Cali Flag

Cali

Country:
Colombia
Continent:
South America

Cali's 2025 population is now estimated at 2,916,790. In 1950, the population of Cali was 230,935. Cali has grown by 26,360 in the last year, which represents a 0.91% 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.

2.9M
Total Population
26.4K 0.91%
Growth
No
Capital of Colombia?

Cali Population

Cali Overview

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.

City Size and Population Density

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.

Demographics

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%.

Population Growth

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.

Other Cities in Colombia

City
2025 Pop. ↓
Growth
Bogota11,795,800
Medellin4,172,810
Barranquilla2,396,400
Bucaramanga1,411,010
Cartagena1,105,540
Cucuta981,688
Ibague610,026
Valledupar591,835
Pereira589,836
Villavicencio584,511
Santa Marta557,284
Buenaventura487,670
Buenaventura487,670
Manizales461,292
Monteria456,672
Armenia428,273
Pasto403,362
Bello392,939
Neiva369,148
Soledad342,556
Soacha313,945
Itaguei281,853
Sincelejo261,187
Popayan258,653
Floridablanca252,267
Palmira247,986
Barrancabermeja191,403
Dosquebradas179,583
Tulua165,501
Envigado163,007
Cartago134,827
Maicao130,348
Florencia130,337
Girardot City130,289
Sogamoso126,551
Guadalajara de Buga118,004
Tunja117,479
Giron108,466
Malambo101,534
Magangue100,313
Facatativa94,611
Riohacha92,431
Duitama92,040
Zipaquira91,235
Fusagasuga88,820
Cienaga88,311
Tumaco86,713
Apartado86,438
Piedecuesta86,387
Montelibano85,000
Ocana83,511
La Dorada81,950
Ipiales77,729
Quibdo75,104
Aguachica73,360
Yumbo71,436
Arauca69,264
Sabanalarga68,535
Chinchina68,512
Caldas65,565
Villa del Rosario64,951
Chia64,569
Rionegro62,291
Calarca62,170
Yopal61,029
Sahagun59,188
Fundacion59,175
Los Patios58,661
San Andres58,257
Caucasia58,034
Santa Rosa de Cabal57,928
Espinal56,213
Turbaco56,171
Cerete55,513
El Banco54,522
Funza54,421
Pitalito53,685
Puerto Tejada53,674
Pamplona53,587
Agustin Codazzi51,478
Turbo50,508
Madrid50,437
Arjona50,405
La Estrella49,386
Copacabana49,169
Plato48,606
Chigorodo48,443
El Carmen de Bolivar47,957
Florida47,173
Chiquinquira45,294
Jamundi44,833
Pradera44,630
Baranoa44,078
Piendamo44,000
Sevilla41,612
Santander de Quilichao40,798
El Bagre40,798
Acacias40,627
Lorica40,605
Segovia39,938
Corozal39,800
El Cerrito38,390
Payande37,496
Planeta Rica37,297
La Ceja36,584
San Marcos36,549
Montenegro36,499
Villamaria35,302
Sabaneta34,172
Puerto Berrio33,983
La Virginia33,835
San Gil33,592
Pivijay33,492
San Onofre32,957
Caicedonia32,417
Granada32,365
Belalcazar31,800
Quimbaya31,391
Mompos30,861
San Luis de Since30,768
Puerto Asis29,782
Leticia29,666
San Juan Nepomuceno29,619
Morales29,617
Garzon29,451
Tame29,099
Zarzal28,761
El Charco28,673
Libano28,211
Honda28,158
Palmar de Varela28,084
Aracataca27,704
Roldanillo27,561
Santiago de Tolu27,390
Puerto Boyaca27,310
La Tebaida27,098
Mosquera27,005
San Juan del Cesar26,848
La Mesa26,699
Ariguani26,246
Tierralta26,242
Puerto Colombia26,227
Melgar25,980
Santo Tomas25,847
Anaime25,715
Anserma25,242
Cajica24,999
Sabanagrande24,880
San Carlos24,615
Marinilla24,171
Cumaribo23,990
Candelaria23,989
Fonseca23,509
La Union23,459
Maria la Baja23,401
Sucre23,210
Sibate23,208
San Sebastian de Mariquita23,104
Campo de la Cruz22,803
San Carlos22,678
Ayapel22,602
Campoalegre22,568
Yarumal22,368
San Jose del Guaviare22,136
Curumani22,084
Mocoa22,035
Sampues21,204
Carmen de Viboral21,152
Flandes20,919
Patia20,807
Villeta20,689
Carepa20,627
Villa de San Diego de Ubate20,485
Morales20,375
Barbosa20,372
San Jacinto20,265
Tuquerres20,184
Circasia20,113
Lerida20,069
Villanueva20,032
Chaparral19,982
Galapa19,732
Aguadas19,727
Guacari19,637
Chinu19,596
Padua19,311
La Plata19,275
Riosucio18,950
Urrao18,846
Zaragoza18,795
Malaga18,739
Villanueva18,699
Repelon18,685
La Jagua de Ibirico18,555
San Benito Abad18,181
El Copey18,136
Salamina18,076
Socorro17,752
Santuario17,722
Fresno17,668
Cienaga de Oro17,623
Andalucia17,432
Barrancas17,350
Sonson17,232
Chimichagua16,746
Barbosa16,707
Pacho16,698
Puerto Lopez16,678
Corinto16,579
Andes16,419
Manzanares16,278
Puerto Santander16,275
San Martin16,273
Ciudad Bolivar16,225
El Reten15,901
Darien15,763
Santa Lucia15,760
Belen de Umbria15,698
Aguazul15,669
Viterbo15,216
Chiriguana15,181
La Union15,061
Guamo14,881
Chicoral14,686
Guaduas14,392
Los Palmitos14,385
Guarne14,270
Manati14,140
San Pablo13,983
Santa Ana13,950
Guapi13,853
Istmina13,788
Toro13,764
Orito13,708
Puerto Wilches13,705
Tibu13,565
Paipa13,554
Puebloviejo13,523
El Zulia13,521
Samaniego13,515
Ovejas13,284
La Paz13,249
Luruaco13,236
Miranda13,223
El Doncello13,082
Villanueva12,791
Supia12,784
Santa Barbara12,743
San Estanislao12,596
Bugalagrande12,418
Ansermanuevo12,332
Dagua12,320
Puerto Rico12,306
Amaga12,170
El Bordo12,072
Santa Fe de Antioquia11,829
Sitionuevo11,817
Neira11,755
Polonuevo11,727
Armero-Guyabal11,720
San Antero11,610
Dabeiba11,548
San Pedro11,489
Chivolo11,457
Candelaria11,427
Venadillo11,310
Pelaya11,306
Sabana de Torres11,291
Cimitarra11,267
San Vicente de Chucuri11,265
Cumaral11,263
Ponedera11,221
Natagaima11,217
Marsella11,158
Junin11,158
Majagual11,139
Garagoa11,102
San Pedro de Uraba11,095
La Victoria11,064
Gaitania11,000
Soata10,945
Velez10,905
Quinchia10,895
Agua de Dios10,875
Purificacion10,846
Necocli10,835
San Juan de Uraba10,825
Abrego10,822
Algeciras10,792
Ituango10,769
Valencia10,652
San Alberto10,627
Santa Rosa10,604
Pailitas10,480
Sandona10,401
Suan10,381
Turbana10,235
Tocaima10,235
Puerto Carreno10,216
Santa Rosa de Osos10,191
La Calera10,175
Tado10,095
Algarrobo10,042
Donmatias10,011

Sources

  1. World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - United Nations population estimates and projections.

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