Colombia Poverty Facts

• According to the assessment, 30% of the Colombian population is food insecure, which means that 15.5 million people do not have sufficient access to food and face difficulties covering their basic needs, 2.1 million are severely food insecure and 13.4 million are moderately food insecure. Food security is a critical need in Colombia, according to the United Nations World Food Programme.
• The World Food Programme anticipates food insecurity to deteriorate further “over the coming months due to a combination of political instability, economic challenges and the ongoing impact of the regional migratory crisis amplified by internal displacement.”
• According to the 2022 Humanitarian Needs Overview, 7.3 million Colombians are food insecure and in need of food assistance, or about 14 percent of the population.
• Currently, the minimum salary in Colombia is approximately $256. For a family of at least four with a breadwinner earning the minimum salary, $160 is needed for basic food baskets, leaving a family of four $96 to spend on other necessities.
• The average monthly cost of a food basket for one person in 2020 increased to $291.80, according to the Consumer Protection and Competition Authority, Acoeco. For a family of four or more with one breadwinner, it is impossible for a family to live a healthy, dignified life.