Quick facts
Cartagena overview
Cartagena (orange) and the other large cities of Colombia
Cartagena lies in Bolívar in Colombia at 10.4°N, 75.49°W, about 20 m above sea level. The local time zone is America/Bogota (UTC-5); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Barranquilla (1,206,319) and larger than Cúcuta (777,106). The largest city in Colombia is Bogotá with 7,674,366 people; the capital, Bogotá, has 7,674,366.
The national capital, Bogotá, is about 662 km away; the nearest large city is Sabanalarga, 68 km from Cartagena.
Colombia as a whole has a live population of 54,084,421 (+0.9% a year) and ranks #28 of 238 countries — see the Colombia population page for the full statistics and the Colombia atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Cartagena
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Sabanalarga Atlántico | 68 km | 102,334 |
| Malambo Atlántico | 94 km | 129,148 |
| Soledad Atlántico | 98 km | 342,556 |
| Barranquilla Atlántico | 100 km | 1,206,319 |
| Sincelejo Sucre Department | 122 km | 277,773 |
| Magangué Bolívar | 152 km | 123,982 |
| Santa Marta Magdalena Department | 170 km | 499,192 |
| Montería Córdoba | 188 km | 490,935 |
Largest cities in Colombia
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BogotáCapital | Bogota D.C. | 7,674,366 |
| 2 | Cali | Valle del Cauca Department | 2,392,877 |
| 3 | Medellín | Antioquia | 1,999,979 |
| 4 | Barranquilla | Atlántico | 1,206,319 |
| 5 | Cartagena | Bolívar | 914,552 |
| 6 | Cúcuta | Norte de Santander Department | 777,106 |
| 7 | Soacha | Cundinamarca | 655,025 |
| 8 | Bucaramanga | Santander Department | 581,130 |
| 9 | Ibagué | Tolima Department | 529,635 |
| 10 | Santa Marta | Magdalena Department | 499,192 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Cartagena?
Cartagena has about 914,552 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Cartagena the capital of Colombia?
No. The capital of Colombia is Bogotá (7,674,366 people), about 662 km away. Cartagena is the 5th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Cartagena compared with the rest of Colombia?
Its 914,552 residents are 1.7% of the 54,084,421 people living in Colombia today. Bogotá is larger with 7,674,366 people.
Where is Cartagena?
In Bolívar, Colombia, at latitude 10.4 and longitude -75.49, 20 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Sabanalarga (68 km), Malambo (94 km), Soledad (98 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Cartagena Population 2026 — Colombia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/colombia/cartagena/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/colombia/cartagena/">Cartagena Population 2026 — Colombia</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.