Poverty and living standards in Villavicencio, Colombia: official figures
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%.
Is poverty higher in rural Villavicencio?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 15.2% in the urban centre of Villavicencio and 26.7% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 11.5 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 Villavicencio?
The most common household deprivations in Villavicencio in the 2018 census were informal employment (82.3% of households), low educational achievement (38.8%) and high economic dependency (31.8%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Villavicencio work informally?
In Villavicencio, 82.3% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 33rd highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.9% had child labour and 31.8% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Villavicencio live in overcrowded homes?
6.3% of households in Villavicencio lived in critical overcrowding, 1.3% had inadequate floors and 1.6% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 28th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Villavicencio lack clean water?
In Villavicencio, 6.7% of households had no improved water source and 5.2% inadequate sanitation in 2018, 30th 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 Villavicencio?
The National Police recorded 156 homicide victims in Villavicencio in 2025, a rate of 26.7 per 100,000 residents, 32nd highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 17.2 per 100,000, 93 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Villavicencio?
Homicide victims in Villavicencio numbered 121 in 2023, 122 in 2024 and 156 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 23.0 per 100,000, 36th highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Villavicencio each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Villavicencio was highest in 2025 (156) and lowest in 2022 (90).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Villavicencio?
Women and girls were 8.4% of the 1,292 homicide victims recorded in Villavicencio over 2015-2025 (109 victims); in 2025 they numbered 15.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Villavicencio gone up?
The homicide rate in Villavicencio was 26.7 per 100,000 in 2025 against 17.2 in 2019, a change of +9.5, 21st largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Villavicencio compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Villavicencio ranks 42 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Girón | 16.5% |
| 40 | Pasto | 16.3% |
| 41 | Piedecuesta | 16.2% |
| 42 | Villavicencio | 15.9% |
| 43 | Yumbo | 15.6% |
| 44 | Pereira | 15.1% |
| 45 | Jamundí | 14.9% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Villavicencio ranks 33 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Barranquilla | 84.6% |
| 31 | Los Patios | 83.4% |
| 32 | Turbaco | 83.2% |
| 33 | Villavicencio | 82.3% |
| 34 | Pasto | 81.8% |
| 35 | Popayán | 81.4% |
| 36 | Cartago | 81.3% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Villavicencio ranks 47 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | Santander de Quilichao | 6.5% |
| 45 | Soacha | 6.4% |
| 46 | Facatativá | 6.4% |
| 47 | Villavicencio | 6.3% |
| 48 | Funza | 6.0% |
| 49 | Ibagué | 5.8% |
| 50 | Mosquera | 5.8% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Villavicencio ranks 55 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | Turbo | +12.2 |
| 53 | Pereira | +11.5 |
| 54 | Floridablanca | +11.5 |
| 55 | Villavicencio | +11.5 |
| 56 | Gudalajara de Buga | +11.4 |
| 57 | Los Patios | +10.6 |
| 58 | Medellín | +10.3 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Villavicencio ranks 32 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Soledad | 28.9 |
| 30 | Ipiales | 28.7 |
| 31 | Sabanalarga | 28.5 |
| 32 | Villavicencio | 26.7 |
| 33 | Yopal | 23.5 |
| 34 | Rionegro | 23.3 |
| 35 | Soacha | 22.2 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Villavicencio ranks 36 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Turbaco | 24.0 |
| 34 | Rionegro | 23.9 |
| 35 | San Andrés de Tumaco | 23.0 |
| 36 | Villavicencio | 23.0 |
| 37 | Neiva | 21.9 |
| 38 | Bucaramanga | 21.2 |
| 39 | Soacha | 20.8 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Villavicencio ranks 21 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Yopal | +11.4 |
| 19 | Armenia | +11.4 |
| 20 | Barranquilla | +11.2 |
| 21 | Villavicencio | +9.5 |
| 22 | Floridablanca | +9.3 |
| 23 | Piedecuesta | +8.2 |
| 24 | Magangué | +7.4 |
More on Villavicencio: 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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