Poverty and living standards in Yopal, Colombia: official figures
DANE's census-based measure put the multidimensional poverty rate in Yopal at 22.9% in 2018, 31st 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 Yopal?
In the 2018 census measure, multidimensional poverty reached 20.1% in the urban centre of Yopal and 39.5% in its small settlements and rural areas, a gap of 19.4 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 Yopal?
The most common household deprivations in Yopal in the 2018 census were informal employment (79.5% of households), low educational achievement (39.9%) and high economic dependency (32.2%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many people in Yopal work informally?
In Yopal, 79.5% of households were deprived on informal employment (an employed member not paying into a pension fund) in 2018, 34th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (all municipalities, population-weighted: 80.8%); 0.9% had child labour and 32.2% had three or more people per employed member.
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Yopal live in overcrowded homes?
10.0% of households in Yopal lived in critical overcrowding, 3.6% had inadequate floors and 4.6% inadequate walls in 2018; the overcrowding rate was 31st highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (national: 9.9%).
Source: Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) · saved copyHow many households in Yopal lack clean water?
In Yopal, 6.5% of households had no improved water source and 7.5% inadequate sanitation in 2018, joint 31st 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 Yopal?
The National Police recorded 46 homicide victims in Yopal in 2025, a rate of 23.5 per 100,000 residents, 33rd highest of 74 Colombian cities on this site (2019: 12.1 per 100,000, 21 victims).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyIs crime falling in Yopal?
Homicide victims in Yopal numbered 23 in 2023, 32 in 2024 and 46 in 2025; averaged over those three years the rate was 17.5 per 100,000, 30th lowest of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many murders happen in Yopal each year?
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of homicide victims recorded in Yopal was highest in 2025 (46) and lowest in 2018 (14).
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow many women are murdered in Yopal?
Women and girls were 16.8% of the 285 homicide victims recorded in Yopal over 2015-2025 (48 victims); in 2025 they numbered 9.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHas the murder rate in Yopal gone up?
The homicide rate in Yopal was 23.5 per 100,000 in 2025 against 12.1 in 2019, a change of +11.4, 18th largest rise of 74 Colombian cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Policía Nacional) · saved copyHow Yopal compares with other cities in Colombia
Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) (2018)
Yopal ranks 31 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty, 2018 census (DANE municipal measure) |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Santa Marta | 24.4% |
| 29 | Santander de Quilichao | 23.8% |
| 30 | Ipiales | 23.4% |
| 31 | Yopal | 22.9% |
| 32 | Los Patios | 21.4% |
| 33 | Cartagena | 19.9% |
| 34 | Soledad | 18.6% |
Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census (2018)
Yopal ranks 41 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: informal work, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Barrancabermeja | 80.5% |
| 39 | Tuluá | 80.4% |
| 40 | Piedecuesta | 79.7% |
| 41 | Yopal | 79.5% |
| 42 | Neiva | 79.4% |
| 43 | Sogamoso | 79.3% |
| 44 | Girón | 79.2% |
Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census (2018)
Yopal ranks 31 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households deprived: critical overcrowding, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Ocaña | 10.9% |
| 29 | Florencia | 10.7% |
| 30 | Buenaventura | 10.2% |
| 31 | Yopal | 10.0% |
| 32 | Pasto | 8.8% |
| 33 | San Andrés de Tumaco | 8.6% |
| 34 | Girón | 8.5% |
Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census (2018)
Yopal ranks 29 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Rural minus urban multidimensional poverty, points, 2018 census |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Bello | +21.3 |
| 27 | Soacha | +21.1 |
| 28 | Piedecuesta | +20.6 |
| 29 | Yopal | +19.4 |
| 30 | Cúcuta | +19.1 |
| 31 | Girón | +18.8 |
| 32 | Cartagena | +18.7 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Yopal ranks 33 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Ipiales | 28.7 |
| 31 | Sabanalarga | 28.5 |
| 32 | Villavicencio | 26.7 |
| 33 | Yopal | 23.5 |
| 34 | Rionegro | 23.3 |
| 35 | Soacha | 22.2 |
| 36 | Bucaramanga | 22.2 |
Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average (2023-2025)
Yopal ranks 45 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Homicide victims per 100,000 residents, 2023-2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Popayán | 19.4 |
| 43 | Magangué | 17.7 |
| 44 | Sabanalarga | 17.6 |
| 45 | Yopal | 17.5 |
| 46 | Girón | 15.1 |
| 47 | Bogotá, D.C. | 14.7 |
| 48 | Sahagún | 14.6 |
Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 (2019-2025)
Yopal ranks 18 of 74, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in homicide rate per 100,000, 2019 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Cartago | +12.8 |
| 16 | Santander de Quilichao | +12.5 |
| 17 | Malambo | +12.4 |
| 18 | Yopal | +11.4 |
| 19 | Armenia | +11.4 |
| 20 | Barranquilla | +11.2 |
| 21 | Villavicencio | +9.5 |
More on Yopal: 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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