Poverty and living standards in Pereira, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Pereira at 15.1% in 2018, 31st 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 Pereira?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 13.1% in the urban centre of Pereira and 24.6% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 11.5 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 Pereira?
The most common household deprivations in Pereira in the 2018 census were informal employment (75.4% of households), low educational achievement (41.5%) and high economic dependency (24.7%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Pereira work informally?
In Pereira, 75.4% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 20th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.6% had child labour and 24.7% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Pereira live in overcrowded homes?
3.9% of households in Pereira lived in critical overcrowding, 0.7% had inadequate floors and 3.1% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was joint 4th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Pereira lack clean water?
In Pereira, 1.4% of households had no improved water source and 2.2% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 18th 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 Pereira?
The National Police recorded 206 homicide victims in Pereira in 2025, a rate of 42.3 per 100,000 residents, 14th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 26.3 per 100,000, 124 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Pereira?
Homicide victims in Pereira numbered 115 in 2023, 149 in 2024 and 206 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 32.2 per 100,000, 23rd highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Pereira each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Pereira was highest in 2025 (206) and lowest in 2020 (106).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Pereira?
Women and girls were 8.7% of the 1,485 homicide victims recorded in Pereira over 2015-2025 (129 victims); in 2025 they numbered 22.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Pereira gone up?
The homicide rate in Pereira was 42.3 per 100,000 in 2025 against 26.3 in 2019, a change of +16.0, 11th largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Pereira compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Pereira ranks 44 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Piedecuesta | 16.2% |
| 42 | Villavicencio | 15.9% |
| 43 | Yumbo | 15.6% |
| 44 | Pereira | 15.1% |
| 45 | Jamundí | 14.9% |
| 46 | Ibagué | 14.8% |
| 47 | Armenia | 14.4% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Pereira ranks 55 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | Gudalajara de Buga | 76.9% |
| 53 | Floridablanca | 76.3% |
| 54 | Yumbo | 76.0% |
| 55 | Pereira | 75.4% |
| 56 | Cali | 75.3% |
| 57 | Tunja | 75.3% |
| 58 | Dosquebradas | 75.2% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Pereira ranks 70 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 67 | Cajicá | 4.1% |
| 68 | Sogamoso | 4.0% |
| 69 | Duitama | 4.0% |
| 70 | Pereira | 3.9% |
| 71 | Rionegro | 3.9% |
| 72 | Dosquebradas | 3.7% |
| 73 | Palmira | 3.0% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Pereira ranks 53 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Tuluá | +12.9 |
| 51 | Zipaquirá | +12.9 |
| 52 | Turbo | +12.2 |
| 53 | Pereira | +11.5 |
| 54 | Floridablanca | +11.5 |
| 55 | Villavicencio | +11.5 |
| 56 | Gudalajara de Buga | +11.4 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Pereira ranks 14 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Cali | 46.9 |
| 12 | Tuluá | 44.4 |
| 13 | Cúcuta | 43.4 |
| 14 | Pereira | 42.3 |
| 15 | Buenaventura | 39.5 |
| 16 | Dosquebradas | 38.6 |
| 17 | Yumbo | 38.2 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Pereira ranks 23 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Ipiales | 34.0 |
| 21 | Barranquilla | 33.8 |
| 22 | Santa Marta | 32.7 |
| 23 | Pereira | 32.2 |
| 24 | Aguachica | 31.5 |
| 25 | Arauca | 31.3 |
| 26 | Soledad | 31.2 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Pereira ranks 11 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Girardot | +16.5 |
| 9 | Cúcuta | +16.3 |
| 10 | Rionegro | +16.1 |
| 11 | Pereira | +16.0 |
| 12 | Riohacha | +15.4 |
| 13 | Pitalito | +15.0 |
| 14 | Turbaco | +14.8 |
More on Pereira: 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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