Poverty and living standards in Valledupar, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Valledupar at 30.5% in 2018, 18th 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 Valledupar?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 26.2% in the urban centre of Valledupar and 61.6% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 35.4 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 Valledupar?
The most common household deprivations in Valledupar in the 2018 census were informal employment (87.5% of households), high economic dependency (39.8%) and low educational achievement (37.8%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Valledupar work informally?
In Valledupar, 87.5% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 21st highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.9% had child labour and 39.8% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Valledupar live in overcrowded homes?
19.5% of households in Valledupar lived in critical overcrowding, 8.6% had inadequate floors and 4.4% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 6th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Valledupar lack clean water?
In Valledupar, 7.9% of households had no improved water source and 13.3% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 26th 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 Valledupar?
The National Police recorded 112 homicide victims in Valledupar in 2025, a rate of 18.2 per 100,000 residents, 34th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 16.0 per 100,000, 82 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Valledupar?
Homicide victims in Valledupar numbered 126 in 2023, 123 in 2024 and 112 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 20.0 per 100,000, 34th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Valledupar each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Valledupar was highest in 2022 (128) and lowest in 2020 (57).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Valledupar?
Women and girls were 8.4% of the 1,033 homicide victims recorded in Valledupar over 2015-2025 (87 victims); in 2025 they numbered 11.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Valledupar gone up?
The homicide rate in Valledupar was 18.2 per 100,000 in 2025 against 16.0 in 2019, a change of +2.2, 34th largest fall of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Valledupar compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Valledupar ranks 18 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Cereté | 34.4% |
| 16 | Pitalito | 33.7% |
| 17 | Ocaña | 31.4% |
| 18 | Valledupar | 30.5% |
| 19 | Sincelejo | 30.4% |
| 20 | Turbaco | 30.4% |
| 21 | Malambo | 30.0% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Valledupar ranks 21 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Cereté | 88.0% |
| 19 | Turbo | 87.6% |
| 20 | Aguachica | 87.6% |
| 21 | Valledupar | 87.5% |
| 22 | Santa Marta | 87.1% |
| 23 | Cúcuta | 87.0% |
| 24 | Cartagena | 86.6% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Valledupar ranks 6 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Ciénaga | 29.1% |
| 4 | Riohacha | 25.1% |
| 5 | Aguachica | 21.2% |
| 6 | Valledupar | 19.5% |
| 7 | Santa Marta | 19.4% |
| 8 | Villa del Rosario | 18.9% |
| 9 | Sabanalarga | 18.8% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Valledupar ranks 6 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Riohacha | +43.7 |
| 4 | Barranquilla | +38.3 |
| 5 | Quibdo | +37.6 |
| 6 | Valledupar | +35.4 |
| 7 | Uribia | +34.0 |
| 8 | Montería | +32.0 |
| 9 | Buenaventura | +31.8 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Valledupar ranks 41 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Neiva | 21.1 |
| 39 | Popayán | 20.4 |
| 40 | Magangué | 19.9 |
| 41 | Valledupar | 18.2 |
| 42 | Sincelejo | 18.1 |
| 43 | Piedecuesta | 16.7 |
| 44 | Ibagué | 15.9 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Valledupar ranks 41 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Bucaramanga | 21.2 |
| 39 | Soacha | 20.8 |
| 40 | Maicao | 20.7 |
| 41 | Valledupar | 20.0 |
| 42 | Popayán | 19.4 |
| 43 | Magangué | 17.7 |
| 44 | Sabanalarga | 17.6 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Valledupar ranks 41 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Chía | +2.5 |
| 39 | Ibagué | +2.4 |
| 40 | Bucaramanga | +2.2 |
| 41 | Valledupar | +2.2 |
| 42 | Fusagasugá | +2.1 |
| 43 | Duitama | +2.0 |
| 44 | Sogamoso | +1.2 |
More on Valledupar: 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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