Cali's 2026 population is now estimated at 2,942,690. In 1950, the population of Cali was 230,935. Cali has grown by 25,900 in the last year, which represents a 0.89% annual change. These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects . These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Cali, which typically includes Cali's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.
Santiago de Cali, or just Cali as it is typically known, is located in the country of Colombia. It is the most populated city in the southwestern region of Colombia, boasting a population of over 2.3 million, making Cali the third most populous in the country.
The city spans 560.3 square kilometers, which when calculated with the estimated population makes the population density approximately 10,000 people per square mile.
Colombia officially acknowledges three ethnic minority groups: the Afro-Colombian, indigenous, and Romani populations.
Spanish, Amerindian, Creole, and Romani languages are all in use in Columbia with Spanish being the primary language.
In terms of religion, Catholicism and Protestants are at a combined total of 87% of the population. Atheists come in at 11%, and no religion comes in around 2%.
Because Cali is landlocked, it did not initially grow as quickly as other cities in Colombia. However, beginning in the 1950s, the city started seeing significant growth which continued throughout the years until it reached its current spot as the third most populous in Colombia, falling only behind Medellin and Bogota. The city has a long history dating back to its founding during the 1500s. It is known as a center for sports, and it has one of the fastest-growing economies in Colombia. For these reasons, the population of this thriving city is only expected to continue to grow.
The population in 1810 was approximately 6,385, near the time that the city had declared independence from Spanish rule. By 1938 the population of Cali had grown to 88,366. In 1951 that population had jumped up again to over 284,000. By 1973 the population was over 800,000 and again increased by 1985 to over 1.36 million. In 2005, the population had reached over 2 million residents, and it continues to grow.
| City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Bogota | 11,922,100 | 1.07% |
| Medellin | 4,208,280 | 0.85% |
| Barranquilla | 2,418,670 | 0.93% |
| Bucaramanga | 1,424,660 | 0.97% |
| Cartagena | 1,114,720 | 0.83% |
| Cucuta | 990,634 | 0.91% |
| Ibague | 615,104 | 0.83% |
| Valledupar | 599,585 | 1.31% |
| Pereira | 593,765 | 0.67% |
| Villavicencio | 590,758 | 1.07% |
| Santa Marta | 562,561 | 0.95% |
| Buenaventura | 493,081 | 1.11% |
| Buenaventura | 493,081 | 1.11% |
| Manizales | 464,765 | 0.75% |
| Monteria | 461,444 | 1.04% |
| Armenia | 431,947 | 0.86% |
| Pasto | 406,652 | 0.82% |
| Neiva | 372,029 | 0.78% |