Tunja: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Tunja: DANE estimates the value added produced in Tunja at COP 5.59 trillion in 2024 (provisional, current prices), 34th largest of 74 Colombian cities on this site, 0.36% of the national total of COP 1550.97 trillion.
- Health in Tunja: ADRES's affiliate register showed 208,903 people actively affiliated to the health system in Tunja in October 2026 (138,322 contributory and 70,581 subsidised), equal to 109.2% of DANE's projected population, 15th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (the register counts people by municipality of affiliation, which can differ from where they live).
- Education in Tunja: The Ministry of Education counted 32,210 children aged 5 to 16 in Tunja in 2024, of whom 98.9% were enrolled in school (net coverage), 19th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site; the rate was 105.7% in 2019.
- Poverty and living standards in Tunja: DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Tunja at 11.4% in 2018, 15th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site; across all Colombian municipalities, weighted by population, the rate was 26.1%.
- Government budget and revenue in Tunja: The Tunja municipal government reported total revenue of COP 676.7 billion for 2025 to the Comptroller General's CUIPO system, 32nd largest of 74 Colombian cities on this site; that was up 18.6% on 2024 (COP 570.4 billion) and up 29.9% on 2023.
What is the population of Tunja?
The municipality of Tunja, in Boyacá department, had a projected 191,372 residents in 2026 according to DANE, the national statistics office, 37th smallest of 74 Colombian cities on this site; the projection, based on the 2018 census, put it at 174,101 in 2018.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow fast is Tunja growing?
Between 2018 and 2026 the projected population of Tunja changed by +9.9%, 27th slowest 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 Tunja live in the countryside?
DANE projects that 95.8% of Tunja's residents in 2026, 183,278 people, live in the urban centre (cabecera municipal) and 8,094 in small settlements and dispersed rural areas, 19th most urban of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyWhat will the population of Tunja be in 2035?
DANE projects the population of Tunja to reach 208,775 in 2035 and 225,827 in 2042, up 18.0% on 2026 (Colombia, 2026 to 2042: up 4.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyIs the population of Tunja growing?
In the year to mid-2026 the projected population of Tunja changed by +0.90%, from 189,660 to 191,372.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyWho runs Tunja?
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
- Itagüí 306,397
- San Andrés de Tumaco 277,065
- Envigado 268,381
- Dosquebradas 246,388
- Barrancabermeja 230,559
- Tuluá 225,868
- Maicao 218,184
- Riohacha 211,811
- Uribia 208,712
- Yopal 198,423
- Jamundí 196,875
- Piedecuesta 192,888
- Florencia 188,620
- Mosquera 185,735
- Chía 177,550
- Girón 177,523
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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