Poverty and living standards in Pasto, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Pasto at 16.3% in 2018, 35th 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 Pasto?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 12.4% in the urban centre of Pasto and 30.1% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 17.7 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 Pasto?
The most common household deprivations in Pasto in the 2018 census were informal employment (81.8% of households), low educational achievement (41.0%) and high economic dependency (26.4%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Pasto work informally?
In Pasto, 81.8% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 34th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.8% had child labour and 26.4% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Pasto live in overcrowded homes?
8.8% of households in Pasto lived in critical overcrowding, 2.3% had inadequate floors and 0.5% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 32nd highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Pasto lack clean water?
In Pasto, 1.5% of households had no improved water source and 2.8% 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 Pasto?
The National Police recorded 42 homicide victims in Pasto in 2025, a rate of 10.4 per 100,000 residents, 16th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 13.4 per 100,000, 53 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Pasto?
Homicide victims in Pasto numbered 41 in 2023, 32 in 2024 and 42 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 9.5 per 100,000, 12th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Pasto each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Pasto was highest in 2016 (64) and lowest in 2024 (32).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Pasto?
Women and girls were 10.2% of the 541 homicide victims recorded in Pasto over 2015-2025 (55 victims); in 2025 they numbered 7.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Pasto gone up?
The homicide rate in Pasto was 10.4 per 100,000 in 2025 against 13.4 in 2019, a change of -3.0, 17th largest fall of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Pasto compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Pasto ranks 40 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Barranquilla | 17.4% |
| 38 | Cartago | 16.6% |
| 39 | Girón | 16.5% |
| 40 | Pasto | 16.3% |
| 41 | Piedecuesta | 16.2% |
| 42 | Villavicencio | 15.9% |
| 43 | Yumbo | 15.6% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Pasto ranks 34 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Los Patios | 83.4% |
| 32 | Turbaco | 83.2% |
| 33 | Villavicencio | 82.3% |
| 34 | Pasto | 81.8% |
| 35 | Popayán | 81.4% |
| 36 | Cartago | 81.3% |
| 37 | Fusagasugá | 80.7% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Pasto ranks 32 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Florencia | 10.7% |
| 30 | Buenaventura | 10.2% |
| 31 | Yopal | 10.0% |
| 32 | Pasto | 8.8% |
| 33 | San Andrés de Tumaco | 8.6% |
| 34 | Girón | 8.5% |
| 35 | Quibdo | 8.5% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Pasto ranks 37 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 39 | Jamundí | +17.5 |
| 40 | Magangué | +16.3 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Pasto ranks 59 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | Florencia | 11.3 |
| 57 | Fusagasugá | 11.3 |
| 58 | Sahagún | 10.8 |
| 59 | Pasto | 10.4 |
| 60 | Facatativá | 9.7 |
| 61 | Manizales | 7.8 |
| 62 | Bello | 7.6 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Pasto ranks 63 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | Montería | 10.4 |
| 61 | Fusagasugá | 10.0 |
| 62 | Lorica | 9.7 |
| 63 | Pasto | 9.5 |
| 64 | Bello | 8.5 |
| 65 | Sogamoso | 7.3 |
| 66 | Manizales | 7.1 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Pasto ranks 58 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | Gudalajara de Buga | -2.2 |
| 56 | Cali | -2.3 |
| 57 | Uribia | -2.7 |
| 58 | Pasto | -3.0 |
| 59 | Manizales | -4.6 |
| 60 | Tuluá | -6.2 |
| 61 | Sahagún | -6.5 |
More on Pasto: 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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