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Cauca department, Colombia: conflict statistics
Organized violence recorded by UCDP in Cauca department, data through 31 Jul 2026. Population about 1,491,937 (Wikidata).
Between 3 May 2026 and 31 Jul 2026, UCDP recorded 13 organized-violence events in Cauca department, Colombia, up +44% from 9 in the preceding 90 days. Estimated deaths in the period: 39.
Over the 12 months to 31 Jul 2026, 43 events and 101 estimated deaths were recorded in Cauca department. That is -49% on the previous 12 months. UCDP's low and high estimates put the death toll between 89 and 101. 47% of events were classed as state-based armed conflict. Civilian deaths in the same period: 47. Relative to population, that is 28.8 events per million people.
The most active conflict pairing over the last 12 months was Government of Colombia - FARC-EMC (20 events, 40 estimated deaths).
Monthly reports:Jul 2026Jun 2026May 2026Apr 2026Mar 2026Feb 2026Jan 2026Dec 2025Nov 2025Oct 2025Sep 2025Aug 2025
Events in Cauca department, last 12 months
Monthly trend
Hotspots within Cauca department, last 12 months
| Area (second-level) | Events | Est. deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Santander de Quilichao municipality | 5 | 13 |
| Cajibío municipality | 4 | 24 |
| Suárez municipality | 4 | 5 |
| Popayán municipality | 3 | 8 |
| Argelia municipality | 3 | 6 |
| Sucre municipality | 3 | 4 |
| Corinto municipality | 3 | 3 |
| Piendamó municipality | 2 | 4 |
| Almaguer municipality | 2 | 3 |
| Buenos Aires municipality | 2 | 3 |
Deadliest recorded events, last 90 days
| Date | Where | Parties | Est. deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 May 2026 | Belalcázar municipality Cauca department | Government of Colombia vs FARC-EMC State-based | 6 |
| 17 Jun 2026 | Cauca department | Government of Colombia vs FARC-EMC State-based, 2 sources | 5 |
| 27 Jun 2026 | Toribío municipality Cauca department | Government of Colombia vs FARC-EMC State-based | 4 |
| 3 Jun 2026 | Santander de Quilichao municipality Cauca department | Unidentified armed group vs Unidentified armed group Non-state | 4 |
| 3 Jun 2026 | Santander de Quilichao municipality Cauca department | Unidentified armed group vs Unidentified armed group Non-state, 2 sources | 4 |
| 30 Jul 2026 | Cauca department | Unidentified armed group vs Unidentified armed group Non-state, 3 sources | 3 |
| 17 May 2026 | Santander de Quilichao municipality Cauca department | FARC-EMC vs Civilians One-sided, 3 civilian | 3 |
| 24 Jul 2026 | Popayán municipality Cauca department | Government of Colombia vs FARC-EMC State-based | 2 |
| 22 Jul 2026 | El Tambo municipality Cauca department | Government of Colombia vs FARC-EMC State-based | 2 |
| 15 Jul 2026 | Argelia municipality Cauca department | Unidentified armed group vs Civilians One-sided, 2 civilian | 2 |
Most recorded parties, last 12 months
| Party | Events | Est. deaths in those events |
|---|---|---|
| FARC-EMC | 35 | 81 |
| Government of Colombia | 20 | 40 |
| Unidentified armed group | 11 | 30 |
| ELN | 3 | 7 |
| FARC - Segunda Marquetalia | 1 | 3 |
| FARC- Frente 57 Yair Bermúdez | 1 | 1 |
Conflict pairings, last 12 months
| Pairing | Events | Est. deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Government of Colombia - FARC-EMC | 20 | 40 |
| FARC-EMC - Civilians | 12 | 34 |
| Unidentified armed group - Unidentified armed group | 5 | 14 |
| FARC-EMC - ELN | 3 | 7 |
| FARC - Segunda Marquetalia - Civilians | 1 | 3 |
| Unidentified armed group - Civilians | 1 | 2 |
Type of violence, last 12 months
| Category | Events | Share |
|---|---|---|
| State-based armed conflict | 20 | 47% |
| Non-state conflict | 8 | 19% |
| One-sided violence against civilians | 15 | 35% |
Frequently asked questions
How many conflict events were recorded in Cauca department in the last 12 months?
UCDP recorded 43 organized-violence events in Cauca department between 1 Aug 2025 and 31 Jul 2026, with an estimated 101 deaths (range 89 to 101).
Is violence in Cauca department increasing or decreasing?
Increasing. Events in the last 90 days (13) were up +44% on the preceding 90 days (9).
Who are the main armed actors in Cauca department?
The parties recorded in the most events over the last 12 months were FARC-EMC (35 events), Government of Colombia (20 events), Unidentified armed group (11 events), ELN (3 events).
What kind of violence is recorded in Cauca department?
UCDP classes events as state-based armed conflict, non-state conflict, or one-sided violence against civilians. In Cauca department, 47% of events over the last 12 months were state-based armed conflict.
Where does this data come from?
Event counts and death estimates come from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) Georeferenced Event Dataset and its monthly Candidate Events releases, published under CC BY 4.0. Figures use UCDP's "best" fatality estimate. Data on this page runs through 31 Jul 2026.
Monthly reports:Jul 2026Jun 2026May 2026Apr 2026Mar 2026Feb 2026Jan 2026Dec 2025Nov 2025Oct 2025Sep 2025Aug 2025Jul 2025Jun 2025May 2025Apr 2025Mar 2025Feb 2025Jan 2025Dec 2024Nov 2024Oct 2024Sep 2024Aug 2024Jul 2024
Other regions of Colombia
Atlántico department · Valle del Cauca department · Risaralda department · Antioquia department · Magdalena department · Cesar department · Norte de Santander department · Huila department · Bogotá district · Arauca department · La Guajira department · Nariño department
Region names follow UCDP's first-level administrative coding. Counts use UCDP's "best" fatality estimate. See methodology.