Poverty and living standards in Palmira, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Palmira at 11.5% in 2018, 16th 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 Palmira?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 10.8% in the urban centre of Palmira and 13.8% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 3.0 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 Palmira?
The most common household deprivations in Palmira in the 2018 census were informal employment (78.9% of households), low educational achievement (40.3%) and high economic dependency (25.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Palmira work informally?
In Palmira, 78.9% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 30th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.4% had child labour and 25.0% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Palmira live in overcrowded homes?
3.0% of households in Palmira lived in critical overcrowding, 0.7% had inadequate floors and 0.4% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 2nd lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Palmira lack clean water?
In Palmira, 1.0% of households had no improved water source and 0.5% inadequate sanitation in 2018, joint 11th 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 Palmira?
The National Police recorded 203 homicide victims in Palmira in 2025, a rate of 53.3 per 100,000 residents, 7th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 35.6 per 100,000, 127 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Palmira?
Homicide victims in Palmira numbered 118 in 2023, 151 in 2024 and 203 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 41.6 per 100,000, 14th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Palmira each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Palmira was highest in 2025 (203) and lowest in 2022 (111).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Palmira?
Women and girls were 8.1% of the 1,633 homicide victims recorded in Palmira over 2015-2025 (133 victims); in 2025 they numbered 13.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Palmira gone up?
The homicide rate in Palmira was 53.3 per 100,000 in 2025 against 35.6 in 2019, a change of +17.7, 6th largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Palmira compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Palmira ranks 59 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | Gudalajara de Buga | 12.3% |
| 57 | Fusagasugá | 12.2% |
| 58 | Cali | 11.9% |
| 59 | Palmira | 11.5% |
| 60 | Tunja | 11.4% |
| 61 | Floridablanca | 11.0% |
| 62 | Itagüí | 10.9% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Palmira ranks 45 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Neiva | 79.4% |
| 43 | Sogamoso | 79.3% |
| 44 | Girón | 79.2% |
| 45 | Palmira | 78.9% |
| 46 | Ibagué | 78.7% |
| 47 | Girardot | 78.6% |
| 48 | Jamundí | 78.5% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Palmira ranks 73 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 68 | Sogamoso | 4.0% |
| 69 | Duitama | 4.0% |
| 70 | Pereira | 3.9% |
| 71 | Rionegro | 3.9% |
| 72 | Dosquebradas | 3.7% |
| 73 | Palmira | 3.0% |
| 74 | Envigado | 1.8% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Palmira ranks 68 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | Madrid | +6.9 |
| 66 | Cali | +5.3 |
| 67 | Envigado | +4.5 |
| 68 | Palmira | +3.0 |
| 69 | Rionegro | +2.8 |
| 70 | Barrancabermeja | +2.7 |
| 71 | Yumbo | +2.7 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Palmira ranks 7 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Ciénaga | 65.7 |
| 5 | Jamundí | 65.6 |
| 6 | Gudalajara de Buga | 53.7 |
| 7 | Palmira | 53.3 |
| 8 | Cartago | 52.2 |
| 9 | Girardot | 48.0 |
| 10 | Riohacha | 47.4 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Palmira ranks 14 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Cali | 44.2 |
| 12 | Malambo | 43.6 |
| 13 | Yumbo | 43.0 |
| 14 | Palmira | 41.6 |
| 15 | Pitalito | 41.2 |
| 16 | Cúcuta | 38.9 |
| 17 | Villa del Rosario | 38.4 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Palmira ranks 6 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Dosquebradas | +23.7 |
| 4 | Jamundí | +22.2 |
| 5 | Sabanalarga | +18.1 |
| 6 | Palmira | +17.7 |
| 7 | Cartagena | +17.6 |
| 8 | Girardot | +16.5 |
| 9 | Cúcuta | +16.3 |
More on Palmira: 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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