Health in Santa Marta, Colombia: official figures
ADRES's affiliate register showed 586,000 people actively affiliated to the health system in Santa Marta in October 2026 (242,781 contributory and 343,219 subsidised), equal to 99.5% of DANE's projected population, 30th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (the register counts people by municipality of affiliation, which can differ from where they live).
How many people in Santa Marta are on subsidised health insurance?
58.6% of the active affiliates in Santa Marta were in the subsidised regime (state-funded, for people who cannot pay) in October 2026 and 41.4% in the contributory regime, 29th highest subsidised share of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Administradora de los Recursos del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (ADRES) · saved copyHow many people in Santa Marta are in the contributory health regime?
Active contributory-regime affiliates in Santa Marta numbered 242,781 in October 2026, 41.2% of the projected population, 32nd lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all of Colombia: 22,925,559 contributory affiliates, 42.9% of the projected population).
Source: Administradora de los Recursos del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (ADRES) · saved copyHow many people in Santa Marta get state-funded health insurance?
Subsidised-regime affiliates in Santa Marta numbered 343,219 in October 2026, 58.3% of the projected population (all of Colombia: 27,017,440, 50.6%).
Source: Administradora de los Recursos del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (ADRES) · saved copyHow many people in Santa Marta had no health insurance in 2018?
In the 2018 census, 16.5% of households in Santa Marta had at least one member aged over five without health insurance, joint 27th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 17.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyIs it hard to get health care in Santa Marta?
3.7% of households in Santa Marta reported barriers to access to health services in the 2018 census, joint 30th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site, and 2.5% barriers to early-childhood care (children under six) (national: 4.4% and 2.3%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow Santa Marta compares with other cities in Colombia
Active health insurance affiliates as a share of 2026 projected population (ADRES BDUA, October 2026) (2026)
Santa Marta ranks 30 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Active health insurance affiliates as a share of 2026 projected population (ADRES BDUA, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Gudalajara de Buga | 101.6% |
| 28 | Sincelejo | 101.1% |
| 29 | Neiva | 99.6% |
| 30 | Santa Marta | 99.5% |
| 31 | Yopal | 98.3% |
| 32 | Facatativá | 98.3% |
| 33 | Quibdo | 97.9% |
Share of affiliates in the subsidised regime (BDUA, October 2026) (2026)
Santa Marta ranks 29 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Share of affiliates in the subsidised regime (BDUA, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Valledupar | 64.7% |
| 27 | Montería | 63.4% |
| 28 | Turbaco | 60.9% |
| 29 | Santa Marta | 58.6% |
| 30 | Pasto | 57.8% |
| 31 | Cartagena | 56.8% |
| 32 | Popayán | 55.5% |
Contributory-regime affiliates as a share of 2026 projected population (2026)
Santa Marta ranks 43 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Contributory-regime affiliates as a share of 2026 projected population |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Jamundí | 44.0% |
| 41 | Pasto | 43.0% |
| 42 | Popayán | 41.7% |
| 43 | Santa Marta | 41.2% |
| 44 | Mosquera | 41.1% |
| 45 | Cúcuta | 38.6% |
| 46 | Girón | 37.8% |
Households deprived: no health insurance, 2018 census (2018)
Santa Marta ranks 46 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: no health insurance, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | Envigado | 17.0% |
| 44 | Turbo | 16.8% |
| 45 | Mosquera | 16.7% |
| 46 | Santa Marta | 16.5% |
| 47 | Sincelejo | 16.5% |
| 48 | Lorica | 16.5% |
| 49 | Montería | 16.4% |
Households deprived: barriers to access to health services, 2018 census (2018)
Santa Marta ranks 44 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: barriers to access to health services, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Cajicá | 3.9% |
| 42 | Neiva | 3.8% |
| 43 | Villavicencio | 3.7% |
| 44 | Santa Marta | 3.7% |
| 45 | Duitama | 3.7% |
| 46 | Dosquebradas | 3.6% |
| 47 | Sahagún | 3.6% |
More on Santa Marta: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in Colombia
Sources
- Administradora de los Recursos del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (ADRES): Base de Datos Única de Afiliados (BDUA), contributory regime: affiliates by municipality, October 2026 (datos.gov.co aggregate query; saved as bdua-contributivo.request.txt), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8a3f30af6e50…)
- Administradora de los Recursos del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (ADRES): Base de Datos Única de Afiliados (BDUA), subsidised regime: affiliates by municipality, October 2026 (datos.gov.co aggregate query; saved as bdua-subsidiado.request.txt), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 04b3a3bd7839…)
- 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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