As the second largest city and the hub of most political offices in Colombia, Medellin is quite an important part of the country. This part of Colombia is perched in the heart of the Andes mountains and therefore it is not only perfect for city life but for those who want to explore the great outdoors as well. The economy in Medellin is growing, and current estimates indicate that the population of the city will have reached over 3 million by the end of 2018.
City Size and Population Density
The city of Medellin covers a surface area of 380.64 km² (146.97 sq mi) for the city proper alone. The last official census was taken in 2005, but according to those numbers the population was 2,214,494 with a population density of 6,746.8 people per square kilometer. Estimates from the United Nations show Medellin’s 2018 population is now estimated at 3,933,652 - bringing the population density to 10,351 residents living per square kilometer in 2018.
Demographics
Females in the city outnumber males with females at 52.9% and males at 47.1% of the total population. In terms of numbers, there are 1,327,914 women and 1,180,538 men within the city limits of Medellin.
Roman Catholicism is a popular religion among the overall population of Colombia, and is part of the culture and lifestyle of the residents of Medellin.
Additional demographics for Medellin are over a decade old as the new census data is still being captured and processed.
Ages
Like most cities, the majority of the population of Medellin falls within the age group of 15 to 64. This is the standard age where people can work and support the economy of the city. Those that fall into this category represent 71.2% of the population. 18% are below the age of 15 and still considered minors, and 10.9% are above the age of 64 and considered retired or unable to work. Although this does not reflect all people above the age of 65, it is the majority. The oldest of the Medellin population are those above the age of 80 and there are 50,616 in that age bracket.
Unemployment
The unemployment rate in Medellin falls in line with that of the rest of Colombia. In November 2016, the unemployment rate saw a steep decline to 7.5%. The numbers did not last very long as in January of 2017 the unemployment rating jumped to 11.7%. These numbers are not surprising as many people find themselves out of work at the beginning of the year due to the end of the holiday rush. The rate continued to fall throughout this year and currently stands at 8.7%. Although this is not great, it is much better than the double-digit numbers of previous years.
Ethnicities
Ethnicities within Medellin are in line with the rest of Colombia with a majority of the population considered white. 84.2% are part of the Mestizo or white race. The second largest group is that of the Afro-Colombians, making up 10.4% of the population. The other race represented in Medellin is the Amerindians, who make up 3.4% of the population. The remaining 2.1% of the population are those that are of various other races and do not have the numbers to be counted among the percentages of Medellin residents.
