Poverty and living standards in Maicao, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Maicao at 60.0% in 2018, 2nd 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 Maicao?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 41.4% in the urban centre of Maicao and 88.9% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 47.5 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 Maicao?
The most common household deprivations in Maicao in the 2018 census were informal employment (95.3% of households), low educational achievement (60.2%) and high economic dependency (56.3%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Maicao work informally?
In Maicao, 95.3% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 2nd highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 1.5% had child labour and 56.3% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Maicao live in overcrowded homes?
33.8% of households in Maicao lived in critical overcrowding, 38.2% had inadequate floors and 21.0% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 2nd highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Maicao lack clean water?
In Maicao, 52.6% of households had no improved water source and 53.4% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 4th 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 Maicao?
The National Police recorded 63 homicide victims in Maicao in 2025, a rate of 29.5 per 100,000 residents, 27th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 44.8 per 100,000, 80 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Maicao?
Homicide victims in Maicao numbered 35 in 2023, 32 in 2024 and 63 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 20.7 per 100,000, 35th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Maicao each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Maicao was highest in 2018 (102) and lowest in 2024 (32).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Maicao?
Women and girls were 6.6% of the 771 homicide victims recorded in Maicao over 2015-2025 (51 victims); in 2025 they numbered 5.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Maicao gone up?
The homicide rate in Maicao was 29.5 per 100,000 in 2025 against 44.8 in 2019, a change of -15.3, 8th largest fall of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Maicao compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Maicao ranks 2 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uribia | 92.2% |
| 2 | Maicao | 60.0% |
| 3 | San Andrés de Tumaco | 53.7% |
| 4 | Turbo | 49.9% |
| 5 | Magangué | 49.1% |
| 6 | Riohacha | 45.1% |
| 7 | Ciénaga | 44.6% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Maicao ranks 2 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uribia | 97.1% |
| 2 | Maicao | 95.3% |
| 3 | Magangué | 93.4% |
| 4 | Lorica | 92.6% |
| 5 | San Andrés de Tumaco | 91.6% |
| 6 | Sahagún | 90.9% |
| 7 | Ciénaga | 89.9% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Maicao ranks 2 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)
Maicao ranks 2 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soledad | +63.2 |
| 2 | Maicao | +47.5 |
| 3 | Riohacha | +43.7 |
| 4 | Barranquilla | +38.3 |
| 5 | Quibdo | +37.6 |
| 6 | Valledupar | +35.4 |
| 7 | Uribia | +34.0 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Maicao ranks 27 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Aguachica | 32.6 |
| 25 | Turbaco | 32.2 |
| 26 | Malambo | 29.7 |
| 27 | Maicao | 29.5 |
| 28 | Santa Marta | 29.2 |
| 29 | Soledad | 28.9 |
| 30 | Ipiales | 28.7 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Maicao ranks 40 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Neiva | 21.9 |
| 38 | Bucaramanga | 21.2 |
| 39 | Soacha | 20.8 |
| 40 | Maicao | 20.7 |
| 41 | Valledupar | 20.0 |
| 42 | Popayán | 19.4 |
| 43 | Magangué | 17.7 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Maicao ranks 67 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 64 | Montería | -10.6 |
| 65 | Florencia | -13.3 |
| 66 | Cereté | -13.8 |
| 67 | Maicao | -15.3 |
| 68 | Lorica | -15.8 |
| 69 | Bello | -17.3 |
| 70 | Arauca | -21.5 |
More on Maicao: 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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