Poverty and living standards in Cartagena, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Cartagena at 19.9% in 2018, 33rd highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site; across all Colombian municipalities, weighted by population, the rate was 26.1%.
Is poverty higher in rural Cartagena?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 18.1% in the urban centre of Cartagena and 36.8% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 18.7 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 Cartagena?
The most common household deprivations in Cartagena in the 2018 census were informal employment (86.6% of households), high economic dependency (36.7%) and low educational achievement (33.5%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Cartagena work informally?
In Cartagena, 86.6% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 24th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.7% had child labour and 36.7% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Cartagena live in overcrowded homes?
14.2% of households in Cartagena lived in critical overcrowding, 5.0% had inadequate floors and 4.9% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 19th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Cartagena lack clean water?
In Cartagena, 5.4% of households had no improved water source and 7.8% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 35th 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 Cartagena?
The National Police recorded 360 homicide victims in Cartagena in 2025, a rate of 35.6 per 100,000 residents, 19th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 18.0 per 100,000, 177 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Cartagena?
Homicide victims in Cartagena numbered 368 in 2023, 381 in 2024 and 360 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 36.6 per 100,000, 18th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Cartagena each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Cartagena was highest in 2024 (381) and lowest in 2019 (177).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Cartagena?
Women and girls were 4.6% of the 3,014 homicide victims recorded in Cartagena over 2015-2025 (139 victims); in 2025 they numbered 9.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Cartagena gone up?
The homicide rate in Cartagena was 35.6 per 100,000 in 2025 against 18.0 in 2019, a change of +17.6, 7th largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Cartagena compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Cartagena ranks 33 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Ipiales | 23.4% |
| 31 | Yopal | 22.9% |
| 32 | Los Patios | 21.4% |
| 33 | Cartagena | 19.9% |
| 34 | Soledad | 18.6% |
| 35 | Popayán | 18.4% |
| 36 | Neiva | 17.6% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Cartagena ranks 24 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Valledupar | 87.5% |
| 22 | Santa Marta | 87.1% |
| 23 | Cúcuta | 87.0% |
| 24 | Cartagena | 86.6% |
| 25 | Montería | 86.2% |
| 26 | Soledad | 86.1% |
| 27 | Santander de Quilichao | 85.8% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Cartagena ranks 19 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Sahagún | 16.3% |
| 17 | Turbaco | 16.0% |
| 18 | Lorica | 15.6% |
| 19 | Cartagena | 14.2% |
| 20 | Montería | 14.0% |
| 21 | Apartadó | 14.0% |
| 22 | Barrancabermeja | 13.7% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Cartagena ranks 32 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Yopal | +19.4 |
| 30 | Cúcuta | +19.1 |
| 31 | Girón | +18.8 |
| 32 | Cartagena | +18.7 |
| 33 | Girardot | +18.6 |
| 34 | Santa Marta | +18.5 |
| 35 | Manizales | +18.5 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Cartagena ranks 19 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Dosquebradas | 38.6 |
| 17 | Yumbo | 38.2 |
| 18 | Pitalito | 37.0 |
| 19 | Cartagena | 35.6 |
| 20 | Ocaña | 35.4 |
| 21 | Armenia | 34.2 |
| 22 | Barranquilla | 33.5 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Cartagena ranks 18 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Pitalito | 41.2 |
| 16 | Cúcuta | 38.9 |
| 17 | Villa del Rosario | 38.4 |
| 18 | Cartagena | 36.6 |
| 19 | Buenaventura | 35.1 |
| 20 | Ipiales | 34.0 |
| 21 | Barranquilla | 33.8 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Cartagena ranks 7 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Jamundí | +22.2 |
| 5 | Sabanalarga | +18.1 |
| 6 | Palmira | +17.7 |
| 7 | Cartagena | +17.6 |
| 8 | Girardot | +16.5 |
| 9 | Cúcuta | +16.3 |
| 10 | Rionegro | +16.1 |
More on Cartagena: 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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