 | Pereira | 42.3 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Cali ranks 11 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Girardot | 50.1 |
| 9 | Tuluá | 47.0 |
| 10 | Riohacha | 45.1 |
| 11 | Cali | 44.2 |
| 12 | Malambo | 43.6 |
| 13 | Yumbo | 43.0 |
| 14 | Palmira | 41.6 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Cali ranks 56 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | Zipaquirá | -1.6 |
| 54 | Los Patios | -1.9 |
| 55 | Gudalajara de Buga | -2.2 |
| 56 | Cali | -2.3 |
| 57 | Uribia | -2.7 |
| 58 | Pasto | -3.0 |
| 59 | Manizales | -4.6 |
More on Cali: 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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