Villavicencio: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Villavicencio: DANE estimates the value added produced in Villavicencio at COP 12.84 trillion in 2024 (provisional, current prices), 12th largest of 74 Colombian cities on this site, 0.83% of the national total of COP 1550.97 trillion.
- Health in Villavicencio: ADRES's affiliate register showed 549,995 people actively affiliated to the health system in Villavicencio in October 2026 (286,038 contributory and 263,957 subsidised), equal to 93.4% of DANE's projected population, 29th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (the register counts people by municipality of affiliation, which can differ from where they live).
- Education in Villavicencio: The Ministry of Education counted 103,747 children aged 5 to 16 in Villavicencio in 2024, of whom 87.6% were enrolled in school (net coverage), 23rd lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site; the rate was 94.9% in 2019.
- Poverty and living standards in Villavicencio: DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Villavicencio at 15.9% in 2018, 33rd 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 Villavicencio: The Villavicencio municipal government reported total revenue of COP 1.49 trillion for 2025 to the Comptroller General's CUIPO system, 12th largest of 74 Colombian cities on this site; that was up 12.8% on 2024 (COP 1.32 trillion) and up 21.3% on 2023.
What is the population of Villavicencio?
The municipality of Villavicencio, in Meta department, had a projected 588,645 residents in 2026 according to DANE, the national statistics office, 13th largest of 74 Colombian cities on this site; the projection, based on the 2018 census, put it at 531,285 in 2018.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow fast is Villavicencio growing?
Between 2018 and 2026 the projected population of Villavicencio changed by +10.8%, 30th 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 Villavicencio live in the countryside?
DANE projects that 91.9% of Villavicencio's residents in 2026, 541,221 people, live in the urban centre (cabecera municipal) and 47,424 in small settlements and dispersed rural areas, 27th most urban of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyWhat will the population of Villavicencio be in 2035?
DANE projects the population of Villavicencio to reach 619,244 in 2035 and 637,426 in 2042, up 8.3% on 2026 (Colombia, 2026 to 2042: up 4.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyIs the population of Villavicencio growing?
In the year to mid-2026 the projected population of Villavicencio changed by +0.73%, from 584,389 to 588,645.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyNotes from the UN table: Data are revised projections taking into consideration also the results of the 2018 census. Data are revised projections taking into consideration also the results of the 2018 census. Data are revised projections taking into consideration also the results of the 2018 census. Surface area includes interior waters.
The UN marks this figure as an estimate of lower reliability.
Who runs Villavicencio?
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
- Bogotá, D.C. 7,945,996
- Medellín 2,526,795
- Cali 2,269,983
- Barranquilla 1,275,854
- Cartagena 1,010,995
- Soacha 895,878
- Cúcuta 792,180
- Soledad 733,597
- Valledupar 629,217
- Bucaramanga 618,548
- Bello 609,168
- Santa Marta 588,662
- Montería 585,029
- Ibagué 557,317
- Pereira 487,820
- Manizales 475,690
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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