Poverty and living standards in Ocaña, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Ocaña at 31.4% in 2018, 17th 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 Ocaña?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 28.4% in the urban centre of Ocaña and 57.4% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 29.0 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 Ocaña?
The most common household deprivations in Ocaña in the 2018 census were informal employment (89.3% of households), low educational achievement (54.1%) and high economic dependency (33.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Ocaña work informally?
In Ocaña, 89.3% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, joint 10th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 2.2% had child labour and 33.9% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Ocaña live in overcrowded homes?
10.9% of households in Ocaña lived in critical overcrowding, 4.0% had inadequate floors and 1.9% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 28th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Ocaña lack clean water?
In Ocaña, 7.0% of households had no improved water source and 7.2% inadequate sanitation in 2018, joint 28th 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 Ocaña?
The National Police recorded 49 homicide victims in Ocaña in 2025, a rate of 35.4 per 100,000 residents, 20th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 30.3 per 100,000, 37 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Ocaña?
Homicide victims in Ocaña numbered 49 in 2023, 28 in 2024 and 49 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 30.8 per 100,000, 28th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Ocaña each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Ocaña was highest in 2021 (51) and lowest in 2015 (24).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Ocaña?
Women and girls were 6.0% of the 417 homicide victims recorded in Ocaña over 2015-2025 (25 victims); in 2025 they numbered 1.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Ocaña gone up?
The homicide rate in Ocaña was 35.4 per 100,000 in 2025 against 30.3 in 2019, a change of +5.1, 28th largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Ocaña compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Ocaña ranks 17 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Sabanalarga | 36.5% |
| 15 | Cereté | 34.4% |
| 16 | Pitalito | 33.7% |
| 17 | Ocaña | 31.4% |
| 18 | Valledupar | 30.5% |
| 19 | Sincelejo | 30.4% |
| 20 | Turbaco | 30.4% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Ocaña ranks 11 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Ipiales | 89.8% |
| 9 | Sabanalarga | 89.6% |
| 10 | Riohacha | 89.3% |
| 11 | Ocaña | 89.3% |
| 12 | Buenaventura | 88.6% |
| 13 | Quibdo | 88.6% |
| 14 | Malambo | 88.5% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Ocaña ranks 28 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Turbo | 12.7% |
| 26 | Soledad | 12.5% |
| 27 | Ipiales | 11.7% |
| 28 | Ocaña | 10.9% |
| 29 | Florencia | 10.7% |
| 30 | Buenaventura | 10.2% |
| 31 | Yopal | 10.0% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Ocaña ranks 12 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Buenaventura | +31.8 |
| 10 | Ibagué | +29.7 |
| 11 | Turbaco | +29.4 |
| 12 | Ocaña | +29.0 |
| 13 | Aguachica | +28.9 |
| 14 | Sahagún | +28.0 |
| 15 | Sabanalarga | +28.0 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Ocaña ranks 20 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Yumbo | 38.2 |
| 18 | Pitalito | 37.0 |
| 19 | Cartagena | 35.6 |
| 20 | Ocaña | 35.4 |
| 21 | Armenia | 34.2 |
| 22 | Barranquilla | 33.5 |
| 23 | Villa del Rosario | 33.4 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Ocaña ranks 28 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Arauca | 31.3 |
| 26 | Soledad | 31.2 |
| 27 | Turbo | 30.8 |
| 28 | Ocaña | 30.8 |
| 29 | Dosquebradas | 29.3 |
| 30 | Sincelejo | 28.0 |
| 31 | Armenia | 27.6 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Ocaña ranks 28 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Soledad | +7.1 |
| 26 | Mosquera | +6.6 |
| 27 | Quibdo | +6.1 |
| 28 | Ocaña | +5.1 |
| 29 | Santa Marta | +5.0 |
| 30 | Aguachica | +4.6 |
| 31 | Buenaventura | +3.9 |
More on Ocaña: 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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