Bogotá, June 2025 – Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá

• For the fourth consecutive year, the perception of insecurity in the capital decreased. In 2024, 69.3% of households believed insecurity had increased, compared to 76% in 2023 and the peak of 87.7% in 2021.

• The victimization rate in 2024 was 2.5 percentage points lower than in 2023, dropping from 17.7% to 15.3%.

• Trust in authorities also improved: 52% of citizens who were crime victims filed a report, compared to 44.6% in 2023 and 41.1% in 2022.

• Recommendations from the Chamber include strengthening police training processes and promoting citizen participation in security spaces to continue improving safety indicators in the city.

The Bogotá Chamber of Commerce revealed the results of the 2024 Security Perception and Victimization Survey (EPV). For the first time in its 26-year history, this comprehensive study not only covered all 19 urban localities of Bogotá but also included 16 municipalities in the department of Cundinamarca. The EPV is one of the most robust surveys in Colombia in terms of household reach. In 2024, it was conducted in person with 19,345 households in Bogotá and 6,710 in Cundinamarca, making it one of the few surveys in the country reaching over 20,000 households.

Key Findings of the Year:

1. Security Perception

The perception of insecurity in Bogotá has improved steadily since 2021. That year, 87.7% of respondents believed insecurity had increased, but in 2024 that figure dropped to 69.3% — the lowest since 2019.

The localities with the most positive perception (lowest insecurity increase) were Chapinero (55.7%), Teusaquillo (59.8%), and La Candelaria (60.1%). In contrast, Barrios Unidos (75.2%), Antonio Nariño (74.5%), and Kennedy (73.4%) reported the most negative shifts.

In TransMilenio, perceived insecurity rose from 67.5% to 70.6%. Among women, this figure increased from 71.1% to 74.5%. According to Bogotá’s Secretariat for Security, Peaceful Coexistence, and Justice, increased protests during peak hours contributed to station overcrowding, which 53.2% of respondents linked with feelings of insecurity.

2. Victimization

Bogotá's overall victimization rate dropped 2.5 percentage points, from 17.7% to 15.3%.

Certain crimes saw declines: personal theft dropped 4 percentage points; notably, mobile phone theft fell from 75% to 73.1%. Cybercrime also decreased by 2.6 points.

However, extortion rose from 5.2% to 7.3%, and vandalism increased from 7.6% to 9.9%.

3. Crime Reporting

Reporting rates in Bogotá increased from 44.6% to 52.0%.

The highest reporting rates were seen in cybercrime (60.9%), extortion (60.2%), and home burglary (59.0%). Other crimes such as business theft, auto parts theft, bike theft, and personal theft also saw notable increases in reporting.

4. Coexistence

28.2% of Bogotá residents reported coexistence issues.

The lowest incidence was in Los Mártires (11.0%) and Chapinero (15.6%), while Engativá had the highest at 40.6%.

Main issues included: trash in public areas (66.6%), drug use in public spaces (44.1%), and pet waste (64.0%).

Sexual harassment in public spaces (catcalling, comments, stares) affected 13.4% of respondents, with women being affected at more than twice the rate of men (7 to 3 ratio).

5. Sources of Information on Security

Main sources shaping public opinion on security in Bogotá were: social media (45.7%), word of mouth (45.5%), and TV news (42.3%).

Recommendations:

Prevention and Patrolling: Implement awareness campaigns and enhance patrols in high-crime areas with technology to prevent theft and dismantle criminal networks.

Police Welfare: Improve police officers’ working conditions to ensure better public service and results.

Reporting and Access to Justice: Optimize reporting channels, improve digital platform accessibility, and expand the coverage of the Victim Support Unit (AIDE).

Urban Design and Safety Perception: Improve urban infrastructure in high-insecurity areas and increase surveillance in public transport.

Women’s Safety: Strengthen initiatives like the Purple Patrol, raise awareness on gender-based violence, and improve response protocols in unsafe public spaces.

To view the full report, visit the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce Observatory: www.ccb.org.co/observatorio