Poverty and living standards in Turbo, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Turbo at 49.9% in 2018, 4th 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 Turbo?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 42.6% in the urban centre of Turbo and 54.8% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 12.2 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 Turbo?
The most common household deprivations in Turbo in the 2018 census were informal employment (87.6% of households), low educational achievement (58.1%) and high economic dependency (49.2%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Turbo work informally?
In Turbo, 87.6% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, joint 19th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 2.0% had child labour and 49.2% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Turbo live in overcrowded homes?
12.7% of households in Turbo lived in critical overcrowding, 22.5% had inadequate floors and 10.8% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 25th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Turbo lack clean water?
In Turbo, 36.8% of households had no improved water source and 45.4% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 5th 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 Turbo?
The National Police recorded 28 homicide victims in Turbo in 2025, a rate of 21.5 per 100,000 residents, 37th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 54.7 per 100,000, 69 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Turbo?
Homicide victims in Turbo numbered 67 in 2023, 25 in 2024 and 28 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 30.8 per 100,000, 27th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Turbo each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Turbo was highest in 2018 (104) and lowest in 2024 (25).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Turbo?
Women and girls were 4.9% of the 728 homicide victims recorded in Turbo over 2015-2025 (36 victims); in 2025 they numbered 2.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Turbo gone up?
The homicide rate in Turbo was 21.5 per 100,000 in 2025 against 54.7 in 2019, a change of -33.2, 3rd largest fall of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Turbo compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Turbo ranks 4 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uribia | 92.2% |
| 2 | Maicao | 60.0% |
| 3 | San Andrés de Tumaco | 53.7% |
| 4 | Turbo | 49.9% |
| 5 | Magangué | 49.1% |
| 6 | Riohacha | 45.1% |
| 7 | Ciénaga | 44.6% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Turbo ranks 19 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Sincelejo | 88.2% |
| 17 | Pitalito | 88.0% |
| 18 | Cereté | 88.0% |
| 19 | Turbo | 87.6% |
| 20 | Aguachica | 87.6% |
| 21 | Valledupar | 87.5% |
| 22 | Santa Marta | 87.1% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Turbo ranks 25 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Barrancabermeja | 13.7% |
| 23 | Barranquilla | 13.5% |
| 24 | Los Patios | 13.5% |
| 25 | Turbo | 12.7% |
| 26 | Soledad | 12.5% |
| 27 | Ipiales | 11.7% |
| 28 | Ocaña | 10.9% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Turbo ranks 52 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Popayán | +13.1 |
| 50 | Tuluá | +12.9 |
| 51 | Zipaquirá | +12.9 |
| 52 | Turbo | +12.2 |
| 53 | Pereira | +11.5 |
| 54 | Floridablanca | +11.5 |
| 55 | Villavicencio | +11.5 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Turbo ranks 37 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Rionegro | 23.3 |
| 35 | Soacha | 22.2 |
| 36 | Bucaramanga | 22.2 |
| 37 | Turbo | 21.5 |
| 38 | Neiva | 21.1 |
| 39 | Popayán | 20.4 |
| 40 | Magangué | 19.9 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Turbo ranks 27 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Aguachica | 31.5 |
| 25 | Arauca | 31.3 |
| 26 | Soledad | 31.2 |
| 27 | Turbo | 30.8 |
| 28 | Ocaña | 30.8 |
| 29 | Dosquebradas | 29.3 |
| 30 | Sincelejo | 28.0 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Turbo ranks 72 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 68 | Lorica | -15.8 |
| 69 | Bello | -17.3 |
| 70 | Arauca | -21.5 |
| 71 | Apartadó | -21.9 |
| 72 | Turbo | -33.2 |
| 73 | Yumbo | -62.6 |
| 74 | San Andrés de Tumaco | -69.4 |
More on Turbo: 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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