Quick facts
Santa Marta overview
Santa Marta (orange) and the other large cities of Colombia
Santa Marta lies in Magdalena Department in Colombia at 11.24°N, 74.19°W, about 14 m above sea level. The local time zone is America/Bogota (UTC-5); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Ibagué (529,635) and larger than Montería (490,935). 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 737 km away; the nearest large city is Barranquilla, 71 km from Santa Marta.
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 Santa Marta
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Barranquilla Atlántico | 71 km | 1,206,319 |
| Soledad Atlántico | 72 km | 342,556 |
| Malambo Atlántico | 76 km | 129,148 |
| Sabanalarga Atlántico | 104 km | 102,334 |
| Valledupar Cesar Department | 134 km | 490,075 |
| Riohacha La Guajira Department | 144 km | 188,014 |
| Cartagena Bolívar | 170 km | 914,552 |
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 Santa Marta?
Santa Marta has about 499,192 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Santa Marta the capital of Colombia?
No. The capital of Colombia is Bogotá (7,674,366 people), about 737 km away. Santa Marta is the 10th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Santa Marta compared with the rest of Colombia?
Its 499,192 residents are 0.9% of the 54,084,421 people living in Colombia today. Bogotá is larger with 7,674,366 people.
Where is Santa Marta?
In Magdalena Department, Colombia, at latitude 11.24 and longitude -74.19, 14 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Barranquilla (71 km), Soledad (72 km), Malambo (76 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Santa Marta Population 2026 — Colombia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/colombia/santa-marta/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/colombia/santa-marta/">Santa Marta 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.