Santander de Quilichao: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Santander de Quilichao: DANE estimates the value added produced in Santander de Quilichao at COP 3.20 trillion in 2024 (provisional, current prices), 25th smallest of 74 Colombian cities on this site, 0.21% of the national total of COP 1550.97 trillion.
- Health in Santander de Quilichao: ADRES's affiliate register showed 117,013 people actively affiliated to the health system in Santander de Quilichao in October 2026 (37,221 contributory and 79,792 subsidised), equal to 89.5% of DANE's projected population, 23rd lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (the register counts people by municipality of affiliation, which can differ from where they live).
- Education in Santander de Quilichao: The Ministry of Education counted 20,981 children aged 5 to 16 in Santander de Quilichao in 2024, of whom 96.8% were enrolled in school (net coverage), 26th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site; the rate was 90.8% in 2019.
- Poverty and living standards in Santander de Quilichao: DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Santander de Quilichao at 23.8% in 2018, 29th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site; across all Colombian municipalities, weighted by population, the rate was 26.1%.
- Government budget and revenue in Santander de Quilichao: The Santander de Quilichao municipal government reported total revenue of COP 222.4 billion for 2025 to the Comptroller General's CUIPO system, 6th smallest of 74 Colombian cities on this site; that was up 18.9% on 2024 (COP 187.1 billion) and up 33.3% on 2023.
What is the population of Santander de Quilichao?
The municipality of Santander de Quilichao, in Cauca department, had a projected 130,768 residents in 2026 according to DANE, the national statistics office, 16th smallest of 74 Colombian cities on this site; the projection, based on the 2018 census, put it at 110,465 in 2018.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow fast is Santander de Quilichao growing?
Between 2018 and 2026 the projected population of Santander de Quilichao changed by +18.4%, 20th fastest growth of 74 Colombian cities on this site; Colombia as a whole grew 10.7%.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Santander de Quilichao live in the countryside?
DANE projects that 46.0% of Santander de Quilichao's residents in 2026, 60,193 people, live in the urban centre (cabecera municipal) and 70,575 in small settlements and dispersed rural areas, 4th least urban of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyWhat will the population of Santander de Quilichao be in 2035?
DANE projects the population of Santander de Quilichao to reach 149,296 in 2035 and 161,415 in 2042, up 23.4% on 2026 (Colombia, 2026 to 2042: up 4.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyIs the population of Santander de Quilichao growing?
In the year to mid-2026 the projected population of Santander de Quilichao changed by +1.73%, from 128,547 to 130,768.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyWho runs Santander de Quilichao?
In Colombia, cities and towns are run by municipalities and districts: Mayor (alcalde) and municipal council (concejo) directly elected for four years. Local services, planning, schools and health within national rules.
How local power works in Colombia
Cities of a similar size in Colombia
- Malambo 153,223
- Magangué 152,489
- Madrid 146,635
- Pitalito 145,949
- Cartago 144,206
- Quibdo 143,332
- Ocaña 139,932
- Ciénaga 139,759
- Sogamoso 138,796
- Aguachica 137,624
- Duitama 137,431
- Gudalajara de Buga 132,250
- Turbo 130,286
- Turbaco 129,703
- Villa del Rosario 127,234
- Cajicá 126,436
Up a level: all cities in Colombia · Colombia · government and power
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…)
- Contraloría General de la República: OVCF - CUIPO - Ejecución de ingresos: year-end cumulative revenue collected by each municipal government, 2023-2025 (datos.gov.co aggregate query; saved as cuipo.request.txt), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7255e8150122…)
- 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…)
- Ministerio de Educación Nacional (MinEducación): MEN estadísticas en educación en preescolar, básica y media por municipio, 2011-2024: net and gross coverage, dropout, approval, failure and repetition rates (datos.gov.co API response for the 74 municipalities; query saved as men-municipal-2011-2024.request.txt), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8de3c5ca5744…)
- Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE): Proyecciones de población municipal por área, 2018-2042 (based on the 2018 census, updated 30 July 2025), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1ea83594ad30…)
- Instituto Colombiano para la Evaluación de la Educación (ICFES): Resultados únicos Saber 11: average scores by municipality of the school and school type, 2019-4 and 2022-4 sittings (datos.gov.co aggregate query; saved as saber11.request.txt), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6b32c41e9323…)
- Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE): Valor agregado por municipio, base 2015, serie 2011-2024 provisional (current prices, thousands of millions of pesos; updated 3 July 2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 083bb4b8501d…)
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