Poverty and living standards in Tunja, Colombia: official figures
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%.
Is poverty higher in rural Tunja?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 10.2% in the urban centre of Tunja and 37.2% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 27.0 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 Tunja?
The most common household deprivations in Tunja in the 2018 census were informal employment (75.3% of households), high economic dependency (27.7%) and low educational achievement (25.6%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Tunja work informally?
In Tunja, 75.3% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, joint 18th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.5% had child labour and 27.7% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Tunja live in overcrowded homes?
4.4% of households in Tunja lived in critical overcrowding, 0.5% had inadequate floors and 0.1% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was joint 13th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Tunja lack clean water?
In Tunja, 0.9% of households had no improved water source and 1.9% inadequate sanitation in 2018, joint 8th lowest 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 Tunja?
The National Police recorded 7 homicide victims in Tunja in 2025, a rate of 3.7 per 100,000 residents, 4th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 4.0 per 100,000, 7 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Tunja?
Homicide victims in Tunja numbered 6 in 2023, 7 in 2024 and 7 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 3.6 per 100,000, 4th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Tunja each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Tunja was highest in 2017 (9) and lowest in 2015 (6).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Tunja?
Women and girls were 14.8% of the 81 homicide victims recorded in Tunja over 2015-2025 (12 victims); in 2025 they numbered 1.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Tunja gone up?
The homicide rate in Tunja was 3.7 per 100,000 in 2025 against 4.0 in 2019, a change of -0.3, 25th largest fall of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Tunja compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Tunja ranks 60 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | Fusagasugá | 12.2% |
| 58 | Cali | 11.9% |
| 59 | Palmira | 11.5% |
| 60 | Tunja | 11.4% |
| 61 | Floridablanca | 11.0% |
| 62 | Itagüí | 10.9% |
| 63 | Facatativá | 10.5% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Tunja ranks 57 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | Yumbo | 76.0% |
| 55 | Pereira | 75.4% |
| 56 | Cali | 75.3% |
| 57 | Tunja | 75.3% |
| 58 | Dosquebradas | 75.2% |
| 59 | Apartadó | 74.6% |
| 60 | Soacha | 73.8% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Tunja ranks 61 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | Fusagasugá | 4.6% |
| 59 | Chía | 4.5% |
| 60 | Itagüí | 4.4% |
| 61 | Tunja | 4.4% |
| 62 | Jamundí | 4.4% |
| 63 | Armenia | 4.3% |
| 64 | Cartago | 4.3% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Tunja ranks 16 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Aguachica | +28.9 |
| 14 | Sahagún | +28.0 |
| 15 | Sabanalarga | +28.0 |
| 16 | Tunja | +27.0 |
| 17 | Ipiales | +26.3 |
| 18 | Florencia | +26.1 |
| 19 | Pitalito | +25.1 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Tunja ranks 71 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 68 | Lorica | 5.0 |
| 69 | Uribia | 4.9 |
| 70 | Chía | 4.6 |
| 71 | Tunja | 3.7 |
| 72 | Itagüí | 3.6 |
| 73 | Envigado | 3.0 |
| 74 | Cajicá | 1.6 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Tunja ranks 71 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 68 | Zipaquirá | 6.7 |
| 69 | Itagüí | 4.3 |
| 70 | Envigado | 3.7 |
| 71 | Tunja | 3.6 |
| 72 | Chía | 3.3 |
| 73 | Uribia | 2.8 |
| 74 | Cajicá | 2.2 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Tunja ranks 50 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Soacha | +0.2 |
| 48 | Girón | +0.1 |
| 49 | Villa del Rosario | -0.2 |
| 50 | Tunja | -0.3 |
| 51 | Cajicá | -0.5 |
| 52 | Envigado | -1.2 |
| 53 | Zipaquirá | -1.6 |
More on Tunja: 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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