The National Administrative Department of Statistics (Dane) has released preliminary results from the National Urban Economic Census, the largest statistical exercise in three decades. This operation identifies 2,005,613 economic units in urban areas across 1,102 municipalities. International experts praise its rigor and innovation, positioning Colombia as a regional benchmark.
After 34 years without a similar economic census, the Dane completed the National Urban Economic Census, a hybrid process combining web self-filling, administrative records, and field collection. It involved 8,000 censists who covered over 500,000 blocks in 1,102 municipalities and 18 non-municipalized areas, identifying 2,005,613 visible economic units in urban zones. Bogotá holds 18%, Antioquia 12.5%, and Valle del Cauca 9.7%, with over 57% concentrated in just 30 municipalities.
Technological innovation was pivotal: cloud platforms enabled real-time validation, incremental processing, and data georeferencing, bolstering the Dane's infrastructure. Piedad Urdinola, Dane's director, stressed that figures like the 10.92% of street vending units reveal the popular economy as a central actor, updating surveys and national accounts to measure productivity and formality.
Experts praised the effort. Lilian Guío from the Andean Community noted that technology 'transforms the relationship between people and data,' democratizing information. Gerardo Franco from Mexico's Inegi called it 'a compass for the region,' while Cepal's Ramón Pineda described it as a 'productive scanner' for employment and territorial transformation. Andrés Santamaría from Asocapitales highlighted its role in municipal development plans, promoting formalization and innovation. Tito Neira from Universidad de los Andes and Dane's Luis Martín Barrera emphasized the digital shift.
Preliminary results, with gender, age, and formality details in 2026, will support evidence-based policies and regional comparisons, fostering sustainable development.