Poverty and living standards in Manizales, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Manizales at 13.9% in 2018, 24th 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 Manizales?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 12.7% in the urban centre of Manizales and 31.2% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 18.5 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 Manizales?
The most common household deprivations in Manizales in the 2018 census were informal employment (70.4% of households), low educational achievement (35.8%) and high economic dependency (22.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Manizales work informally?
In Manizales, 70.4% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 12th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.4% had child labour and 22.9% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Manizales live in overcrowded homes?
4.2% of households in Manizales lived in critical overcrowding, 1.6% had inadequate floors and 3.2% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 10th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Manizales lack clean water?
In Manizales, 3.6% of households had no improved water source and 4.2% inadequate sanitation in 2018, joint 33rd 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 Manizales?
The National Police recorded 37 homicide victims in Manizales in 2025, a rate of 7.8 per 100,000 residents, 14th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 12.5 per 100,000, 55 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Manizales?
Homicide victims in Manizales numbered 36 in 2023, 27 in 2024 and 37 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 7.1 per 100,000, 9th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Manizales each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Manizales was highest in 2015 (83) and lowest in 2024 (27).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Manizales?
Women and girls were 9.0% of the 590 homicide victims recorded in Manizales over 2015-2025 (53 victims); in 2025 they numbered 3.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Manizales gone up?
The homicide rate in Manizales was 7.8 per 100,000 in 2025 against 12.5 in 2019, a change of -4.6, 16th largest fall of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Manizales compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Manizales ranks 51 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | Bucaramanga | 14.2% |
| 49 | Bello | 14.2% |
| 50 | Soacha | 14.1% |
| 51 | Manizales | 13.9% |
| 52 | Tuluá | 13.7% |
| 53 | Dosquebradas | 13.7% |
| 54 | Girardot | 13.4% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Manizales ranks 63 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | Soacha | 73.8% |
| 61 | Bello | 72.7% |
| 62 | Medellín | 71.0% |
| 63 | Manizales | 70.4% |
| 64 | Zipaquirá | 69.7% |
| 65 | Chía | 69.6% |
| 66 | Bogotá, D.C. | 69.1% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Manizales ranks 65 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | Jamundí | 4.4% |
| 63 | Armenia | 4.3% |
| 64 | Cartago | 4.3% |
| 65 | Manizales | 4.2% |
| 66 | Tuluá | 4.1% |
| 67 | Cajicá | 4.1% |
| 68 | Sogamoso | 4.0% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Manizales ranks 35 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Cartagena | +18.7 |
| 33 | Girardot | +18.6 |
| 34 | Santa Marta | +18.5 |
| 35 | Manizales | +18.5 |
| 36 | Villa del Rosario | +17.8 |
| 37 | Pasto | +17.7 |
| 38 | San Andrés de Tumaco | +17.5 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Manizales ranks 61 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | Sahagún | 10.8 |
| 59 | Pasto | 10.4 |
| 60 | Facatativá | 9.7 |
| 61 | Manizales | 7.8 |
| 62 | Bello | 7.6 |
| 63 | Montería | 7.5 |
| 64 | Cereté | 7.4 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Manizales ranks 66 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 63 | Pasto | 9.5 |
| 64 | Bello | 8.5 |
| 65 | Sogamoso | 7.3 |
| 66 | Manizales | 7.1 |
| 67 | Duitama | 6.9 |
| 68 | Zipaquirá | 6.7 |
| 69 | Itagüí | 4.3 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Manizales ranks 59 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | Cali | -2.3 |
| 57 | Uribia | -2.7 |
| 58 | Pasto | -3.0 |
| 59 | Manizales | -4.6 |
| 60 | Tuluá | -6.2 |
| 61 | Sahagún | -6.5 |
| 62 | Itagüí | -9.8 |
More on Manizales: 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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