Poverty and living standards in Sabanalarga, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Sabanalarga at 36.5% in 2018, 14th 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 Sabanalarga?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 29.4% in the urban centre of Sabanalarga and 57.4% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 28.0 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 Sabanalarga?
The most common household deprivations in Sabanalarga in the 2018 census were informal employment (89.6% of households), high economic dependency (47.4%) and low educational achievement (46.7%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Sabanalarga work informally?
In Sabanalarga, 89.6% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 9th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.6% had child labour and 47.4% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Sabanalarga live in overcrowded homes?
18.8% of households in Sabanalarga lived in critical overcrowding, 6.3% had inadequate floors and 4.5% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 9th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Sabanalarga lack clean water?
In Sabanalarga, 11.6% of households had no improved water source and 15.0% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 19th 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 Sabanalarga?
The National Police recorded 30 homicide victims in Sabanalarga in 2025, a rate of 28.5 per 100,000 residents, 31st highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 10.5 per 100,000, 10 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Sabanalarga?
Homicide victims in Sabanalarga numbered 8 in 2023, 17 in 2024 and 30 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 17.6 per 100,000, 31st lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Sabanalarga each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Sabanalarga was highest in 2025 (30) and lowest in 2017 (4).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Sabanalarga?
Women and girls were 10.1% of the 149 homicide victims recorded in Sabanalarga over 2015-2025 (15 victims); in 2025 they numbered 3.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Sabanalarga gone up?
The homicide rate in Sabanalarga was 28.5 per 100,000 in 2025 against 10.5 in 2019, a change of +18.1, 5th largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Sabanalarga compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Sabanalarga ranks 14 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Sahagún | 40.4% |
| 12 | Arauca | 38.6% |
| 13 | Aguachica | 37.0% |
| 14 | Sabanalarga | 36.5% |
| 15 | Cereté | 34.4% |
| 16 | Pitalito | 33.7% |
| 17 | Ocaña | 31.4% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Sabanalarga ranks 9 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Sahagún | 90.9% |
| 7 | Ciénaga | 89.9% |
| 8 | Ipiales | 89.8% |
| 9 | Sabanalarga | 89.6% |
| 10 | Riohacha | 89.3% |
| 11 | Ocaña | 89.3% |
| 12 | Buenaventura | 88.6% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Sabanalarga ranks 9 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Valledupar | 19.5% |
| 7 | Santa Marta | 19.4% |
| 8 | Villa del Rosario | 18.9% |
| 9 | Sabanalarga | 18.8% |
| 10 | Cereté | 18.5% |
| 11 | Arauca | 18.1% |
| 12 | Magangué | 17.7% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Sabanalarga ranks 15 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Ocaña | +29.0 |
| 13 | Aguachica | +28.9 |
| 14 | Sahagún | +28.0 |
| 15 | Sabanalarga | +28.0 |
| 16 | Tunja | +27.0 |
| 17 | Ipiales | +26.3 |
| 18 | Florencia | +26.1 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Sabanalarga ranks 31 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Santa Marta | 29.2 |
| 29 | Soledad | 28.9 |
| 30 | Ipiales | 28.7 |
| 31 | Sabanalarga | 28.5 |
| 32 | Villavicencio | 26.7 |
| 33 | Yopal | 23.5 |
| 34 | Rionegro | 23.3 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Sabanalarga ranks 44 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Valledupar | 20.0 |
| 42 | Popayán | 19.4 |
| 43 | Magangué | 17.7 |
| 44 | Sabanalarga | 17.6 |
| 45 | Yopal | 17.5 |
| 46 | Girón | 15.1 |
| 47 | Bogotá, D.C. | 14.7 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Sabanalarga ranks 5 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Ciénaga | +42.3 |
| 3 | Dosquebradas | +23.7 |
| 4 | Jamundí | +22.2 |
| 5 | Sabanalarga | +18.1 |
| 6 | Palmira | +17.7 |
| 7 | Cartagena | +17.6 |
| 8 | Girardot | +16.5 |
More on Sabanalarga: 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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