Poverty and living standards in Sincelejo, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Sincelejo at 30.4% in 2018, joint 19th 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 Sincelejo?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 28.1% in the urban centre of Sincelejo and 51.7% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 23.6 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 Sincelejo?
The most common household deprivations in Sincelejo in the 2018 census were informal employment (88.2% of households), low educational achievement (41.6%) and high economic dependency (39.0%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Sincelejo work informally?
In Sincelejo, 88.2% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 16th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.7% had child labour and 39.0% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Sincelejo live in overcrowded homes?
16.9% of households in Sincelejo lived in critical overcrowding, 11.4% had inadequate floors and 6.1% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 13th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Sincelejo lack clean water?
In Sincelejo, 8.4% of households had no improved water source and 7.8% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 25th 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 Sincelejo?
The National Police recorded 59 homicide victims in Sincelejo in 2025, a rate of 18.1 per 100,000 residents, 33rd lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 15.0 per 100,000, 43 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Sincelejo?
Homicide victims in Sincelejo numbered 153 in 2023, 57 in 2024 and 59 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 28.0 per 100,000, 30th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Sincelejo each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Sincelejo was highest in 2023 (153) and lowest in 2020 (39).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Sincelejo?
Women and girls were 5.4% of the 699 homicide victims recorded in Sincelejo over 2015-2025 (38 victims); in 2025 they numbered 3.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Sincelejo gone up?
The homicide rate in Sincelejo was 18.1 per 100,000 in 2025 against 15.0 in 2019, a change of +3.1, 35th largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Sincelejo compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Sincelejo ranks 19 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Pitalito | 33.7% |
| 17 | Ocaña | 31.4% |
| 18 | Valledupar | 30.5% |
| 19 | Sincelejo | 30.4% |
| 20 | Turbaco | 30.4% |
| 21 | Malambo | 30.0% |
| 22 | Florencia | 29.6% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Sincelejo ranks 16 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Quibdo | 88.6% |
| 14 | Malambo | 88.5% |
| 15 | Villa del Rosario | 88.3% |
| 16 | Sincelejo | 88.2% |
| 17 | Pitalito | 88.0% |
| 18 | Cereté | 88.0% |
| 19 | Turbo | 87.6% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Sincelejo ranks 13 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Cereté | 18.5% |
| 11 | Arauca | 18.1% |
| 12 | Magangué | 17.7% |
| 13 | Sincelejo | 16.9% |
| 14 | Malambo | 16.7% |
| 15 | Cúcuta | 16.4% |
| 16 | Sahagún | 16.3% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Sincelejo ranks 22 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Pitalito | +25.1 |
| 20 | Ciénaga | +25.0 |
| 21 | Arauca | +24.6 |
| 22 | Sincelejo | +23.6 |
| 23 | Lorica | +23.0 |
| 24 | Bogotá, D.C. | +22.6 |
| 25 | Bucaramanga | +21.9 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Sincelejo ranks 42 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Popayán | 20.4 |
| 40 | Magangué | 19.9 |
| 41 | Valledupar | 18.2 |
| 42 | Sincelejo | 18.1 |
| 43 | Piedecuesta | 16.7 |
| 44 | Ibagué | 15.9 |
| 45 | Arauca | 15.4 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Sincelejo ranks 30 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Turbo | 30.8 |
| 28 | Ocaña | 30.8 |
| 29 | Dosquebradas | 29.3 |
| 30 | Sincelejo | 28.0 |
| 31 | Armenia | 27.6 |
| 32 | Apartadó | 25.4 |
| 33 | Turbaco | 24.0 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Sincelejo ranks 35 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Facatativá | +3.5 |
| 33 | Funza | +3.3 |
| 34 | Madrid | +3.1 |
| 35 | Sincelejo | +3.1 |
| 36 | Neiva | +3.0 |
| 37 | Popayán | +2.9 |
| 38 | Chía | +2.5 |
More on Sincelejo: 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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