Health in Medellín, Colombia: official figures
ADRES's affiliate register showed 2,877,575 people actively affiliated to the health system in Medellín in October 2026 (2,021,952 contributory and 855,623 subsidised), equal to 113.9% of DANE's projected population, 14th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (the register counts people by municipality of affiliation, which can differ from where they live).
How many people in Medellín are on subsidised health insurance?
29.7% of the active affiliates in Medellín were in the subsidised regime (state-funded, for people who cannot pay) in October 2026 and 70.3% in the contributory regime, 13th lowest subsidised share of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Administradora de los Recursos del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (ADRES) · saved copyHow many people in Medellín are in the contributory health regime?
Active contributory-regime affiliates in Medellín numbered 2,021,952 in October 2026, 80.0% of the projected population, 5th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all of Colombia: 22,925,559 contributory affiliates, 42.9% of the projected population).
Source: Administradora de los Recursos del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (ADRES) · saved copyHow many people in Medellín get state-funded health insurance?
Subsidised-regime affiliates in Medellín numbered 855,623 in October 2026, 33.9% of the projected population (all of Colombia: 27,017,440, 50.6%).
Source: Administradora de los Recursos del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (ADRES) · saved copyHow many people in Medellín had no health insurance in 2018?
In the 2018 census, 15.9% of households in Medellín had at least one member aged over five without health insurance, joint 19th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 17.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyIs it hard to get health care in Medellín?
2.6% of households in Medellín reported barriers to access to health services in the 2018 census, 10th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site, and 1.4% barriers to early-childhood care (children under six) (national: 4.4% and 2.3%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow Medellín compares with other cities in Colombia
Active health insurance affiliates as a share of 2026 projected population (ADRES BDUA, October 2026) (2026)
Medellín ranks 14 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Active health insurance affiliates as a share of 2026 projected population (ADRES BDUA, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Armenia | 118.6% |
| 12 | Villa del Rosario | 114.7% |
| 13 | Cúcuta | 114.3% |
| 14 | Medellín | 113.9% |
| 15 | Tunja | 109.2% |
| 16 | Pitalito | 108.4% |
| 17 | Cali | 108.2% |
Share of affiliates in the subsidised regime (BDUA, October 2026) (2026)
Medellín ranks 62 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Share of affiliates in the subsidised regime (BDUA, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 59 | Tunja | 33.8% |
| 60 | Soacha | 33.1% |
| 61 | Bello | 31.1% |
| 62 | Medellín | 29.7% |
| 63 | Facatativá | 27.5% |
| 64 | Mosquera | 26.5% |
| 65 | Manizales | 25.5% |
Contributory-regime affiliates as a share of 2026 projected population (2026)
Medellín ranks 5 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Contributory-regime affiliates as a share of 2026 projected population |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Chía | 90.0% |
| 3 | Girardot | 82.4% |
| 4 | Itagüí | 81.5% |
| 5 | Medellín | 80.0% |
| 6 | Zipaquirá | 78.3% |
| 7 | Pereira | 76.8% |
| 8 | Bucaramanga | 75.9% |
Households deprived: no health insurance, 2018 census (2018)
Medellín ranks 55 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: no health insurance, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | Chía | 16.2% |
| 53 | Ocaña | 16.0% |
| 54 | Yumbo | 16.0% |
| 55 | Medellín | 15.9% |
| 56 | Girardot | 15.9% |
| 57 | Madrid | 15.8% |
| 58 | Fusagasugá | 15.7% |
Households deprived: barriers to access to health services, 2018 census (2018)
Medellín ranks 65 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: barriers to access to health services, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | Montería | 2.8% |
| 63 | Villa del Rosario | 2.7% |
| 64 | Yumbo | 2.7% |
| 65 | Medellín | 2.6% |
| 66 | Cartagena | 2.5% |
| 67 | Jamundí | 2.4% |
| 68 | Fusagasugá | 2.4% |
More on Medellín: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in Colombia
Sources
- Administradora de los Recursos del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (ADRES): Base de Datos Única de Afiliados (BDUA), contributory regime: affiliates by municipality, October 2026 (datos.gov.co aggregate query; saved as bdua-contributivo.request.txt), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8a3f30af6e50…)
- Administradora de los Recursos del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (ADRES): Base de Datos Única de Afiliados (BDUA), subsidised regime: affiliates by municipality, October 2026 (datos.gov.co aggregate query; saved as bdua-subsidiado.request.txt), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 04b3a3bd7839…)
- 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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