Poverty and living standards in Medellín, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Medellín at 12.8% in 2018, 20th 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 Medellín?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 12.6% in the urban centre of Medellín and 22.9% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 10.3 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 Medellín?
The most common household deprivations in Medellín in the 2018 census were informal employment (71.0% of households), low educational achievement (35.2%) and high economic dependency (22.8%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Medellín work informally?
In Medellín, 71.0% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 13th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.5% had child labour and 22.8% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Medellín live in overcrowded homes?
5.4% of households in Medellín lived in critical overcrowding, 0.2% had inadequate floors and 0.7% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 22nd lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Medellín lack clean water?
In Medellín, 1.5% of households had no improved water source and 2.0% inadequate sanitation in 2018, joint 19th 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 Medellín?
The National Police recorded 333 homicide victims in Medellín in 2025, a rate of 13.2 per 100,000 residents, 22nd lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 23.5 per 100,000, 576 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Medellín?
Homicide victims in Medellín numbered 359 in 2023, 309 in 2024 and 333 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 13.2 per 100,000, 23rd lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Medellín each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Medellín was highest in 2018 (625) and lowest in 2024 (309).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Medellín?
Women and girls were 8.1% of the 4,898 homicide victims recorded in Medellín over 2015-2025 (397 victims); in 2025 they numbered 25.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Medellín gone up?
The homicide rate in Medellín was 13.2 per 100,000 in 2025 against 23.5 in 2019, a change of -10.3, 12th largest fall of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Medellín compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Medellín ranks 55 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | Tuluá | 13.7% |
| 53 | Dosquebradas | 13.7% |
| 54 | Girardot | 13.4% |
| 55 | Medellín | 12.8% |
| 56 | Gudalajara de Buga | 12.3% |
| 57 | Fusagasugá | 12.2% |
| 58 | Cali | 11.9% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Medellín ranks 62 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 59 | Apartadó | 74.6% |
| 60 | Soacha | 73.8% |
| 61 | Bello | 72.7% |
| 62 | Medellín | 71.0% |
| 63 | Manizales | 70.4% |
| 64 | Zipaquirá | 69.7% |
| 65 | Chía | 69.6% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Medellín ranks 53 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Mosquera | 5.8% |
| 51 | Bogotá, D.C. | 5.6% |
| 52 | Bello | 5.6% |
| 53 | Medellín | 5.4% |
| 54 | Floridablanca | 5.1% |
| 55 | Cali | 4.8% |
| 56 | Zipaquirá | 4.8% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Medellín ranks 58 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | Villavicencio | +11.5 |
| 56 | Gudalajara de Buga | +11.4 |
| 57 | Los Patios | +10.6 |
| 58 | Medellín | +10.3 |
| 59 | Cereté | +10.1 |
| 60 | Duitama | +9.9 |
| 61 | Funza | +9.8 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Medellín ranks 53 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Floridablanca | 14.3 |
| 51 | Girón | 14.2 |
| 52 | Madrid | 13.3 |
| 53 | Medellín | 13.2 |
| 54 | Mosquera | 11.7 |
| 55 | Funza | 11.5 |
| 56 | Florencia | 11.3 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Medellín ranks 52 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Cereté | 14.2 |
| 50 | Ibagué | 14.1 |
| 51 | Los Patios | 13.6 |
| 52 | Medellín | 13.2 |
| 53 | Piedecuesta | 13.2 |
| 54 | Florencia | 12.9 |
| 55 | Floridablanca | 12.7 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Medellín ranks 63 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | Tuluá | -6.2 |
| 61 | Sahagún | -6.5 |
| 62 | Itagüí | -9.8 |
| 63 | Medellín | -10.3 |
| 64 | Montería | -10.6 |
| 65 | Florencia | -13.3 |
| 66 | Cereté | -13.8 |
More on Medellín: 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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