Poverty and living standards in Riohacha, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Riohacha at 45.1% in 2018, 6th 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 Riohacha?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 31.3% in the urban centre of Riohacha and 75.0% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 43.7 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 Riohacha?
The most common household deprivations in Riohacha in the 2018 census were informal employment (89.3% of households), low educational achievement (48.3%) and high economic dependency (45.2%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Riohacha work informally?
In Riohacha, 89.3% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, joint 10th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 2.0% had child labour and 45.2% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Riohacha live in overcrowded homes?
25.1% of households in Riohacha lived in critical overcrowding, 26.6% had inadequate floors and 14.1% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 4th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Riohacha lack clean water?
In Riohacha, 23.8% of households had no improved water source and 38.0% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 7th 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 Riohacha?
The National Police recorded 100 homicide victims in Riohacha in 2025, a rate of 47.4 per 100,000 residents, 10th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 32.0 per 100,000, 62 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Riohacha?
Homicide victims in Riohacha numbered 70 in 2023, 113 in 2024 and 100 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 45.1 per 100,000, 10th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Riohacha each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Riohacha was highest in 2024 (113) and lowest in 2022 (47).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Riohacha?
Women and girls were 6.0% of the 715 homicide victims recorded in Riohacha over 2015-2025 (43 victims); in 2025 they numbered 7.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Riohacha gone up?
The homicide rate in Riohacha was 47.4 per 100,000 in 2025 against 32.0 in 2019, a change of +15.4, 12th largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Riohacha compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Riohacha ranks 6 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | San Andrés de Tumaco | 53.7% |
| 4 | Turbo | 49.9% |
| 5 | Magangué | 49.1% |
| 6 | Riohacha | 45.1% |
| 7 | Ciénaga | 44.6% |
| 8 | Quibdo | 44.4% |
| 9 | Lorica | 41.1% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Riohacha ranks 10 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Ciénaga | 89.9% |
| 8 | Ipiales | 89.8% |
| 9 | Sabanalarga | 89.6% |
| 10 | Riohacha | 89.3% |
| 11 | Ocaña | 89.3% |
| 12 | Buenaventura | 88.6% |
| 13 | Quibdo | 88.6% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Riohacha ranks 4 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uribia | 43.2% |
| 2 | Maicao | 33.8% |
| 3 | Ciénaga | 29.1% |
| 4 | Riohacha | 25.1% |
| 5 | Aguachica | 21.2% |
| 6 | Valledupar | 19.5% |
| 7 | Santa Marta | 19.4% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Riohacha ranks 3 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soledad | +63.2 |
| 2 | Maicao | +47.5 |
| 3 | Riohacha | +43.7 |
| 4 | Barranquilla | +38.3 |
| 5 | Quibdo | +37.6 |
| 6 | Valledupar | +35.4 |
| 7 | Uribia | +34.0 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Riohacha ranks 10 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Palmira | 53.3 |
| 8 | Cartago | 52.2 |
| 9 | Girardot | 48.0 |
| 10 | Riohacha | 47.4 |
| 11 | Cali | 46.9 |
| 12 | Tuluá | 44.4 |
| 13 | Cúcuta | 43.4 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Riohacha ranks 10 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Gudalajara de Buga | 58.0 |
| 8 | Girardot | 50.1 |
| 9 | Tuluá | 47.0 |
| 10 | Riohacha | 45.1 |
| 11 | Cali | 44.2 |
| 12 | Malambo | 43.6 |
| 13 | Yumbo | 43.0 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Riohacha ranks 12 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Cúcuta | +16.3 |
| 10 | Rionegro | +16.1 |
| 11 | Pereira | +16.0 |
| 12 | Riohacha | +15.4 |
| 13 | Pitalito | +15.0 |
| 14 | Turbaco | +14.8 |
| 15 | Cartago | +12.8 |
More on Riohacha: 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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