Poverty and living standards in Malambo, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Malambo at 30.0% in 2018, 21st 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 Malambo?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 29.1% in the urban centre of Malambo and 44.1% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 15.0 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 Malambo?
The most common household deprivations in Malambo in the 2018 census were informal employment (88.5% of households), low educational achievement (44.2%) and high economic dependency (41.3%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Malambo work informally?
In Malambo, 88.5% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 14th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.7% had child labour and 41.3% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Malambo live in overcrowded homes?
16.7% of households in Malambo lived in critical overcrowding, 3.0% had inadequate floors and 1.8% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 14th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Malambo lack clean water?
In Malambo, 6.2% of households had no improved water source and 14.3% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 33rd 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 Malambo?
The National Police recorded 45 homicide victims in Malambo in 2025, a rate of 29.7 per 100,000 residents, 26th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 17.3 per 100,000, 23 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Malambo?
Homicide victims in Malambo numbered 73 in 2023, 77 in 2024 and 45 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 43.6 per 100,000, 12th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Malambo each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Malambo was highest in 2024 (77) and lowest in 2015 (8).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Malambo?
Women and girls were 7.5% of the 440 homicide victims recorded in Malambo over 2015-2025 (33 victims); in 2025 they numbered 2.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Malambo gone up?
The homicide rate in Malambo was 29.7 per 100,000 in 2025 against 17.3 in 2019, a change of +12.4, 17th largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Malambo compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Malambo ranks 21 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Valledupar | 30.5% |
| 19 | Sincelejo | 30.4% |
| 20 | Turbaco | 30.4% |
| 21 | Malambo | 30.0% |
| 22 | Florencia | 29.6% |
| 23 | Apartadó | 28.0% |
| 24 | Montería | 27.1% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Malambo ranks 14 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Ocaña | 89.3% |
| 12 | Buenaventura | 88.6% |
| 13 | Quibdo | 88.6% |
| 14 | Malambo | 88.5% |
| 15 | Villa del Rosario | 88.3% |
| 16 | Sincelejo | 88.2% |
| 17 | Pitalito | 88.0% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Malambo ranks 14 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Arauca | 18.1% |
| 12 | Magangué | 17.7% |
| 13 | Sincelejo | 16.9% |
| 14 | Malambo | 16.7% |
| 15 | Cúcuta | 16.4% |
| 16 | Sahagún | 16.3% |
| 17 | Turbaco | 16.0% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Malambo ranks 44 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Santander de Quilichao | +16.0 |
| 42 | Neiva | +15.9 |
| 43 | Dosquebradas | +15.3 |
| 44 | Malambo | +15.0 |
| 45 | Mosquera | +14.4 |
| 46 | Sogamoso | +14.1 |
| 47 | Apartadó | +14.0 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Malambo ranks 26 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Villa del Rosario | 33.4 |
| 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 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Malambo ranks 12 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Tuluá | 47.0 |
| 10 | Riohacha | 45.1 |
| 11 | Cali | 44.2 |
| 12 | Malambo | 43.6 |
| 13 | Yumbo | 43.0 |
| 14 | Palmira | 41.6 |
| 15 | Pitalito | 41.2 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Malambo ranks 17 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Turbaco | +14.8 |
| 15 | Cartago | +12.8 |
| 16 | Santander de Quilichao | +12.5 |
| 17 | Malambo | +12.4 |
| 18 | Yopal | +11.4 |
| 19 | Armenia | +11.4 |
| 20 | Barranquilla | +11.2 |
More on Malambo: 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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