Poverty and living standards in Popayán, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Popayán at 18.4% in 2018, 35th 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 Popayán?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 16.3% in the urban centre of Popayán and 29.4% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 13.1 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 Popayán?
The most common household deprivations in Popayán in the 2018 census were informal employment (81.4% of households), low educational achievement (37.8%) and high economic dependency (31.8%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Popayán work informally?
In Popayán, 81.4% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 35th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.6% had child labour and 31.8% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Popayán live in overcrowded homes?
7.4% of households in Popayán lived in critical overcrowding, 5.6% had inadequate floors and 6.1% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was joint 34th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Popayán lack clean water?
In Popayán, 3.1% of households had no improved water source and 5.4% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 30th 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 Popayán?
The National Police recorded 72 homicide victims in Popayán in 2025, a rate of 20.4 per 100,000 residents, 36th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 17.6 per 100,000, 57 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Popayán?
Homicide victims in Popayán numbered 71 in 2023, 60 in 2024 and 72 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 19.4 per 100,000, 33rd lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Popayán each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Popayán was highest in 2015 (85) and lowest in 2016 (57).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Popayán?
Women and girls were 8.6% of the 743 homicide victims recorded in Popayán over 2015-2025 (64 victims); in 2025 they numbered 5.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Popayán gone up?
The homicide rate in Popayán was 20.4 per 100,000 in 2025 against 17.6 in 2019, a change of +2.9, 37th largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Popayán compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Popayán ranks 35 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Los Patios | 21.4% |
| 33 | Cartagena | 19.9% |
| 34 | Soledad | 18.6% |
| 35 | Popayán | 18.4% |
| 36 | Neiva | 17.6% |
| 37 | Barranquilla | 17.4% |
| 38 | Cartago | 16.6% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Popayán ranks 35 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Turbaco | 83.2% |
| 33 | Villavicencio | 82.3% |
| 34 | Pasto | 81.8% |
| 35 | Popayán | 81.4% |
| 36 | Cartago | 81.3% |
| 37 | Fusagasugá | 80.7% |
| 38 | Barrancabermeja | 80.5% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Popayán ranks 40 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Pitalito | 7.9% |
| 38 | Yumbo | 7.6% |
| 39 | Bucaramanga | 7.4% |
| 40 | Popayán | 7.4% |
| 41 | Madrid | 7.4% |
| 42 | Neiva | 7.3% |
| 43 | Piedecuesta | 7.0% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Popayán ranks 49 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | Sogamoso | +14.1 |
| 47 | Apartadó | +14.0 |
| 48 | Itagüí | +13.8 |
| 49 | Popayán | +13.1 |
| 50 | Tuluá | +12.9 |
| 51 | Zipaquirá | +12.9 |
| 52 | Turbo | +12.2 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Popayán ranks 39 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Bucaramanga | 22.2 |
| 37 | Turbo | 21.5 |
| 38 | Neiva | 21.1 |
| 39 | Popayán | 20.4 |
| 40 | Magangué | 19.9 |
| 41 | Valledupar | 18.2 |
| 42 | Sincelejo | 18.1 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Popayán ranks 42 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Soacha | 20.8 |
| 40 | Maicao | 20.7 |
| 41 | Valledupar | 20.0 |
| 42 | Popayán | 19.4 |
| 43 | Magangué | 17.7 |
| 44 | Sabanalarga | 17.6 |
| 45 | Yopal | 17.5 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Popayán ranks 37 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Madrid | +3.1 |
| 35 | Sincelejo | +3.1 |
| 36 | Neiva | +3.0 |
| 37 | Popayán | +2.9 |
| 38 | Chía | +2.5 |
| 39 | Ibagué | +2.4 |
| 40 | Bucaramanga | +2.2 |
More on Popayán: 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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