Poverty and living standards in Soacha, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Soacha at 14.1% in 2018, 25th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site; across all Colombian municipalities, weighted by population, the rate was 26.1%.
Is poverty higher in rural Soacha?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 13.9% in the urban centre of Soacha and 35.0% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 21.1 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 Soacha?
The most common household deprivations in Soacha in the 2018 census were informal employment (73.8% of households), low educational achievement (35.2%) and high economic dependency (22.3%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Soacha work informally?
In Soacha, 73.8% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 15th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.8% had child labour and 22.3% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Soacha live in overcrowded homes?
6.4% of households in Soacha lived in critical overcrowding, 1.0% had inadequate floors and 1.1% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was joint 29th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Soacha lack clean water?
In Soacha, 6.5% of households had no improved water source and 7.6% inadequate sanitation in 2018, joint 31st 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 Soacha?
The National Police recorded 193 homicide victims in Soacha in 2025, a rate of 22.2 per 100,000 residents, 35th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 21.9 per 100,000, 152 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Soacha?
Homicide victims in Soacha numbered 152 in 2023, 181 in 2024 and 193 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 20.8 per 100,000, 36th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Soacha each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Soacha was highest in 2025 (193) and lowest in 2022 (139).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Soacha?
Women and girls were 8.6% of the 1,815 homicide victims recorded in Soacha over 2015-2025 (156 victims); in 2025 they numbered 17.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Soacha gone up?
The homicide rate in Soacha was 22.2 per 100,000 in 2025 against 21.9 in 2019, a change of +0.2, 28th largest fall of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Soacha compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Soacha ranks 50 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Armenia | 14.4% |
| 48 | Bucaramanga | 14.2% |
| 49 | Bello | 14.2% |
| 50 | Soacha | 14.1% |
| 51 | Manizales | 13.9% |
| 52 | Tuluá | 13.7% |
| 53 | Dosquebradas | 13.7% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Soacha ranks 60 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | Tunja | 75.3% |
| 58 | Dosquebradas | 75.2% |
| 59 | Apartadó | 74.6% |
| 60 | Soacha | 73.8% |
| 61 | Bello | 72.7% |
| 62 | Medellín | 71.0% |
| 63 | Manizales | 70.4% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Soacha ranks 45 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Neiva | 7.3% |
| 43 | Piedecuesta | 7.0% |
| 44 | Santander de Quilichao | 6.5% |
| 45 | Soacha | 6.4% |
| 46 | Facatativá | 6.4% |
| 47 | Villavicencio | 6.3% |
| 48 | Funza | 6.0% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Soacha ranks 27 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Bogotá, D.C. | +22.6 |
| 25 | Bucaramanga | +21.9 |
| 26 | Bello | +21.3 |
| 27 | Soacha | +21.1 |
| 28 | Piedecuesta | +20.6 |
| 29 | Yopal | +19.4 |
| 30 | Cúcuta | +19.1 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Soacha ranks 35 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Villavicencio | 26.7 |
| 33 | Yopal | 23.5 |
| 34 | Rionegro | 23.3 |
| 35 | Soacha | 22.2 |
| 36 | Bucaramanga | 22.2 |
| 37 | Turbo | 21.5 |
| 38 | Neiva | 21.1 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Soacha ranks 39 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Villavicencio | 23.0 |
| 37 | Neiva | 21.9 |
| 38 | Bucaramanga | 21.2 |
| 39 | Soacha | 20.8 |
| 40 | Maicao | 20.7 |
| 41 | Valledupar | 20.0 |
| 42 | Popayán | 19.4 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Soacha ranks 47 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | Sogamoso | +1.2 |
| 45 | Bogotá, D.C. | +1.0 |
| 46 | Ipiales | +0.5 |
| 47 | Soacha | +0.2 |
| 48 | Girón | +0.1 |
| 49 | Villa del Rosario | -0.2 |
| 50 | Tunja | -0.3 |
More on Soacha: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.