Poverty and living standards in Cúcuta, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Cúcuta at 25.7% in 2018, 26th 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 Cúcuta?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 25.0% in the urban centre of Cúcuta and 44.1% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 19.1 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 Cúcuta?
The most common household deprivations in Cúcuta in the 2018 census were informal employment (87.0% of households), low educational achievement (46.7%) and high economic dependency (34.3%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Cúcuta work informally?
In Cúcuta, 87.0% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 23rd highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 1.1% had child labour and 34.3% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Cúcuta live in overcrowded homes?
16.4% of households in Cúcuta lived in critical overcrowding, 3.6% had inadequate floors and 6.1% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 15th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Cúcuta lack clean water?
In Cúcuta, 3.9% of households had no improved water source and 5.8% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 37th 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 Cúcuta?
The National Police recorded 344 homicide victims in Cúcuta in 2025, a rate of 43.4 per 100,000 residents, 13th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 27.0 per 100,000, 199 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Cúcuta?
Homicide victims in Cúcuta numbered 288 in 2023, 291 in 2024 and 344 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 38.9 per 100,000, 16th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Cúcuta each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Cúcuta was highest in 2025 (344) and lowest in 2015 (176).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Cúcuta?
Women and girls were 8.4% of the 2,750 homicide victims recorded in Cúcuta over 2015-2025 (232 victims); in 2025 they numbered 30.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Cúcuta gone up?
The homicide rate in Cúcuta was 43.4 per 100,000 in 2025 against 27.0 in 2019, a change of +16.3, 9th largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Cúcuta compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Cúcuta ranks 26 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Apartadó | 28.0% |
| 24 | Montería | 27.1% |
| 25 | Barrancabermeja | 26.4% |
| 26 | Cúcuta | 25.7% |
| 27 | Villa del Rosario | 24.6% |
| 28 | Santa Marta | 24.4% |
| 29 | Santander de Quilichao | 23.8% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Cúcuta ranks 23 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Aguachica | 87.6% |
| 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% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Cúcuta ranks 15 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Magangué | 17.7% |
| 13 | Sincelejo | 16.9% |
| 14 | Malambo | 16.7% |
| 15 | Cúcuta | 16.4% |
| 16 | Sahagún | 16.3% |
| 17 | Turbaco | 16.0% |
| 18 | Lorica | 15.6% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Cúcuta ranks 30 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Soacha | +21.1 |
| 28 | Piedecuesta | +20.6 |
| 29 | Yopal | +19.4 |
| 30 | Cúcuta | +19.1 |
| 31 | Girón | +18.8 |
| 32 | Cartagena | +18.7 |
| 33 | Girardot | +18.6 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Cúcuta ranks 13 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Riohacha | 47.4 |
| 11 | Cali | 46.9 |
| 12 | Tuluá | 44.4 |
| 13 | Cúcuta | 43.4 |
| 14 | Pereira | 42.3 |
| 15 | Buenaventura | 39.5 |
| 16 | Dosquebradas | 38.6 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Cúcuta ranks 16 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Yumbo | 43.0 |
| 14 | Palmira | 41.6 |
| 15 | Pitalito | 41.2 |
| 16 | Cúcuta | 38.9 |
| 17 | Villa del Rosario | 38.4 |
| 18 | Cartagena | 36.6 |
| 19 | Buenaventura | 35.1 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Cúcuta ranks 9 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Palmira | +17.7 |
| 7 | Cartagena | +17.6 |
| 8 | Girardot | +16.5 |
| 9 | Cúcuta | +16.3 |
| 10 | Rionegro | +16.1 |
| 11 | Pereira | +16.0 |
| 12 | Riohacha | +15.4 |
More on Cúcuta: 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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