It’s not India, but let’s be honest, there is a pretty well-defined class system in Colombia. If you want to know who belongs where and how it works, then read on.
So to begin with, the class system in Colombia goes from 0-6. 0 being the poorest and 6 the richest.
I know, it’s pretty shocking to hear that this rigid class structure still exists. I thought it was a joke the first time I heard it. And of course, it definitely doesn’t help bridge the gap of inequality.
People like to say that ‘estratos’ or classes are just a way of charging more tax in richer areas to make up for the poorer areas. Fair enough and true. But by this logic, your class is based on where you live. Which is totally false.
How the Colombian Class System Works
By general rule of thumb, black and indigenous people are at the bottom, white people are on top, and mixed are all over the place. But I know you want more details than this!
So to begin with, if you are Colombian, you already belong to a class. Even if you live abroad or were born abroad. It doesn’t. And I’ll tell you why in a second.
Every Colombian knows that class is inherited. Meaning that if you are a broke backpacker living in estrato 3-4 but your parents are estrato 6, this makes you a estrato 6 my friend.
And vice versa.
If you are a newly rich living in estrato 100, those from estrato 5-6 will acknowledge you BUT remind each other that you and your family come from estrato -2.
But IF your grandparents were estrato 3, and your parents worked hard to get to estrato 5, you are now estrato 5. It basically only counts 1 generation back.
Make sense?
Breakdown of the Colombian Class System
Want to know who are the people from estrato 0,1,2,3,4,5,6?
Estrato 0: These are people from the poorest neighborhoods. These are people that live on the streets and do not have enough to eat. IF they have a roof, they might not have electricity.
Estrato 1-2: These people are from very humble neighborhoods. They might work selling things on the street and are generally hustling and/or between small jobs. Opportunities to grow are probably hard to come by as they work to pay the day to day.
Estrato 3: These are the type of people doing your services. The doorman, cab driver, nail lady, post office, etc. They earn about $800,000-$1.5MCOP or around $275-$500 USD. They work to just get by and pay the bills.
Estrato 4: These are your office workers and small entrepreneurs. They have a stable income that allows them to live relatively well. They can save and splurge. Many are able to travel outside the country and afford private schools for their kids. They can also afford private social clubs.
Estrato 5: These guys are upper middle class. They can afford to pay higher education abroad and easily travel outside the country without making a major dent. They all attended private school and people 35-years-old and below probably speak close to perfect English.
Estrato 6: La creme de la creme. They have top positions in companies or are successful business owners. They probably own several properties and have family vacations abroad and in tropical locations in Colombia. Money ain’t a thing if you know what I mean.
As a matter of fact, you won’t see many (if any) in public transportation. Quite a few have chauffeurs and body guards. But you will find them in the best restaurants and bars in the city.
It’s a pretty strange experience being a foreigner living in this Colombian class system. But that’s a whole other story I’ll share with you next time.
And as always, if you’d like to add to the subject, feel free to leave a comment down below!
13 comments
I am a first-generation Latino American whose mother was, until recently living in Colombia. As a child, I spent a lot of time seeing family in Bogota, Buga, and Medellin. I have fond memories of my time there and never quite noticed the rampant inequality that exists there until I returned after many years away in 2019. I think my biggest surprise was tying this into the “Last name” and private school topic that was frequently brought up during my time there in Colombia. I am not sure if I perceive what you have described as rigidly true, but this estrato system has in my eyes now caused a major issue with how the rich percieve others. My family has mostly lived in 4 and 5. Almost all of my cousins had live in maids growing up and my own mother had two. Hard class lines create a false narrative about how others “should” live and what they need. I am hopeful this inequality will be addressed and actions will be taken now that so much of the country has risen. Thank you for writing this article!
Thank you!!1
I came across this article and I was amazed about how accurate the description fits. I am Colombian and I loved how you described! It is all true… Sadly. I do have to add that if you start at any private university you will be asked about your school, and if crosses that imaginary line that divides the city between rich /poor = north/south you are in their eyes worthless. Which for me is one of the most unrespectful questions that people ask when they just met you but that also shows what type of people they are.
Thank you for your support. Alejandra! Yes. It is a sad reality 😕
I have been living in Bogotá for a couple of years now and this is a really good picture of it… a lot of street vendors and a very defined social structure… loving these articles you write
Thanks Victor!
i went there last year and quite unhappy to see the same as in india, more then 10% people still live on road and survive there.
Hey! I know strato 6 people who are not the stereotype you mention … it would apply more to the top of the top of strato 6 🙂 Moreover, I would add that the school you went to is of uttermost importance in the Colombian classification…
Hi Alex! Yes it’s true not everyone fits the mold ✌
hi, i belong to estrato 1 but not homeless. If estrato is given based on where you live, so people in estrato 1 (me!) do have a roof above their head. I think you are missing estrato “0” here.
Eve, thank you so much for clearing this error. I wasn’t sure estrato 0 was real or not.
If you are strato 1 as you say, you are how come you speak English?
Eve, thank you so much for sharing. I did not know.