Poverty and living standards in Ciénaga, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Ciénaga at 44.6% in 2018, 7th 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 Ciénaga?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 41.7% in the urban centre of Ciénaga and 66.7% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 25.0 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 Ciénaga?
The most common household deprivations in Ciénaga in the 2018 census were informal employment (89.9% of households), low educational achievement (51.7%) and high economic dependency (44.6%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Ciénaga work informally?
In Ciénaga, 89.9% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 7th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 1.2% had child labour and 44.6% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Ciénaga live in overcrowded homes?
29.1% of households in Ciénaga lived in critical overcrowding, 15.2% had inadequate floors and 7.3% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 3rd highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Ciénaga lack clean water?
In Ciénaga, 15.7% of households had no improved water source and 31.8% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 12th 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 Ciénaga?
The National Police recorded 91 homicide victims in Ciénaga in 2025, a rate of 65.7 per 100,000 residents, 4th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 23.4 per 100,000, 29 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Ciénaga?
Homicide victims in Ciénaga numbered 68 in 2023, 96 in 2024 and 91 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 62.1 per 100,000, 6th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Ciénaga each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Ciénaga was highest in 2024 (96) and lowest in 2018 (17).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Ciénaga?
Women and girls were 7.3% of the 576 homicide victims recorded in Ciénaga over 2015-2025 (42 victims); in 2025 they numbered 5.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Ciénaga gone up?
The homicide rate in Ciénaga was 65.7 per 100,000 in 2025 against 23.4 in 2019, a change of +42.3, 2nd largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Ciénaga compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Ciénaga ranks 7 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Turbo | 49.9% |
| 5 | Magangué | 49.1% |
| 6 | Riohacha | 45.1% |
| 7 | Ciénaga | 44.6% |
| 8 | Quibdo | 44.4% |
| 9 | Lorica | 41.1% |
| 10 | Buenaventura | 41.0% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Ciénaga ranks 7 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Lorica | 92.6% |
| 5 | San Andrés de Tumaco | 91.6% |
| 6 | Sahagún | 90.9% |
| 7 | Ciénaga | 89.9% |
| 8 | Ipiales | 89.8% |
| 9 | Sabanalarga | 89.6% |
| 10 | Riohacha | 89.3% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Ciénaga ranks 3 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uribia | 43.2% |
| 2 | Maicao | 33.8% |
| 3 | Ciénaga | 29.1% |
| 4 | Riohacha | 25.1% |
| 5 | Aguachica | 21.2% |
| 6 | Valledupar | 19.5% |
| 7 | Santa Marta | 19.4% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Ciénaga ranks 20 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Ipiales | +26.3 |
| 18 | Florencia | +26.1 |
| 19 | Pitalito | +25.1 |
| 20 | Ciénaga | +25.0 |
| 21 | Arauca | +24.6 |
| 22 | Sincelejo | +23.6 |
| 23 | Lorica | +23.0 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Ciénaga ranks 4 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santander de Quilichao | 104.2 |
| 2 | Quibdo | 75.5 |
| 3 | Barrancabermeja | 70.4 |
| 4 | Ciénaga | 65.7 |
| 5 | Jamundí | 65.6 |
| 6 | Gudalajara de Buga | 53.7 |
| 7 | Palmira | 53.3 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Ciénaga ranks 6 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Cartago | 68.0 |
| 4 | Barrancabermeja | 65.6 |
| 5 | Jamundí | 63.4 |
| 6 | Ciénaga | 62.1 |
| 7 | Gudalajara de Buga | 58.0 |
| 8 | Girardot | 50.1 |
| 9 | Tuluá | 47.0 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Ciénaga ranks 2 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barrancabermeja | +50.7 |
| 2 | Ciénaga | +42.3 |
| 3 | Dosquebradas | +23.7 |
| 4 | Jamundí | +22.2 |
| 5 | Sabanalarga | +18.1 |
| 6 | Palmira | +17.7 |
| 7 | Cartagena | +17.6 |
More on Ciénaga: 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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