Poverty and living standards in Pitalito, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Pitalito at 33.7% in 2018, 16th 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 Pitalito?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 23.6% in the urban centre of Pitalito and 48.7% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 25.1 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 Pitalito?
The most common household deprivations in Pitalito in the 2018 census were informal employment (88.0% of households), low educational achievement (59.3%) and high economic dependency (37.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Pitalito work informally?
In Pitalito, 88.0% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, joint 17th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 2.9% had child labour and 37.0% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Pitalito live in overcrowded homes?
7.9% of households in Pitalito lived in critical overcrowding, 5.3% had inadequate floors and 2.2% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 37th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Pitalito lack clean water?
In Pitalito, 12.9% of households had no improved water source and 6.5% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 14th 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 Pitalito?
The National Police recorded 53 homicide victims in Pitalito in 2025, a rate of 37.0 per 100,000 residents, 18th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 22.0 per 100,000, 28 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Pitalito?
Homicide victims in Pitalito numbered 50 in 2023, 71 in 2024 and 53 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 41.2 per 100,000, 15th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Pitalito each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Pitalito was highest in 2024 (71) and lowest in 2015 (21).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Pitalito?
Women and girls were 6.9% of the 434 homicide victims recorded in Pitalito over 2015-2025 (30 victims); in 2025 they numbered 2.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Pitalito gone up?
The homicide rate in Pitalito was 37.0 per 100,000 in 2025 against 22.0 in 2019, a change of +15.0, 13th largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Pitalito compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Pitalito ranks 16 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Aguachica | 37.0% |
| 14 | Sabanalarga | 36.5% |
| 15 | Cereté | 34.4% |
| 16 | Pitalito | 33.7% |
| 17 | Ocaña | 31.4% |
| 18 | Valledupar | 30.5% |
| 19 | Sincelejo | 30.4% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Pitalito ranks 17 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Malambo | 88.5% |
| 15 | Villa del Rosario | 88.3% |
| 16 | Sincelejo | 88.2% |
| 17 | Pitalito | 88.0% |
| 18 | Cereté | 88.0% |
| 19 | Turbo | 87.6% |
| 20 | Aguachica | 87.6% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Pitalito ranks 37 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Girón | 8.5% |
| 35 | Quibdo | 8.5% |
| 36 | Girardot | 8.5% |
| 37 | Pitalito | 7.9% |
| 38 | Yumbo | 7.6% |
| 39 | Bucaramanga | 7.4% |
| 40 | Popayán | 7.4% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Pitalito ranks 19 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Tunja | +27.0 |
| 17 | Ipiales | +26.3 |
| 18 | Florencia | +26.1 |
| 19 | Pitalito | +25.1 |
| 20 | Ciénaga | +25.0 |
| 21 | Arauca | +24.6 |
| 22 | Sincelejo | +23.6 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Pitalito ranks 18 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Buenaventura | 39.5 |
| 16 | Dosquebradas | 38.6 |
| 17 | Yumbo | 38.2 |
| 18 | Pitalito | 37.0 |
| 19 | Cartagena | 35.6 |
| 20 | Ocaña | 35.4 |
| 21 | Armenia | 34.2 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Pitalito ranks 15 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 18 | Cartagena | 36.6 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Pitalito ranks 13 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Rionegro | +16.1 |
| 11 | Pereira | +16.0 |
| 12 | Riohacha | +15.4 |
| 13 | Pitalito | +15.0 |
| 14 | Turbaco | +14.8 |
| 15 | Cartago | +12.8 |
| 16 | Santander de Quilichao | +12.5 |
More on Pitalito: 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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