Poverty and living standards in Cartago, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Cartago at 16.6% in 2018, 37th 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 Cartago?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 16.4% in the urban centre of Cartago and 25.7% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 9.3 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 Cartago?
The most common household deprivations in Cartago in the 2018 census were informal employment (81.3% of households), low educational achievement (48.2%) and high economic dependency (25.7%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Cartago work informally?
In Cartago, 81.3% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 36th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.6% had child labour and 25.7% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Cartago live in overcrowded homes?
4.3% of households in Cartago lived in critical overcrowding, 0.5% had inadequate floors and 0.9% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was joint 11th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Cartago lack clean water?
In Cartago, 1.6% of households had no improved water source and 1.5% inadequate sanitation in 2018, joint 22nd 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 Cartago?
The National Police recorded 75 homicide victims in Cartago in 2025, a rate of 52.2 per 100,000 residents, 8th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 39.4 per 100,000, 54 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Cartago?
Homicide victims in Cartago numbered 109 in 2023, 107 in 2024 and 75 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 68.0 per 100,000, 3rd highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Cartago each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Cartago was highest in 2022 (109) and lowest in 2020 (39).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Cartago?
Women and girls were 7.1% of the 801 homicide victims recorded in Cartago over 2015-2025 (57 victims); in 2025 they numbered 8.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Cartago gone up?
The homicide rate in Cartago was 52.2 per 100,000 in 2025 against 39.4 in 2019, a change of +12.8, 15th largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Cartago compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Cartago ranks 38 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Popayán | 18.4% |
| 36 | Neiva | 17.6% |
| 37 | Barranquilla | 17.4% |
| 38 | Cartago | 16.6% |
| 39 | Girón | 16.5% |
| 40 | Pasto | 16.3% |
| 41 | Piedecuesta | 16.2% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Cartago ranks 36 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Villavicencio | 82.3% |
| 34 | Pasto | 81.8% |
| 35 | Popayán | 81.4% |
| 36 | Cartago | 81.3% |
| 37 | Fusagasugá | 80.7% |
| 38 | Barrancabermeja | 80.5% |
| 39 | Tuluá | 80.4% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Cartago ranks 64 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Tunja | 4.4% |
| 62 | Jamundí | 4.4% |
| 63 | Armenia | 4.3% |
| 64 | Cartago | 4.3% |
| 65 | Manizales | 4.2% |
| 66 | Tuluá | 4.1% |
| 67 | Cajicá | 4.1% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Cartago ranks 63 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | Duitama | +9.9 |
| 61 | Funza | +9.8 |
| 62 | Facatativá | +9.6 |
| 63 | Cartago | +9.3 |
| 64 | Fusagasugá | +7.9 |
| 65 | Madrid | +6.9 |
| 66 | Cali | +5.3 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Cartago ranks 8 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Jamundí | 65.6 |
| 6 | Gudalajara de Buga | 53.7 |
| 7 | Palmira | 53.3 |
| 8 | Cartago | 52.2 |
| 9 | Girardot | 48.0 |
| 10 | Riohacha | 47.4 |
| 11 | Cali | 46.9 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Cartago ranks 3 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santander de Quilichao | 109.1 |
| 2 | Quibdo | 84.2 |
| 3 | Cartago | 68.0 |
| 4 | Barrancabermeja | 65.6 |
| 5 | Jamundí | 63.4 |
| 6 | Ciénaga | 62.1 |
| 7 | Gudalajara de Buga | 58.0 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Cartago ranks 15 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Riohacha | +15.4 |
| 13 | Pitalito | +15.0 |
| 14 | Turbaco | +14.8 |
| 15 | Cartago | +12.8 |
| 16 | Santander de Quilichao | +12.5 |
| 17 | Malambo | +12.4 |
| 18 | Yopal | +11.4 |
More on Cartago: 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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