Health in Cartagena, Colombia: official figures
ADRES's affiliate register showed 1,250,865 people actively affiliated to the health system in Cartagena in October 2026 (539,822 contributory and 711,043 subsidised), equal to 123.7% of DANE's projected population, 6th 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 Cartagena are on subsidised health insurance?
56.8% of the active affiliates in Cartagena were in the subsidised regime (state-funded, for people who cannot pay) in October 2026 and 43.2% in the contributory regime, 31st highest 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 Cartagena are in the contributory health regime?
Active contributory-regime affiliates in Cartagena numbered 539,822 in October 2026, 53.4% of the projected population, 29th 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 Cartagena get state-funded health insurance?
Subsidised-regime affiliates in Cartagena numbered 711,043 in October 2026, 70.3% 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 Cartagena had no health insurance in 2018?
In the 2018 census, 17.6% of households in Cartagena had at least one member aged over five without health insurance, joint 34th 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 Cartagena?
2.5% of households in Cartagena reported barriers to access to health services in the 2018 census, 9th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site, and 2.3% barriers to early-childhood care (children under six) (national: 4.4% and 2.3%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow Cartagena compares with other cities in Colombia
Active health insurance affiliates as a share of 2026 projected population (ADRES BDUA, October 2026) (2026)
Cartagena ranks 6 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Active health insurance affiliates as a share of 2026 projected population (ADRES BDUA, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Rionegro | 139.7% |
| 4 | Girardot | 136.6% |
| 5 | Arauca | 125.6% |
| 6 | Cartagena | 123.7% |
| 7 | Bucaramanga | 123.7% |
| 8 | Barranquilla | 121.4% |
| 9 | Pereira | 121.2% |
Share of affiliates in the subsidised regime (BDUA, October 2026) (2026)
Cartagena ranks 31 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Share of affiliates in the subsidised regime (BDUA, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Turbaco | 60.9% |
| 29 | Santa Marta | 58.6% |
| 30 | Pasto | 57.8% |
| 31 | Cartagena | 56.8% |
| 32 | Popayán | 55.5% |
| 33 | Soledad | 54.6% |
| 34 | Girón | 54.0% |
Contributory-regime affiliates as a share of 2026 projected population (2026)
Cartagena ranks 29 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Contributory-regime affiliates as a share of 2026 projected population |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Fusagasugá | 54.4% |
| 27 | Palmira | 53.6% |
| 28 | Yumbo | 53.6% |
| 29 | Cartagena | 53.4% |
| 30 | Dosquebradas | 50.9% |
| 31 | Barrancabermeja | 50.4% |
| 32 | Neiva | 50.2% |
Households deprived: no health insurance, 2018 census (2018)
Cartagena ranks 34 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: no health insurance, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Villa del Rosario | 17.8% |
| 32 | Cali | 17.7% |
| 33 | Jamundí | 17.7% |
| 34 | Cartagena | 17.6% |
| 35 | Malambo | 17.6% |
| 36 | Pitalito | 17.6% |
| 37 | Cúcuta | 17.5% |
Households deprived: barriers to access to health services, 2018 census (2018)
Cartagena ranks 66 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: barriers to access to health services, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 63 | Villa del Rosario | 2.7% |
| 64 | Yumbo | 2.7% |
| 65 | Medellín | 2.6% |
| 66 | Cartagena | 2.5% |
| 67 | Jamundí | 2.4% |
| 68 | Fusagasugá | 2.4% |
| 69 | Maicao | 2.3% |
More on Cartagena: 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…)
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